Python Mk II & Updates To The Gamestore

[Slopey]

Plus exclusive content. The Python II is definitely exclusive content.

Well, it's not exclusive, in that everyone (with Odyssey granted - but then anyone with an LEP has Ody already) gets it in August regardless, and to play devils advocate (although I do get your meaning), the exclusive content is qualified by the beta build statement.

But if you want to take this sort of stuff further, you'll need to talk to FD legal if that's where you're going with it. Semantics is above my (non existent) pay grade.

 

[amigacooke]

It was included with Horizons, which LEP holders got for free
So it was part of an expansion

Horizons was an expansion, in your next post it was an update.

It was understood that LEPERS paid for cosmetics, but the Python 2 is a little more than a reshaped Python ... or perhaps it isn't.

 

[Slopey]

Horizons was an expansion, in your next post it was an update.

It was understood that LEPERS paid for cosmetics, but the Python 2 is a little more than reshaped Python ... or perhaps it isn't.

Ok - ok - I'm catching up.

yes - you are correct. Horizons and Ody were "expansions" and LEPs got them. LEPs have got all "updates" to the game since they purchased the LEP.

Which particular update have you not received? And which one will you not receive going forward?

 

[amigacooke]

Which particular update have you not received?

None until the Python 2, that's rather the point

 

[Slopey]

None until the Python 2, that's rather the point

You'll get the update, you just won't get it to appear in game until August.

So either pony up, or contact FDev - either way, it has nothing to do with me.

 

[Jack Winter]

Wait, what?? I can make ARX in Legacy and they add up to my ARX balance in the store??

You can earn up to 2 x 400 ARX per week for your frontier account playing both legacy and live, but some bling will only apply to live..

 

[Jack Winter]

A tenner now, a tenner for the next.....hold on, the first was successful, so why not make it 15 ? And once 4 ships are out, all with early access, it's already almost the total price of an expansion. Just NO. What I was asking for the past few weeks was a release date for the Python MK II. We have that now. The three months wait for the general release is nothing compared to 6 years wait since the last ship.

I can easily afford the ARX required, but I won't support this move. Give me a new ship kit, a paintjob I like, and I'll buy. A ship, even if it comes with paintjob and shipkit ? No.

If one considers that the price for the Odyssey DLC is about a tenner, just like the new ships, it'd be a wee bit daft to pay for a ship instead of the DLC..

IMO, just for purists..

 

[amigacooke]

You'll get the update, you just won't get it to appear in game until August.

So either pony up, or contact FDev - either way, it has nothing to do with me.

I agree, but you butted in, not me.

Has it occured to you that this principal could be applied to updates and expansions and for longer time periods? If the principlel is sound, it could be used to so undermine the LEP as to make them essentially worthless.

 

[Jack Winter]

\

Horizons 4.0 players will only be able to access the python MK2 by buying it in the Arx store.

For the same price as the entire DLC.

 

[Ian Skippy]

Well, it's not exclusive, in that everyone (with Odyssey granted - but then anyone with an LEP has Ody already) gets it in August regardless, and to play devils advocate (although I do get your meaning), the exclusive content is qualified by the beta build statement.

But if you want to take this sort of stuff further, you'll need to talk to FD legal if that's where you're going with it. Semantics is above my (non existent) pay grade.

I dont have a LEP, but LEP holders always got beta/alpha access for everything so far. Which makes perfect sense. They might legally not be required to offer it now, but it is such a sleazy move for so few pennies that it reinforces the reputation FD has been building the last few years.

 

[Slopey]

I agree, but you butted in, not me.

Has it occured to you that this principal could be applied to updates and expansions and for longer time periods? If the principal is sound, it could be used to so undermine the LEP as to make them essentially worthless.

To be perfectly honest, if it's a choice between continuing to fund ED and keeping the server hamsters fed, or the suits turning it off, I'm happy to pay whatever.

 

[amigacooke]

To be perfectly honest, if it's a choice between continuing to fund ED and keeping the server hamsters fed, or the suits turning it off, I'm happy to pay whatever.

You have my sympathy as Frontier have you over a barrel it seems.

I hope they treat you well.

Good night.

 

[BDelacroix]

I agree, but you butted in, not me.

Has it occured to you that this principal could be applied to updates and expansions and for longer time periods? If the principlel is sound, it could be used to so undermine the LEP as to make them essentially worthless.

Worthless? Divide what you spent on LEP by hours of play . You'll probably find its pretty cheap entertainment. For me it is about 4 cents an hour. Besides, I paid LEP to support development, the rest is icing and I haven't missed any expansion yet.

 

[Slopey]

You have my sympathy as Frontier have you over a barrel it seems.

I hope they treat you well.

Good night.

Not really - I just enjoy the game and I'm happy to pay a bit for stuff that increases its longevity, rather than them turn it off sooner.

If you don't like it, you don't need to, in which case it should be no loss to you.

Night night.

 

[EvoBeardy]

You have my sympathy as Frontier have you over a barrel it seems.

I hope they treat you well.

Good night.

I mean, it's personal choice, which is a wonderful thing, being that it's personal.
Being "bent over a barrel" and wanting to freely "support a game we currently enjoy playing" are two very different things.
While I genuinely respect and appreciate LEP holders, because they backed the game significantly in the early days, I can also see that "technically" this could be considered alongside that train of thought (make sense, even if they access the upcoming ships via a BETA build tied with the ship's rollout at least), but you laying on open displeasure like that is basically saying they're wrong for wanting to support this game going forwards, when nobody would slate on you for making your choice NOT to pay for items going forwards.
If you calculated what LEP holders have had up to this point (not including the future that falls in line with their promises) at pre-order/release-price for others, it doesn't look like a terrible deal so far still, does it?

