That's an annual report, not an annual tax return (accounts). I suggest there's some confusion on how financials are written (HMRC) and how they're published (shiny). Same figures but quite different contexts.
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Where is the paid 'content' LEP holder get for 'free'
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That's an annual report, not an annual tax return (accounts). I suggest there's some confusion on how financials are written (HMRC) and how they're published (shiny). Same figures but quite different contexts.
Going off on a bit of a tangent, so bear with me here. I think Horizons itself was alright, but the pricing and what was included with it changing over time and how it was released on Steam and the like was confusing to some who didn't keep up with the minutia. So basically, somewhat of a poor show on marketing execution in that regard. I'm just hoping Frontier don't throw the baby out with the bathwater in this regard. I think expansions are still a very viable option for them, if they play their cards right.
Yes, we may have expected a bit more from Horizons itself, and I have the feeling that Frontier may have hit some unexpected roadblocks along the way, but I don't think that rules out the expansion model. "Games as a service" is a bit of a catchphrase in the software industry these days in general, one which I personally think misses the mark in the details of things. For the sake of not derailing the thread further, I won't go into too many of the specifics here. Bottom line though: put out good content, people will buy it and they'll tell their friends to too. It's as simple as that really.
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I am quite obviously referring to the Annual Reports here. Those are the only publically available documents we have access to that contain these details.
That's fine but you still have to bear in mind that there are two sides to it. Money in the bank (facts reported in annual report) and future revenues (also included but which are by their nature more speculative). The thing you're worried about (LEP frontload) for instance, I see as a good thing (shows confidence) so go figure eh?
These are Davids words, from this article;https://variety.com/2018/gaming/features/david-braben-interview-1202846009/
"
Our expansions have been free, and the things you pay for are just vanity items, which in a multiplayer game just makes sense."
So this seems to muddy the waters somewhat. Is there going to be paid DLC, the CEO seems to suggest that funding will be via 'vanity' items and not expansion charges?
So this seems to muddy the waters somewhat. Is there going to be paid DLC, the CEO seems to suggest that funding will be via 'vanity' items and not expansion charges?
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Viajero
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Except that was not the case at all, not only because there was never a date for 2.4 but also because even in the case that it had been slated as “winter” (which it wasn’t) that would have gone well beyond 2016 anyways.
Look I hear you when it comes to point out the little info we have for any upcoming paid/ LPE content. But I don’t think you need to embellish the point by using blatant hyperbole, false facts or bringing in 3rd parties speculations to the discussion. I honestly dont think you need it at all and it only serves to undermine your point.
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How does it show "confidence" to reduce the estimated life of the Elite franchise? They literally reduced their confidence in the longevity of the franchise from 8 years in 2015 to only 7 years in 2016. Where did that extra year go exactly? It's not because they're somehow "ahead of schedule" and delivered content earlier than expected, since Horizons wasn't completed until a full year later than intended.
So Devari, your theory is that by 2021 FD stop to care about ED because game doesn't bring money (not true), and publishing new paid for DLCs for game won't bring in good income (not true).
In fact, you can't be futher from truth. What FD have done is have refocused ED income to cosmetics. Judging by latest reports they have succeeded. What it does they aren't *forced* to rush paid for DLCs and face similar backslash as Horizons. They can work with one DLC feature at the time. Which is basically what Zec implies - there's part of team which works on atmospherics as we speak. Cue evidence from Lavecon with volumetric clouds.
Trying to shame/push/whatever way to make devs to do your bidding is childish and sometimes outright criminal. Don't do that - it is just simple as that.
In fact, you can't be futher from truth. What FD have done is have refocused ED income to cosmetics. Judging by latest reports they have succeeded. What it does they aren't *forced* to rush paid for DLCs and face similar backslash as Horizons. They can work with one DLC feature at the time. Which is basically what Zec implies - there's part of team which works on atmospherics as we speak. Cue evidence from Lavecon with volumetric clouds.
