test content
What is the Arc Client?
Install Arc

Has the Foundry been abandoned by Cryptic?

As per the title, has the Foundry been abandoned by Cryptic?

I'm not talking about the fantastic Devs who put their own time in to keeping it alive (they should NOT be having to do this!), but by the company itself (or PWE).

We haven't seen anything OFFICIALLY added to the Foundry or improved for quite some time now. Sadly, I have a feeling that it may soon be going the way of the old exploration system. It's just a bunch of jumbled code that is taking up expensive server space that Cryptic/PWE can't monetize. Simple suggestions to make the Foundry better, which would take relatively little development time, have been given the blind eye for years. Here's my small list...and there are more great suggestions from other authors out there too:

New Foundry main UI window
arcgames.com/en/forums/startrekonline/#/discussion/1193842/modify-the-foundry-ui-for-better-mission-access

Universal Holodeck panel for 'holo' missions
arcgames.com/en/forums/startrekonline/#/discussion/1193978/universal-holodeck-panel-door-for-holo-missions

The Foundry 'Top 3' system and mission series
arcgames.com/en/forums/startrekonline/#/discussion/1203119/the-top-3-system-and-mission-series


With the upcoming console releases not including access to so many wonderful stories, it's just one more nail in the coffin for the Foundry. There are nearly 100,000 missions that have been created for free for this game, but Cryptic can't be bothered to officially support. I'm not sure how much the suits running the show and making the decisions realize the Foundry is keeping the game afloat by keeping people interested in playing. The Foundry is providing new, fresh content on a daily basis. There is no way any development team could ever do that. The Foundry is a perfect fit for a Star Trek game as it fills an endless universe with endless content. TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THIS WONDERFUL RESOURCE CRYPTIC.

I know this post is being written out of frustration, but isn't it time to give a little attention to the Foundry?

Comments

  • minababeminababe Member Posts: 182 Arc User
    edited August 2016
    I don't know if they've abandoned the Foundry so much as made the mistake of thinking that it's self-sustaining to the point where it needs very little intervention to keep it going.

    They would be technically correct in believing that. Left to their own devices, players could spend the next 100 years uploading and playing missions with the way things are set up now. But you're right. The Foundry is an invaluable resource, and it's not being used to its utmost potential. Putting in place a bare bones system that barely allows everyone to plumb the depths of what the Foundry has to offer is as good as wasting it, IMO.
    Post edited by minababe on
    My Foundry Mission--Name: Falling Star | Mission ID: HQIH36HAW | Faction: FED
  • rickysmith1rickysmith1 Member Posts: 610 Arc User
    There WAS an idea of adding a 'Foundry Reputation' and extending the galaxy with a sector block/s just for the foundry missions.
    STAR TREK CONTINUES
    Episode One - A Single Moment Episode Two - Infancy Episode Three - Unto the Breach
    Episode Four - Head Of A Needle Episode Five: The Duality of Men Episode Six - Redemption Earned
    Episode Seven - Shattered Universe Episode Eight - The Gepetto Condition Episode Nine - One Room, Two Officers
    Episode Ten - Beyond The Farthest Star Episode Eleven - It's OK, It Won't Hurt Episode Twelve - A Protracted Officer
    Episode Thirteen - Somewhen Episode Fourteen - The Boy Who Lived Episode Fifthteen - Empathy
  • duncanidaho11duncanidaho11 Member Posts: 7,980 Arc User
    edited August 2016
    We haven't seen anything OFFICIALLY added to the Foundry or improved for quite some time now. Sadly, I have a feeling that it may soon be going the way of the old exploration system. It's just a bunch of jumbled code that is taking up expensive server space that Cryptic/PWE can't monetize. Simple suggestions to make the Foundry better, which would take relatively little development time, have been given the blind eye for years.

    I'll just comment that the Foundry will never be removed specifically because it can't be directly monetized. That rule does not apply to any other piece of playable content, it wasn't the justification used to remove exploration (that was a non-system), nor was it why the Foundry wasn't included with the consoles (completely separate server environments, no way practical of importing Foundry missions from STO PC, and no way in hell that the Foundry UI could be adapted for controllers to produce native Foundry missions.)

    The Foundry gives Cryptic volumes of free content produced frequently and at reasonably high quality (for UGC). It's one place where players can use the ships and gear that they may have directly paid for. In other words, the Foundry is indirectly monetized (just like zones, PVE's, and featured episodes) and it should be noted that since the top 3 system was added Cryptic has seen an increase in the number of Foundry players (source: STLV). It's part of the game, the whole game, and while the Foundry isn't a development priority I don't think there's any prospect that it could be shut down in the foreseeable future (ie. independently of the main game).

    Could it use with some updates? Sure can, but I don't think that discussion needs to be prefaced with worried imperatives (Cryptic knows the situation for what it is, just focus on the suggestions.)

