Star Trek Online - Worth it?
- Thread starter Distorted Humor
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Gee a TV blog from people who (by their comments haven't played the game in months); and who are speculating as much as anyone else. But I agree do your own research as you'll find:
Atari doesn't want to be in the development business any longer; they just want to license thier properties out to existing developmrnt companies, and let those companies shoulder the developmen costs.
Also, back in the day (again if you do your research); you'll find Atari paid a bonus to Cryptic last year (because CO and STO exceeded targets); and while CO didn't this year; STO did, so Atari is on the hook for another payout (it was scheduled for May 1 of this year - but no one knows the behind the scenes stuff on that and it may need to do with the timing of the 'discontinued operation' daye of 3/31/11.
Also, Atari downsized one of it's other development holdings (Eden Games) from 80 developers to 30 developers; yet interestingly - Cryptic has new Developers starting on June 1, 2011 (per a post by ST EP DStahl).
If you do your own research; what Atari is doing is:
- Getting out of the 'bonus' situation (which they probably thoiught Cryptic coul;dn't make, but did for the most part.
- Sheeding the development debt incurred for CO(25 - 30 million); STO (25-30 million); and whoever much has been spent on NeverWinter Nights to this point. Until Cryptic is 100% divested from Atari; Atari is on the hook for that debt.
- Atari (by most reports) hold licencing rights to Champions Online (shifted to Atari as part of the purchase deal); and NeverWinter Nights. (STO licensing rights remain with CBS, and the deal remained between CBY and Cryptic alone.)
So, yes, Atari is searching for an outside buyer; but if it can't find one; has a backup deal in place to 'sell' Cryptic back to Jack Emmrt and Co.; and thus Cryptic becomes and independent studio again (and taking all the development debt with it, for Atari amortized over the next 3 to 5 years); and it still pays licencing fees to Atari for Champions Online and NeverWiter Nights (once released.) There will proabbly be fiuture arrangement for Cryptic (as a noe independent company again) to publish under Atari - while still allowing Cryptic (and Atari) to make deals with other publishers/(outsourced developers.)
In the end, the win/win for Atari in any case is continued licensing fees (which are mostly profit for them); and the shedding of 60 million+ U.S. dollars in debt.
Atari didn't divest Cryptic because of its inability to generate revenue or because it wan't doing well; they just want to take the revenue they can get, and not shoulder the cost of new and continued product develiopment.
If Atari doesn't divcest Cryptic; they are 100% on the hook fior all teh development costs incurred to date. If they can find an outside bjuyer, they get extra cash to boot; (much more then if they sell it back to Jack), but they have a vested interest in seeing Cryptic and the properties they hold license rights to - (CO and NWN); continue and succeed ; as they want those licensing payments, and want to shed the debt they've inciurred for the Cryptic MMO development while they were a part of Atari.
Atari has always been out for the quick buck; so this move away from internal development to a licenseor makes perfect sense to their BoD (and creditors.)
It remanis to be seen how well Cryptic can do on it's own; but it started out as an independent; and now has two moderately successfull MMOs out the door; with a third (NWN) close to launch; and a fourth still being developed. It also has the infrastructure in place to runs these MMOs (probably will pay a fee to Atari for that as well); so it's not like they won't have revenue streams of their own.
The big question will be - can they make enough to maintain operating and devwelopment costs while they pay down those development costs?
If Cryptic can (either as an independent company or as a subsidiary of some larger entity); they'll be around quite a while. If not, they'll fold. But from all indications, Atari is not just cutting them loose and throwing them away - they jsut want less overhead and cost in Atari's day to day operations.
Well, I managed to get my Assault Cruiser yesterday, so I'm very happy so far. The game isn't without some major faults (seriously, look into Auto-Attack), but I actually like a lot of the way the game's put together.
Atari's really just trying to go back to being Infogrames, and I can't say that Atari's bullshit right now is a reflection on either Cryptic or Star Trek Online in the least.
Atari's really just trying to go back to being Infogrames, and I can't say that Atari's bullshit right now is a reflection on either Cryptic or Star Trek Online in the least.
