Star Trek: Online

There's a couple of ways to handle this that might work. Click your launcher; click options; and under 'Advanced Command Line' put:

-maxfps 60

^^^
This will cap your card's FPS output at 60 (the default in game is 120 and I've noticed even if you set it to 60 in the game options, sometimes it will still try to run at 120. The other thing is does is throotle the Cryptic engine process back a bit because the engine still trys to drive some of your internal GPU hardware to max; unless it see a hard FPS cap specified (been that way since beta, and even a few Devs commented on the situation bck then.) Sounds wierd; but back when I was using an Nvidia GT7950 and having heat issues in STO; that fixed it (upped to a GTX260 soon after launch though, but still keep the setting.)

 

Will try that tonight, it was funny that I wasn't expecting a problem, but I will have to sit down, then run though the missions and get the rewards, and I want to sell one of them for a Runabout

 

the rewards from some of those missions sell quite nicely. Made about 200k on a phaser strip...

 

Awesomeness!

"As part of an earnings report today, Atari announced it has divested its interest in Champions Online developer Cryptic Studios, calling the development house a "discontinued operation" as of March 31.

Atari will continue to support all current Cryptic products while the publisher looks to sell the studio, Gamasutra understands. Development on the Bay Area studio's Neverwinter project will continue as normal for the time being.

"In line with the previously stated strategy of fewer but more profitable releases and further expansion into casual online and mobile games, the Company has determined that external development creates more flexibility in the changing marketplace," Atari wrote in justifying the move.

The studio, which recently took Champions Online free-to-play, showed a €5.3 million ($7.5 million) loss for the 2010/11 fiscal year, up from a loss of €12.6 million ($17.9 million) the previous year.

Founded in 2000, Cryptic is well known for its City of Heroes/Villains and Star Trek Online MMOs. The studio has been part of Atari since a 2008 acquisition."

http://www.gamasutra.com/view/news/34704/Atari_Drops_Champions_Online_Developer_Cryptic_Studios.php

Next C-Store item to be a Fork!

 

Easy fix that would go a LONG way. Once you start attacking someone, it keeps attacking without having to click.. every.. single... time. The Starbase 24 rescue wears out my poor mouse-hand.

 

Here's my take on the divestiture. It costs about $10 million to $20 million a year to develop a AAA online game. Cryptic's developing two new ones currently, Neverwinter (a co-op online RPG) and an unannounced MMORPG. That means they're spending $20 million to $40 million on new development.

During that time they lost $7.5 million. That tells me that STO and CO combined are making 8 figure profits. Push one of these new games back 2 years, and they're golden.

Atari doesn't want to be in the AAA business; they want to return to their core competency of either casual online games or "develop, ship, abandon" box games. Somebody else who likes the big online model will snap Cryptic up while they're a bargain.

STO isn't going anywhere; Dan Stahl confirmed today that several new developers start in June.

 

Yes, if anything the Cryptic revenue stream allowed ATARI to pay down it's other debts; and I'm sure the ATARI board of directors feels that by this move:

1) They essentially rid themselves of the debt incurred (25 - 30 million dollar U.S. EACH for CO and STO by most estimates)

2) They get an influx of fresh capital from the sale of Cyptic to help Atari pay down more of it's own existiing debt and fund their new development direction (eg Facebook games that nickel and dime you and small PC and X-Box releases).

The fact that Cryptic is shown as such a huge 'loss' IS due to the fact that Atari has put the 50+ million U.S. dollar MMO Development costs back squarely on Cryptic Studios, while noting, that in the past two years, the Cryptic revenue stream was approx. 25 million Euros from its online games (STO and CO).

It's definitely creative accounting, as for the past two years, it was reported that Atari was able to pay off a lot of it's other existing debt due to the revenue from Cryptic games (STO and CO.)

And this move a big gamble, because if Atari can't find a buyer, it will have to re-assume all that debt (Atari still owns Cryptic fully and all Cryptic's incurred debt; but since Atari has listed Cryptic as a 'discontinued operation' - it can legally (under French law); cook its books to not show that Cryptic debt all the way back to 2009.) I don't know how long Atari has to sell Cryptic Studios before it wouuld have to re-absorb them; but if it doesn't sell Cryptic, BOTH companies will most likely go down the tubes.

