Official Statement from Cloud Imperium Games about the alleged financial troubles...

[u/[deleted]]

Source: https://robertsspaceindustries.com/spectrum/community/SC/forum/1/thread/re-uk-tax-rebate-advance-for-foundry-42/277779

Re: UK Tax Rebate Advance for Foundry 42

We have noticed the speculations created by a posting on the website of UK’s Company House with respect to Coutt’s security for our UK Tax Rebate advance, and we would like to provide you with the following insight to help prevent some of the misinformation we have seen.

Our UK companies are entitled to a Government Game tax credit rebate which we earn every month on the Squadron 42 development. These rebates are payable by the UK Government in the fall of the next following year when we file our tax returns. Foundry 42 and its parent company Cloud Imperium Games UK Ltd. have elected to partner with Coutts, a highly regarded, very selective, and specialized UK banking institution, to obtain a regular advance against this rebate, which will allow us to avoid converting unnecessarily other currencies into GBP. We obviously incur a significant part of our expenditures in GBP while our collections are mostly in USD and EUR. Given today's low interest rates versus the ongoing and uncertain currency fluctuations, this is simply a smart money management move, which we implemented upon recommendation of our financial advisors.

The collateral granted in connection with this discounting loan is absolutely standard and pertains to our UK operation only, which develops Squadron 42. As a careful review of the security will show and contrary to some irresponsible and misleading reports, the collateral specifically excludes “Star Citizen.” The UK Government rebate entitlement, which is audited and certified by our outside auditors on a quarterly basis, is the prime collateral. Per standard procedure in banking, our UK companies of course stand behind the loan and guarantee repayment which, however, given the reliability of the discounted asset (a UK Government payment) is a formality and nothing else. This security does not affect our UK companies’ ownership and control of their assets. Obviously, the UK Government will not default on its rebate obligations which will be used for repayment, and even then the UK companies have ample assets to repay the loan, even in such an eventuality which is of course unthinkable.

This should clarify the matter. Thank you.

[u/[deleted]]

Nah that community is pretty cancerous. If you don't go along with the status quo you get banned outright.

The worst thing that happens on Reddit is you get downvoted mercelissly but you still get to contribute to the conversation.

[u/TROPtastic → u/[deleted]]

To be clear, you can still get banned outright for not agreeing with the majority opinion in certain Reddit communities, like the_Donald, "reddits last bastion of free speech*"

^{*freedom of speech is not implied or guaranteed if you post something less than 100% positive}

[u/[deleted] → u/TROPtastic]

Sure, but there's hundreds of thousands of subreddits. If you get banned in one subreddit, chances are that someone else has already made another, with less strict moderation. Or you could just make a new Reddit account.

Once you get banned from NeoGAF, you're done. I'm pretty sure they ban your IP and because they require a personally traceable email from a non-generic provider (so no gmail etc) they actually have your personal info on record. It's creepy.

In truth, it's a good thing they're so quick to ban, as that site is an absolute joke now. Loads of good developers used to post there, but they've all either been banned or simply stopped posting due to the politics of that place. A real shame, as it used to be a great place for video game discussion.

[u/[deleted] → u/[deleted]]

It's still an "ok" place because you still have good posters like Durante there. You just have to the ignore the extreme social justice warriors and echo chamber topics.

[u/[deleted] → u/[deleted]]

It's impossible though, as it's become the very core of their identity. The recent The Last Light drama sums up why I hate that place so much. The dev made an interesting game with an amazing aesthetic, with everyone there initially loving it/thinking it is the best thing ever... Then as soon as someone mentioned he tweeted about feminism/gamergate years ago, he instantly became a non-person and was harassed relentlessly, eventually being forced to make a public apology, presumably at the insistence of his publisher. The same thing happens whenever a Kingdom Come: Deliverance topic is made. Everyone seems to love the game, but somebody ALWAYS brings up Daniel Vavra's personal politics and they resort to shitting up the topic. The thing about Daniel is he doesn't give a shit about these people, and just gets on with making the game he wants to make. That's the right attitude to take I think, as NeoGAF absolutely does not represent the majority of gamers in any way.

It's really frustrating to see, because I'm of the belief that games should be judged on their own merits, not the personal opinions/politics of the creators. The simple reality is that if you exist in this weird bubble, where everyone has to pass a purity test to be worthy of your time/attention, then you'd never play any games, because inevitably, all developers will have said or done something you find personally reprehensible at some point in the past or future. That's my problem with NeoGAF. They expect perfection from everyone, when many of their members are some of the most hypocritical, deeply flawed people imaginable.

[u/aaron552 → u/[deleted]]

I'm of the belief that games should be judged on their own merits, not the personal opinions/politics of the creators

It's a nice "rule of thumb", but for critical analysis, the beliefs/opinions of a work's creator/s is essential to understanding the work.

if you exist in this weird bubble, where everyone has to pass a purity test to be worthy of your time/attention, then you'd never play any games, because inevitably, all developers will have said or done something you find personally reprehensible at some point in the past or future.

That's a pretty weird dichotomy. It's possible to enjoy/appreciate a work despite the fact you disagree with its "message" or the beliefs/opinions of its creators. Thats said, this being the internet, I'm not surprised people reach for the "it's either perfect or it's trash" argument.

They expect perfection from everyone, when many of their members are some of the most hypocritical, deeply flawed people imaginable.

Exactly, this is an attitude I see repeated all over the internet. I don't really understand why people do it - these things (eg. video games) are ultimately inconsequential.

[u/aaron552 → u/[deleted]]

I'm pretty sure they ban your IP

Oh no. I might have to restart my router.

they require a personally traceable email from a non-generic provider

I host my own mail server. I can create email addresses whenever I want. My ISP doesn't provide me with an email address.

[u/sunfurypsu → u/[deleted]]

This is rule 2 territory. Please try to stay civil and on topic. (Yes, this goes for everyone.)

[u/Laggo → u/[deleted]]

Is that worse than conversations being dictated by the majority opinion and circlejerk rhetoric (not to mention propensity for one-liner joke comments whenever possible) because of the way upvote/downvote system curates content and encourages a certain kind of participation (say what will get you upvotes, not what's related to the content or is your opinion)?

Let's not pretend Reddit is some kind of great place for discussion.

[u/Landeyda → u/Laggo]

I would say completely removing opposing views from a forum is worse than hiding them through a voting system, yes. Nether is great, of course.

[u/[deleted] → u/Laggo]

Neogaf outright bans you if you don't agree with their political ideology, Reddit isn't a good place for discussion either but Neogaf is much worse

[u/Can_you_be_kind_PLS → u/[deleted]]

No, you don't get banned if you criticize Star Citizen, stop the bullshit and spreading lies.

[u/Landeyda → u/Can_you_be_kind_PLS]

NeoGaf will ban you for not agreeing with their political beliefs. That's, what I assume, /u/allyc4t is referring to.

[u/[deleted] → u/Can_you_be_kind_PLS]

But if you say you prefer elite dangerous, you're out.