Trying to shame/push/whatever way to make devs to do your bidding is childish and sometimes outright criminal. Don't do that - it is just simple as that.
Except that everything that was discussed at that time indicated Horizons would be delivered throughout 2016. Not "well beyond 2016". Did you read Obsidian Ant's posts like I suggested? He even included screenshots so there's no point in me trying to duplicate those posts when he has already done quite a bit of work to demonstrate that point already.
See my previous comment. Latest shareholder report and FD comments after that indicates they have moved to keep lights on with cosmetics. I see it as very encouraging news as it means less rushed paid for DLCs and Horizons issue can be avoided.
Maybe, maybe not, the communication is confused and the forward plan is not clear. I've given up worrying but you'd think they could give a clear answer not contradict themselves in consecutive statements to the media.
Where's the context of other titles?
How funds are attributed by the company (and it's a Frontier Developments Annual report, not Elite Dangerous #101) bears little .. or even potentially no relation to lifespan of any individual title, of which there are several.
(I repeat)
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I'm sure Elite will still bring in some money from cosmetics but they will certainly have no compelling reason to produce more paid expansion content at that time. They will have fully reported all the LEP revenue by that point in time and as far as they are concerned Elite will have reached the "estimated useful economic life of the franchise" at that point. Are you somehow suggesting they are going to throw money developing any significant new content for a game that by their own estimate has reached end of its "useful economic life"?
Sorry but that is not what FD's Annual Reports are telling us. As far as FD is concerned the Elite franchise has an "expiration date", and that is currently set for the end of 2021.
Sorry, you're claiming that simply discussing details of FD's development plans for Elite that are clearly detailed in their Annual Reports are somehow "childish and sometimes outright criminal".
Well now I'm obligated to report your post for a completely unnecessary personal attack. Nothing I've done is remotely "criminal" in nature and you are well aware of that. Next time consider choosing your words more carefully.
Plans for Elite .. MONIES.
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As an aside, who the hell believes in tax statements as a statement of truth? Buisness constantly make their finances appear more solid then they are, this is why accountants get such big money.
None of the banks that collapsed in 2008 had tax returns that reflected the true over extention of their finances, they were all disguised by the accounts.
None of the banks that collapsed in 2008 had tax returns that reflected the true over extention of their finances, they were all disguised by the accounts.
Could be, or the marketing department could be watching the page count of this thread and patting each other on the back pleased at the excitement and hype their strategy has generated. As there's clearly already a huge amount of interest in an upcoming paid expansion.
We are not talking about other titles. We are talking about how long FD considers it "useful" to continue developing the Elite franchise. That is currently estimated as a total of 7 years according to their statements in their Annual Reports. Do I expect the game to be shut down immediately after 7 years? Of course not, they can keep the servers running for a trivial cost (due to the game's P2P architecture) and can likely continue making rather lucrative sales of cosmetics. It would not be reasonable however to expect any significant new paid content expansions beyond that point in time.
Answer is clear if you want to see it that way. if you want to keep being worried, that's your choice really.
I personally find idea of FD not keeping producing paid for DLCs for ED laughable, especially after Beyond, when game's sales numbers are constantly up, people get hyped about releases and people produces endless threads about how they want space legs. That's money printing machine. Not even most conservative investor or CEO will say no to this.
As I said, it is pointless to tie emotions to facts. Yes, new paid DLC is long overdue. But it is pointless to try to tie FD 'cooling' down to ED with that. FD is planning to offer new model at the end of the year. We will know soon enough.
Did someone from Frontier took part to this conversation to clarify? Sorry I couldn't check.... 72 pages is a book, I couldn't read them all!
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When FD gives an estimate for the "useful economic life of the franchise" and this estimate is reduced from 8 years to 7 years that is not referring simply to "monies". It is referring to the point in time where they consider their obligations for Elite development to be fulfilled in terms of deferred LEP revenue.
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