ObsidianAnt: Frontier - What The HECK Is Going On With Elite Dangerous?

[[VR] Zakk]

The Lead Community Manager wasn't online since 1 month.
Nothing against Arthur, I think he is a pretty cool guy. But obviously the forums aren't a priority to them.

I've been in those shoes (not with Frontier, though, obviously). As a Community Manager, you basically have 2 tasks:

1) Gather feedback from the community (criticism and creative ideas) and channel it to the competent persons within the team.

2) Gather development information you are allowed to distribute, and channel it to content creators, influencers and community members.

If upper management does not want community feedback to be considered in development (which is not necessarily a bad thing, there are situations where it can be better to shield the dev team from the community) and also do not wish to release any internal information to the public (maybe because they don't have a clear plan themselves at this point), then the community managers are in a pretty bad spot.

We can only speculate, but I'm fairly sure that this is pretty much what's going on so far. We know that Frontier is pretty top-heavy, and there are various reports (starting with Ian Bell) suggesting that Mr. Braben is not always the easiest person to work with.

We know that Odyssey was released prematurely. We know that F1 Manager 2022 still hasn't been released, despite the F1 season being in full swing already and Frontier's fiscal year being about to end. We know that Warhammer: Age of Sigmar has been postponed into at least the coming fiscal year.

All this paints a picture of a developer / publisher that may have grown too big for its own internal structures. Which probably creates quite a bit of internal pressure. And which results in the company going into defense mode, where they try to shield themselves from external pressure.

I have no idea how resources are being distributed inside Frontier, but I guess that every movable chess piece right now is assigned to getting F1 Manager released. If that release is successful (and early media reports do show some promise), maybe we will see a little more progress on the Elite side in the second half of the year. Though they'll still have Warhammer to take care of, and the Jurassic and Planet franchises may also call for new content.

We'll see how all that will turn out. But we know by now that, at this point, we can judge Frontier products only by their release quality, nothing else.

In that situation, keeping communcations to a minimum may not even be the worst strategy.

 

[Old Duck]

[..] roasting someone sells...

So what are you selling? Whatever it is, I ain't buying.

 

[CMDR Karrde Sun]

You are being facetious, I presume? Is not it a common theme by some (are you innocent of such?) that 'promises were made' and that discontent and angst follow...

Yes i believe so. There's no logic to it. Once you're out of your honeymoon phase with elite, there's a good faith phase where you don't have any experience with frontiers service and expect them to be like everyone else. If you're still there then once all the promotional material has been soaked up sure it would be natural to ask.

But after more experience playing the game.. frontier only communicate when they have an intention to do something. If you squint at the comms over the years, you also get hints that the lack of communication is sometimes because they're simply not intending to do anything. There have been periods of development where frontier would mysteriously do and talk about things, even offer up via their own free will unexpected bonuses, yet being completely oblivious to what was flying around the community. They also show odd cracks that they do in fact read everything that goes on here. Yet how they communicate is completely unpredictable even today. The only thing that fits is they only speak when they're working on it, and if they don't speak about it, consider it abandoned. Look at powerplay, cqc, pvp etc.

I would, but i don't think good faith has any effect on frontier so its dumb on me for trying. But other people are still in their honeymoon phases so that's normal?

The only time its worth saying something is very early after a new feature has been announced, and only for superficial suggestions. You might even get considered then

 

[Rat Catcher]

I would, but i don't think good faith has any effect on frontier so its dumb on me for trying. But other people are still in their honeymoon phases so that's normal?

What is 'good faith'? It seems an odd phrase to use - I don't know about you, but I bought a product, will buy cosmetics whenever I wish, but that is as far as it goes, no emotional tie, perhaps others are invested in the game?

I don't think I ever married a game, either...

 

[CMDR Karrde Sun]

What is 'good faith'? It seems an odd phrase to use - I don't know about you, but I bought a product, will buy cosmetics whenever I wish, but that is as far as it goes, no emotional tie, perhaps others are invested in the game?

