I don’t think the solution is to remove or delay the Tech Tree F-14D.
That would just punish everyone who asked for it.
A better solution would be to acknowledge that the purchasing context changed very quickly and give the premium version a stronger identity.
Make the premium and Tech Tree F-14Ds meaningfully different configurations, address the outstanding F-14D bug reports, and perhaps give existing premium owners some form of compensation or additional exclusive content.
Nobody needs a refund because a plan changed, but some acknowledgement would go a long way.
The worst outcome would be making the Tech Tree version worse just to preserve the premium’s value.
The better approach is to make both aircraft worth having for different reasons. Not just "exclusive skins’
Remember that lots of people bought the plane not for premium bonuses, but for exclusivity.
In this case, the planned tree version was originally the F-14B. Which had the same general capabilities as the premium, which is why it was considered a sidegrade. However we have now included the F-14D.
There isnt a set rule that a premium must come before or after a TT version.
OK, but you still have a premium F-14D… it’s not like the TML/XC-8 (that I was refused a refund for BTW) there there is a major change to what you bought, you still have exactly what you paid for, a Premium F-14D, with all the SL/RP gains that come with it.
so it’s not “identical”… Hint, hint…
Personally I see this as a win… I do not get the" Gaijin never listens to player feed back"…
OMG GAIJIN LISTENT TO PLAYERS BURN IT ALL mentality…
I have made my stance on the issue very clear from the get go:
Right and I get that the circumstances here is quite different as well, but the only reason I said it’s also kind of similar is the way it was sold to the users. The M60 was sold with the premise that it has a stabiliser, only for it to be backtracked. The F-14D likewise was also sold with the premise that a TT version wouldn’t come, only for it to also be backtracked. Different circumstances, similar methodology in that sense.
Again I’m only merely proposing looking into the possibility of offering refunds for users who decided that they were in a way “overpromised” for something and was then rug pulled from under.
And that Grom replied with “There are no plans for this.”
That is. Players saw that official dev response in that exact topic, concluded a tech tree F-14D was out of the question, and made the purchase based on that statement. Linking that thread only reinforces that players were given official confirmation that it wouldn’t happen, only for it to be added two months later.
There doesn’t need to be a formal “rule” about release order for this to be a breach of consumer trust. When official statements shut down the possibility of a tech tree version, people spend money based on that confirmation. Overturning it immediately afterward without acknowledging the misleading effect on paying customers is what remains the issue here.
Right but my point is that some people bought it with the idea that they couldn’t get a jet that they loved for free, and had to buy it, only for that to become a false theory 3 months later.
That circumstances is far different from the M60 situation. It was precisely because of the M60 situation that they have instead opted to upgrade the vehicle with the correct features (and extras, if any) rather than downgrading the vehicle into something worse. The TML was advertised with a stabiliser and thermals, so instead of downgrading it without stabiliser and thermals and having another M60 situation the devs opted to upgrade it to the XC8 version with better thermals and reload rate.
And up tiered it to a BR that was useless to me, the XC8 is worthless trash sitting un played at a BR far from where I have any line up.
The F-14D is still EXACTLY the plane you paid for, the XC8 is a completely different and worthless vehicle to me compared to the one I paid for. If I don’t get a refund for something Gaijin rendered completely un playable and worthless for me, I don’t see why people who got EXACTLY what they paid for should get their money back.
While it might be useless to you, it is still a general upgrade over the TML and many people welcomed that change. Plus it retained all the promised features of thermals and gun stabiliser.
And I’ve also made the argument that the premium F-14D is a very different scenario compared to what we have had in the past, but this is really down to the store team/developer’s fault for making an offhand statement in which it was treated as official because of his position as a store team member/developer. Gaijin is still responsible for what they say in a public forum and anything they say can be used against them in an argumentative discussion.
Had there not been a statement by grom that the F-14D would exclusively be a premium vehicle, this wouldn’t have been a huge issue, but it is precisely because they have said it as an offhand remark that there will not be a researchable tech tree variant that has misled people into believing a tech tree variant was never going to come in any capacity.
Your circumstances are more of a personal opinion, the features of the CV90105 was still delivered as promised. The F-14D was an unfortunate incident of poor communications and lack of firm standing that has resulted into the argument that is currently being made.
… sounds almost like a veiled threat to punish the combined player base by making a less favorable decision (from given player feedback) as a means to get back at those who made hateful comments on reddit and other platforms.
Perhaps this isn’t the intent behind this remark - if not… might want to edit that because at face value it reads very much like a punitive promise.
There are no threats being made or intents to “punish” anyone.
What im saying is two factors
Naturally after following feedback and making a change, we still then follow the reaction to that to see if it was the correct decision or not. If there is a more negative response to the change than positive, then this does go into future consideration.
The remarks and insults made by some who have taken to other platforms, including from some here who originally asked for a TT F-14D alongside the premium, concerning vulgar insults, are not acceptable.
Grom is a developer, not just a CM. He stated there were no plans to add it, which earned the community’s trust, but that statement ended up misleading the players.
Then the answer is simple. If Grom was merely following orders and passing along information, then Gaijin needs to step up and apologize to the players.
Except Grom literally has “Developer” right next to his name, and he even explicitly said “I am the dev team.”
Trying to argue about his role now does not change the fact that someone with “Developer” on his profile officially said there were no plans. Players trusted that word and spent their money, so Gaijin’s responsibility for the outcome remains unchanged.
It’s time and time again the same issue. Lack of proper communication. They have bettered themselves in the last years but they are still far from perfect.
