Update on Communication

[Frodo swagginsX]

Greetings Commanders,

I want to speak directly about the lack of official streams and reduced communications from our social channels since the start of 2022. I understand the concerns this has caused and hope this statement goes some way to alleviate them.

The whole team are excited to share all of the upcoming content for this year including new updates, content expansions and the next major phase in the ongoing narrative following the Azimuth Saga finale. Beyond this, we also look forward to sharing our new streaming format when the series returns as a weekly show. Changes will include new segments, year-round Twitch Drop campaigns and studio-quality production once we move back into the office.

However, there are several questions that must be answered internally to inform this communication plan. It is important to me that we address key subjects by priority and when we do that the information we provide is clear. The team and I are working incredibly hard behind the scenes to gather this information and provide these answers.

As always, the team and I are grateful for your patience and support while we wait for the opportunity to share all of the above with you. We will update you with more detail as soon as we can.

See you in the black o7.

-Arf​

It's good to see you back Arf. Hope you join us on console again for a night of PvP. It will be good to see you on again!

 

[Astaran]

Greetings Commanders,

I want to speak directly about the lack of official streams and reduced communications from our social channels since the start of 2022. I understand the concerns this has caused and hope this statement goes some way to alleviate them.

The whole team are excited to share all of the upcoming content for this year including new updates, content expansions and the next major phase in the ongoing narrative following the Azimuth Saga finale. Beyond this, we also look forward to sharing our new streaming format when the series returns as a weekly show. Changes will include new segments, year-round Twitch Drop campaigns and studio-quality production once we move back into the office.

However, there are several questions that must be answered internally to inform this communication plan. It is important to me that we address key subjects by priority and when we do that the information we provide is clear. The team and I are working incredibly hard behind the scenes to gather this information and provide these answers.

As always, the team and I are grateful for your patience and support while we wait for the opportunity to share all of the above with you. We will update you with more detail as soon as we can.

See you in the black o7.

-Arf​

blink twice if you've been abducted by Daemonettes of Slaanesh...we all heard your voice in that trailer I hope in one of the streams you're free to share a story about it, since some here (well, at least I ) were worried you might have been moved to a different game.

I'm also glad you're all apparently healthy and still with us in the Elite forums. I for one was indeed a bit concerned about your well-being due to the sudden and unexpected lack of communication. Omicron Covid may have turned into a glorified cold, but there's still the odd poor guy who gets a hit. Glad you guys are doing okay there.

o7

 

[nanothargon]

Thanks for the update, Arf.

I appreciate it’s hard to communicate when - this - is what you get back.

 

[Agony_Aunt]

Unfortunately for us, one of their favourite expressions is "working behind the scenes" and not "working in the spotlight".

Aww, now i want to Arf wearing a tutu dancing under a spotlight.

 

[Agony_Aunt]

I think that is quite a lot already and prolly just the most obvious part. Either way I thought you asked what they may be doing during their work day while not making a few posts and not why they don’t make a few posts irrespective of what they may be doing during their work day.

It was more about asking what is stopping them from engaging with the community altogether (and without saying anything that might affect share prices or the like).

 

[Viajero]

It was more about asking what is stopping them from engaging with the community altogether (and without saying anything that might affect share prices or the like).

Yeah, that is a very valid question indeed. Although I think Arf already probably answers it in the note:

However, there are several questions that must be answered internally to inform this communication plan. It is important to me that we address key subjects by priority and when we do that the information we provide is clear.

 

[LONA]

So understand this so here we say nothing but work on whatever.
So great as usual, we wait and know just as little as before.

 

[Agony_Aunt]

Yeah, that is a very valid question indeed. Although I think Arf already answers it in the note:

Except not asking them to reveal anything they can't.

Be on the forums, respond to grievances and issues people are having. Give advice.

Hell, why doesn't one of the CMs pop into threads where people are having trouble with how things work and explain them how it should work. And if it appears there are issues, point them to the issue tracker.

Or hell, be a gent and raise the issue on their behalf, provide the link, and ask them to contribute any additional info like screenshots or logs or whatever.

There are a lot of things CMs could be doing on the forums and elsewhere that would show the community they are there, that they are listening, that they are trying to help and communicate.

And i'm not blaming the CMs themselves. I totally believe Arf when he says they are excited to talk about things. I get the impression they have gag orders from upper management, because FD are deathly scared they might say something wrong. FD need more trust in their CMs to do their job.

 

[AngryAntz]

Except not asking them to reveal anything they can't.

Be on the forums, respond to grievances and issues people are having. Give advice.

Hell, why doesn't one of the CMs pop into threads where people are having trouble with how things work and explain them how it should work. And if it appears there are issues, point them to the issue tracker.

Or hell, be a gent and raise the issue on their behalf, provide the link, and ask them to contribute any additional info like screenshots or logs or whatever.

There are a lot of things CMs could be doing on the forums and elsewhere that would show the community they are there, that they are listening, that they are trying to help and communicate.