By all reports, Cryptic WAS generating the majority of revenue for Atari over the last btwo years; but Atari just sees this as a chance to drop more debt; and get some more free and clear operations capital to fund their business shift to smaller online java based games and small PC and X-Box titles.

IMO - I know the Cryptic Community Rep WishStone has posted "it's not as dire as it sounds."; but (IMO) in this economy, anything with that level of debt and no expectation of 'profit' for 3 - 5 years (which is how most MMO development debt is usually amortized); I think it's just another stupid move by Atari's board of directors; and if they don't pull off a sale - Atari and Cryptic are toast. (and IMO - IF they already had a buyer; they would have held off on this announcement until a deal was finalized, and in such a case, Atari's own books would have looked even better. - so theyu ARE 'shopping' Cryptic.)

So, yeah, I'm worried, not because I have an LTS (but I bought it back when it was first offered in open beta so even if the worst happens and STO shuts down in 3 months or so, I'll have generally broke even anyway); but because I LIKE STO (and CO); the Foundry,although I am debating if I should biother working on the conclusion to the one mission "A Relic's Return" I already have up - I'm about 3/4's done with the conclusion atm; until we know more about Cryptic's actual future. I'd hate to spend another 12 or so hours free time fpr something that will disappear soon ; and the direction the game is going (the new Duty officer system and the ramp up to 9 FE series a year.)

I'm honestly trying NOT to be pessemistic; but I've seen this in the MMO industry before; and the really said this is, none of this is due to any real fault on the Cryptic STO Dev team, but is squarely on the shounders of the Atari BoDs; and the fact Atari will go down with Cryptic if the move fails, is no consolation. It's not even the Atari of old; it's INFOGAMES trading on the name of the original Atari brand name.

I also don't see any existing MMO developer jumping in.

SOE - Just cancelled an MMO titled and pruned 250 employees and closed 3 off site Dev studios. They also have just launched DCUO; and that would be a competitor of sorts in the same company. Also, they still hold SWG, and while it's fate after SW:ToR release is uncertain, it's dev cost is ''paid off'. But I don't see SOE wanting to assume more debt; or having a lot of cash available if it did; especially with the recent hacking incident.

EA/BioWare/Mythic - They have 150-300 million sunk in SW:ToR; and it's just spliting the potential audience. No way. (FYI and IMO - if SWToR doesn't go gangbusters out of the gate and maintain, you might see EA try and sell it back solely to Lucas Arts in a year or so. That's EA.)

Turbine - Doubful. They already share revenue with Atari for D&D Online; I don't think again, they'd want the debt; and if they did acquire Cryptic, I doubt Cryptic would be allowed to continue with it's 'open communicaton' development style.

CCP - EVE Online is it for them.

NCSoft - In effect Cryptic had already sold 'City of Heroes' to them; and as much as Jack wants to continue Cryptic, I doubt he'd want to colaberate with NCSoft again. CO is still a direct competitor to CoH too; and probably paid off development wise. I don't see NCSoft having any fuirther interest in the western MMO market beyond what they have now.

Vivendi/Blizzard - No. No need. These guys don't want another Dev studio. What they have works well for them already.

Funcom - They are the most likely; but they're still involved trying to make Age of Conan work; and again, I don't think they have the capital or want the extra debt.

Oh, and for all those who say - "Who cares, Cryptic did a piss poor job on STO and CBS will just license the IP again to a better developer, and we'll get a REAL Star Trek Online."

Unlikely.

It's possible (but doubtful) that CBS could buy Cryptic and at least continue STO; but I doubt CBS wants it's own MMO studio; and it already makes pure profit from licensing the Star Trek IP in various areas, with little overhead. If Cryptic and STO go under; after the Perpetual Studios development debacle and now this, I think CBS will either not be able to find another MMO developer who wants the license; or will just consider Star Trek unable to be effectively licensed in the MMO market.

It's the same logic as people who thought Enterprise sucked; and after it was cancelled; we'd see a "Better 6th series 'done right.' (tm)" <-- Yeah, we saw how well that logic worked. So, after two failed attempts, I think CBS will take it's Star Trek MMO ball, and shelve it indefinitely.

