Rant: Frontier and closure of threads.
- Thread starter Droolguy
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Of course, if Frontier were too easy going with their refund policy they'd just be operating a software lending library, not running a business. 
Some people just don't seem to understand the mentality of crowd funding projects, you are not buying a product on face value; you are supporting the creation of that product.
I bought into Alpha on the day it was available for release on the strength of the Youtube videos going up. Similarly to OP, my eyes misting with nostalgia, I travelled via the Kickstarter webpage to the storefront. It was clear to me that I was joining the party train late, so I wouldn't get any of the 'Founder's Perks.' that had been available at the beginning of the ride. That seemed fair enough to me as I hadn't risked my £200 backing at the point where there was a real risk that the game might not get developed at all. I guess I have the 'founders' to thank for it getting this far.
Perhaps it might have been helpful on the store page to list what would not be included from the original Kickstarter rewards. That being said, what I was going to get for my money was clearly listed on the storefront page as far as I'm concerned. I'm sorry this wasn't the perception of OP-it's clear he is very upset and disappointed by this, but there it is.
As far as thread-locking goes, well, the devil is in the delivery I think. Saying you're unhappy/angry/disappointed etc. about something is fine, but there are too many people who seem to be incapable of doing this without emotionally combusting and making it impossible for other people to offer them help in the process to sort things out. I'm quite sad to say I see it as much in real life as I do on forum messageboards.
Being angry or even feeling strongly about something is not a reasonable excuse for being rude and downright nasty to others. The first man to begin trading insults is the first man to run out of intelligent ideas.
Perhaps it might have been helpful on the store page to list what would not be included from the original Kickstarter rewards. That being said, what I was going to get for my money was clearly listed on the storefront page as far as I'm concerned. I'm sorry this wasn't the perception of OP-it's clear he is very upset and disappointed by this, but there it is.
As far as thread-locking goes, well, the devil is in the delivery I think. Saying you're unhappy/angry/disappointed etc. about something is fine, but there are too many people who seem to be incapable of doing this without emotionally combusting and making it impossible for other people to offer them help in the process to sort things out. I'm quite sad to say I see it as much in real life as I do on forum messageboards.
Being angry or even feeling strongly about something is not a reasonable excuse for being rude and downright nasty to others. The first man to begin trading insults is the first man to run out of intelligent ideas.
I didn't buy the alpha, but i am enjoying it.
I played the original a lot. I played the subsequent releases a lot too. I plan to play this new one a lot and that is why i bought into the game.
From a scan of the original post - i guess you bought something and want a refund and they said no. You've posted a few items that were aggressive vs a person/department and the mods closed it because it conflicts with the posting rules (they didn't delete it..?).
I played WoW for years. I stopped playing because i got bored of it, but if you consider the sub fees then i must have paid over £1,000 for the "privilege" of their permanent "gamma" test. Extra for the expansions too...
I don't know of a current game that doesn't use it's player base as a test. At least with ED you know what it is you are buying at this stage (plenty of videos) and you'd have to really want to play the game to buy the alpha.
If you clicked on next a few times, entered all the required details and another next for £xyz but didn't read any of the details, then it's not really the fault of anyone at FD. If you're not sure, ask before you accept!
My suggestion for any future transactions of virtual stuff (that you could quite easily live without, if not so happily) = Don't spend what you can't afford.
I played the original a lot. I played the subsequent releases a lot too. I plan to play this new one a lot and that is why i bought into the game.
From a scan of the original post - i guess you bought something and want a refund and they said no. You've posted a few items that were aggressive vs a person/department and the mods closed it because it conflicts with the posting rules (they didn't delete it..?).
I played WoW for years. I stopped playing because i got bored of it, but if you consider the sub fees then i must have paid over £1,000 for the "privilege" of their permanent "gamma" test. Extra for the expansions too...
I don't know of a current game that doesn't use it's player base as a test. At least with ED you know what it is you are buying at this stage (plenty of videos) and you'd have to really want to play the game to buy the alpha.
If you clicked on next a few times, entered all the required details and another next for £xyz but didn't read any of the details, then it's not really the fault of anyone at FD. If you're not sure, ask before you accept!
My suggestion for any future transactions of virtual stuff (that you could quite easily live without, if not so happily) = Don't spend what you can't afford.
Europe passed a law last year saying that software licences can be resold, regardless of a companies TOS you may resell your software asset.
Software yeah, but not service.
Very well said and eloquently put
To be fair there is a lack of professionalism on the moderation of the forums with posts being deleted without real cause. If you've invested in this game then even the negative posts should be addressed in a professional way.
People have concerns and frankly the whole Online Store has been handled very poorly using the word "Discount" for access to Alpha particulary misleading.
Perhaps in future have a policy and stick with it and allow those who have paid for this venture to have their say good or bad.
