Request for *some* transparency with the dev team? It would be mutually beneficial! :)

[CMDR Rhatigan]

Hi Frontier,

I just wanted to recommend you start sharing some development updates with the community. I recently saw another game company show their burn-down chart, and some information from recent check-ins to their source control and...... Everyone has been LOVING it! If you're more transparent about the work that's being done (surprises can stay secret of course), then the community will 100% understand when there's minor setbacks or new bugs that are found. I know that much of the time spent is on bug-fixing, but when the patch notes come out everyone immediately checks the 'new features' list and is upset when it's short. With transparency they would understand the amount of bugs that are fixed every step of the way and not be surprised by the lack of new features, despite having a much more solid game to play.

Coming from the software development industry (as I'm sure a decent amount of the player base are in various STEM fields), many of us are familiar with project life cycles, agile development, 'stories', 'epics', etc. etc. I just think it would relieve a lot of the stress that's on you guys release after release where the community is kept almost entirely in the dark and gets unreasonably upset. *Disclaimer: I'm NOT referring to this release specifically, just speaking in general terms!

Even some brief dev updates (written or short videos IN the studio would be cool) and very high-level roadmaps/epics would be welcomed with open arms!

Just wanted to pass along the information, as I believe it would be a HUGE help on your end, and keep the community's trust on the up & up No need to keep ALL the info hidden while development is underway, just the hush-hush secrets!

Take care,
CMDR Rhatigan

 

[CMDR Cosmic Spacehead]

+1

I'm incredibly nosey and I love knowing what's going on.
More updates please!

CMDR Cosmic Spacehead

 

[SubComM]

Yes, absolutely. At the end of the day, this game lives and dies with the community. More transparency only humanizes developers more and actively encourages the best in players. When developers are open with their struggles they are no longer seen as a disconnected aristocracy but rather as hard working people. Likewise, players cease to be seen as inconsistent children crying for this or that new bauble and instead become supportive and constructively critical co-creators.

Transparency now! Transparency forever!

P.S. I love Elite Dangerous

 

[CMDR Rhatigan]

Exactly my point, guys!! I just hope someone from FDev actually sees this post.. I've made other suggestions in the past and haven't gotten any feedback.. worried that this sub-thread doesn't get as much traffic as the main 'Dangerous Discussions' one

And this one is, I like to think, my best suggestion by a long-shot. The company I work for stays pretty transparent with our customers and we've pushed releases back upwards of 6 months without any complaints because they were kept in the loop every step of the way!

 

[SubComM]

In the spirit of your idea Rhatigan, I can understand how suggestions take a back seat to bug fixes. One can talk about adding a porch, but it seems a bit premature when the roof is leaking (or something like that). That said, if the FDevs are in need of a go-to for keeping players in the loop on their work, well, CMDR Rhatigan here gets my vote for a stipend

 

[CMDR Rhatigan]

In the spirit of your idea Rhatigan, I can understand how suggestions take a back seat to bug fixes. One can talk about adding a porch, but it seems a bit premature when the roof is leaking (or something like that). That said, if the FDevs are in need of a go-to for keeping players in the loop on their work, well, CMDR Rhatigan here gets my vote for a stipend

Much appreciated! haha

 

[metatheurgist]

Frontier have already said they will be doing a preview of what's to come at their expo (Oct 7). The devs when they are on Ed's streams will answer questions about anything they can. They used to do this more frequently but they've wound that back a bit. I think if they went back to how forthcoming they were at the start of the game that'd be fine. Also, that company you mention hasn't released anything in 5 years. And they keep showing things that never turn up in the game. Not exactly a sterling example to follow.

 

[CMDR Rhatigan]

Frontier have already said they will be doing a preview of what's to come at their expo (Oct 7). The devs when they are on Ed's streams will answer questions about anything they can. They used to do this more frequently but they've wound that back a bit. I think if they went back to how forthcoming they were at the start of the game that'd be fine. Also, that company you mention hasn't released anything in 5 years. And they keep showing things that never turn up in the game. Not exactly a sterling example to follow.

If anything you just helped my point.. they haven't even released anything yet but are still able to keep a large fan base happy due to transparency! lol of course I'm not saying that company's release schedule (or lack thereof) is a good model to follow.. but if they've done anything right, it's communication with their community.

 

[Madrax573]

It's all well and good when you have people who understand development cycles and tech limitations.

But.

When the average Joe or whiney gamer doesn't get what they want yesterday without bugs and stuff I can understand why FD keeps quiet as lot of the time. Games are a very different scenario than tech projects (I've done way too many to even liken them tbh)

Yes I'd like to see a bit more info on pipeline stuff but I'm happy not to see the details as quite frankly it's none of my business. I'll demonstrate my satisfaction with FD product easily enough if i don't like it.

 

[NW3]

Yes, I'd like to see more info from the developers, even though it will likely arouse the ire of some forum members.

 

[dogsolitude_uk]

+1

But I'll make it clear that it's purely because I'm interested in game development and what FDev have on their roadmap. As a dev myself I know only too well the pain of sharing one's roadmap with the Great Unwashed only to have it used as a weapon of grief and shame against you a couple of months down the line because unforeseen technical issues delayed someone's favourite milestone.

Sometimes openness about the technical issues being faced is understood by stakeholders, other times when we hit bumps in the road or have to abandon something that turns out to be unfeasible it can be really difficult to justify in terms they can relate to.