Special Treatment & Favouritism?

[Cosmos]

So I've noticed that Frontier have quietly implemented group decals for a handful of groups who took part in their 'dangerous games'. Whilst I don't begrudge anyone a bespoke group decal this strikes me as being completely unfair to everyone else. You know, all the other players and groups. I spoke to Zac a while back about my concerns and whilst it was great of him to spend the time to talk to me about it I wasn't really convinced by his defence of this sort of thing

I've long suspected Frontier have their favourites but now they are actively showing it. Arbitrarily giving special treatment and favours to certain people/groups is something I have never seen from a developer anywhere else. Ultimately my largest concern here isn't about a few cosmetics but how this will naturally affect their choices when it comes to the planning of the game.

There is a history of this too: Triple AAA groups, Special decals for the distant worlds crew, a station named after a well known youtuber, a special little sidewinder for lave radio and so on (what about radio sidewinder?). Not trying to point the finger at anyone in particular, just showing some examples. Whilst its a nice gesture for those on the reciving end its not so good for everyone else because if you aren't buddying up with Frontier, or doing what they approve of, you don't get these special rewards. And in all likelyhood you won't be getting the game god modded in your favour either, or have a harrassment policy implemented just for your special group... In all my years of gaming I've never seen a company be so blatantly biased and openly exhibit signs of favouritism. I'm not green with envy either before anyone suggests it, its the principle that matters.

But hey, why not just do something wonderful for the game and community and we might also become a new favourite or have a special reward? We shouldn't have to. Who gets to decide whats worthy anyway? Do we really want to be bending over backwards to gain favour with the company and is this how it all should work? Surely, we should all be equal in game and be equally important to Frontier as customers and backers. Sadly we really don't seem to be. This affects everyone.

Whether its by design, or unwittingly a result of being enthusiastic, I find this to be grossly unfair and when it comes to the dangerous games I get the impression Frontier were engaged in gerrymandering.

I wonder if I have this wrong? Perhaps this is all a bit of harmless enthusiasm from Frontier. Curious to know what everyone else thinks..

 

[babelfisch]

I see where you are coming from but don't see it as a problem.

 

[dynamicbob]

Lots of Community goals and other support for large player groups, its all well known. its up to the wider player base to stop engaging in the content taht benefits the player groups to much ( wide open improvements for sure) Im on the fence, there are benefits and drawbacks in special behind the scene deals and co operation with player groups. The biggest get the most attention but its common in a lot of larger mmos.......

There are some noises now about colonia and CCN, and several other player groups have been infiltrated and members recruited by some rogue elements of CCN (which is an open organisaton) but with their recent directive that their members only sell exploration data to colonia controlled stations, the non player group seems to be becoming a player group which sends some red lights

It does give the game some attention, but theres still a lot of holes and lack of content in the game that player groups cant really bring, and i think Frontier still has at least one eye on the ball so its not all bad

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I see where you are coming from but don't see it as a problem.

Its an ongoing issue that has both up and downsides to it, im sure Fdev will continue to walk a fine line.

 

[charognard]

And ? In fact you want a special decals ? FD give little (insignifiant) rewards to some ppl making live some great player based events, and i don't see any problem with it...

 

[Avago Earo]

I know what you mean. Thing is, I can't comment any further, as asbestos is bad for one's health.

 

[Cosmos]

And ? In fact you want a special decals ? FD give little (insignifiant) rewards to some ppl making live some great player based events, and i don't see any problem with it...

Can you name me another developer/game who does this?

 

[drzdeano]

Im jealous too but damn, its just a crappy decal. No need to get all upset.

 

[dynamicbob]

Can you name me another developer/game who does this?

CCP Games, but i think community and group ideas at this point especially on the background simulation could be a good thing for frontier and FD ( as long as FD listen and help the player groups with more minor faction tools)

And as long as frontier remain accessible in some way to all player groups big and small and responsive then i find that acceptible balance as well

 

[Cosmos]

Im jealous too but damn, its just a crappy decal. No need to get all upset.

Its not about jealousy, nor am I 'upset'. I am however greatly concerned about the effect Frontiers bias and favouritism has upon the game, and ultimately my experience of it.

 

[vrseven]

Its not about jealousy, nor am I 'upset'. I am however greatly concerned about the effect Frontiers bias and favouritism has upon the game, and ultimately my experience of it.

This also applies to FDs customer service. They can restore ANYTHING they want to when you lose in game items when the ship is destroyed due to a known bug, but they only restore ALL items for some players not all. Whats up with that?

 

[drzdeano]

What would you prefer? they didnt interact with the community?

its a reward for much time and effort those groups put in to the competition

unfortunately not everyone can experience such a personalized approach.

i'm glad fdev can appreciate the benefit of player groups , even tho they avoid to committing any in-game recognition , which is disappointing...