I've already asked and given infractions over this Cryptic debate. Please can everyone desist? It's not a brilliant atmosphere when we bicker like this.
Hmmm... Actually, the game is MOSTLY single-player content. You can play it with a team, and the missions scale up according to the number of players and level quite reasonably. But the most basic mission, at its lowest, is single-player.
So if you are a player used to MMORPGs, you'll be quite surprised to find yourself getting to the top level without having to team even once. Once said that, you can get to the top level in STO in less than a month, so it's not an accomplishment.
As for people dancing in the night club or exchanging emotes, it's a thing called "socializing". It's quite common in MMO games.
Putting tribbles on a mission, or even making Scottie appear in a mission is not the same as "implementing the Star Trek philosophy" in a game. Yes, they are quite documented in ST trivia, but the underlying concept of the whole series seems to be ignored. "Trivia" is not the same as "lore".
I will agree that having a "real" ST multiplayer game is grounds for comercial failure. Most people come with the "shoot, don't think" mindset that's common in other MMORPGs so if you want to be successful, you've got to do huge allowances game-wise.
I disagree, but I'm on the "other" side of the equation: it's not the Connie that's missing, but all the ships that have brought the name "Enterprise" or are favourites of players. If you are a fan of "Voyager", (I checked, there are some, I swear! ) you should be able to fly and command an "Intrepid" class to the endgame and be competitive.
In ST the ship is as important as the crew. Yet, in STO, it's just a piece of hardware you discard when you [are forced to] grow out of it.
Easy: There is no other Trek MMO. So STO fans, TNG/DS9/Voy fans, and ENT fans are FORCED to share the same server.
This means that EVERYONE will have to make allowances to allow other people to have fun too.
The sight of a "fugly" Galaxy class may make TOS fans froth at their mouths, but TNG players are entitled to their ship and their fun. On the other hand, TNG players should keep their own mouths shut when they see a Vice Admiral prancing around in a Constitution or Miranda, because TOS fans are also entitled to their fun and their view. And the same goes for ENT fans or JJverse fans.
If you cannot compartimentalize what players choose to see, you cannot favor one side or another.
And sadly, this is precisely what Cryptic has done.
The most glaring example is the top ship of the game. It's not the Sovereign class, as one would expect, or the Cryptic-designed Star Cruiser. Neither is the Galaxy. It's the Excelsior.
This fact is the most obvious shout from the devs that says "we will do what we want, and screw logic, canon, or the opinions of everyone else". They favor one side game wise, but milk cash from everyone else. They have made a lot of TOS era fluff, but most of it is kept "out of sight" of everyone else, but the player that pays for it.
I'm permabanned too, because they didn't like my opinions. I don't hate the STO forums, but I do have a poor opinion of the mods and the way they abuse, bend and twist the rules to suit their whims.
Actually, they currently have permabanned everyone that has an opinion and is able to express it with logic and without having to resort to name-calling, trolling or flame baiting.
They will drop on you the "quoting private correspondence" rule that they use as a "carpet bombing", blanket-banning tool, give you ten infraction points, and be done with it.
Sigh. To avoid making this post longer, I'll quote several links that detail my opinions on a few subjects where I find that STO is sorely lacking:
Ship upgrade system:
http://startrek-online.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=shipdiscussion&action=display&thread=17
Level/rank system:
http://startrek-online.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=bugsandtech&action=display&thread=15
The Klingons. This one is not mine, but Peregrine Falcon's considerable effort to show how Cryptic has mistreated the KDF faction from day one, meaning early design stages, long before the game was in beta:
http://forums.startrekonline.com/showthread.php?t=217322
PF quotes dates and people, there is no mistake about it.
And glosses over the fact that his own dates show he knew Klingons were a PvP faction months before lifetime subs went on sale, which everybody who discussed the issue with him in IRC months before that date already knew.
True.
But that only means that the devs themselves gave up on providing Klingon content because they were more interested in meeting the deadline than in making things right.
In short, my STO account doesn't have a Klingon character because they "sold" me Klingons as "PvP faction", which I despise.
Had the devs made the effort to bring Klingons up to speed, leaving that "PvP faction" crap behind, I would have rolled a KDF toon.