We can all have our own thoughts and feelings on this, but the fact of the matter is that FDEV is a business, they need to appease their shareholders and higher ups if they're going to continue adding to the game and not just bare minimum support until they decide to end it because it's not bringing in a constant and decent enough revenue stream. As long as they don't fluff their actions up going forwards by hard paywalling, these are strategies they need to try out to keep putting into the game for us.

I'll admit, maybe 3 months is maybe a bit much, I think 1 month would be more fair (and I'm still buying the Python's early access either way, I've been waiting too damn long for a new ship and the Python holds a special place in my heart), but either way it's an optional purchase as people still get it later and won't limit playing of the game.
Unlike the (currently) Cobra IV, the one-time CG weps/modules or Ody itself (Horizons when it was standalone too).

This is still a fresh and super vague announcement, hopefully aired issues and feelings can be attended to in the upcoming stream and/or future Forum posts.

 

[metatheurgist]

Arthur is in a dark corner of a deep cellar in a deep cave in a far off forgotten region . Rocking himself and wonder why the hell did I sign up for this

Meanwhile Sally....

fdev talks to players about a new addition to answer 10 questions

There are now 20 questions needing answers.

As you are about to find out regarding PP2.0

Tired of waiting 4 weeks and transporting propaganda to get your shiny Prizzys? For the low, low cost of 5000 arx....

Right, that's a big difference.

 

[PCGN-ED]

Since 2015, Elite Dangerous has been my go-to game. While I've dabbled in other titles over the years, none have captivated me quite like Elite. It's not perfect, sure—I have my wish list of improvements—but its unique blend of gameplay keeps me coming back. Elite caters to a diverse range of players, whether you're an explorer, a bounty hunter, a PvPer, PvE player, a miner, or a Thargoid hunter. The inclusion of Powerplay and BGS allows groups of players to leave their mark on the galaxy.

Even after all this time, Elite continues to impress me. I've been a staunch supporter, investing in cosmetics long before ARX was a thing, and continuing to do so afterward. I'm genuinely excited about the upcoming changes, a game like Elite needs to evolve to stay current.

I'm glad Frontier is exploring new revenue streams for the game. At the end of the day, profitability ensures that Elite receives the attention it deserves, with fixes and new features to keep things fresh.

As for the complaints about paying for content and the so-called "pay-to-win" accusations—let's put things into perspective. Are pre-engineered ships for sale really going to make or break our gameplay experience? I think not.

For me, this announcement signals a commitment to the game's future, and I'm all for it. After all, Elite Dangerous is not just a game, it's a living universe that we all love being a part of. Here's to its continued success!

 

[Morbad]

Ahm, have you seen the Stanfield sales on console ??? Trust me, the money is there

The difference is that Starfield mostly works on consoles. Odyssey doesn't.

I haven't missed any expansion yet.

I know we all knew it was a gamble, but how many LEP holders would have made their purchase if they knew in advance there would be two paid expansions in ten years?

Personally, I don't have an regrets, but there is no way I'd have bought a LEP if I had that foreknowledge.

I'm happy to pay a bit for stuff that increases its longevity, rather than them turn it off sooner.

I'm doubtful this will change the support timeline of the game unless it's successful enough to radically change the game.

The optimal revenue vs. amount of in-game stuff for sale in a game like this (with a low, upfront, mandatory cost) is often heavily slanted toward catering to a tiny slice of players that will pay through the nose. If it turns out that one whale player is worth a thousand others (as is the case with several other MMOs I'm aware of), they aren't going to do anything but cater to those whales. In this kind of scenario, where microtransactions and P2W becomes pervasive, most of the player base would likely have more access to a better game if Frontier turned off what was left of Elite: Dangerous.

Then again, if the transition is gradual enough, most of the player base will be replaced without much fanfare. Very few of the people I originally played the game with are still around, and not because they tired of the game they were playing, but because the game they were playing is long gone.

 

[Cosmo]

A tenner now, a tenner for the next.....hold on, the first was successful, so why not make it 15 ? And once 4 ships are out, all with early access, it's already almost the total price of an expansion.

The current price for Odyssey is low for the amount of content and features. The average price of a big game expansion is double that. So Odyssey is being sold at a bargain price. ED (base game)'s price was reduced too and includes Horizons for free. A tenner is the equivalent of a small pizza.

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You can say it's a slippery slope, but a few months early access for ships and pre-built ships for ARX is fair imo. Those who prefer to wait will get the ship too. Those who prefer to upgrade ships by themselves can do that too.

Do you want more substantial updates? More ships? More DLC? More expansions? If so then early access for ARX and pre-built ships for ARX are necessary to keep ED alive. Without such support nobody will be happy if the lights go out:

 

[Hugh Bourbaki]

Controversial take, if FDEV came out and said that they needed to just raise some aliquot of money for the continued survival and development of Elite I would be willing to donate without any qualm. This whole announcement has me waffling a great deal and I am no longer sure where I stand on many of these issues anymore as long as there is no massive imbalance introduced. I have had some strong opinions earlier and now they are softer.

I hope everyone can agree that they want Elite to continue and to improve and that is what I hope is the underlying goal of the decisions behind the announcement. Perhaps additional communications about the motivation and decision making process will allow us to understand the goals of FDEV with Elite.

o7 CMDRs, see you in the black