I don't recall in which threads I've seen these sorts of comments, specifically, but it seems a number of people here have the impression that FFG developers would actively not want to read these forums.

I think these posters believe that the FFG people could get into some kind of intellectual property issues if they scoured these boards for ideas.

I think this concept is wrong. Most gaming companies have wording in the website Terms of Use document that suggests anything we post here becomes their property. FFG is no different (see the below relevant section of FFG's Terms of Use):

• Any communications and/or content, including but not limited to public posts and private messages (hereafter “CCs”) submitted through or on the FFG Website is owned by you. By submitting CCs on or through the FFG Website, you are acknowledging that ownership, that you have the right to it, and that you also give FFG and all of its FFG Website users the right to use the CCs in any manner they see fit anywhere, for free, and forever (a world-wide, non-exclusive, perpetual, sublicenseable, transferable, royalty free license). If you think someone does not have the right to the subject matter in a CC or CCs, please see the Copyright section for more information. Please also see the Privacy Policy regarding the confidentiality of CCs.

Thus, anything you say here is owned by you but is also transferred to FFG for its use "anywhere, for free, forever".

That's actually a great thing, in my opinion. It means they can (and most likely do) listen to our crackpot theories and wild speculation and every once in awhile use those ideas to further the game.

They'd be silly not to, in a way. This is like a world-wide distributed computing network. The people on these forums are self-selected "Super Fans" who care enough about the game to chime in and debate endlessly. That is a very powerful and valuable thing for a game developer to have access to, I would think.

I'm sure the game designers do read forums just like the rest of us, and they probably do pick up good ideas from them. Post away!

I am really shocked they do not post here. You would think that staying intouch with your customers would be great for business. Maybe even have design contest and take suggestions. They would still have the liberty to keep some things under wraps, yet still have the appearance of caring about us.

Nah becuase some fruit loops on forumes try to say that a company stoll their little idea.

I just wonder if FFG knows they have forums, or if some hacker cracked the site, installed forums, and FFG just never noticed.

I have seen it said multiple times, when I lurked, in other areas, that the designers aren't allowed to use the forums. Just because they have that in the terms of service, does not mean that they are 100% free from any disputes.

And think about it, do you think FFG want's their professional game designers to be taking ideas off their website, instead of actually doing what they are paid to do. And really, the lack of ANY interaction in the rules forum is pretty damning in that FFG doesn't want their professional designers on the forums.

Nah becuase some fruit loops on forumes try to say that a company stoll their little idea.

They have ironclad legal grounds to do so. And if someone is nutty enough to sue, they need a lot of luck in finding a lawyer that'll take their case.

Indeed.. a presence would be nice.. especially in the rules forum.. there are too many questions there that could have been easily answered by someone in the office and ended pages of debate...

As for IP being stolen that was taken care of as mentioned earlier.. and honestly, I'd be tickled if they used an idea I had.. and they would be welcome to it, I'm sure what they make on an individual idea in this game won't change my tax bracket..lol but I'd have bragging rights galore.. lol

...but I'd have bragging rights galore.. lol

You would never know the idea came from you...they would simply use it un-credited.

And really, the lack of ANY interaction in the rules forum is pretty damning in that FFG doesn't want their professional designers on the forums.

That plus the speed some people get an answer to a rule question they sent as an email, does seem to mean that FFG doesn't visit these forms.

And think about it, do you think FFG want's their professional game designers to be taking ideas off their website, instead of actually doing what they are paid to do. And really, the lack of ANY interaction in the rules forum is pretty damning in that FFG doesn't want their professional designers on the forums.

I will admit that the professional designers probably have very little to learn from the fan base via the forums. That doesn't mean that nobody is keeping tabs on these discussions and forwarding tidbits to the designers from time to time.

Most of our ideas are likely in the "close to obvious" category, to be honest. I would think the designers have access to all the background info we do, plus contacts at Lucasfilms and other "behind the scenes" stuff.

They also have the "recipe" for how the game has been created thus far; i.e. the rough guides as to pricing out ships and add-ons, etc. They probably have a rough formula for which things cost what.

I have tried to divine this points cost vs. stats relationship, but have not cracked the code yet.

My point here is that they are in a much better position, intellectually and information-wise, to expand the core mechanics in a scalable and balanced way. They also "know" everything we do about the video games, novels, movies, EU, etc.