The only thing I can say is "thank the Dark Side they didn't TRY to make a Romulan faction". Screwing up the Romulans would have been the straw that broke the camel's back.
I like Klingons, but the Romulans hold a very special place in my black heart. Instead of being annoyed and disappointed in how they did things, I would have brought a one-man Jihad on them.
I guess that means I would have been banned faster.
But that only means that the devs themselves gave up on providing Klingon content because they were more interested in meeting the deadline than in making things right.
In short, my STO account doesn't have a Klingon character because they "sold" me Klingons as "PvP faction", which I despise.
Had the devs made the effort to bring Klingons up to speed, leaving that "PvP faction" crap behind, I would have rolled a KDF toon.
The only thing I can say is "thank the Dark Side they didn't TRY to make a Romulan faction". Screwing up the Romulans would have been the straw that broke the camel's back.
I like Klingons, but the Romulans hold a very special place in my black heart. Instead of being annoyed and disappointed in how they did things, I would have brought a one-man Jihad on them.
I guess that means I would have been banned faster.
And then all the Federation people would have run out of content twice as fast, and the game would have shut its doors by now.
I do have issues with the game myself..
Among other things, while I like space combat, I'd like it to more like Starfleet Command. Preferably without Boff abilities. It's far too fast paced at higher levels and to a certain extent it feels more like Star Wars then Trek.
Also I do dislike the setting. It should have either been set during Kirks time (during the movies would be best) or during the TNG era (either during or just after the dominion war).
You can command an Intrepid class in the endgame and be competitive. A decent weapon setup combined with a fully specced charged particle burst III and tachyon beam would wipeout most ships effortlessly.
While Federation cruisers can do damage, both the science and escort ships do that better. Hence why in PvP you only see a cruiser if it's a casual player or as team healer in a premade. Heck, people are even starting to use sci-ships for heals. For the most part, Fed cruisers are just lumbering targets or tanks, but never are they dangerous.
Among other things, while I like space combat, I'd like it to more like Starfleet Command. Preferably without Boff abilities. It's far too fast paced at higher levels and to a certain extent it feels more like Star Wars then Trek.
Also I do dislike the setting. It should have either been set during Kirks time (during the movies would be best) or during the TNG era (either during or just after the dominion war).
You can command an Intrepid class in the endgame and be competitive. A decent weapon setup combined with a fully specced charged particle burst III and tachyon beam would wipeout most ships effortlessly.
It may be the most offensive Federation cruiser, but it's certainly not the best ship in the game. The only ships in the game that are of any real use are Escorts and Sci's. The only reason to use a cruiser is if your interested in tanking/healing.
While Federation cruisers can do damage, both the science and escort ships do that better. Hence why in PvP you only see a cruiser if it's a casual player or as team healer in a premade. Heck, people are even starting to use sci-ships for heals. For the most part, Fed cruisers are just lumbering targets or tanks, but never are they dangerous.
Taking into account that currently you are able to get to top level just with content, and have spare content to play at endgame as fed, that would have been a wise choice.
I very much doubt STO would have shut its doors just by that. And may be some players that left might have stayed.
Well, most people agree that the space combat part is actually well balanced and very Trek-ish. But you...
...cannot please everyone.
Exactly my point. It is impossible to have separate servers for the different eras. As I said, there is people that like TOS, while others like the TNG/DS9/VOY timeline, and other people want to venture beyond and see "new Trek". And I'm willing to bet that there is people that actually like the JJ movie, and would have liked STO to be in that timeline.
And you have them all in just one server. The setup of STO is precisely in the "Future Trek", but ignoring the people that like other eras, or giving them a bad treatment is dangerous business.
Judging from the fluff offer in the C-store, the people that have spent cash besides their regular subscription are precisely the TOS fans. That is, the ones most "far away" in the past of the timeline. They can purchase a Constitution class ship, the TOS ship interiors, uniforms, everything. It's a pity that the Constitution class ship has to be abandoned for gameplay purposes at level 11.
Oh, sorry, I forgot the ENT people. Those are the most "far away" in the timeline. I wonder why I keep forgetting about them.
