Frontier: Can you please define your understanding of "Limited"

You can get clarification: Just look at the screenshot in the first post of this thread. The Skin was clearly advertised with "Available for a limited time only - OFFER ENDS September 14th".
Okay, you could say that one could fake a screenshot. Right. But what about sources we cannot alter?

The Newsletter #40 clearly stated: "Also, availability of the limited edition flag paint jobs will end this Monday so if you want to grab one before then, go to the store and add them to your basket.".
This newsletter was sent out 2014-09-12: http://us2.campaign-archive1.com/?u=dcbf6b86b4b0c7d1c21b73b1e&id=cbbe7b15e6

So, the were clearly limited time. Nothing else.

Well it doesn't mean they won't be available again for a limited time either ;) I must say though, I don't understand what the point of the limited time availability thing really achieves?
 
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Well it doesn't mean they won't be available again for a limited time either ;)

The issue was never about them being available for a limited time again.

They were removed from being limited within their text description and sold at 1/2 the price, 2 months later.

The issue has always been how Frontier have been sneaky - deliberately or through incompetence (and the fact that there is no clear person who is in charge of this, each department is run separately this seems more likely now) - with all of this micro-transaction stuff, rather than being explicitly clear about their intentions.
 
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Wait, this is about people being mad that their goofy flag paint jobs weren't as exclusive as they assumed they'd be when they read marketing filler?

It doesn't matter what it's about. Company promises A. Company doesn't do A. Company loses trust. Company finds it difficult to sell things because of lack of trust. A can be a discount on a million barrels of oil or the exclusivity of a virtual item.
 
Wait, this is about people being mad that their goofy flag paint jobs weren't as exclusive as they assumed they'd be when they read marketing filler?

Yup. Unless you'd care to have a look at the post below (two above yours), as it sums up the thread pretty nicely.

The wireframe Cobra skin is a red herring on here, other people brought it up and quite frankly no one knows.

As for the Flag skins, the facts are:

1) We were told that they would only be available as limited edition sold at £3 each
2) They would only be on sale until the 14th September
3) They were removed from sale 15th September
4) For Black Friday (so 2 months later), these "limited edition" skins were now on sale for £1.50 each.
5) On some of them the text about them only being on sale until the 14th Sept had been removed, however it was left on the Union Jack and the Stars & Stripes
6) Ed Lewis came on here an confirmed it was a mistake, they would be removed 1st December
7) Since then they have had their images updated and have not been removed - so either A) They never had any intention of doing it or B) Ed simply forgot to tell the people running the store that he said that, and hasn't followed it up since.

Hopefully this is a clear enough summary of the situation.

My own personal feelings on the situation (as OP) - I'm happy to continue purchasing non-limited skins (i.e. £3 or less a skin) and until the situation is clarified going forward I won't be buying any £10 single skins, although this reasonable good will may also dry up soon if things don't get better.

I have no particular issue with the flag skins being on sale again, I just have issue with how it's been dealt with and want Frontier to simply be consistent going forward before I trust them again to purchase at that level. It's really that simple. If you don't apply it consistently then it APPEARS you are nickel and dimeing your customers.
 
Oh okay, so it's not really about how Frontier forced you into buying paintjobs for your computer spaceships for $$ with marketing speak used by pretty much every video game company ever since the invention of the "console exclusive", it's about integrity in ad copy.
 
Do you think it would also be worth mentioning to the design team that the U.S. Flag has 5 pointed stars on it, not 6, as depicted on the 'Stars & Stripes' skin for the Viper. Or am I just being pedantic? :(

You had me counting the points on the skin several times to be sure...they are five poined stars...erm .I think .. :S

The OP has a valid point though (not a star reference :p ) ..
 
Oh okay, so it's not really about how Frontier forced you into buying paintjobs for your computer spaceships for $$ with marketing speak used by pretty much every video game company ever since the invention of the "console exclusive", it's about integrity in ad copy.

Mr Goon,

I see you are new around here. Welcome. You haven't experienced Frontier smiling at you while slapping you on the back of the head yet.

You are correct it is about integrity in ad copy.

You see, for a start we're British and unlike our slovenly cousins over the pond we tend to appreciate the truth more and don't really hold for this wishy-washy marketing speak.

And yes, no one held a gun to my head to buy the skins but I did choose to buy them, then was told what I bought wasn't actually what I got. With physical items I might just have to accept it, but for digital items where there is no scarcity it's a bit different.

Furthermore Frontier have decided to go this alone, without a Publisher to underwrite it and absorb the costs. This means that they have to be directly accountable to the players.

Remember Monoclegate?

If Frontier continue to play fast and loose with this, and don't tighten up the ship then people who have spent hundreds - to thousands - on this game already will not stand to give them any more money. This is not a subscription game, the MT store is the replacement for that.

Already many people have left over gameplay reasons - many more might also when it comes down to their real money.
 
