[Video] Open letter from community to Elite Dangerous

[VR SenseiMatty]

...I feel we do communicate significantly far in advance...

Microsoft organized a Global Preview Event about Flight Simulator 2020 releasing 30 minutes of 4K game footage of the pre-alpha version.
The game is going to be released next year, in the same period as the next Elite "big" DLC.
No one expects Frontier to release such long footage about the new era contents (almost sure there's not a lot to see right now, but there's probably a lot to talk about), but between nothing and a 30 minutes video you've got a lot of options

 

[zimms]

The last one came out in 2006. Looks like they couldn't quite stick to their ten year plan.

 

[Klemyr]

Ahh that's not really true. It says that regarding future roadmap discussions, I feel we do communicate significantly far in advance. I then explained the length of time that we've looked ahead for each season/era. But I also mention that there are areas that we got wrong and should have done better.

Is there gona be any comets about the petition we made? It have 3k signatures already... is that not enough for u to notice?
I mean official statement not a reply on thread or something.

Best wishes for your FD, I hope you can hear us...

 

[Ezren]

Microsoft organized a Global Preview Event about Flight Simulator 2020 releasing 30 minutes of 4K game footage of the pre-alpha version.
The game is going to be released next year, in the same period as the next Elite "big" DLC.
No one expects Frontier to release such long footage about the new era contents (almost sure there's not a lot to see right now, but there's probably a lot to talk about), but between nothing and a 30 minutes video you've got a lot of options

You don't maybe see a difference between a huge company like Microsoft releasing an entirely new game and a much smaller developer like FDev releasing DLC to an existing game?

 

[VR SenseiMatty]

You don't maybe see a difference between a huge company like Microsoft releasing an entirely new game and a much smaller developer like FDev releasing DLC to an existing game?

I see the difference and I actually expected the opposite

 

[VR SenseiMatty]

The last one came out in 2006. Looks like they couldn't quite stick to their ten year plan.

Actually the last one was released in 2012 (6 years later) and it was a huge fiasco!
Microsoft Flight
And Elite "New Era" is going to be released 6 years later Elite Dangerous so...

 

[Old Duck]

Microsoft organized a Global Preview Event about Flight Simulator 2020 releasing 30 minutes of 4K game footage of the pre-alpha version.
The game is going to be released next year, in the same period as the next Elite "big" DLC.
No one expects Frontier to release such long footage about the new era contents (almost sure there's not a lot to see right now, but there's probably a lot to talk about), but between nothing and a 30 minutes video you've got a lot of options

I've seen this over and over again with countless games. People defend Frontier's "silence" as if it's some requirement of gaming companies to keep secrets, yet we have footage from Microsoft Flight Simulator, Death Stranding, Cyberpunk 2077, just to name a few, while Frontier can't even be bothered to tell us anything about next year's update except that it's a "New Era".

It's as if Frontier thinks they are Apple and that this game is the iPhone

 

[Ezren]

I see the difference and I actually expected the opposite

So you think a company with more resources, releasing an entirely new game, would have less material than a smaller developer releasing an expansion on an existing game?

Even resources aside, you think DLC is going to out-promote an entirely new release?

That's such an apples and oranges comparison, but you're wondering why the apples aren't making orange juice.

 

[Stigbob]

I've seen this over and over again with countless games. People defend Frontier's "silence" as if it's some requirement of gaming companies to keep secrets, yet we have footage from Microsoft Flight Simulator, Death Stranding, Cyberpunk 2077, just to name a few, while Frontier can't even be bothered to tell us anything about next year's update except that it's a "New Era".

It's as if Frontier thinks they are Apple and that this game is the iPhone

Its not that they can't be bothered. They know some people will absolutely lose their minds over the tiniest change or delay whilst theorycrafting up some right old cobblers based on nothing substantial at all then decide its fact and a "legacy promise". With inevitable results.

Easier to keep us all in the dark than trigger the entitled socially inept shouty people.

 

[Old Duck]

Easier to keep us all in the dark than trigger the entitled socially inept shouty people.

Entitled socially inept shouty people don't stop any of these other companies from promoting their upcoming products. Maybe Frontier isn't showing us anything because that have nothing to show. Considering the slow pace of development over the last couple of years, this is not that much of a stretch of imagination.

 

[Stigbob]

Entitled socially inept shouty people don't stop any of these other companies from promoting their upcoming products. Maybe Frontier isn't showing us anything because that have nothing to show. Considering the slow pace of development over the last couple of years, this is not that much of a stretch of imagination.

I'm looking forward to the new DLC (and carriers), good times.

 

[Dutchman141]

I've seen this over and over again with countless games. People defend Frontier's "silence" as if it's some requirement of gaming companies to keep secrets, yet we have footage from Microsoft Flight Simulator, Death Stranding, Cyberpunk 2077, just to name a few, while Frontier can't even be bothered to tell us anything about next year's update except that it's a "New Era".

It's as if Frontier thinks they are Apple and that this game is the iPhone

I agree, it's Fdev's way of interacting with the community, or rather lack thereof.
I've grown accustomed to it.