That being said, we might eventually come up with a clever idea or two that would be useful to them.

I guess my whole point in this thread is to say that FFG owns whatever we write here, so no need for the developers to be firewalled away from the forums for IP ownership reasons.

And really, the lack of ANY interaction in the rules forum is pretty damning in that FFG doesn't want their professional designers on the forums.

That plus the speed some people get an answer to a rule question they sent as an email, does seem to mean that FFG doesn't visit these forms.

I would suggest that visiting the forums and/or answering rules questions is not a top priority for the game designers. Writing a FAQ and/or answering customer emails sounds like a job for an intern.

Frankly, they probably take a "project-based" approach, and the main guys behind the game might not even be working on X-Wing right now. They might be on other games for the time being, then will drop back in for some work on upcoming expansions and whatnot.

Plus the bulk of the designer's work for expansion X,Y,Z is probably done well before said expansion is announced or released.

Writing a FAQ and/or answering customer emails sounds like a job for an intern.

Could be wrong, but I don't think James Kniffen is an intern.

Writing a FAQ and/or answering customer emails sounds like a job for an intern.

Could be wrong, but I don't think James Kniffen is an intern.

I was being a bit funny. Or trying too...

I don't see any author listed for the FAQ I have.

...but I'd have bragging rights galore.. lol

You would never know the idea came from you...they would simply use it un-credited.

Of course if they changed it too much then it is not in line with the original idea, and then just a vague similarity.. so.. there is that

As someone with a bit of experience, if your a designer your damned if you do deal with the fan base directly and your damned if you don't.

I wouldn't be at all surprised if some of the designers aren't on here under a pseudo name.

And I'm absolutely sure they do keep an eye on them. I don't think it's a co-incidence that tonnes of people got 1/270 Tantives and Transports and started playing with them, and then they announced big ships. OR that a lot of us added blood stripes and painted Emperor's Guard Interceptors and then they announced them. The FAQs also seem to cover most of the issues in the Rules forum.

You can get in nightmare situations if you answer rules queries directly. especially if you have multiple designers. A periodic FAQ is actually far less confusing than lots of small answers all over the place that might contradict.

Id be pleased if they used anything i designed *L* . As long as i dont then get a cease and desist letter telling me i cant make it anymore

I was being a bit funny. Or trying too...

Sorry I guess I didn't get the joke. But I was serious when I said I don't think James is a intern. I believe he's the rules guy at FFG.

But the point is, someone emailed him a rules question that we were debating and got an answer like a day or 2 latter. He posted James response to the thread.

The fact that James replied to an email and has replied to other emails means that FFG seems to be happy to respond to us about our questions. But they have yet to make a single post in the rules threads I've seen.

It would be IMO very helpful if they would be more interactive with us players. Other games like Flames of War had Phil the head designer reply to rules questions on their forms so it's not like it's unheard of.

I just wonder if FFG knows they have forums, or if some hacker cracked the site, installed forums, and FFG just never noticed.

I'd thought something similar.. the forums just came with the hosting, and the hired out web developer just put them in as a matter of habit.

I would like to see more communication for X-wing. It seems that there is always new news in the news column about some of the other games, but very little mention of X-Wing. A little nod to a new card or idea now and then really peeks the interest of the players. Granted we always want more, but if you get nothing or very little then our excitement level drops off somewhat. Just an update now and then or a new idea now and then would be appreciated.

Having seen what happens when a game designer answers rule questions directly on a forum ( admittedly for a game much more complex than X-wing) I'm actually really glad FFG don't do this.

Whether or not they know about their own forums (they do), they need to do updates to the main board. ANYTHING!!! a product update. Some random 1-2 page thing about their lunch game. ANYTHING!!!! they could even do a little thing simply saying "Hey guys epic play is going to be 400 points so for those of you who want to make an army of only intecerptors thats the limit" ANY information would be nice. The lack of updates is getting annoying especially with the holiday season going on right now.

Agreed

Thats what the news pages are all about.

Sadly the news page is pretty empty of real Xwing info. I doubt designers are ever going to shout: I'm the designer and here is what we do..." But I bet they are here and probably posting. Too much brainpower to be harnessed here not to even if things aren't directly used/useful.

I would like more communication from FFG, but would prefer news and updates to forum posts.