I'd like to express my thanks to game developers and community alike. We all know X4 is not a perfect game. We all know some improvements we consider urgent are not dealt with in the speed we consider optimal - in the end, they are the developers, not us, and it's up to them that kind of decision - but, nevertheless, I have had good experiences with developers and game community so far. One specifically, the most recent one, I'd like to address here. I'll try to be brief.
Some days ago, I decided to start the same posts in X4 and Elite Dangerous Steam forums asking players what they liked the most in both games and why. I'm the kind of player who has little time for games but a huge passion for them, so I was trying to decide which one was the most worthy of my playtime... but to that point, I haven't sticked completely to any of them.
Despite some little initial misunderstandings, players in X4 forum quickly grasped I was not comparing both games, but willing to know their hearts and tastes about the game. People in Elite forums responded... but well, a lot of them gave me the impression they were somehow offended by my questioning. It seemed to me in the end they were also bothered by the same things I was in that game, but decided to swallow without much questioning and accept the awful truth about their choice. On the other hand, people in X4 forum enjoyed explaining and exposing what they loved the most. They gave me details, opinions, "written smiles" in the form of extensive dissertation about their game of choice - even acknowledging the game was not perfect, but how they managed to live with the imperfections.
One simple answer caught my eye, though. A X4 player said something like "just the fact we like to talk about this game makes us better, because Elite players will tire of such discussion quickly". Well, something like that. Prophetic words. Not only the players in Elite forum quickly turned their backs on me, but the topic was inexplainedly locked. Confused, I opened another post there, asking why was the previous one closed. One player answered it quickly saying "Elite devs don't like anyone discussing their game" and, following that, my post was deleted and I was formally notified through Steam UI. According to the notification, I was, against that forum rules, "contesting Moderation". Just for the note, later Steam support explained to me I was not flagged about anything or the like.
Meanwhile, the awesome community from X4 game kept answering and exposing their hearts. To my surprise, even a developer joined the conversation, explaining what he loved in X4 and, since he is also a player, why Elite didn't hooked him the way X4 does. Can you guys believe it? As I see it, it was about two wonderful things happening:
1- The community showed real interest in sharing, expressing themselves, and did so in a very heartwelcoming and passionate way;
2- A discussion about the game was viewed by the own Staff as an opportunity to promote the game. Looking into it in a more kind way, they showed me they really loved the product they worked so hard to bring us, and the fact I was asking something about it didn't fragilize them, they didn't get offended by it. Instead, they came closer and took part in my decision proccess.
Needless to say, Elite forum moderation attitude made me "loose my hornyness" towards their game, as a very practical slang is used here in my country says (literal translation, lol). I thought I should warn Elite devs about Steam moderation, considering probably the devs had no knowledge about how their players were treated on Steam forums, but I was so disappointed I just decided to let Fate and Market take care of them.
Please, do not get me wrong: I'm not here to question Elite Dangerous people (maybe a little bit, *giggles*), but mainly to emphasize the HUGE difference between that and X4 Staff and Community. Some people tend to think it's all about a product. I tend to think it is also about "post-sale", about caring, about relations. X4 devs and community have shown me - again - how a game can, should and will go beyond the software "per se".
So, thank you. Community and Devs alike, for being here.
