Frontier Needs Money (new Dev Update from Michael).

[Leper Messiah]

Agreed OP, just look at racing sims like pCARS....despite it's problems it's sold a bucket load to the consoles (mainly PS4 in this case) and generated much needed cash for another crowd funded game. Asseto Corsa is also now going down the console route.

Of course the balance should be that the PC is the lead platform and the console versions reduced where needed to shoe horn it in to the hardware of a console. PC versions should never be butchered/affected for the consoles.......Menu/options oversimplification is something I detest. Oblivion and Skyrim are excellent games but I miss the menu/inventory system of Morrowind. Save games is another area that I hate the "consolification" of PC games.

 

[Banana's_Are_Good_For_You]

Agreed OP, just look at racing sims like pCARS....despite it's problems it's sold a bucket load to the consoles (mainly PS4 in this case) and generated much needed cash for another crowd funded game. Asseto Corsa is also now going down the console route.

Of course the balance should be that the PC is the lead platform and the console versions reduced where needed to shoe horn it in to the hardware of a console. PC versions should never be butchered/affected for the consoles.......Menu/options oversimplification is something I detest. Oblivion and Skyrim are excellent games but I miss the menu/inventory system of Morrowind. Save games is another area that I hate the "consolification" of PC games.

When the XB1 version gets launched, patches on PC will have to go through Console certification first, 2 weeks generally.
That'll be the major drawback of bringing the game to console.
Patches won't be so quick bar hotfixes.
I expect you'll be crying out your eyes at that point.
It, however, doesn't mean the game isn't PC specific.
It's just a process consoles require and it's just how it works.

Heaven forbid they change something to add weight to your argument though.
Because that's what happens...it generally does not detract from the game but some will always make a fuss about anything.
So, keep an open mind.

FYI, console gaming is more secure then PC gaming. That's why more games, even long term PC games are moving to console.
Just saying.

 

[Exiton]

If they need money they should do good skins for FdL, I'd gladly buy some. There's a ton of nice skins for Vipers and Eagles, and only 2 sets of monocolored monstrosities for FdL.

 

[Cmdr Eagleboy]

It's a bit sad that this should be repeated, but thanks Michael taking time to give some response.

Contextual menus for gamepads sounds really good idea and worthy addition to ED.

 

[Krait_79]

Yeah, but money in da bank mate, money in da bank. And with the game on the PC since Xmas 2014 it's a decent time to push it out on the consoles.

More like they need more working capital to reinvest in developing the game to the point we would all like.

If they have planatary landings and all the shenanigans that can go on with that then that has the ability to attract a wider audience and therefore revenue.

 

[Lowievisser]

They miss money from me cause of the decals , i got plenty of ships where without decals , frontier add more so you can take my moneyzz!

 

[Cmdr Eagleboy]

Reason why they talk about adding new players because it's a base they can count on to buy cosmetics. Bigger the base, more money they can count on for a month, less worries for FD.

- - - Updated - - -

it's also worth remembering that FD has no money of Sony or CIG to do endless runs of marketing. Their time is now, and good they have captured it with Mac and XBO releases. Relatively soon all hype will move on to NMS, and that's their window to add new players rapidly to all platforms.

 

[AnnuverScotinExile]

It was Frontier decision to drop Offline, now they cry that they need more cash for the future development. Noone ask Frontier to spend Kickstarter money on things like PP. Sorry, but i m not on the train to spend more cash on Frontier, till they fulfil the promises during kickstarter, but i m speaking only for me here!

Unfortunately, I'm with you. I have not given up on the game, yet. I still defend FD against the more ridiculous complaints on here. But I also complain about things in a way that I see as honest and constructive. No problems with the money grab, XBox, exclusive content, etc. None whatsoever. Plenty of problems with the obvious change of direction, and the fact that whatever DBOBE's vision is now it seems to be different to what I was sold. Of course, it was also pretty inevitable: they were going to chase the cash, and lots of stuff in the DDA and in the kickstarter promises is not stuff that encourages new sales, but stuff that keeps the existing players happy. And those players have already paid, and other than the cosmetic fluff from the shop, are not paying any more. It seems obvious what the bean counters would be saying.

