That's why we have multiple sessions at various times as well as a moderator who will allow everyone to talk/encourage people to say something. The point is not for "Comment on X" or to debate about solutions or who's right and who is wrong or what is better or worse. The point is for Stardock to be able to go to people and ask "What do you want?" and for people to give options. Because otherwise, yes, most people will not say anything. 

While yes, this is what the forums are for, as Sap mentioned, there are times when without that real time face to face element, topics derail into unproductiveness.

And, if Stardock is wise, this also wouldn't be the only form of feedback. I would hope they don't take just the forums and such for feedback but also playtesting and other metrics.

Also, Sap, https://forums.elementalgame.com/396176 has a good AI video. It's a lot more technical than the other one but nice for those interested in that.

What you have essentially said is that different modes of conversation shouldn't exist because they might exclude some individuals who think that they are better than other individuals because those excluded individuals choose to exclude themselves due to a sense of superiority over those who would choose to engage in a different mode of conversation. I have a life. Everyone here has a life. If we didn't, we'd be dead.

That's fine; by all means, don't like it. The idea is merely to create a new venue for ideas to be discussed. There already is a forum with bug/feature implementation. Pop on over and enjoy.

Elemental exists as a platform to build upon. What to build and how to build upon it is a great intellectual challenge. The ideas of what is possible fascinate me. Though these forums do provide robust conversation, but the conversations are often blunt and lack finesse rarely getting to the heart of an issue before being diverted by vaguely related digressions.

The point of a real-time moderated discussion isn't to create some militant council to determine the course of this or that. It's for a bunch of people with a similar interest to get together and pit their wits against each other with an aim of creating a synthesis of ideas.

I understand what your saying, I just assumed (I believe correctly, correct me if I'm wrong) that these proposed real-time discussions would be forging the path forward for Elemental, a game which I have purchased, forgive me if I have a slight issue with other folks who don't work for the company and who have a lot more determination and/or time to devote to the discussion, dictating what my game will turn into, it's my biggest fear, I'd much rather Stardock just make the game in their vision that the vision of the community, I didn't buy a game from a community, I bought it from Stardock and forgive me if I'm apprehensive of a community, dictating how my game might work in a year or two.

I bought Elemental the game, not the platform, all this touting of the platform is wonderful, as long as it all turns into a mod that I can turn on/off at will and I haven't seen that yet so I'm fearful that some of the very drastic changes proposed in various threads on the forum, that have varying degrees of support, could show up in the game and effectively screw over what I happen to like about the game. Stardock really needs to be the final arbiter in designing this game, I think it's extremely dangerous to hand too much over to the community, they have sort have gotten themselves into this pickle by recruiting all the help from it's community but I think they risk giving too much power to the community as well.

It's my only concern, it would just be nice to keep the discussion in a more accessible form for everyone to partake. It's probably a lost cause though because naturally those more interested in having a say will have greater influence. I really, personally think that Stardock and specifically Brad could benefit a lot from not being so involved in the community, otherwise this kind of stuff happens, where members in the community have to spend even more time, arguing their point of view, just to hope to get the game they paid for.

Anyway, why not propose a real-time meeting at a local coffee house in Plymouth or perhaps in the meeting room of Stardock where fans are invited? Again, you see my concern, I hope.

We had lot of decent threads on this forum before the game has been released...just think about the EPIC global vs. local resources topic for example. The forum became a "flame board" right after the release, but things are cooling down thankfully.

Debating the efficacy of various forms of Assembly is irrelevant. Yet that’s what this thread amounts to: Arguments in favor of conversations that are as broad as possible, watered down with off-topic discussion and rubbish digressions; a fear that clear, concise conversation might yield thoughts – dangerous thoughts.

I never suggested anywhere replacing the forums. Never implied that the game's makers would take any notice whatsoever. I proposed that a handful of like-minded people talk, about stuff; the primary response, fear. These responses are absurd. This thread is pathetic. And I’m pathetic for proposing anything of the sort. How wretched to try and engage with anyone on a meaningful level.

Yeah man don't take it personally, as TwoHawks suggested if folks do something like this on their own cool, but it just doesn't feel like a good idea in an official capacity regarding Stardock and community (specifically paying customers). I personally think his ideas of creating a more heavily and focused forum of threads specific to issues is a great idea, similar to a stackoverflow.com type of site but for Elemental would probably be a very useful tool for directing the future development of the game, with everyone involved and would allow keeping things more organized and focused. Chances are however, things will continue as they have, through the forums and commenting on dev journals.

I agree having some offhand singled out group discuss and possibly be the ones who change the game is absurd when you have 70000 gamers who have their own ideas about what changes they'd make and what they'd like to see in the game.

Nope the way we have it now is the best and it doesn't allow the PIGS (from Animal Farm) to take over the community just because they want to have their voices heard above the others.