ishtmail

Yeah, you can post a ticket. ED has full capability of checking whether you ever used your key (remember, every module needs to be activated online before first use, and ED has those records). So if you have a key that you never used, I'm sure ED can take the key away from your account and block it, and grant you the open reward system like everyone else. ED has been VERY accomodating and has changed the backer rewards considerably to make things right for the backers, so if you ask nicely and politely, hopefully they will oblige.

What hostility towards lower backers? I have frequented the threads quite a bit and remember no such thing. Also, I think the backers in general were very much kosher about the whole rewards system that ED has envisioned, and once the comments were heard about the fixed airplane rewards (P51D for $20) and how it would be better to let us choose, ED did the most gallant thing and revised the backer rewards to make most everyone happy. There are those who still feel aggravated at not getting 6 airplanes for $40, but they are few and far between, and I don't pay any heed to them. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- I am thoroughly annoyed at the idea that ED had nothing to do with the campaign though, and even more so at the idea that they are now doing everyone a favor by honoring the pledges. Now I've written this before, but it needs to be said again: Perhaps technically, legally, RRG was the only party involved, but morally, ethically, ED has been very closely involved: they gave RRG serials for P51D and Dora, to use as backer rewards; they advertised the project very much, set up the Paypal page on their website, even set up the Backer section in our DCS profiles. They even gave RRG access to P51D and Dora modules, to use in DCS:WW2. Far too much involvement to just shrug it off and say "RRG is the involved party here". Secondly, ED is not continuing the project only to appease the campaign backers. That would be foolish. That would be disastrous. We raised $150k, not even enough to develop ONE aircraft. And yet, ED has seemingly decided to go forward with the project and develop ALL airplanes (four). Would ED do this just for us, the backers? No. They are doing it for the tens of thousands of WW2 flight sim fans out there who are thirsting for a DCS quality WW2 sim. The 2500 backers are a very very small insignificant portion of the full WW2 sim market. So, writing that ED is doing us all a huge favor by continuing the project is a completely wrong thing to do, because ED would NEVER continue this project if they didn't have a business plan in place, making this project economically viable and profitable. ED has picked up RRG's remains because they can sell the product, not because they want to serve the backers. That being said, I am grateful to ED for doing it, all the same, simply because I am one of the fans thirsting for a proper WW2 sim. And while objectively I know that ED honoring the pledge rewards is simply the right thing to do for your loyal consumers, who will remain loyal because of being treated right, I am still grateful to ED for providing the backers with a decent reward system. Anyhoo, I would appreciate if everyone came to these two realizations: 1. That ED is doing its best to make this project work for most everyone 2. That ED is not doing this project for the backers, but for the much wider audience

Technically, you get all 6 airplanes, all of them will work in DCS:World, and you get ONE additional DCS module of choice (which should include the WW2 planes), so you've got all your own personal stuff (six airplanes) and one key that you can give to your brother. Also, if you already own the P51D, you can probably select another second copy of any of the airplanes (instead of the P51D), which you can again gift to your brother. ;)

This was already confirmed... Full price of individual planes will be $50 per module (possibly $40 if they keep the pre-purchase discount the way they did it with Dora).

Alpha seems to be removed for airplanes completely, if I'm reading Wags post correctly. Don't know what you mean about the 262 though, it's still there and it will be a selectable airplane.

... Feels kinda "meh", but whatever... Nevermind. Just a note here that it seems after Wags revised the first post a tidbit, that there is no Alpha access for any of the airplanes, only for the Normandy map (starting at $140).

Awesome! Well, my plan right now is to get the four new planes (Spit, BF109, P47, Schwalbe) as rewards, and buy the Dora outright... Do ED a solid because you guys did us a solid :)

Hey Sith, do you know if the Schwalbe will be among the selectable airplanes below $120?

Epic update, Wags. Many hugs. Also many hugs to Sith who's been very patient with us :)

The system is already in place, in the already existing backer section of our DCS profiles. And notifying backers is simple: just post on Kickstarter, and everyone gets an email.

I'm just debating the wider causality that happens from choices that ED has before them. Good customer service and giving your customers a proper compromise is key to success. I'm speaking from experience as a customer: I've spent a lot of money backing Star Citizen, and I wouldn't have done that without the amazing customer service that helped me out on every step of the way.

You only have to do it once, because this is a once-in-a-lifetime event. Never again will ED run a similar gig (taking over a failed overzealous project that has backers waiting to get their pledge rewards).

There is no more money. It's all tied in the assets RRG made, assets that ED will now finish and sell. That's the point. In any case, I am firmly convinced that keeping backers relatively happy by granting them this one little thing (the ability to swap planes) is a huge long-term plus for ED, even if it's a small minus short-term. Having loyal customers that are happy with how you treat them goes a long way. I personally would rather have 2500 happy customers, and have a short term loss of 25k dollars (or 50k dollars), because those 2500 happy customers will keep coming back for more and will spend another 200.000 dollars in the next two years. If on the other hand you drive the 2500 customers away to gain that short term 25k, you're losing a whole lot in the long term.

THIS :) I would up my pledge from $80 to $120 in an instant, if allowed. It's not the two planes, though, it's the Alpha access to those two planes.

Only relevant if sales of the full priced modules aren't good enough. But my bet is that ED has done their research and that they are fully planning to sell MANY licences of the modules. Why do I think that's true? Simple. Not only has ED taken upon themselves to develop SIX ww2 airplanes, VEAO is now also doing it with other airplanes of the era. This means ED fully realizes the huge potential of the WW2 fanbase. You can rest assured that ED wouldn't dream of developing all the airplanes (or letting VEAO do their stuff) if they had any inclination that the market could become oversaturated and the project could at any point be economically not viable.