And i'm not blaming the CMs themselves. I totally believe Arf when he says they are excited to talk about things. I get the impression they have gag orders from upper management, because FD are deathly scared they might say something wrong. FD need more trust in their CMs to do their job.

They can't do that. That sounds a lot like the job of a CM... oh wait

 

[IanvdW]

I'm sorry but you dont need to communicate anything to us. You are community managers. You just need to be involved in the community.
Its why Educating Ed was soo good. A filler between content drops. A weekly touch point with the community manager who was not announcing anything.

Be community managers, not Elite Dangerous spoke people. Thats where this all went wrong, when you start seeing yourselves as the front face of fdev rather than the interaction between fdev and the community.

Get in a ship and come fly with the community - you dont need to announce anything!

Agreed, the content comes when it comes, no amount of screaming will make it come faster. Maybe I just have a ton of patience, but that's my view.
But some other stuff as a means of keeping us a tad bit up to date as well as distracted from our ever increasing hunger for more content, that would be quite welcome in my opinion.

 

[Martind Forlon]

Greetings @Arthur Tolmie ,good to hear that there will be coming things which we can looking forward at. However have you some info about next devs diary which was mentioned to come in January?

 

[Frop]

Hell, why doesn't one of the CMs pop into threads where people are having trouble with how things work and explain them how it should work. And if it appears there are issues, point them to the issue tracker.

Maybe that's below their pay grade and something the volunteer moderators could be doing? It doesn't even have to be a personalised message in most cases, for instance any of the "where do I pay my fine/bounty", "where are my ship interiors" and other common threads could be handled with a copypasted default message.

 

[Angus]

Greetings Commanders,

I want to speak directly about the lack of official streams and reduced communications from our social channels since the start of 2022. I understand the concerns this has caused and hope this statement goes some way to alleviate them.

The whole team are excited to share all of the upcoming content for this year including new updates, content expansions and the next major phase in the ongoing narrative following the Azimuth Saga finale. Beyond this, we also look forward to sharing our new streaming format when the series returns as a weekly show. Changes will include new segments, year-round Twitch Drop campaigns and studio-quality production once we move back into the office.

However, there are several questions that must be answered internally to inform this communication plan. It is important to me that we address key subjects by priority and when we do that the information we provide is clear. The team and I are working incredibly hard behind the scenes to gather this information and provide these answers.

As always, the team and I are grateful for your patience and support while we wait for the opportunity to share all of the above with you. We will update you with more detail as soon as we can.

See you in the black o7.

-Arf​

"We have gone off air.
We'll be back with all sorts.
Not sure when.
And I'm not saying why.
Cheers then."

Did I miss anything?

Just a bit disappointed Arf, because when you started off with "I want to speak directly...." I supposed we'd be getting a bit more than that. Happy new year, by the way.

 

[AngryAntz]

Maybe that's below their pay grade and something the volunteer moderators could be doing? It doesn't even have to be a personalised message in most cases, for instance any of the "where do I pay my fine/bounty", "where are my ship interiors" and other common threads could be handled with a copypasted default message.

In the VM's defence.. they don't get paid to engage with us... CMs do.

But yeah a lot can be handled with cut/paste messages

 

[Agony_Aunt]

Maybe that's below their pay grade and something the volunteer moderators could be doing? It doesn't even have to be a personalised message in most cases, for instance any of the "where do I pay my fine/bounty", "where are my ship interiors" and other common threads could be handled with a copypasted default message.

Nah, that's not the moderators job at all.

 

[Ozric]

Maybe that's below their pay grade and something the volunteer moderators could be doing? It doesn't even have to be a personalised message in most cases, for instance any of the "where do I pay my fine/bounty", "where are my ship interiors" and other common threads could be handled with a copypasted default message.

 

[Darth Ender]

internal question #1: will elite dangerous sales be able to fund any of this content.

 

[AngryAntz]

Make sure you send your timesheet to the FD payroll department

 

[CaptainSeriousFun]

Greetings Commanders,

I want to speak directly about the lack of official streams and reduced communications from our social channels since the start of 2022. I understand the concerns this has caused and hope this statement goes some way to alleviate them.

The whole team are excited to share all of the upcoming content for this year including new updates, content expansions and the next major phase in the ongoing narrative following the Azimuth Saga finale. Beyond this, we also look forward to sharing our new streaming format when the series returns as a weekly show. Changes will include new segments, year-round Twitch Drop campaigns and studio-quality production once we move back into the office.

However, there are several questions that must be answered internally to inform this communication plan. It is important to me that we address key subjects by priority and when we do that the information we provide is clear. The team and I are working incredibly hard behind the scenes to gather this information and provide these answers.

As always, the team and I are grateful for your patience and support while we wait for the opportunity to share all of the above with you. We will update you with more detail as soon as we can.

See you in the black o7.

-Arf​

Looking forward then to new updates, content expansions, please thank you

 

[Frop]

Nah, that's not the moderators job at all.

Not that uncommon on other gaming fora I've frequented, but sure. I guess it isn't over here.