 

[Howe]

I don't see a problem in giving out little rewards for players creating emergent content. And no, I don't know of any other developer that does this; I also don't see why it matters or why I should care.

 

[DarthRavadge]

I think it's a good thing. If a group or individual does something to enrich the game, or wins a sponsored event, then why shouldn't they get something in return? Seems fair to me. It's just a cosmetic. They are known to give out freebies on livestreams and special events to anyone in attendance also. Participation.

 

[dynamicbob]

What would you prefer? they didnt interact with the community?

its a reward for much time and effort those groups put in to the competition

i'm glad fdev can appreciate the benefit of player groups , even tho they avoid to committing any in-game recognition , which is disappointing...

Dont be selective in who they interact with, make sure many groups not just favourite ones, a balance must be kept. A lot of gropus put in effort outside of the dangerous games, that project is now done and dusted, there shouldnt be an ongoing reward just because they failed. But then again engagement with them and others is also a good balance.

Theres a lot of gropus who werent involved in the competition who are larger and quiter and feel like they have got the short end of the straw. Strengthen minor factions and the background sim, move away from so many community goals towards a more complex and naturally evolving galaxy where everyone can benefit, remember only 3% or so of players are actually in player groups of any form 97% of the player base are just solo and do their own thing (Fdev needs to keep these in mind)

 

[CMDR Pugwash]

These people are contributing to the ED universe. I think it is great that FD recognise this and reward them in these ways. It enhances the community and provides incentive to others. All you need to do is contribute in a similar manor and I'm sure they'll do you one too.

 

[dynamicbob]

I don't see a problem in giving out little rewards for players creating emergent content. And no, I don't know of any other developer that does this; I also don't see why it matters or why I should care.

A lot of new procedural dynamic systems can be created and a lot of content creation can be automated ( 0.0 sov mechanics in eve online, guild mechanics and settlement mechanics in other mmos which dont require continued dev intervention

Procedural and automatic content creation tools are created by devs and then its up to player gropus and individuals as to how they use them, totally seperate from an inhouse developer tie in. That is the best way forward, the background sim needs a massive overhaul and upgrade though

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These people are contributing to the ED universe. I think it is great that FD recognise this and reward them in these ways. It enhances the community and provides incentive to others. All you need to is contribute in a similar manor and I'm sure they'll do you one too.

But what about those groups that contribute to the ED universe and when they try to make contact with the devs, they are ignored because they arent on the favourites list, that creates a lot of discouragement and lost player base, creating tools the community can use to create its own content is the way forward. Dont you think

 

[Siranui]

Whilst I don't begrudge anyone a bespoke group decal this strikes me as being completely unfair to everyone else.

/slow clap

Clearly you do begrudge it.

Curious to know what everyone else thinks..

I think you are being bitter, unpleasant, negative and jealous. Rather than wait for your turn to come and be pleased that others are happy, you would rather sabotage your own chances in short-sighted negativity.

I also think that this negativity is way more harmful than FD making gestures to small parts of the community sometimes.

You are keen to stop anyone else from getting nice things for doing anything positive, it seems. By extension, yourself included. Because every time FD try to do something special for people that's a bit unusual, people scream that it is not fair because they were not included. And FD will learn that although they made some people happy, some people raged and sulked, and the easiest way of preventing it in future is to not repeat the gesture, or expand upon it.

All you are doing is making FD gun-shy of broadening such gestures.

Remember when we had a CG that gave everyone a 30% discount for 3 days? It was awesome. And then some people who had not logged on or missed the deadline screamed the forums down how grossly unfaaaaaaaaiiiiir it was and whined for weeks like three year olds?

And we haven't had another one since. Because of the whiner.

So: Good work! Make a big enough fuss about this and nobody will get custom decals in future.

Or you could just accept that some people will get a shiny thing before you, be glad that there is the possibility of getting a shiny thing, and perhaps wait without complaint. Or maybe work for the shiny thing by doing something for the community. Because sometimes in life people get rewarded for doing positive things, and people who sit on the sidelines screaming and crying that it's not fair do not.

 

[vrseven]

Anyone that believes this is FD treating players fairly reply to this....the CG that only offered huge PL or MC was done and FD said anyone that participated will get them and if you did not you wont be getting them. And they said that was final. Players complained and guess what, FD changed their minds. So stop the on how FD is doing the right thing here!

 

[bitstorm]

Frontier forums. Where anything positive has to be twisted into a negative.

 

[askavir]

These people are contributing to the ED universe. I think it is great that FD recognise this and reward them in these ways. It enhances the community and provides incentive to others. All you need to is contribute in a similar manor and I'm sure they'll do you one too.

This.

I don't see it as special treatment, just a little thank you to players or groups who contributed either to the community, lore or to the game itself by creating events or content.