There is a pretty apparent culture difference.

However, I don't think this is the real source of the problem, and the absolute worst thing CCP could do is turn this into a witchhunt. It's not just one person or group of people causing this, the communication gap is a roadblock that exists in the process itself, that needs to be removed at all costs. This is not about placing blame or trying to find fault in any person or team. That doesn't matter. The last thing we want CCP to take from something like this is that there is anyone in the company causing this, who would just become a scapegoat, get fired, and have CCP think they 'solved' the problem.

Now more than ever, CCP needs all of their employees to be at their best. They need to work together with each other and with the community, and any assumption that anyone needs to be blamed or is at fault for this will just take away from any cohesion they might otherwise form as a result of this effort.

TL:DR - This is not a people problem. This is a "Operating Procedure" problem.

If you elected a body of individuals who are entirely clueless as to what their CPM duties are how things are done and how to talk to CCP to work with them it would be a step backwards because they can easily be just as hostile as the IRC is and any attempts to talk to the CPM by CCP or vice versa could be an entirely unproductive process, nearly undo the entire process that CPM 0 has been trying to set up and possibly severely damage damage the CPM 2 and beyond. What if all of CPM1 decided to screw the NDA and release things without approval? getting fired and all.

There are many way to represent players as a whole though the best deal though is good amounts of varying opinions and coverage of ideas. Just because one individual may think the flaylock may be in good place, doesn't mean that it is yet that doesn't invalidate his representation of players who also feel the same way whatever their reasons are.

Politics aside the players elected should only be entering the election process with the best intentions in mind, I wonder how many of those people who were also vetted when the War Council was first brought up that are no longer with us today? Or those that called for replacement of members before and after the term started? What sort of credibility those people have now? Trust me whatever reasons they have left for, had they been in the CPM then they would have left much sooner than that.

The CPM is not fun and games, it consumes a crud ton of time, can keep you up late at night just typing away and making reports. Waking up at odd hours just to make a meeting or getting personal contact with members of CCP and takes serious amounts of dedication more so than the hardcore players who are tipping over 20 million just now, and this is just trying to interact with CCP alone, interacting with the community is nearly just as humongous in time consumption and most of the work done within the CPM will be thankless, silent victories, and secreted wins that individual or the entire CPM will never be credited for. Some victories to which may not bear fruit well until after that council is dismissed for end of term.

CPM 0's job is to ensure that CPM 1 will not be the LAST CPM elected and rushing to getting those guys elected now would almost guarantee that.

Listen, I had decided not to comment on this anymore, but I just can't abide this BS.

You guys were clueless before you were appointed by CCP, just like an elected body would have been.

There's no magic that you have. You shouldn't be there in the first place. All of the CPMs should be elected.

The fact of the matter is, when I read your defending of an appointed oligarchy, all I hear is the repressive voice of all dictatorships.

You shouldn't have a voice because you don't represent anyone. Done. Yes, it is as simple as that.

I can't help that you're in place now, but the CPM, even 0 should have been elected. CCP, by listening, to an unelected group of players is making a poor decision.

I understand your need to justify your position. All appointed members of government have this need - it stems from your inherent illegitimacy.

I'm glad to see that you are pushing for better communication, but honestly, a ton of crap the CPM says on the forums here is really misguided and doesn't represent the players. Your flaylock example is perfect, I saw CPM members stating that they think the weapon should be completely ruined. How's that measured? Or reserved? Or informed. You guys aren't any more capable than an elected body would be, but an elected body would have an additional point of legitimacy.

Your job, IMHO, ought to be making way for a group with more legitimacy, anything more than that is a risk to the game at this early stage due to the CPM's biased views and sense of self importance. I have no doubt it's a tough job, and never said otherwise, it just shouldn't be your job unless you were elected to the post.

I'm sorry I've said all this, but it's how I feel. The push for CCP to better communication is good, but it doesn't take away the need for representation.

I think the appropriate analogy is that a sick patient has been stabilized in the operating room for the time being, but the CPM wants to make sure that the doctor's orders from here out include plenty of exercise and proper nutrition so that the patient doesn't end up right back in the hospital a few months down the road.

Okay.

Update #4 :

We have had our meeting. CCP and the CPM hashed our our general feels and talked about the process moving forward. A rough charter for the CPM is being drawn up, which will be a document that details the goals & process by which we interact with CCP in their release planning.

We have no serious goals or commitments from CCP to post at this time, as we need to follow up after the charter is drawn up.... but this meeting was a pretty huge deal. It took /years/ for the CSM to be involved in release planning. For CCP to be willing to involve the CPM in this after merely months, is a /huge/ step. The key thing here is... finding a gentle groove to make this work. This is something we'll be working with CCP on in the future.

So.. The foundation for good news is set. We'll see what the future brings, if things keep looking up.