EDIT: Seems a lot of folks don't get what I'm talking about here or doubt it. Allow me to clarify. Content creators (streamers) used to be able to call a dev during their stream for them to spawn a new ship. They however. Did not have access to said ship. This is in fact, nothing new. And it's not the issue. That was never an issue for owners as far as I know. What has changed and only started since the 100I I believe.... Is CIG sending Emails to content creators, and giving them exclusive access to these ships... BEFORE the actual owners. So the ship is being held off the owner's hand. Not because it's too buggy to show, mind you. That would be fine. But because they want content creators the market the :hankey: out of it first. That is what I have a big problem with. Holding off the ship because its not finished yet and let Evos test it first. That's fine. But giving them to selected content creators for marketing before the owners of these ships. Sorry, but that just doesn't sit right by me. Even if it's just for a very short period. And yes, I CAN confirm this is true as we have two content creators in our corp who have confirmed this. I won't throw their name under the bus. Because A) It's not their fault. B) They shouldn't get any flack about this. But yes. This is new and it's real. So... - The Devs teasing the ship to streamers. That's cool. It's a nice way to prepare everyone for the ship. - The Evos getting access first. Makes sense, get the nasty bugs out first. - Giving temporary early access to this ships to Content creators is FINE! And a good marketing strategy. What is not fine... is putting the actual owners of this ship... Behind content creators. When there is NO reason to do so. (To be clear... I put not blame on content creators and they DO deserve perks like these for the hard work they put on SC. Their access AIN'T the issue. It's that they have access while Owners... don't) Pardon my french. But what a nasty.... Shitty move. You might as well make it clear to old backers that NEW FRESH MONEY > Old backers money. Seriously. Might as well send owners of that ship an Email with a :middle_finger: to make them understand their place in the food chain. Way to show those who purchase concept ships your appreciation CIG. Bravo! :clap: :clap: :clap: I'm so thrilled to see some random youtuber teasing and spoiling my first impression of a ship I purchased years ago. BRILLIANT PR move. Surely.... What could go wrong here? Everyone... please remember this when they ask you to purchase a new concept. You're old dirty money when that ship eventually comes out. That's been made very clear (even if not intentionally). Your trust and forward investment to them? A yeah... No. That devalues really quickly in their eyes. Sorry for being blunt here (And yes, I'm being really salty about this. Bite me!), but this is a really bad PR move to your hardcore backers who PAID for a JPEG. and waited YEARS to finally get that ship. Just keep the ship early access to Evocati FIRST for testing and getting bugs out. THEN, make it accessible to both content creators AND owners. But don't put content creators first FFS. Sorry, but your MARKETING campaign to get some fresh cash doesn't get front in line blocking those who paid for that ship YEARS ago. Note: I don't care much about the Star Runner, more hyped about the Star Lifter. I just think this new PR practice of theirs is really bad. I also don't care if Owners get access just 24h later. It's a matter of principle. Content creators SHOULD NOT have earlier access to a ship than those WHO PURCHASED IT YEARS AGO! No matter how you slice it. It's just a shitty move. I don't even understand why this should need ANY explaining. It's just basic decency. Give those who purchased the damn thing ABSOLUTE priority unless it's for bug fixing purposes. Sorry. Respect the backers that purchased the ship FIRST. Do whatever marketing OCCUS POCCUS you want after. Bug fixing is a good reason to hold on releasing the ship. Marketing... Isn't. Concierge access? Ok. There might be an argument to be made there. But the owners of the ship? Nope CIG. Just NO! Just my opinion. Make of that what you will. Edit: And.... EVERYONE is going to be able to rent it in PTU Saturday before owners actually get it SUNDAY.... Wow. Seriously CIG ....Why!? Edit 2: To the nay sayers. Here you go. A very nice post from a content creator that puts things more eloquently than I did https://robertsspaceindustries.com/spectrum/community/SC/forum/3/thread/msr-ea-from-a-full-time-creator-backer-pov