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Forums > Home› Star Trek Online General Discussion

South Park nailed it.

carcharodon1975carcharodon1975 Member Posts: 0 Arc User
edited November 2014 in Star Trek Online General Discussion
This episode of South Park made me think of STO...
http://www.watchcartoononline.com/south-park-season-18-episode-6-freemium-isnt-free
The PWE/Cryptic sweatshop...not where the game is made,but where the game is played!

Take back your home,end the grind!

Volunteer moderators policing the forums is like a mall cop trying to solve a murder.
Post edited by carcharodon1975 on

Comments

  • geckoisalizardgeckoisalizard Member Posts: 80 Arc User
    edited November 2014
    Yep seen it. Cryptic seems to follow that formula perfectly.
  • polstarukpolstaruk Member Posts: 42 Arc User
    edited November 2014
    Funny because I couldn't help but think of the latest Crptic strategy (since Delta Rising) during this episode.

    Then again I hardly spend anything ;)
    Anything that happens, happens. Anything that in happening, causes something else to happen, causes something else to happen. Anything that in happening, causes itself to happen again, happens again.
    It doesn't necessarily do it in chronological order though.
  • neoakiraiineoakiraii Member Posts: 7,468 Arc User
    edited November 2014
    Didn't we have a thread about an episode that was relevant in 2012, not something new

    Shouldn't they be on Ebola, or riots in America by now??
    GwaoHAD.png
  • polstarukpolstaruk Member Posts: 42 Arc User
    edited November 2014
    neoakiraii wrote: »
    Didn't we have a thread about an episode that was relevant in 2012, not something new

    Shouldn't they be on Ebola, or riots in America by now??

    This episode was this week, its about freemium games so its new. Oh and yes, they have done ebola and drone / riots / craigs mum's bush too in the past couple of weeks. :)
    Anything that happens, happens. Anything that in happening, causes something else to happen, causes something else to happen. Anything that in happening, causes itself to happen again, happens again.
    It doesn't necessarily do it in chronological order though.
  • e1ime1im Member Posts: 63 Arc User
    edited November 2014
    carcharodon1975 wrote: »
    This episode of South Park made me think of STO...
    http://www.watchcartoononline.com/south-park-season-18-episode-6-freemium-isnt-free

    Except you can't buy anything in STO for 45 cents.
  • daka86daka86 Member Posts: 302 Arc User
    edited November 2014
    The Episode is spot on :) the devs need to watch this.
  • jam3s1701jam3s1701 Member Posts: 1,825 Arc User
    edited November 2014
    I failed to see what's identical about this and sto. . . Maybe it's just me. . Or maybe coz it's nothing alike. .
    JtaDmwW.png
  • talonxvtalonxv Member Posts: 4,257 Arc User
    edited November 2014
    neoakiraii wrote: »
    Didn't we have a thread about an episode that was relevant in 2012, not something new

    Shouldn't they be on Ebola, or riots in America by now??

    I must say, your sig= PRICELESS.
    afMSv4g.jpg
    Star Trek Battles member. Want to roll with a good group of people regardless of fleets and not have to worry about DPS while doing STFs? Come join the channel and join in the fun!

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  • stf65stf65 Member Posts: 0 Arc User
    edited November 2014
    the same thread is on the forums of lotro, age of conan, tor, duco, and several other ftp games.
  • bobtheskull99bobtheskull99 Member Posts: 706 Arc User
    edited November 2014
    the episode was really more about mobile f2p apps and their similarity to what casinos do (with an ever so slight nod to "gamergate" thrown in but maybe that was just me)

    I think the WOW episode of a few years back would be more accurate

    google "rising cities" for the perfect example of the type of game they were talking about, that game is awful

    also this is still old news as someone else started a thread just like this when the episode first aired
  • starkaosstarkaos Member Posts: 11,556 Arc User
    edited November 2014
    So the Canadian Devil is responsible for the F2P craze? I know the Canadian Devil is supposed to be evil, but I never realized he was that evil.
  • puttenhamputtenham Member Posts: 1,052 Arc User
    edited November 2014
    that did nail it.. kind of looks like someone maybe got a video of a cryptic board meeting there lol..

    that was great, glad you posted..

    total truth to this game.
  • the1tiggletthe1tigglet Member Posts: 1,421 Arc User
    edited November 2014
    carcharodon1975 wrote: »
    This episode of South Park made me think of STO...
    http://www.watchcartoononline.com/south-park-season-18-episode-6-freemium-isnt-free

    It's actually the entire genre now. Seriously, like the only MMO left out there that doesn't force people to use microtransactions is Rift. It's the only one left.
  • kitsunesnoutkitsunesnout Member Posts: 1,210 Arc User
    edited November 2014
    Oh STO is still left too, it's hardly forced and paying isn't going to make things that much easier despite what people claim, money doesn't go near as far as I'd like in this game for me to ever consider spending. And either way, if it's not prepare your wallet, it's prepare your wristwatch, because in all MMO's it's been that way, either your time or your money, or both. Each are equally worth.
  • antoniosalieriantoniosalieri Member Posts: 0 Arc User
    edited November 2014
    kitsunesnout wrote: »
    Oh STO is still left too, it's hardly forced and paying isn't going to make things that much easier despite what people claim, money doesn't go near as far as I'd like in this game for me to ever consider spending. And either way, if it's not prepare your wallet, it's prepare your wristwatch, because in all MMO's it's been that way, either your time or your money, or both. Each are equally worth.

    So you have never ever used Dilithium to speed up anything ever ever. Sure we believe you. :)

    The system Cryptic is running is in fact a bit MORE devious then the south park boys have shown.

    In that episode they show the 2 evil layers of F2P... the third one that is used by the most evil of F2P models. Works like this...

