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An open letter to Cryptic and PWE

SystemSystem Member, NoReporting Posts: 178,019 Arc User
A little background: I was around at launch. Left when my friends did. Came back when the F2P preview email hit my mailbox. Decided to go back to Gold. Actually considering going Lifetime.

You are not making a good impression.

I'm all for F2P games making money...the games won't survive without it. But there are ways that work, and ways that don't. Methods that force themselves on the players? That method doesn't work. Not with me, and not with a lot of others.

Enough with the system spam every time someone gets a Galor Cruiser. I don't care. Others don't care. It's not going to make me or anyone else go rushing to the C-Store to buy keys. All it's really doing is annoying the heck out of me, and lowering my inclination to play, let alone subscribe.

I'm sure I'm not alone.

These boxes are dropping like snowflakes in a blizzard, yet you want roughly $1.25 per key to open them. When I'm looking at over sixty boxes in my inventory, do you really expect me to shell out $75 just for keys? Not bloody likely, especially if you want me to seriously consider coming back to a monthly subscription, or a lifetime account.

How about letting some of these 'Master Keys' drop as well? Even a drop rate 1/10th the rate of the boxes would level the field a bit, and would lower the overall hostility in zone chat. It would also go a long way in showing that the company focus on revenue doesn't come at the complete expense of an enjoyable player experience.

I realize that player feedback such as this has minimal effect, more often than not. But I'm the type of player who feels that constructive feedback, even mostly negative, should be presented in a well thought out intelligent discourse, rather than flames and complaint without the offering of possible solution.

I like the game. I honestly do. But if this is an example of the direction the game is moving towards, I'm afraid I'm not going to be able to maintain that enthusiasm.

I'm sure I'm not alone.

Thank you for your efforts.
Post edited by Unknown User on

Comments

  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited February 2012
    This galor stuff is not bad, but c-store prices are 10 x higher than they should be, so people would enjoy actually using that store.

    Money comes from small payments, not large!!

    If nothing is done to pricing of c-store, i will definetely leave this game for good.
  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited February 2012
    I agree with this, Cryptic at first had a good F2P plan, they didn't go the evil direction of pay-to-win and allowed those that didn't want to spend a penny complete access to the games content like missions and stuff. It's one reason I have stuck with STO but this latest move with these keys is sick. They did something similar on the Christmas one but, and it's a big but, they still allowed these c-store boxes to drop in game on certain winter wonderland events, these keys are c-store only and the boxes drop so frequently.
    I honestly fell for it for a bit, I spent about £10 on keys and after opening around 10-12 boxes I felt sick and ripped off, I felt like the game had now become nothing more than those scam ridden, shady gambling websites. If I play a F2P I at least want something for my money when I put it down but when all I got from these boxes was a shed load of runabout pets, shields (at VA rank none were useful) and loads of crappy little worthless things.

    Also after seeing one of these "dude had been awarded Galor Cruiser" messages every 5 bloody minutes I expected space to be filled with them... I have seen one, just one. I get that there are more but I have heard some people saying a lot of the messages are bogus. Even if they aren't gambling dozens and if not hundreds of pounds or dollars on this **** isn't worth that rehash of a ship, it's nothing new they already had the ship in the game they just stuck some fancy guns on it and a price tag that varies from $1 to $250, only for the ship to be outclassed next month when they release a new +1 c-store ship which is what they should be doing, no one gives 2 craps about the other contents of the boxes everyone just wants the ship and also the fact that all the other contents are useless, especially if your at VA rank which doesn't take long.

    I actually work for a game developer working on a new MMORTS game that's going F2P and we have been going through many plans to achieve a good balance so we can make money but not **** off the players, suffice to say this latest move by Cryptic has been up on our chart in big red writing and surrounded by pitchforks and fire as a warning of how low developers will go and a way of showing us paths we shouldn't even dream of treading.

