while i think the tribes council is/was a good idea and certainly one much more far-reaching than any other game maker i can think of, it still somehow doesn't sit right with me.
it's too small. too few voices.
while i think there should be a tribes council, i don't think it should be the only first hand, first look, first feedback introduction to the tribes products.
the solution to this would be to have a few of the developers and production staff (like an E3 crew) travel to the major tribes lans (UVALAN and Tribescon) and setup a booth just like at E3 where you can show the products, have people play a little, and get direct feedback from a variety of people, not just a few handpicked very select individuals. this also shouldn't be viewed as time away from development for those developers in attendance, but rather as part of the development process.
i could see the rewards as tremendous. i'm certainly not suggesting you make a horse by commitee, but at the same time, you'd create a great amount of good will among the community and gain as much information as you could get from the council but undoubtedly with a broader perspective.
a poll representing only a few participants, regardless of expertise, doesn't indicate much (just look at congress), but a poll of greater breadth could lead to some pretty meaningful conclusions.
i know it's a pretty outlandish idea to include this as part of the development process but i honestly believe people (players) have less concern about the added development time this might cause than being delivered in the end a product which is much more satisfying and would undoubtedly have a longer product life.
i know there are 10,000 other concerns to consider when making and marketing a game and i don't feel i've explained my point very well so i'll break it off here and let the flames begin.