    Create a second game currency.
    1) Link time gates to second currency...
    2) Add a finite mechanic to the currency. (8000 K give or take here... labour points in some other games ect)
    3) Mask the workings of the currency interactions as best you can...
    4) Do not allow direct exchange of Main fake currency with Second limited earn currency.
    5) Create a way to exchange Limited Currency with Direct $ currency. There by allowing the Smallest minority (the addicted) to increase there finite currency by using real world $.

    Now this is the real reason they do it...

    What this does... is engages that non paying 95% of the population... You involved them directly into the $ stream wheel. They can now sell there excess finite resource to that 1% of the population buying it. Making the majority of the games population dealers.
    This accomplishes 2 things.
    1) it spins that cash making water wheel faster... creating the illusion of a very busy currency exchange... makes it easier for the 5% to convince themselves "everyone is doing it"
    2) it erodes the resistance of another smaller portion of the population that doesn't really want to spend money. By pulling them into the games $ cycle in a direct way it makes it far more likely that they will inject some cash of there own... and perhaps even end up falling right into that gravy category of the addicted.

    I am going to run and hide now... The Canadian Devil will be after me. Besides I have to go log into another game now so I can start earning my labour points again.
    [SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]
    Dignity and an empty sack is worth the sack.
  • curedmencuredmen Member Posts: 215 Arc User
    edited November 2014
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MS4VRbsjZrQ
    South parks has it right
  • mustrumridcully0mustrumridcully0 Member Posts: 12,963 Arc User
    edited November 2014
    antoniosalieri wrote: »
    So you have never ever used Dilithium to speed up anything ever ever. Sure we believe you. :)

    The system Cryptic is running is in fact a bit MORE devious then the south park boys have shown.

    In that episode they show the 2 evil layers of F2P... the third one that is used by the most evil of F2P models. Works like this...

    Create a second game currency.
    1) Link time gates to second currency...
    2) Add a finite mechanic to the currency. (8000 K give or take here... labour points in some other games ect)
    3) Mask the workings of the currency interactions as best you can...
    4) Do not allow direct exchange of Main fake currency with Second limited earn currency.
    5) Create a way to exchange Limited Currency with Direct $ currency. There by allowing the Smallest minority (the addicted) to increase there finite currency by using real world $.

    Now this is the real reason they do it...

    What this does... is engages that non paying 95% of the population... You involved them directly into the $ stream wheel. They can now sell there excess finite resource to that 1% of the population buying it. Making the majority of the games population dealers.
    This accomplishes 2 things.
    1) it spins that cash making water wheel faster... creating the illusion of a very busy currency exchange... makes it easier for the 5% to convince themselves "everyone is doing it"
    2) it erodes the resistance of another smaller portion of the population that doesn't really want to spend money. By pulling them into the games $ cycle in a direct way it makes it far more likely that they will inject some cash of there own... and perhaps even end up falling right into that gravy category of the addicted.

    I am going to run and hide now... The Canadian Devil will be after me. Besides I have to go log into another game now so I can start earning my labour points again.
    The fundamental trappings may be there, but the Canadian Devil is in the detail. STO actually has a gameplay depth with complex mechanics and story missions.

    Those mobile games Southpark mentions don't even have that.
    Star Trek Online Advancement: You start with lowbie gear, you end with Lobi gear.
  • gavinrunebladegavinruneblade Member Posts: 3,894 Arc User
    edited November 2014
    When A reminds us of B, it says much more about us and our relation to B than it does about A and/or B.
  • carcharodon1975carcharodon1975 Member Posts: 0 Arc User
    edited November 2014
    gavinruneblade wrote: »
    When A reminds us of B, it says much more about us and our relation to B than it does about A and/or B.

    Wow,we have a real philosopher here...:rolleyes:

    mustrumridcully0 wrote: »
    The fundamental trappings may be there, but the Canadian Devil is in the detail. STO actually has a gameplay depth with complex mechanics and story missions.

    Those mobile games Southpark mentions don't even have that.

    Like you said, the fundamental trappings are there,the delivery system differs with each game.You might think that when we talk about the gambling mechanics in STO I mean the lock boxes or crafting,but that's just a small part of it.

    The one thing,above anything else,that makes a gambler spend more money,is that the next bet might pay off big,the monster score.How does this translate to STO?

    The game as it currently is,has an 'enjoyment level' of 'barely tolerable' when you spend no money on it.Spending some Zen,either bought with money or through trading Dilithium,will lift the game to 'tolerable'.The real hook in STO is that spending Zen 'improves' your gameplay experience,bringing you a little closer to the 'pay off',the moment the game becomes 'good/fun'.

    But here's the kicker....the game is designed in such a way,that through a variety of time and resource sinks ,you will never reach the 'pay off' point.Each time when people get close,the devs shift the goal post.You might have noticed that with each update they added something new to grind for....usually followed by something to make your life a little bit easier.

    F2P games like STO are just fancier slot machines,and while they might not look,smell or taste the same,they make use of the same psychological 'hooks' to keep us playing and paying.
    The PWE/Cryptic sweatshop...not where the game is made,but where the game is played!

    Take back your home,end the grind!

    Volunteer moderators policing the forums is like a mall cop trying to solve a murder.
  • moonshadowdarkmoonshadowdark Member Posts: 1,899 Arc User
    edited November 2014
    the1tigglet wrote: »
    It's actually the entire genre now. Seriously, like the only MMO left out there that doesn't force people to use microtransactions is Rift. It's the only one left.

    I didn't know RIFT was still paying people to lie on their behalf. Jeez, you'd think that after three years they'd be done with this. Oh well, everyone needs a job in this economy.

    ;)
    "A life is like a garden. Perfect moments can be had, but not preserved, except in memory. LLAP"

    -Leonard Nimoy, RIP
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