Spotlighting Missions

theyredeadjim

Does anyone know how Cryptic selects Spotlight Missions for the Foundry?

I know that the author has to hit the submission button to be considered, but I was wondering if anyone had any insight into how the determination to spotlight is made. Does the mission have to have a certain community rating? Or does Cryptic make the selection on the basis of what they feel to be worthy?

I see that the section under the Foundry tab is labelled "Top Rated"; however, since inclusion in the list depends upon the author submitting the mission, the label is, perhaps, misleading.

Thanks!

markhawkman

Top Rated is really just a list of missions with a certain number of stars.

theyredeadjim

Yes, I suppose I might as well remove my submission. I've been bumped out of the Hot list now, so that missions might occupy space on both lists. It's what it is.

Thanks for your reply

markhawkman

what submission?

theyredeadjim

I had submitted my mission, Deus In Machina, to Cryptic for their consideration for spotlighting; however, I've since withdrawn that submission.

It's all good.

captainhunter1

theyredeadjim wrote: »

Yes, I suppose I might as well remove my submission. I've been bumped out of the Hot list now, so that missions might occupy space on both lists. It's what it is.

Thanks for your reply

Sadly this is the fate of many good missions.

Once they fall off the list, they are never to be seen again.

This is because the lists are much, Much, MUCH too small (50 listings each), horribly 'weighted' so they never move, and have no easy way to see any 'unseen' missions. (see solution in sig below)

Cryptic is really doing authors, and themselves, a HUGE disservice by only allowing around 250 missions to be accessed out of over 91,000 missions created for the game when using the main Foundry interface.

borrowedtune

The story goes something like this - the spotlight system was the brainchild and passion of Branflakes, a former STO community manager. Once he left his position with the company, Smirk took over and attention to spotlights quickly evaporated. It is quite clear that managing spotlights is not a priority or even a bullet point in the job description for the current community manager. There have been maybe 2 spotlights in the past 2 years and those were early on during Smirk's tenure. For all intents and purposes, the spotlight system is dead.

markhawkman

Also... when Trendy took over she literally did not know anything about the system.

drogyn1701

I personally never expect a new CM to take over the old one's pet projects. They come in with new ideas. Smirk's big contribution was the screenshot contest, which proved popular. Trendy hasn't really continued that, but it is being run by a player with her blessing.

Now, however, we do have a new tool to get missions noticed. Put your mission at a planet out in the 'verse ad get enough people to play it so it shows up in the top 3 system. I know from my own missions I get a ton of plays this way. It's almost a mini-spotlight.

johnnysnowball

Plus, if you spotlight a mission, you lose all ability to edit it or fix any problems that arise, and problems will arise. Bugs, broken interacts, costume hiccups, etc.

theyredeadjim

My mission does appear in the Top 3 system consistently, so I am still getting plays. The only people who get to see it are the ones who are in proximity to the system in which it starts, but I've now noticed that being off of the Hot list really hasn't affected the number of plays that the mission receives.

I am happy not to sign control of my mission away, but it would be nice if it could award the extra dilithium bonus. The standard 960 dilithium reward is a little shy for a mission that takes about an hour to run.

Cheers!