Again, I really do hope Atari finds a buyer and that buyer is able/willing to let Cryptic continue as it has been with STO. I'll really hate to see the STO game fold.

 

I feel bad for the lifers.

Hopefully they will now cut back on some of the ghestapo (they hire a new forum mod every week while complaining of low staffing)

They just missed the correct answers to a few questions.

The correct answers are:

STFs as weeklies

and

Tier 5 Constitution

Since they listened to their forum whiners instead, they can all enjoy the slow spiral to death. And I told them so. Several times. Now it's time to pay the piper.

Although I really like Star Trek and STO isn't that bad so.... Maybe another chance. Just study the above answers, ignore the forum and proceed.

 

Can't you just go threadcrap elsewhere? We get it you hate STO but sorry to disappoint you. It isn't going anywhere.

 

Of course, if STO is making more money then it costs to run, (which by all accounts it does) then a Chapter 11 is in order, where you give equity to the debtors and then they get the money from operations.

 

We'll see what happens, but if STO does go away, I don't think we'll see another Star Trek MMO for a long, long time. Although there is that ftp Star Trek game under development - haven't heard much about it lately, though, so I'm not sure if it's even going to happen at this point.

 

Here's their major malfunction:

They confuse the forum base with the player base.

They had a Launcher Poll only once to get the player base opinion.

Of course the forum base complained loudly about this so they caved and didn't do it again, getting ALL their opinions from the forum base.

Now the game caters completely to the forum base which is actually quite small and that is all there is left playing the game.

Forum bases kill MMO's, they must ALWAYS use launcher polls to determine things they need a player opinion on. The same forum whiners using the same names and Avatars tried unsuccessfully to influence Bioware's production of STO. Bioware smartly ignored their input. Sadly they will find another MMO with a weak not so smart producer to ruin until they grow up and have to get a job.

I told them so!

 

You're wrong; now they hire The Nielsen Company to do market research.

The forums are a place people can go to give more personal feedback. However, you contradict yourself anyway; if, as you say, ONLY the forum folks play the game, then why wouldn't they use the forums as representative of the player base...

 

That's the same as saying your elected president can't actually become president because only 40% of the general populationg actually voted!
If someone asks for an opinion and some answer, even if it's a minority, those will be the only opinions that you can consider as valid.
If someone doesn't choose to voice his opinions he has no right to complain. Wether you like it or not.
So, kids, always go and vote!

 

http://forums.startrekonline.com/showthread.php?p=3546541#post3546541

Tomorrow's patch includes:

Devidian re-run ends, Romulan re-run begins, Reman Bridge Officer now available again.
Fighters now available in the ship store, and usable for any "shuttles only" missions.
Shuttle/Fighter cannons now available in the store and special ones available in The Vault mission.
New Featured Episode tab in the Journal.
Horta combat pet crafting schematic available on "Mine Enemy".

 

Prove to me that everyone that plays is on the forum.

Prove to me that everyone that can votes.

 

Unless the Nelson company (which is for TV) is under a different name on the forums you are wrong. If this is a different company, they are too cheap to hire them.

EVERY wrong thing in this game has been recommended on the forums and taken up in the game.

Proof is in the pudding:

"The Final Count Down"

 

Okay, dude, seriously, dial it back. I get it, you don't like the game, you want it cancelled and all the developers anally raped by a Horta. I got it. Now would you please shut the hell up for people to actualy talk about the game rather than you thread-crap all over the place?

 

Actually, for the umpteenth time (don't you guys actually READ THE POSTS?) I like the game. I love Star Trek. What I hate is how the weak willed company allowed a bunch of forum twerps to steer them into a ditch thus ruining the game I like.

Funny how people that don't even read the post content start crying "thread crap" to get me silenced. The losers at STO forums do that too.

Kind of proves my point!

 

I've never heard of "the Nelson company", but The Nielsen Company does a lot more than just TV research. I took a survey for them on consumer products just a couple of weeks ago.

Their mission statement is "In 100 countries around the world, Nielsen provides clients the most complete understanding of what consumers watch and buy."

They spend more of their time doing market research than TV research, it's just the TV research that gets the most coverage from the TV press, for reasons that should be obvious.