    Besides those listed, what I'd like to see is additional community outreach an involvement (like AEI). That can be done with the system as is, just with a little more communication between PR and various groups in the Foundry community (for example: Cryptic including the start of voting and other phases of public collaboration in the main news feed, not just challenge winners.)
    Post edited by duncanidaho11 on
    Bipedal mammal and senior Foundry author.
    Notable missions: Apex [AEI], Gemini [SSF], Trident [AEI], Evolution's Smile [SSF], Transcendence
    Looking for something new to play? I've started building Foundry missions again in visual novel form!
  • mustrumridcully0mustrumridcully0 Member Posts: 12,963 Arc User
    edited August 2016
    I don't think it's abandoned, but it's a system that is live and working (for the most part), at this point bugfixes and integration of new content (like critter groups) will be the primary changes to it.

    For anything bigger than that - at some point, maybe they'll return and add new features, new UI or whatever. But they have other things to do, too.
    There WAS an idea of adding a 'Foundry Reputation' and extending the galaxy with a sector block/s just for the foundry missions.

    I'd rather have a "choice of marks" type reward from doing Foundry missions (even if it's just once per day), then a completely new reputation.
    Star Trek Online Advancement: You start with lowbie gear, you end with Lobi gear.
  • duncanidaho11duncanidaho11 Member Posts: 7,980 Arc User
    edited August 2016

    I'd rather have a "choice of marks" type reward from doing Foundry missions (even if it's just once per day), then a completely new reputation.

    I'd go for a new rep if it was themed to factions, species, and tech from Foundry missions (ex. AEI new-tier exploration logs, photonic kit modules, various doffs, Ask'kaar weapons, Ji'Goro clone boff :tongue: ). Whatever the complications may be, between the two ideas I'd have to take the more original one simply because it's more fun. :)
    Bipedal mammal and senior Foundry author.
    Notable missions: Apex [AEI], Gemini [SSF], Trident [AEI], Evolution's Smile [SSF], Transcendence
    Looking for something new to play? I've started building Foundry missions again in visual novel form!
  • thay8472thay8472 Member Posts: 6,162 Arc User
    edited August 2016

    I'd rather have a "choice of marks" type reward from doing Foundry missions (even if it's just once per day), then a completely new reputation.

    I'd go for a new rep if it was themed to factions, species, and tech from Foundry missions (ex. AEI new-tier exploration logs, photonic kit modules, various doffs, Ask'kaar weapons, Ji'Goro clone boff :tongue: ). Whatever the complications may be, between the two ideas I'd have to take the more original one simply because it's more fun. :)

    What about 'box drops' as rewards for completing missions that qualify?

    Then dump some random items in them ... then maybe entice the players with a chance of flying these hideous ships.

    Generic Frigate
    Generic Cruiser
    Generic Science Vessel
    Generic Escort ( I like this one! )
    Generic Battleship
    Generic Dreadnought


    Foundry Admiralty!

    With a 'Generic Dreadnought' card as the T10 reward?
    'Engage the Ask'kaar Fleet'

    The Ask'kaar have launched an invasion of the Ibi Homeworld. A fleet has been sent to intercept the enemy force, but they are still outgunned, send additional ships to provide support for the fleet.

    Reward: Stuff
    zx2t8tuj4i10.png
    Thank you for the Typhoon!
  • zorbanezorbane Member Posts: 1,617 Arc User
    ...

    I'd rather have a "choice of marks" type reward from doing Foundry missions (even if it's just once per day), then a completely new reputation.

    I think that's a good idea
    StarbaseUGC Discord Chat
    Foundry Mission Database
    Check out my Foundry missions:
    Standalone - The Great Escape - The Galaxy's Fair - Purity I: Of Denial - Return to Oblivion
    Untitled Series - Duritanium Man - The Improbable Bulk - Commander Rihan
  • dragonsbrethrendragonsbrethren Member Posts: 1,854 Arc User
    edited August 2016
    sirboulevard and I were having a little back and forth on Twitter a month or two ago and both of us agreed, we'd be fine with no rewards at all from Foundry missions. A reputation is the exact opposite of that and just asking for people to game the system. We've already lost nice things because of people using the Foundry as a farming tool. We had a Foundry Weekend that gave a mark reward one time and never again, I suspect this is why.

    If development time went into the Foundry, I want to see it be things like the Top 3 system that gives our missions more exposure. I want to see the Spotlights be given priority again, with a regular release schedule that makes it into the launcher. That "bring to front" option in the editor... But mostly, I think we're in a pretty comfortable place and just want to see more assets added.
  • paxfederaticapaxfederatica Member Posts: 1,496 Arc User
    It has often been said that UGC makes a good "retirement plan" for an old game, as it could keep the game viable for a long time after the devs have put in into maintenance mode.