I don't think I ever married a game, either...

Most software developers who make games, especially service games, are usually receptive to feedback. What happens with new players to elite is (myself especially) you come in from a broader gaming world, with standards and conventions learned over the years, and you assume that frontier are the same. Frontier don't wear a huge sign saying we're a budding publisher who works on elite only in fair weather and when we're not busy doing something else.

They still claim to me "massively multiplayer" on the steam page.

So how is any player supposed to know that frontier are not like the others with only experience of other companies? You learn over time, but it doesn't make sense, the gaming industry isn't different from frontier the center of all gaming, frontier is different from them.

If elite was sold as a single player box, you could see a convention where feedback and requests have no scope. But its not, and...?

EDIT: This is a fitting explanation of why the ideas in the OP even exist in the first place.

 

[zombieapocalypse]

There are a few posters on the forum for whom this appears to be factual, look at the latest "praising the game" thread... The same old names came on, knocking the OPs opinion, then one of said names had the temerity to mention the 'white knights' piling on negative threads.... Irony in the extreme!

As I've said many times before, folks who throw around terms like "white knights" and "fanboi" (and at the other extreme, terms like "haters"), generally just mean "anyone who disagrees with or contradicts my opinion and preconceptions". And if you resort to name-calling instead of responding to a person's points, it's fair to say you've probably lost the argument.

 

[Rat Catcher]

Most software developers who make games, especially service games, are usually receptive to feedback. What happens with new players to elite is (myself especially) you come in from a broader gaming world, with standards and conventions learned over the years, and you assume that frontier are the same. Frontier don't wear a huge sign saying we're a budding publisher who works on elite only in fair weather and when we're not busy doing something else.

I don't understand what you are saying - I've been playing games on computing equipment since the mid 1970's (on a DEC mainframe in the early days, all text) and have no idea of "standards and conventions" in the context you appear to be using: Maybe the loss is my own, but all I have ever done is just play...

They still claim to me "massively multiplayer" on the steam page.

Are they not, then?

So how is any player supposed to know that frontier are not like the others and individual without having any experience from the outside?

Pass...

You learn over time,

I do, do others?

but it doesn't make sense,

What doesn't?

the either gaming industry isn't different from frontier the center of all gaming, frontier is different from them.

I'm different from you, and even from my brothers & sisters - is everyone (including industry) supposed to be identical?

The more of your explanations I read does indicate that I have a serious lacking in my gaming both present and past, I just play games, which must be a terrible thing to do, and don't play any game I am not enjoying, rather than 'hope' it changes.

 

[Crank Larson]

To reiterate what I suggested earlier, it would be great obsidian orbital is destroyed as part of the story.

OA seems like a decent guy and appears to be winding down his ED content in favour of other things, which is great for him and his fans.

To mirror OA's rise and fall in this in game by destroying the station that bears his name would be poetic - it was created as part of the story that OA was involved in and could be destroyed as part of the same story potentially triggering the on foot Thargoids, as mentioned by robbyp.

Frontier need to be a bit braver with the story, hopefully as the game comes in to it's twilight months they will do so.

I'm sorry, but that looks like a poor excuse made up purely to satisfy spite.

 

[xzanfr]

I'm sorry, but that looks like a poor excuse made up purely to satisfy spite.

You're wrong.

 

[CMDR Karrde Sun]

The more of your explanations I read does indicate that I have a serious lacking in my gaming both present and past, I just play games, which must be a terrible thing to do, and don't play any game I am not enjoying, rather than 'hope' it changes.

Oh, that could be it. Try doing this for a real mmo. Its not all frontier bad, but there are definite positives and negatives in other service games, and there is definitely a higher general standard. Also what we're doing here is not just playing a game we like, but getting involved forum discussions, so do that too.

 

[Sublime]

To reiterate what I suggested earlier, it would be great obsidian orbital is destroyed as part of the story.

OA seems like a decent guy and appears to be winding down his ED content in favour of other things, which is great for him and his fans.