Duh. I forgot you can purchase a top level Intrepid in the c-store. Yes, there are TWO Intrepids in the game: one that lasts for ten levels, and the endgame one you can keep playing with.
And still people don't see anything wrong with it. It's not the only example of a ship that has two versions: the "free" one that lasts ten levels, and an "endgame" version that you can purchase in the c-store.
Seriously, people, no one sees anything wrong with paying twice for the same ship if you want to fly it at top level?
Erm... I'm afraid you are talking about PvP, which I don't do. Still, people that DO PvP and people that, like me, play just PvM agree that the Excel is the "best" ship in the game. I'm quoting just what I heard and read from people that know STO better than I.
Personally, I've never flown one, so I don't know. I haven't even bothered to check the ship specs. Simply, is the ship I dislike the most in the whole Starfleet ship offer. I have a Sci character, and I have flown the "flying microphone". But besides feeling a little silly flying it, I had no problems with it. The Excelsior, on the other hand, is a ship I would actively avoid flying.
Anyways, back to the subject at hand, "Is STO worth it?" the truth is that "it depends".
If you expect to have a TOS feeling to it, forget it. You will keep that feeling exactly for ten levels. Then you will go to a 25th century ship while wearing those precious TOS uniforms. Oh, there is also the "Night of the comet", where you get back in time, but the rest of the time, you will be immersed in non-TOS content, Borg included.
If you want just a Trek-themed MMORPG with lots of soloable content, then, by all means jump ahead. You will have fun for a few months IF you choose to play Federation.
If you are aiming for a Klingon, it's grind fest for you, or PvP.
Actually there is not a single ship you have to pay twice. You can use your final ship token at level cap to buy any of the retrofit ships. Other ships like tge Vulcan D'Kyr ir Nebula class you can buy with the ingame currency Emblems, earned for doing dailies. No real world money necessary.
The only ships you can't get through ingame currencies are the Constitution, NX and Oberth classes. Those are alternate starter ships not better then the standard Miranda.
The only ships you can't get through ingame currencies are the Constitution, NX and Oberth classes. Those are alternate starter ships not better then the standard Miranda.
Admin/Moderators, for your consideration:
http://startrek-online.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=offtopic&action=display&thread=27
http://startrek-online.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=offtopic&action=display&thread=27
There's a reason why people who get banned from one forum tend to get banned from a LOT of forums.
Actually, when you pay your monthly fee, besides the right to play, you also pay for upgrades, bug fixing, and content, current and new. So you do pay for the ships.
And if you purchase the top level versions in the c-store, you are paying for them a second time.
And let's talk about acquiring ships with ingame currency:
You've got to grind several hours a day during a minimum of one month to acquire ONE ship for ONE character.
On the other hand, if you PAY an oh-so-reasonable amount of cash, you get the same ship IN ALL CHARACTERS IN YOUR ACCOUNT and in one go.
This is an obvious F2P strategy that SHOULD NOT have place in a pay-to-play online game.
Oh, my. We've been had. Our evil plot to find STO players and let them know there is an alternate forum, not controled by the STO mods, to discuss specifically STO matters has been discovered.
Silly me, I forgot to state the address of said forums. Oh wait, ZOSO just posted it for me.
And Mr. Syberghost, for your information, I'm banned in exactly ONE forum: STO. In the almost sixteen years I've been attending different forums, I've been banned exactly once.
I'd say that my record speaks loud and clear about who is the problem in there.
Why not?
Yeah. Keep telling yourself and your whopping FOURTEEN members on your pathetic little forum that.
The fact remains is that you, along with the rest of them, are immature little kids that rage when people do not agree with your way of thinking. To disagree with your group means the people disagreeing are idiots in your eyes.
It is as simple as researching the "post history" on the STO forums of every single one of your fourteen members to see the raging and immaturity. Unfortunately (or rather, FORTUNATELY), the most vile of postings from your little clique have been edited to remove the vicious attacks your group has posted.
Any postings you or your group have made that had any merit is pretty much lost due to your constant abrasive posting habits. Think about that.
Every other user and moderator on every other forum are at fault for the bans...it COULDN'T be you or those other trolls.