    This move has sullied the game and I can guarantee they wont change anything , in fact they would have made so much money from this I expect it to be around a lot longer and more in the future, if it crops up again in the future I'm out, to have such conflicting moves lie the free odyssey which was a great move and then have this money grabbing move is just depressing.
  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited February 2012
    I agree with this, Cryptic at first had a good F2P plan, they didn't go the evil direction of pay-to-win and allowed those that didn't want to spend a penny complete access to the games content like missions and stuff.
    I don't know what plan you're referring to. We've known about the +1 ships even before FTP was announced. The Rhode Island was first, and that was all the way back in August (the conversion to FTP was announced in September).

    The plan was to always add +1 ships and items to the C-Store. And then they were nice enough to add a Dilithium system, making it possible for anyone to grind for anything in their C-Store so that people never had to pay money for anything if they did not wish to.
  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited February 2012
    Cosmic_One wrote: »
    I don't know what plan you're referring to. We've known about the +1 ships even before FTP was announced. The Rhode Island was first, and that was all the way back in August (the conversion to FTP was announced in September).

    The plan was to always add +1 ships and items to the C-Store. And then they were nice enough to add a Dilithium system, making it possible for anyone to grind for anything in their C-Store so that people never had to pay money for anything if they did not wish to.


    I know, that's what I said they had a good plan, the +1 ships, Dilithium stuff. It was all a good idea and still is I didn't say it wasn't. I am referring to the current drop box thing being in a totally different mind set and just being a money grabbing event not unlike (actually identical) to a lottery or gambling.
  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited February 2012
    I know, that's what I said they had a good plan, the +1 ships, Dilithium stuff. It was all a good idea and still is I didn't say it wasn't. I am referring to the current drop box thing being in a totally different mind set and just being a money grabbing event not unlike (actually identical) to a lottery or gambling.
    But even there, you are not required to spend money to get the keys. You can use Dilithium for them. My best friend used Dilithium to buy 3 keys. He won a Galor on his second key.

    And it's also not really like a lottery. It is really like a child's vending machine. You put your money in and hope you get the item you really wanted rather then the common item you end up with. I'm sure you've seen those kids crane game with the crane claw in them where you try to grab X but usually and up with Y? Or the bubblegum type machine that has the little tubs with toys in them? You want the race car but usually end up with the marble. That's what the Gold Box is: a list of items in a vending machine and you're hoping to get a specific item.
  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited February 2012
    Cosmic_One wrote: »
    The Rhode Island was first

    The Galaxy X Dreadnought was first. Phaser Lance AND cloaking on a fed ship. It's been downhill ever since.
  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited February 2012
    superchum wrote: »
    The Galaxy X Dreadnought was first. Phaser Lance AND cloaking on a fed ship. It's been downhill ever since.

    I wonder if that is realy the only way they can survive or are they skimming the milk and earning serious money and getting realy rich?

    I felt physicaly sick when I red what the dred-cruiser is and I felt realy horrible after I've seen so many ingame while they were only available via x5 lifetimes.
  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited February 2012
    superchum wrote: »
    The Galaxy X Dreadnought was first. Phaser Lance AND cloaking on a fed ship. It's been downhill ever since.
    Almost everyone considered the Galaxy X to be under-powered when it was first released as a T5 ship. Most considered it a T4.5 at best.
  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited February 2012
    yea I agree the prices are to high plus heres my view on this luck system

    what is better overall risk spending $$$ of money on these boxs and get no good ship or any good items or

    just spend $25.00 and presto you have a 100% chance of getting a ship


    Ill take the 100% chance over the those box's any day
  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited February 2012
    Cosmic_One wrote: »
    I
    The plan was to always add +1 ships and items to the C-Store. And then they were nice enough to add a Dilithium system, making it possible for anyone to grind for anything in their C-Store so that people never had to pay money for anything if they did not wish to.

    This time I totally agree.

