Think you still have to buy it with credits, it just becomes available for purchase if you're eligible for it.
I noticed this yesterday and I decided to actually do some research into the matter.
(since I distinctly remember Michael previously making a statement that contradicted this one.)
TL;DR Summary: During the Lifetime pass offer, Frontier made very clear but conflicting statements on different media platforms and was ambiguous on the main purchase page.
In some examples it was clearly stated that the cobra was Free, while in others it was ambiguous.
As far as I can find, the only place where it was CLEARLY stated prior to September that the offer was for
access to the ship was during a twitch steam that I could only find via a third party Youtube post.
In all examples, the language clearly names "the cobra mk IV" as a noun, implying that the object itself is the item being offered.
The Official purchase page was not corrected to be clear until a full month after horizons became available for pre-order.
Additionally, the edit to the purchase page was a single line change with nothing to draw attention to it. Anyone who read the offer prior to the change and then returned afterwords to purchase would not have seen this subtle difference.
While the intent may be clear in retrospect and after research, that was not the case at the time many of us made the purchase.
Any existing player who was was exposed to marketing materials or purchased the preorder prior to September 2nd and did not watch the gamecom Twitch stream with David Braben was likely under the impression that the cobra mk IV was included as a reward.
Frontier needs to address this in some way.
--------
Supporting Details:
Score Card:
Free: 4
Ambiguous: 2
Purchase: 2
Past history:
Kickstarter backers receIved the viper MK IV as a thank you reward.
Comment>
This is not listed on the score card, but demonstrates a past history of giving ships directly to players.
05 August, 2015:
Twitter post by @DavidBraben:
"I think you're mistaken. You're UK so should be £30 for an existing player or £40 for a new player. Plus you get Cobra Mk4."
Comment>
This statement was ambiguous and easily misunderstood.
05 August, 2015:
Frontier Forum post by Michael Brooks
"If you own Elite: Dangerous and Elite Dangerous: Horizons then you get the Cobra MkIV"
Comment>
This was in reply to a question DIRECTLY asking
if pre-order purchasers "will get the Cobra Mk IV or if it will be available for pre-order(ers) to purchase in game."
In context this statement was very clearly in support of the cobra being given with no in-game purchase.
05 August, 2015:
Lifetime Purchase pass @ Frontier Store:
"will receive a £10 loyalty discount plus the exclusive Cobra Mark IV ship"
Comment>
This is the only mention of the cobra on this page, period.
On it's own, this could hardly be argued to be ambiguous.
05 August, 2015:
David Braben statement on Gamescom Twitch Stream:
" They get access to it. You still have to buy it in the game.."
Comment>
This is extremely clear. You get access to the ship, but do not get the ship.
08 August, 2015:
Horizons preorder @ Frontier store:
"will receive a £10 loyalty discount plus the exclusive Cobra Mark IV ship";
"and unlocking the exclusive ‘Cobra Mk IV’ "
Comment>
The first quote does not seem to be ambiguous, but the second quote states "unlocking", which lends itself to requiring purchase..
however, this was edited on 16/08/2015 (see below)
11 August, 2015:
Facebook post:
"Existing players can take advantage of a loyalty discount and a free Cobra Mk IV."
Comment>
This statement was not ambiguous in any way.
"A free Cobra Mk IV" does not imply that players only get access to purchase the ship.
13-16 August, 2015:
Edit to Horizons Preorder @ Frontier store:
"The Cobra Mark IV will be added to your account when Elite Dangerous: Horizons Lands."
Edit to Lifetime Purchase pass @ Frontier Store:
"The Cobra Mark IV will be added to your account when Elite Dangerous: Horizons Lands."
Comment>
This was retroactively added to both purchase pages.
This clearly states that "[The ship] will be added to your account" No mention of access at all, only the object in question.
02 September, 2015:
Edit to Horizons Preorder @ Frontier store:
"Those who take advantage of this offer will be able to purchase the Cobra MkIV in-game"
Edit to Lifetime Purchase pass @ Frontier Store:
"Those who take advantage of this offer will be able to purchase the Cobra MkIV in-game"
Comment>
New edit to both pages. Very Clear. You buy the game, you can buy the exclusive ship.
Finally fixed, A MONTH LATE.
However, There were NO formatting changes to draw attention to this edit.
Anyone who read the page prior to the changes and then returned to order the game later would NOT have seen this edit.