    With that in mind, the lack of Foundry system upgrades strikes me as a very good thing, albeit paradoxically so. Any substantial Foundry upgrades now would be a strong sign that maintenance mode is coming, and that the devs are therefore leaning on Foundry authors for new content more than ever.
  • captainhunter1captainhunter1 Member Posts: 1,630 Arc User
    It has often been said that UGC makes a good "retirement plan" for an old game, as it could keep the game viable for a long time after the devs have put in into maintenance mode.

    With that in mind, the lack of Foundry system upgrades strikes me as a very good thing, albeit paradoxically so. Any substantial Foundry upgrades now would be a strong sign that maintenance mode is coming, and that the devs are therefore leaning on Foundry authors for new content more than ever.

    OMG.

    You mean we have to wait for the game to die, before they start fixing the Foundry? What kind of bizzaro world are we living in!?!?

    (Maybe the game wouldn't die...if they actually allocated resources/dev time to the Foundry and began promoting it as a DAILY source of fresh content. 'Course players have to be able to FIND that new content.... see OP)
  • trennantrennan Member Posts: 2,839 Arc User
    Well I wouldn't say do away with the rewards for the foundry. Perhaps change it up a little. Make the reward a found mission prize pack. This way there is no standard reward. It could be dilithium! It could be a console(starndard non-c-store)! It could be EC! I could be foundry dilithum vouchers! It could even be a T1-4 Ship! It could even be a Mark of your Choice pack! Of course with the Foundry Dilithium Vouchers, those need to be non-bound. Not everyone bothers with the foundy, so being able to sell those to foundry authors would be a plus.

    As far as assests. There are plenty there. Just adding new maps and resources would be good. Perhaps a bit of stream lining to make it a bit more user friendly. You know, for object placement. The rest is fine. But could we add a "build map interior" function? One that acts like test play, but allows you to place objects in the map. This way you can build the interior of your map without having to bounce in and out of test play, just to get X, Y, Z and rotation correct. Of course this could also be used as the foundry build section from adding objects and npcs. Then from here, you move in to the regular foundry for NPC actions, appearance and story.
    Mm5NeXy.gif
  • rogue6800rogue6800 Member Posts: 213 Arc User
    No, the devs have stated that they have been assigned time to work on a highly requested feature, and as I recall, someone is working on interior corridor pieces which might be arriving in the future.
  • dawnpromisedawnpromise Member Posts: 57 Arc User
    I personally think it would be worth while to recruit volunteers to write the code for the objects they havent placed - like the bug team they did.
    Stellarum, mea sunt
    The Stars are Mine.
  • Along with PvP (http://www.arcgames.com/en/forums/startrekonline/#/discussion/1215631/pvp-improve-or-remove), the Foundry is something that needs a serious redo. I think that in the next season, or in the next expansion pack, Cryptic should completely redo old/outdated parts of the game like the Foundry, PvP, the diplomacy and etc. system, the Klingon War (FED) storyline, the Delta Rising storyline (wait...), voicing any unvoiced line (to Cryptic's extent), DS9 (seriously, from random peoplo doing random push-ups, checking time, coughing, and more to Odo's "office" appearing to be in space if you look thru the window a certain way), and more.

    I might make a discussion post on this possible update. Anyways, the foundry is not dead. Cryptic still holds rewards and fairly recently announced winners for a Foundry competition. With the expansion to consoles and an updated lighting system, Cryptic should seriously consider reworking broken/buggy/outdated parts of the game.

    After, why not complete exploration thru the galaxy by unlocking the Gamma Quadrant? (wait, they just redid the Cardassian storyline)
  • markhawkmanmarkhawkman Member Posts: 35,236 Arc User
    One suggestion, though the official statements are that this would be difficult to implement, is to make it so the Foundry can be used to make PvP maps.
    -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
    My character Tsin'xing
    Costume_marhawkman_Tsin%27xing_CC_Comic_Page_Blue_488916968.jpg
  • zorbanezorbane Member Posts: 1,617 Arc User
    I personally think it would be worth while to recruit volunteers to write the code for the objects they havent placed - like the bug team they did.

    What did the bug team do?
    StarbaseUGC Discord Chat
    Foundry Mission Database
    Check out my Foundry missions:
    Standalone - The Great Escape - The Galaxy's Fair - Purity I: Of Denial - Return to Oblivion
    Untitled Series - Duritanium Man - The Improbable Bulk - Commander Rihan
  • markhawkmanmarkhawkman Member Posts: 35,236 Arc User
    Bug Hunters was really just about better documentation of bugs players have encountered.
    -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
    My character Tsin'xing
    Costume_marhawkman_Tsin%27xing_CC_Comic_Page_Blue_488916968.jpg
Sign In or Register to comment.