Get a grip.
I am not banned here either, or anyplace else but STO forums.
I just refrained from posting my opinions to avoid being attacked for them like what's being done in this thread.
I hope the offenders are rewarded as I was if this be a truly fair forum and not a self serving clique.
I still play STO because I like Star Trek.
I tolerate all the disagreeableness because of that.
Let that inform your decision.
I just refrained from posting my opinions to avoid being attacked for them like what's being done in this thread.
I hope the offenders are rewarded as I was if this be a truly fair forum and not a self serving clique.
I still play STO because I like Star Trek.
I tolerate all the disagreeableness because of that.
Let that inform your decision.
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Yeah. Keep telling yourself and your whopping FOURTEEN members on your pathetic little forum that.
The fact remains is that you, along with the rest of them, are immature little kids that rage when people do not agree with your way of thinking. To disagree with your group means the people disagreeing are idiots in your eyes.
It is as simple as researching the "post history" on the STO forums of every single one of your fourteen members to see the raging and immaturity. Unfortunately (or rather, FORTUNATELY), the most vile of postings from your little clique have been edited to remove the vicious attacks your group has posted.
Any postings you or your group have made that had any merit is pretty much lost due to your constant abrasive posting habits. Think about that.
Every other user and moderator on every other forum are at fault for the bans...it COULDN'T be you or those other trolls.
Get a grip.
I find this comment completely insulting and inappropriate. I am a member of both forums. I still have active memberships to both forums. I was once temp banned unjustly, fought the ban and had it overturned. I went to the other forums because I cannot stand Cryptics mods. They infract and close threads on a whim. Perhaps you should actually do your research before you go insulting people as my history is nothing like what you described above. Perhaps a good look in the proverbial mirror would help you realize that a post like yours is no better and probably shows less maturity than those you call out.
As for the OP. If you are a brand new player I would suggest buying the game if you are interested in rolling a fed toon. Just starting out it has tons of content with more on the way. You will find it enjoyable, especially with the newer remastered episodes early on. Klingons are a different story. While they do not interest me personally, their content is somewhat lacking since launch with nothing in site to remedy the situation (yes i'm saying this nicely) If you were asking about re-subbing I would suggest you wait until the next content release as not much has changed in the last 6 month content wise. Wait and experience the new ground combat on some fresh content that was made for it.
Yeah. Keep telling yourself and your whopping FOURTEEN members on your pathetic little forum that.
The fact remains is that you, along with the rest of them, are immature little kids that rage when people do not agree with your way of thinking. To disagree with your group means the people disagreeing are idiots in your eyes.
It is as simple as researching the "post history" on the STO forums of every single one of your fourteen members to see the raging and immaturity. Unfortunately (or rather, FORTUNATELY), the most vile of postings from your little clique have been edited to remove the vicious attacks your group has posted.
Any postings you or your group have made that had any merit is pretty much lost due to your constant abrasive posting habits. Think about that.
Every other user and moderator on every other forum are at fault for the bans...it COULDN'T be you or those other trolls.
Get a grip.
Hum...
You know, this post of yours breaks past the red line of a lot of forums I am a contributive member of.
Had you dropped such a line in the STO forums, you'd most asuredly would join the "circle of the damned" in our "pathetic little forum".
As for "immature little kids", the fact I stated that I've been posting in Internet forums AND BBS before that, for SIXTEEN years, should have clued you to the fact I'm not exactly a teenager.
I don't hide my age. I'm fourty six.
I also agree I have an abrasive personality. I am very vocal about my opinions, and usually don't care about how many toes I crush defending my opinions. I'm of the school that claims that "if you cannot stand the heat, stay away from the kitchen".
But I also do not insult any person I argue with. I may not respect a person's views or opinions, but I do try my best to respect the person him/herself.
I'm not sure about forum rules around here, but I won't be reporting you. I actually came into this thread to have a calm, reasonable discussion, and see which STO players we could recruit here for our forums.
I hate seeing edited posts, closed threads and people banned.
May be the one that should "get a grip" is you. Step away from the computer, go out on a walk, and calm yourself before posting again.
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