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You had me counting the points on the skin several times to be sure...they are five poined stars...erm .I think.
They were originally six-pointed. When people pointed (heh) out the error, the skins were corrected in-game but not in the shop's thumbnail for some strange reason. Eventually the thumbnail was corrected too, but you'll still find the occasional reference to six-pointed stars in long-lived threads.
 
Those sure are a couple assumptions you've got there. I also just can not get enough of the smarmy pseudo-friendly 'tude that's apparently in vogue with the gamers these days.

Apologies, but it's the fatigue that comes with dealing with some people around these forums. Don't take it personally, it's mostly levity.

Yeah, I'd have to say I have no idea what you're talking about there.

Ahh, well here you go:

http://slnewserextra.blogspot.co.uk/2011/07/eve-onlines-veteran-players-revolt-over.html

http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/22/rumour-leaked-document-shows-ccps-microtransaction-plans/

http://massively.joystiq.com/tag/monocle-gate/

Sadly it seems most of it has been purged from the internet too, like someone was trying to cover their tracks.

Quite simply, and as someone with a vested financial interest in the company, I don't wish to see Frontier slide down the same route. They have a chance to be different, and explicit clear about their intentions.
 
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You had me counting the points on the skin several times to be sure...they are five poined stars...erm .I think .. :S

The OP has a valid point though (not a star reference :p ) ..

They fixed that, as someone (not sure if it was T-Dog who brought it up first) mentioned the error, FYI. They USED to be 6-pointed stars - Now they're the correct 5-pointed stars ;)
 
Can someone rename this forum category to "I have a petty complaint and everyone needs to hear about it right now"?

You could have chose to come in here at any time, not right now - forums don't quite work that way. Also helps if you move from the OP as the issue has moved on from that. Do keep up dear.
 
Ahh, well here you go: http://slnewserextra.blogspot.co.uk/2011/07/eve-onlines-veteran-players-revolt-over.html http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/22/rumour-leaked-document-shows-ccps-microtransaction-plans/ http://massively.joystiq.com/tag/monocle-gate/ Sadly it seems most of it has been purged from the internet too, like someone was trying to cover their tracks. Quite simply, and as someone with a vested financial interest in the company, I don't wish to see Frontier slide down the same route. They have a chance to be different, and explicit clear about their intentions.
What I could get through of those articles before falling unconscious as a result of how incredibly tedious they were made it sound like exactly every other bad microtransaction idea from c. 2006-2015 (my personal favorite was Brad Wardell's "pay per hour" idea he breifly entertained on the Qt3 forum years ago), so I can understand why records of it weren't meticulously preserved.
 
Apologies, but it's the fatigue that comes with dealing with some people around these forums. Don't take it personally, it's mostly levity

Hang in there Titus (snigger) Balls :D

Some of us know what you're trying to do (for those that don't he's trying to help ED/FD) and you should be commended for braving the ire of the forums to accomplish it. You're a better man than me for letting the stupid comments roll off your back (for the most part ;) ) as I probably wouldn't have been as generous or restrained as you have been.
 
What I could get through of those articles before falling unconscious as a result of how incredibly tedious they were made it sound like exactly every other bad microtransaction idea from c. 2006-2015 (my personal favorite was Brad Wardell's "pay per hour" idea he breifly entertained on the Qt3 forum years ago), so I can understand why records of it weren't meticulously preserved.

Unfortunately Frontier's memory of bad microtransaction mishaps seems to be even less preserved than those meticulously created articles, either that or as it would seem to me, those bad ideas made a lot of money. In which case, stay the course, full speed ahead and keep the "limited" they'll be removed yada yada skins up for sale.

It, IMO, would seem to be thus:

Sales: "Hey let's make skins and sell them!"

Marketing: "Great! We'll put them up as a limited time offer to increase sales!"

Developement: "Great idea! We'll churn some out for you when we get the time!"

Public Relations: "This is great! We'll announce it and plaster it all over the place!"

Sales: "Wow, these things are going like gangbusters!" @Developement "Make more!"

Development: "Ok, [grumble], it ain't like we don't have enough on our plate with this screwed up rush to get barebones features out the door."

Sales: "Wow, these things are going like gangbusters!"

Fans: "Uh, hey guys, those "limited time" skins are not only back up, they're a fraction of the cost they originally were, what gives?"

Public Relations: "Woops!, that was a mistake and we'll fix it ASAP!"

Sales: "Wow, these things are going like gangbusters!"

Public Relations: [crickets]

It doesn't matter that this most likely isn't even close to what actually happened, what DOES matter is this is pretty close to what the public sees as how it happened. THAT would be what (IMO, correct me if I'm wrong Titus) what matters, is hurting FD / ED and what TB is trying to bring to FD's attention. I could be wrong, I usually am but, this "limited skin" thing is just one more thing on the list of loose ends that have people's eyebrows up.
 
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