Nevertheless, I expected, you know, more game before they went off on the money grab. Had the core game been more complete when they released it, had the last six months been filling in those gaps rather than piling bling on top of what we have, then I would not feel so bitter. I will happily throw money at cosmetic fluff in the shop, but only once they have done more to fill out the game. In my case, the lines to cross are exploration and the God-like powers for DDF members. When (see, still optimistic enough to say when rather than if) we have a proper exploration system rather than a rudimentary placeholder, and when we are given wht was promised on the post-launch powers, then I will thrust more folding green things at them. Until then they will have to do with the non-trivial amount that I pledged for a game that has so much potential, but is not yet the game I was sold.

 

[William J Smith]

If FD want more money, why not do player designed paint jobs,

You want your cobra to have a snazzy paintjob.... send the design to FD, they approve and render it into ship's texture, then stick on the extras website.
They get people who pay for it, and the designer gets 10% of each sale.

Thats how the TF2 world did it with the hats and extras.

Bill

<<<wants his Mr Flamey decal on his ships

 

[SteveLaw]

When the XB1 version gets launched, patches on PC will have to go through Console certification first, 2 weeks generally.
That'll be the major drawback of bringing the game to console.
Patches won't be so quick bar hotfixes.

This is the reason given for lack of crossplay between the platforms. That way PC/XB patches can be distributed separately and PC doesn't have to be delayed by MS patch policy.

 

[Cmdr Eagleboy]

This is the reason given for lack of crossplay between the platforms. That way PC/XB patches can be distributed separately and PC doesn't have to be delayed by MS patch policy.

And the fact game will still rapidly evolve on PC/Mac.

Crossplay might be possible later on when core gameplay stabilizes.

 

[Eggtastico]

Frontier is PLC in the UK
If they need more money/working cap, then they should go to their shareholders or seek further investment for development.

Frontier have announced sales of over 500,000 - if every person paid £2 for a paint decal, that would only raise £1m!

Afterall, my guess would be the money is to develop the console side of the game rather than fix the PC side of things.
I am happy to maybe purchase some eye candy & things, but I would leave the game if you could purchase enhancements with Real Cash for Credits.

What other things could be put in store? I would pay for some 'npc companion' someone I could control - maybe even kit out with ships & weapons (or maybe not) but at least be able to send him to another part of a solar system when out exploring (not fun flying 300k to explore another bunch of planets).

Its really down to the developers on what road to take this...
Some sort of MMORPG should be considered to encourage grouping & playing online (instead of offline), etc.
Maybe there can be 'dungeons' for squadrons to think about their ship setups, etc. for bigger reward prizes, hidden ships, etc.

At the moment it is a sandbox galaxy & that may not be enough to keep people coming back time & time again.
As it is, what is end game? get an ancanoda & go shoot things or transport things.
Powerplay is exactly the same.. you just go shoot things or transport things. Ultimately, except credits (which can only be spent on a limited amount of things) - there is nothing more for a reward.

You go mining... and what do you get? minerals to sell.

So the game may need a crafting element, where you need to mine certain elements to craft a new weapon, etc.

I understand that is probably the game DB does not want - but if your company needs money, then maybe a different route for the game is needed.
A good MMORPG can generate millions (Just look at blizzard who boasted 5m subscribers at one point) - it would be easy to release an expansion with a monthly sub to go down that route.

It does not need to be like WoW - but some ideas could be taken - as well as from games like Destiny with its instances, etc.

 

[AnnuverScotinExile]

I wonder when Mr B will drop the bombshell that they have changed their minds about pay2win?

If you read the DDA, you will see that they always expected some level of pay to win. The DDF, of course, were generally dead against it, and largely for the obvious reasons like avoiding gold farming. Whilst some objected on principle, other took the more laid back approach of not really caring how that player they will probably never meet got his anaconda. I still expect it to come in some form, but perhaps not the overt 'buy in-game credits for cash' form.