To mirror OA's rise and fall in this in game by destroying the station that bears his name would be poetic - it was created as part of the story that OA was involved in and could be destroyed as part of the same story potentially triggering the on foot Thargoids, as mentioned by robbyp.

Frontier need to be a bit braver with the story, hopefully as the game comes in to it's twilight months they will do so.

We need more unique stations in the game, not less. There are plenty of other generic stations that can be destroyed.

 

[Old Duck]

I'm sorry, but that looks like a poor excuse made up purely to satisfy spite.

You're wrong.

No spite here, not one bit:

You tuber Obsidian Ant used to be an interesting watch for elite dangerous news back in the old days, to such an extent that he has a station and voice acting in the game.
In the last year he's joined the ex-girlfriend gang, putting out videos bemoaning the game and generally being a negative force.
No one is saying the game is perfect - least of all me, but having a clear detractor actually appearing in the game at the expense of people that enjoy it seems perverse.
Can we please rename obsidian orbital and remove OA's voice acting from the game he clearly dislikes.

https://forums.frontier.co.uk/threads/remove-obsidian-orbital.602466/

 

[Northpin]

So what are you selling? Whatever it is, I ain't buying.

I'm not selling anything. Whatever roasting i may give is absolutely free, no monetization involved
(Nope, I dont have a monetized YT channel)

 

[xzanfr]

No spite here, not one bit:


https://forums.frontier.co.uk/threads/remove-obsidian-orbital.602466/

It's not spite, OA has moved on.
FD need to get rid of all the stroppy ex girlfriends hanging about, not playing but making negative and disparaging comments to current players.
I've had a rethink and destroying the station would be significantly better than just removing the name and voice acting.
It would add some interesting story for current players.

 

[Crank Larson]

It's not spite, OA has moved on.
FD need to get rid of all the stroppy ex girlfriends hanging about, not playing but making negative and disparaging comments to current players.

Can you really not see your contradictions here?

 

[Erei]

It's not spite, OA has moved on.
FD need to get rid of all the stroppy ex girlfriends hanging about, not playing but making negative and disparaging comments to current players.
I've had a rethink and destroying the station would be significantly better than just removing the name and voice acting.
It would add some interesting story for current players.

I'd like them to get rid of the over protective step mothers to, but many forum posters wouldn't be able to play anymore. And they are the one paying the bill I guess.

 

[xzanfr]

Can you really not see your contradictions here?

no

 

[CMDR KCalo]

I like bananas.

Bananas are terrible, how can you come on here and say that?! Sorry, just felt you shouldn't be left out of forum etiquette.

 

[Old Duck]

FD need to get rid of all the stroppy ex girlfriends hanging about, not playing but making negative and disparaging comments to current players.
I've had a rethink and destroying the station would be significantly better than just removing the name and voice acting.

Sure, because that'll bring Frontier all sorts of wonderful, positive press. As in, big gamer publication front page news press.

It would add some interesting story for current players.

I absolutely hate to admit this, but I agree with you here. Not in regards to targeting a player in retribution because they aren't regurgitating state-sponsored propaganda, but rather that I would love to see many stations destroyed by Thargoids, rather than merely damaged. Let the next Thargoid invasion be real, carving a path of destruction through the Bubble, leaving decimated systems in a state of anarchy, famine, etc. And I'll even throw you a bone - if Frontier were to use RNG (coupled with war strategy logic) to determine which stations get destroyed, and the dice lands on Obsidian Orbital, I would be okay with that. Otherwise, if Frontier themselves pick and choose, every player will be howling when their favorite station is wiped off the map.

As fun as it sounds, it's not going to happen. But keep suggesting it - I might even start a notebook to track the dates and times of this repeating suggestion. I hear that's what the cool kids do these days

 

[Cmdr. Numa]

Maybe we'll see something like that as last hurrah before the game shuts down. Humanity wiped and joined the Guardians, Bugs reign supreme, game over.