Am I Missing Something? Why Give The Media A Sneak Peek?

[Pyrobee]

Actually we don't have to play it to find out, that's what's great about refusing to let the community know and then essentially spilling the beans to the media. We know before it drops what it is. Just in a way that's a bit souls destroying - it's grand. [up]

Seriously you couldn't guess I was being facicious and the real reason is so FD can have the articles advertising the feature releases ready for when FD want it, it's how asdvertising works. The punter is always the last know. It's commonly used to build expectation and suspense.

So those that have spent 1000's of hours torturing themselves playing a game they hate can get the entire experience of dissapointment extended and have more to whine about

 

[JohnMice]

Coming from Star Citizen and it's detailed monthly reports and weekly video reports I think that Frontier would only have to gain by enhancing it's communication with it's player-base. It also helps promoting the game week in week out if you share the cool stuff you are working on, bringing more players and engaging with current ones.

 

[JonLuis69]

Because if the release the trailer publicly, someone will notice the curvature of the interior of a crater in the background and be like "yup, I know where that is", and 24 hours later there will be a reddit post explaining where the thargoids are and how to kill them.

This is the correct answer.

[big grin]

 

[ozrix84]

#justfrontierthings

 

[ozrix84]

Coming from Star Citizen and it's detailed monthly reports and weekly video reports I think that Frontier would only have to gain by enhancing it's communication with it's player-base. It also helps promoting the game week in week out if you share the cool stuff you are working on, bringing more players and engaging with current ones.

SC is on the polar opposite of the spectrum - they don't have a game, so their bread & butter is generating hype

 

[Zac Antonaci]

Hi Alien,

I can explain and I hope you respect the absolute honesty and transparency in my answer.

The first thing I think it is important to note is that press and community are both very important. We all know community are important for all the reasons and more that you've mentioned. They create the most amazing content and they bring the game to life. Without the community the game is lifeless.

But press are important too. Without new people hearing about the game, we don't get new Commanders joining the awesome community. There are loads of other ways that we communicate to new, existing and old players too (not just press and community). It's all part of making sure that the community is as thriving, healthy and as active as it can be. Ultimately we all want the same thing.

One example of how we always keep our community in mind is E3. Rather than just showing content at E3 in press interviews alone, like many games do, we thought it would be better to have a community goal to incorporate a fun way to reveal the content in lore, try somethig new and then have that content out to the community at the very first opportunity. You may not always see it but we really do always try and make sure that the community are kept in the loop as early as possible. Ask any of the guys that came to visit the studio the other week.

As for the video. I understand that it can be frustrating not to be seeing one piece of content straight away but the truth is that having something exclusive to those interviews means that there's more reason for the press to write about the news, news that we all have a part of creating. E3 has a lot of games news so it's important to have that little extra sometimes. It's happens with all forms of communications and there's always balance to be had with however you get that content out to people.

E3 saw the community getting almost all of the E3 news first, with all the videos and content going live on our channels before the interviews were starting. This video was an extra exclusive to support those interviews as a way to.set the tone of what's to come.

I hope that answers your question. Please don't for a second think that the community isn't well loved or respected, they really are. I can hand on heart say (and I will at lavecon) that the company truly appreciates and values the support of the community and that shows in so many ways. I could list the countless ways community are put at the very front of events, updates, content and consideration and how this culture starts from the top and runs down the entire studio but it's late, i've spent too long on this reply lol and I'm heading to bed. Grab me at the lavecon if you want to discuss the details further. I'd be happy to explain in more detail.

All the best

Zac

P.S - Will the community see this video? Never say never.

 

[Jynessa Loraeyn]

Hi Alien,

I can explain and I hope you respect the absolute honesty and transparency in my answer.

The first thing I think it is important to note is that press and community are both very important. We all know community are important for all the reasons and more that you've mentioned. They create the most amazing content and they bring the game to life. Without the community the game is lifeless.

But press are important too. Without new people hearing about the game, we don't get new Commanders joining the awesome community. There are loads of other ways that we communicate to new, existing and old players too (not just press and community). It's all part of making sure that the community is as thriving, healthy and as active as it can be. Ultimately we all want the same thing.

One example of how we always keep our community in mind is E3. Rather than just showing content at E3 in press interviews alone, like many games do, we thought it would be better to have a community goal to incorporate a fun way to reveal the content in lore, try somethig new and then have that content out to the community at the very first opportunity. You may not always see it but we really do always try and make sure that the community are kept in the loop as early as possible. Ask any of the guys that came to visit the studio the other week.

As for the video. I understand that it can be frustrating not to be seeing one piece of content straight away but the truth is that having something exclusive to those interviews means that there's more reason for the press to write about the news, news that we all have a part of creating. E3 has a lot of games news so it's important to have that little extra sometimes. It's happens with all forms of communications and there's always balance to be had with however you get that content out to people.

