Reposted from:
http://mwomercs.com/...eting-strategy/
Perhaps more than any other clan, I find a personal attachment to Clan Sea Wolf/Diamond Shark. They mix ideology and practicality fairly well, and come away with a decent profit in the end.
Now... I check up on things in the MWO-front, today... and see a very well made Timberwolf staring at me, telling me that I need to buy him. I can easily turn a profit with such a well balanced omnimech, but I can't help but reflect on my previous transactions with this particular client - PGI/IGP. Their current track record for product delivery is... distressing.
Upon further reflection, I realize this is due to certain expectations of what a prior purchase entailed. It is not that my Battlemaster was not delivered on time, or that there were any particular defects with the shipped units. I received premium access to their battle simulators, as promised, and all of the various trinkets and novelty items were delivered as stated. The contract is, thus, satisfied.
So, why do I feel as though my investment was not given the proper service and due diligence of PGI/IGP?
Part of the marketing and selling strategy behind the previous contract was a mention and a hinting of various features that were supposed to be implemented into the battle simulator end of the service. Certain 'mechs came with a particular painting pattern that inspired loyalty to a faction that was vying for control of territory amongst the freeborn. Medalions, provided per the contract, were to further increase this effect, or allow mechs without those special schemes to impart some additional effect.
Unfortunately, such a system has yet to be realized. The battle simulator is... currently lacking faction support beyond a mere image tag next to a name. I can understand why the blood-named have been reluctant to get involved in such shallow, quaint Freeborn struggles. The whole senseless, wasteful, and destructive process of these stravags certainly makes them deserving of the epithet.
Further disheartening is a failure of PGI/IGP to meet its own stated goals of production quality. When plans were made to make interfacing across the HPG Network more intuitive for management of personal inventory and coordinating the operations of multiple warriors well over a year ago, PGI/IGP has yet to address their front-end. Numerous changes to the dynamics of the battle simulator have been criticized for their unrealistic and arbitrary effects.
Even worse, warned of the fact that the Stravags would exploit various mechanics with
dishonorable behavior, PGI/IGP ignored the warnings.
It has even come to my attention that many of the hapless Freeborn do not have any idea what they are fighting for. It is bad enough that any stravag fool can pilot the legacy of the Star League around with horrible rates of attrition and loss of resources - but to think that they chose allegiances based on the look of a flag chosen by the errant usurping families....
It would seem, to this veteran of many business ventures and investments, that PGI/IGP has spared no expense for their marketing of new products and services while hardly satisfying the expectations induced by their marketing strategies and campaigns.
It is with a heavy heart that I must decline the current offer PGI/IGP has made regarding the sale of very fine Clan mechs. This is not for lack of funding on my part - I could purchase the Masakari package and have each mech delivered plated in gold with plenty to spare.
Nor, is this, a lack of willingness to support further expansion of PGI/IGP. I would love nothing more than to establish a healthy business relationship with a strong and up-coming ally.
The problem is that the integrity of PGI/IGP has been drawn into question. Investments have been made in good faith, and the only expansion put forth seems to be in the way of creating new ways to part me from my capital reserves. I can not help but sense PGI/IGP's intentions are
dishonorable and will, unfortunately, stain their blood.
I opted to re-post this response, here, due to the trend in "Upcoming Features" for threads discussing the upcoming Clan packages being closed.
Perhaps this is over-reaction on my part, but I would rather avoid an unnecessary and costly Trial of Annihilation.