People have concerns and frankly the whole Online Store has been handled very poorly using the word "Discount" for access to Alpha particulary misleading.
Perhaps in future have a policy and stick with it and allow those who have paid for this venture to have their say good or bad.
I have had good customer service.
I backed (prior to online store) for standard beta, waited too long to decide I wanted to go deep and get alpha, decided I would pay the GBP200 and use it on a second account, as I want to keep the extras from backing BUT I unfortunately added the 2nd purchase to my existing account. I contacted support and Ashley kindly refunded my GBP200 which I then used a 2nd account to repurchase Alpha. I will use that second account until standard beta and hand it over to my son as I take over my primary account at that point.
Sounds rather complicated? Welcome to my world.
Anyway, Ashley was receptive and helpful in making me a satisfied customer.
Now, had I already used the account my experience might have been less satisfying but I can see the company's side of it. Alpha is one purchase, not broken up into pieces. They are not selling Alpha 1.0, 1.1, 2.0, 3.0, etc.
But I'm not posting to argue your complaint. I posted to say my experience is different than yours, yet, highly indicative that Frontier is not 'uncaring' towards it's customers.
Am I an Elite "fanboy"? Hmm, that depends on your definition. I only played Elite 1 although I tried Oolite recently. I have dreamed of this game for decades (the way it's shaping up) and how great it COULD be. I won't be replying to debate on this thread though. I just wanted to share that I feel Ashley (and Frontier) have satisfied MY expectations. YMMV
I backed (prior to online store) for standard beta, waited too long to decide I wanted to go deep and get alpha, decided I would pay the GBP200 and use it on a second account, as I want to keep the extras from backing BUT I unfortunately added the 2nd purchase to my existing account. I contacted support and Ashley kindly refunded my GBP200 which I then used a 2nd account to repurchase Alpha. I will use that second account until standard beta and hand it over to my son as I take over my primary account at that point.
Sounds rather complicated? Welcome to my world.
Anyway, Ashley was receptive and helpful in making me a satisfied customer.
Now, had I already used the account my experience might have been less satisfying but I can see the company's side of it. Alpha is one purchase, not broken up into pieces. They are not selling Alpha 1.0, 1.1, 2.0, 3.0, etc.
But I'm not posting to argue your complaint. I posted to say my experience is different than yours, yet, highly indicative that Frontier is not 'uncaring' towards it's customers.
Am I an Elite "fanboy"? Hmm, that depends on your definition. I only played Elite 1 although I tried Oolite recently. I have dreamed of this game for decades (the way it's shaping up) and how great it COULD be. I won't be replying to debate on this thread though. I just wanted to share that I feel Ashley (and Frontier) have satisfied MY expectations. YMMV
Sorry, but you are talking nonsense. There are almost no deleted threads here, and most of them are getting merged or moved to other subforums due of offtopic. Please stay on facts if you have some arguments against moderation done here.
That's a bit harsh. I think the mods are of a high standard and show a very good level of professionalism, given they're volunteers.
Where I could possibly agree with your overall message (if I read it right) is that the degree of moderation is that of a friendly hobby forum, rather than a commercial product forum. If people want to rant and rage about stuff, just let them... they'll burn up or calm down soon enough, it's just not worth it. And people do have the right, given they've purchased goods (let's not get into the "Kickstarter is not a purchase" thing again as many have since bought via the store"), to rant and rave and complain and criticise, if they so wish. Frontier is a commercial outfit, not a charity or a bunch of hobbyists supporting a free product.
Could we not have a 'Complaints' section on the forum? That would give people an outlet, while not clogging the General section with stuff that most of us don't really want to be bothered with.
I have bought a packet of biscuits at the supermarket. I opened the package, ate 5% of biscuits and I brought back the rest to the supermarket to be reimbursed for what remains. They have refused. Incomprehensibly
I have bought a packet of biscuits at the supermarket. I opened the package, ate 5% of biscuits and I brought back the rest to the supermarket to be reimbursed for what remains. They have refused. Incomprehensibly
Crumbs.
That takes the biscuit.
This is a really good idea. But only complaints are of public utility and are used to improve things
I don't think we should put or hide them somewhere. Most of complains benefit from attention from helpful members of forum. Some like this are hard to address, because people disagree with FD, in result no one can help them really.
I think mandatory topic (currently about upgrading to alpha) should be about seeking help in case of misunderstanding and problems, so people would see that thing first, and they would reach help as soon as possible.
My thoughts exactly. I know of not one occasion where a thread or post has been deleted. There may have been instances where a post has been moderated for unpleasantness (very rare) or some other reason but certainly no deletions
I have bought a packet of biscuits at the supermarket. I opened the package, ate 5% of biscuits and I brought back the rest to the supermarket to be reimbursed for what remains. They have refused. Incomprehensibly
That's outrageous... I know a good lawyer if you need one!
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