E3 saw the community getting almost all of the E3 news first, with all the videos and content going live on our channels before the interviews were starting. This video was an extra exclusive to support those interviews as a way to.set the tone of what's to come.

I hope that answers your question. Please don't for a second think that the community isn't well loved or respected, they really are. I can hand on heart say (and I will at lavecon) that the company truly appreciates and values the support of the community and that shows in so many ways. I could list the countless ways community are put at the very front of events, updates, content and consideration and how this culture starts from the top and runs down the entire studio but it's late, i've spent too long on this reply lol and I'm heading to bed. Grab me at the lavecon if you want to discuss the details further. I'd be happy to explain in more detail.

All the best

Zac

P.S - Will the community see this video? Never say never.

I can only speak for myself, but when I saw that you were trying to reveal the next part of the story by using an in-game event and where you experienced it by playing the game itself, I thought it was a great idea.

I haven't been able to play as much recently for a variety of reasons, but when I saw that, I tried to make it for that event - I was just too late arriving in open, but I found the site by following Ed's path as he did the livestream, and when I did, I and a bunch of others looked around, messed around the wrecks, flew through the capital ships and helped a couple of Anacondas that got stuck trying to do the same... and when the broadcast began again an hour later, we all clustered round it and listened.

I loved it. I absolutely loved it. Most game announcement things are entirely detached affairs, and usually are just about giving a date and a lot of information. You and all at Frontier actually decided to try and do the messy job of organising an in-game event where the reveal was for those who played the game, and experienced the reveal by playing the game.

Thank you, all at Frontier. At least one person really did appreciate that.

Does it bother me that you also offered an exclusive look to the press? No. I'd think you were a little foolish if you did nothing to try to secure some sort of press coverage - it's part of your job. I'm glad I'm not doing it.

Looking forward to seeing and playing more when I get the chance.

 

[Pville_Piper]

What?!!! Generating hype for the game? Not on these forums!!!

Just joking Zac. Honestly, it seems like people have no concept of marketing sometimes or what it takes to run a business.

 

[m0rl0ck]

So could someone at Frontier please explain why the media get a sneak peek and the community don't?

Because FD doesnt need to suck up to you to get your good opinion, they already have your money and you dont have the ability to generate new sales the way good media does.

 

[tafkabb]

Buying Horizons gives you access to Horizons. That's it. It doesn't give you a hotline to the marketing dept.

 

[Vasious]

One example of how we always keep our community in mind is E3. Rather than just showing content at E3 in press interviews alone, like many games do, we thought it would be better to have a community goal to incorporate a fun way to reveal the content in lore, try somethig new and then have that content out to the community at the very first opportunity. You may not always see it but we really do always try and make sure that the community are kept in the loop as early as possible. Ask any of the guys that came to visit the studio the other week.

I for one really enjoyed the Two part E3 release live stream with CG and "treasure hunt" to the beacon [up]

 

[crushdepth]

The media, especially wannabe journalists who 'work' for 3rd rate gaming websites, ain't going to keep their mouths shut, instead looking for the next exclusive news article to being people to their sites and making money from their advertising views.

Thats the only reason gaming websites exist. To try and make a few pennies more than the other sites. It's sad really, when you see 2 dozen articles with slightly different wording, all trying to make out they were 'first' - when the article in question was sourced from a central news source site - I know, I used to do it too until I realised what was going on - this WAS a long time ago I hasten to add.

The don't need to stay silent because the Devs are doing a fine job of blurting out the story in interviews.

 

[Kzak]

I participated in the event about locating the beacon, and it was pretty good fun, rare to see so many CMDRs in one place (played in Mobius). Keep such events coming, involving the playerbase is a good way to keep them interested in the game.

 

[Siranui]

Why do the media get a sneak peek at E3?
So could someone at Frontier please explain why the media get a sneak peek and the community don't?

For the same reason the media re first to be briefed on absolutely everything, everywhere?


You know when your a band's new album comes out, and you've already read a review of it... Do you get upset about a music journalist listening to it to write the review before you?

 

[Frank]

The question I have to ask you Alien is why would you want to see the video?

Games reviewers have to see things like this. It's their job. They are always getting content spoiled by seeing it too soon.

I've got a lifetime pass for Elite and so I don't have to think about the quality of any future content, but not everyone is in that position. People need some way of telling them if the game's worth buying in a spoiler-free way. That is the job of the games reviewers.

 

[K-Rose]

And again with the frank, open and honest communications. It's really appreciated when you talk to us like adults, human beings, not customers.

Thanks Zac, thanks FD, keep it up please

 

[jijik2]

Thanks Zac, clear and understandable! Keep up the good work

 

[Nagual]

I think they didn't show the community the video because of this:

Spoiler

spoilers

 

[Armankessilon]

Alien is disturbed of shownig secrets of aliens. Make sense

 

[Knightshark]

Thanks, Zac, for the honest response.

You could give the community at least some info (specific, not announcements of announcements). Everyone just wants to know where we are and what the plans are - roughly.