The explanation that they're probably afraid of the community's reaction is bullock's imho, there will be complaining either way.
The excuse that things might change in the course of time so they won't announce anything that is subject to change is only partially valid imho.
If they don't have anything to show for by now then I doubt they're working on anything substantial at all, which I think isnt true.

I don't realy care anymore, the only thing I care for right now is that they fix the game and don't ruin it again in December.

 

[Stigbob]

I agree, it's Fdev's way of interacting with the community, or rather lack thereof.
I've grown accustomed to it.

The explanation that they're probably afraid of the community's reaction is bullock's imho, there will be complaining either way.
The excuse that things might change in the course of time so they won't announce anything that is subject to change is only partially valid imho.
If they don't have anything to show for by now then I doubt they're working on anything substantial at all, which I think isnt true.

I don't realy care anymore, the only thing I care for right now is that they fix the game and don't ruin it again in December.

If there will be complaining either way (I agree its certain) then why bother communicating.

You get the same result with less effort and hassle.

 

[Old Duck]

I'm looking forward to the new DLC (and carriers), good times.

I don't care much about fleet carriers, but I'm glad to at least know that's what the December update is about. I'd rather know ahead-of-time what an update will have or won't have that will interest me. It's mighty hard for me to get excited for "New Era" when we know nothing at all about it except supposed leaks and rumors. Right now I'm more worried about "New Errors" than I'm excited about "New Era"..

Meanwhile, I'm falling out of my chair with excitement for the new Microsoft Flight Simulator!

 

[VR SenseiMatty]

So you think a company with more resources, releasing an entirely new game, would have less material than a smaller developer releasing an expansion on an existing game?

Even resources aside, you think DLC is going to out-promote an entirely new release?

That's such an apples and oranges comparison, but you're wondering why the apples aren't making orange juice.

Hey these are your thought not mine, don't try to sneak in my mind again! I have a good firewall
I think that one of the biggest company in the world doesn't need to reach out every single person to advertize its products. But hey, they're doing it anyway!
On the other hand I see a smaller company (microscopic compared to Microsoft) with a niche game that actually needs a strong relationship with its player base and that needs to reach out new casual players to sell its game and its additional contents, that actually locks itself in a safe and rise walls from the rest of the world.
By the way, oranges and apples can both make wonderful fruit juice, and you could also mix them.

 

[Dutchman141]

If there will be complaining either way (I agree its certain) then why bother communicating.

You get the same result with less effort and hassle.

Because the majority of the players don't visit the forums but are likey to see a new trailer on youtube etc. getting them excited over what's coming.
That's what most gamedevs do, every new trailer of whatever game is bound to get criticized but that doesn't stop the devs of showing off their new stuff knowing that most people are excited about it.

Fdev's tactic of announcing something realy great and exciting is coming but not for another year and without giving any hint or teaser what that might be is just a bag of wind.
It doesn't realy add to their credibility, especially when in the meantime they release updates that are of such poor quality that it needs weeks to get the game back in shape again.

 

[[VR] Mad Mike]

It's as if Frontier thinks they are Apple and that this game is the iPhone

To be fair, warts and all, i have a lot more faith in FD than I do Apple and fully expect to get more enjoyment from ED 2020 than from any iphone

 

[Ezren]

Hey these are your thought not mine, don't try to sneak in my mind again! I have a good firewall
I think that one of the biggest company in the world doesn't need to reach out every single person to advertize its products. But hey, they're doing it anyway!
On the other hand I see a smaller company (microscopic compared to Microsoft) with a niche game that actually needs a strong relationship with its player base and that needs to reach out new casual players to sell its game and its additional contents, that actually locks itself in a safe and rise walls from the rest of the world.
By the way, oranges and apples can both make wonderful fruit juice, and you could also mix them.

Advertising, marketing, and customer engagements take more than just wanting to do it.

 

[Kaocraft]

Is there gona be any comets about the petition we made? It have 3k signatures already... is that not enough for u to notice?
I mean official statement not a reply on thread or something.

Best wishes for your FD, I hope you can hear us...

Yeah I want comets added into the game, too. I think if they don't show up for "New Era" they're probably never happening. Although really the best time to add them would have been Beyond.

 

[Stigbob]

I don't care much about fleet carriers, but I'm glad to at least know that's what the December update is about. I'd rather know ahead-of-time what an update will have or won't have that will interest me. It's mighty hard for me to get excited for "New Era" when we know nothing at all about it except supposed leaks and rumors. Right now I'm more worried about "New Errors" than I'm excited about "New Era"..

Meanwhile, I'm falling out of my chair with excitement for the new Microsoft Flight Simulator!

I think there'll be a big cinematic reveal trailer along with a holiday blockbuster film (star wars in the past), probably the Christmas after next (if I skim read the timeline correctly). Loads of coverage in gaming publications and such, so we will know ahead of time what it is.

This updates been one of the least buggy for me, I had to give remote engineering a miss for a day but since my ships are already maxed out at G5 it wasn't really an issue.