    I made over 120k Dil in 3 weeks (the easy way) which I used/am saving up for Foundry slots, otherwise I could have made them into ~600 CP.

    As much as I critizise several other aspects of STO, the sales/marketing policy is not worse than in any other MMO and still drastically better than in all Online-Shooters. If you want a lesson in pay2win, try out a game by EA :D.

    And I havent forgotten that I got the anniversary ship for free, which imho is nothing to sneeze at either.
  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited February 2012
    Well I have to say that upon spending 2 days collecting up some boxes and then buying 20 keys, I set about opening my lovely trove to find 3 pets, 3 ds9 clothes, 3 shields below mv VA level, 2 shuttles which I don't need and the rest was commodity boxes. Need I say that other than the 1st DS9 clothing set the rest was a dissappointment. I'm a lifetime member who regularly buys c-store items and this definately left me feeling that the game is going off in a wrong direction. Yes I'm trying to get a Galor but I figured super shields or weapons would be well "super". Nobody wants any of the stuff I got because thats all that everyone else got as well so I 'm left feeling like I payed for 20 keys to end up with a clothing set I could of had for 500 cryptic points that I alreday had to begin with. Sadly diasappointed.
  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited February 2012
    Would someone explain to me why they would subscribe now? What is the benefit?
  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited February 2012
    CrustyMac wrote: »
    Would someone explain to me why they would subscribe now? What is the benefit?
    Well, several free Respecs per character for one thing. 400 CP a month, making your Subscription subjectively only cost $9.95. Plus you get Vet Rewards and Priority Login. The Vet Rewards include a free VA ship, and Android Boff, a Captain's Yacht, additional character slots, and so on. I've, personally, already seen the Priority Login work to my advantage over my Silver friends.

    If those things aren't enough for someone then they should simply go Silver. No big deal either way, IMO.
  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited February 2012
    This time I totally agree.

    As much as I critizise several other aspects of STO, the sales/marketing policy is not worse than in any other MMO and still drastically better than in all Online-Shooters. If you want a lesson in pay2win, try out a game by EA :D..

    No offense, but I'm not sure that the "Hey, we're no worse than the others" is a viable, profitable business model. If this game is "just as bad" as the other MMO's, what is there to keep players here when they can go to those other games for variety at least?

    Instead of "racing to mediocrity", why not "race toward excellence" and do a better job with content and playablility?

    I really do think that the recent changes come across as a money grabbing philosophy, as opposed to a money making one. Also, based on today's FE, I hope that Cryptic starts to focus more on content vs. "Lock Boxes".
  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited February 2012
    Cosmic_One wrote: »
    Almost everyone considered the Galaxy X to be under-powered when it was first released as a T5 ship. Most considered it a T4.5 at best.

    Bit of a straw man there. The Galaxy X is the grand-daddy of them all and is exactly what a started this mess.
  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited February 2012
    Cosmic_One wrote: »
    400 CP a month, making your Subscription subjectively only cost $9.95.

    That's some fuzzy math. The stipend is pretty pathetic. You could get more Cryptic Pionts per month spending less money per month just buying them straight from cryptic.

    The poster asks a very valid question and I've yet to see a good answer from anyone.

    Why pay for a sub? So far, there's no good reason to do so.
  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited February 2012
    superchum wrote: »
    Bit of a straw man there. The Galaxy X is the grand-daddy of them all and is exactly what a started this mess.
    The point of a +1 ship is to get something better then you are getting for free - the assumed "pay to win" concept of FTP. The Galaxy X was not better then other T5 ships. It was considered worse when it was launched so it didn't have the same meaning as what a +1 ship currently has.

    I also believe the Excelsior Refit came before the Galaxy X, bu that could just be my memory rather then fact.
  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited February 2012
    superchum wrote: »
    That's some fuzzy math.
    Perhaps you don't understand the word 'subjectively?' Whatever spins your top.
  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited February 2012
    Cosmic_One wrote: »
    I also believe the Excelsior Refit came before the Galaxy X, bu that could just be my memory rather then fact.