I would have no problem if they offered a subscription service. Any attempt to impose subscriptions on existing players who bought a game on the promise of a one-time purchase and then free to play would probably destroy the company. But allowing new players to choose between a 'big' up front purchase and a 'small' monthly fee would be fine for me. They could even promise to convert you to free to play if you paid enough monthly fees (obviously you would have had to pay more than the up front one off fee).

- - - Updated - - -

This is the reason given for lack of crossplay between the platforms. That way PC/XB patches can be distributed separately and PC doesn't have to be delayed by MS patch policy.

... which means that FD can continue the, rather bizarre in my view, approach of short beta test, let it loose, fix the bugs that turn up in post-live patches for a couple of weeks. I would not be surprised if we carried on as before for the PC, with the Consoles not getting a release candidate until it had been live on PCs for a few weeks, and we had shaken most of the bugs out.

 

[Lobstris]

Contextual menus for gamepads sounds really good idea and worthy addition to ED.

And yet keybinds for controls for people with HOTAS/VoiceAttack setups aren't?
.
*Edit - back on topic, and something else I've said before, I don't mind Frontier bringing in revenue form other platforms at all, if it eventually gets us the missing features. I actually wouldn't mind a subscription fee, and I've changed my stance on 'cash for credits' or 'microtransactions' to 'meh, ok, whatever' if it keeps the game going and we see continued development on features 'we' (read I) actually want.

 

[Deleted member 38366]

--- Deleted ---

 

[sorcer3r]

Announcing CQC was just bad timed after the disappointing 1.4 PP and "mission overhaul" release.
Just a dev update about the way how FD will improve PP, the missions and other stuff (in the next update? ) would have been a good start.

 

[SteveLaw]

Announcing CQC was just bad timed after the disappointing 1.4 PP and "mission overhaul" release.

PP was 1.3, we haven't had the disappointing 1.4 yet.

 

[Eggtastico]

No MMO I know of has a 'funny hat' that is purely cosmetic. WoW has lots of different, desireable high-tier armour sets, but all of them have different buffs and bonuses.
.
I have zero problems with FD increasing the playerbase, or doing anything to generate extra income, but given the seemingly general lack of positive buzz about PP, maybe they ought to concentrate more on store items that have been requested for awhile. I know a lot of players in high end ships want new skins, I also want new decals - something they haven't done anyhitng concrete with so far. I don't know I'd go for bobbleheads, hula girls [too "Fallout" for my taste in this game] or fuzzy dice [where would you hang them, there's no mirror?], but interior paintjobs to match the colour of your cockpit with the exterior colour of the ship would be nice, and shuold be fairlt quick and simple to do.

There was/is quite a few in World of Warcraft via the Trading Card Game you could purchase.

 

[Cmdr Eagleboy]

Announcing CQC was just bad timed after the disappointing 1.4 PP and "mission overhaul" release.
Just a dev update about the way how FD will improve PP, the missions and other stuff (in the next update? ) would have been a good start.

First, it's 1.3, second it was not disappointing for everyone. And it was mission *system* overhaul. It was put as foundation so we can have a more complex and interesting missions later on.

 

[Eggtastico]

When the XB1 version gets launched, patches on PC will have to go through Console certification first, 2 weeks generally.
That'll be the major drawback of bringing the game to console.
Patches won't be so quick bar hotfixes.
I expect you'll be crying out your eyes at that point.
It, however, doesn't mean the game isn't PC specific.
It's just a process consoles require and it's just how it works.

Heaven forbid they change something to add weight to your argument though.
Because that's what happens...it generally does not detract from the game but some will always make a fuss about anything.
So, keep an open mind.

FYI, console gaming is more secure then PC gaming. That's why more games, even long term PC games are moving to console.
Just saying.

Microsoft are going down the unified app route.. so that should make a lot of PC to Console conversion easier. PC, Tablet, phone or console.. should make it a lot easier