    No, it absolutely did not.

    Which frames the basis of the discussion we're having here. You have now presented multiple inconsistencies regarding ships from the c-store.

    Add that to your subjective and fuzzy math regarding the stipend and I think it's pretty clear what your agenda is here in this thread.

    Thank you, I guess.
  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited February 2012
    superchum wrote: »
    No, it absolutely did not.

    Which frames the basis of the discussion we're having here. You have now presented multiple inconsistencies regarding ships from the c-store.

    Add that to your subjective and fuzzy math regarding the stipend and I think it's pretty clear what your agenda is here in this thread.

    Thank you, I guess.
    Again, work on reading comprehension. I can only assume you saw the part that says: "bu that could just be my memory rather then fact."
  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited February 2012
    superchum wrote: »
    That's some fuzzy math. The stipend is pretty pathetic. You could get more Cryptic Pionts per month spending less money per month just buying them straight from cryptic.

    The poster asks a very valid question and I've yet to see a good answer from anyone.

    Why pay for a sub? So far, there's no good reason to do so.


    Fuzzy math? 100cp = $1.25 US. 400cp = $5.00 US. Subscription = $14.95 US per month (assuming you don't take advantage of the milti-month discounts). So a subscriber pays $14.95 a month and gets $5.00 worth of CP in return, making your subscription cost $9.95.

    I don't see anything fuzzy about that, but I am 46 so maybe the "new math" they teach nowadays says differently.
  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited February 2012
    Cosmic_One wrote: »
    Again, work on reading comprehension.

    Not worth the effort when you don't bother to post facts.
  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited February 2012
    GenEricII wrote:
    Fuzzy math?

    Yup. Fuzzy math.
  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited February 2012
    superchum wrote: »
    Yup. Fuzzy math.


    Not worth the effort when you don't bother to post facts. :D
  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited February 2012
    This time I totally agree.

    I made over 120k Dil in 3 weeks (the easy way) which I used/am saving up for Foundry slots, otherwise I could have made them into ~600 CP.

    As much as I critizise several other aspects of STO, the sales/marketing policy is not worse than in any other MMO and still drastically better than in all Online-Shooters. If you want a lesson in pay2win, try out a game by EA :D.

    And I havent forgotten that I got the anniversary ship for free, which imho is nothing to sneeze at either.

    Better yet try game by Big Point and see what micro transaction really are ,games in which you buy ships/shields/engines and every round of ammo for real cash,at least we shoot all day for free

    Lot of games claim to be F2P until you try them

    this one at least is free if we wish to grind we can get almost all that others can buy

    those that rush out and open every box they see will be disappointed...but gold ones are another story..

    patience is a virtue

    greed on other hand

    lets not mention envy
  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited February 2012
    They would have certainly been better off massively reducing the drop rates of the boxes and providing very rare free Key Drops, but providing an option to buy a C Store Key that works an unlimited number of times.

    I understand what their thinking was and why they did not.

    I seem to recollect a developer interview I read where it was explained that these keys will be used in the futre for other things.

    Still though it would have been just as easy to create more than one type of C Store Key.
  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited February 2012
    Cosmic_One wrote: »
    I don't know what plan you're referring to. We've known about the +1 ships even before FTP was announced. The Rhode Island was first, and that was all the way back in August (the conversion to FTP was announced in September).

    The plan was to always add +1 ships and items to the C-Store. And then they were nice enough to add a Dilithium system, making it possible for anyone to grind for anything in their C-Store so that people never had to pay money for anything if they did not wish to.

    Sorry, I would replace "nice enough" with "Dumb, TRIBBLE, ludicrous enough" Considering dilithiun as a currency goes against cannon and they already had a universal CANNON currency in place GPL.
    But that is a different story.
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