I hope I'm right in the assumption that we ALL agree that the game can do better. Those who would disagree are just overly complacent. Being a Star Trek game, there are inevitable expectations.
A game doesn't need to be perfect but needs to meet a certain standard. It's great that those who are having fun enjoy the game but can you honestly say that it's fine the way it is?
But that isn't the issue. If you are a rational player with some MMO experience you know that change can happen.
What I feel the biggest concern is whether Cryptic will follow through and actually try and make this game much better. Their lack of suffiient communication surrounding the games future is causing some panic. And if you think they should be spending their time fixing the game, that's what they have PR for, to regulate the companys image with the public.
They have CO which still needs work, STO which needs work but they also have their unamed MMO. I for one don't know how seriously they're taking this games devopment and my concerns surround Cryptics intentions. They put out a page letting us know what to expect next in the short term but the long term is a mystery and nothing has been said about that. Throwing us a treat once in a while doesn't mean they care.
It's still early and I want to prove all the doomsayers that despite the premature birth, STO is growing into a great game, worthy of the IP.
Where I worked, it was the organizations silence that made things worse.
Most games company are working on a number of different games at the same time. Cryptic is no different even with 3-4 MMORPGS on the go. Sony has 5-6 I think, Funcome have 2 out working on a 3rd, NC have a few.
In most cases each game has its own development team and while people move between you have a core of people that just focus on that one game. For example during development you might have 10 coders working 5 of those might stay on post deployment which the other 5 move on to the next game. They may even share resources like the art department may create models for all 3 games.
At the end of the day money will determine how much goes back into the game. Like AOC failed to deliver the number required so Funcom scaled the team back it is still going just a small operation. Where as WOW expanded the team to cover the growth of the game.
So no I dont worry they are working on other games that is normal for games developer. In fact it tends to work out better as bits such as the engine can mean parts developed for one game will be used in another. STO would certainly seem have have used CO character creation system.
They can let CO sink without too much damage but to let STO down would hurt their brand tremendously. I, for one, would never buy a Cryptic game now, STO being the exception *only because it is Startrek*. If they TRIBBLE this game, they'll never see an euro from me again, and I'm quite confident that a lot of their customers think that way.
Now, do they know that ? I'm not sure. Anyway, lately, they made a few good moves :
1) Revelation is free, they are working to improve their relationships with the CO community : it seems that they don't intend to sink this game
2) They announced that they are working on more non combat / exploration / diplomacy stuff, which is one of the main request in the main feedback thread in the forum
3) They are trying to push at least one patch a week according to D. Stahl
Now, I hate their business model (1 engine, 3 MMOs) but I suspect that we wouldn't have a ST MMO today without them because this very business model is probably the only reason why Atari invested in it.
All in all, I'm less annoyed by Cryptic since one week or two : we'll see.
Yeah it would be nice to know that cryptic is really in on this journey together with us, as fans. It kills me that it seems it's a us vs them paradigm at work.
Yeah it would be nice to know that cryptic is really in on this journey together with us, as fans. It kills me that it seems it's a us vs them paradigm at work.
I dont think it is really cryptic you have to worry about. i think it is Atari is the more worrisom of the duo.
Atari is all about short term profits at any cost and customers be damned. They are the wild card in this.
Now, I hate their business model (1 engine, 3 MMOs) but I suspect that we wouldn't have a ST MMO today without them because this very business model is probably the only reason why Atari invested in it.
this is very common for all platform games from pc to ps3. i would just call STO a MAJOR-MOD of champions online engine.
it is wise not to replicate developmental cost. when cryptic has a new engine, they would lease their old one and use the new one. same goes for crysis, unreal tournament, and command and conquer.
final fantasy franchise is an exception to that business model. they develop a new engine for every series. and they would sell a limited license to someone else. lol
I dont think it is really cryptic you have to worry about. i think it is Atari is the more worrisom of the duo.
Atari is all about short term profits at any cost and customers be damned. They are the wild card in this.
I smell another Taldren coming up in the not too distant future.........
Seriously, I like the game's possibilities, but there's a ton of work needing doing to it as it stands right now. Aside from all the bugs, there's just such a shortage of variation in content for an MMO. It really needs some hard work and I hope that Cryptic are not only in progress on that, but more importantly, allowed to do that by their corporate partners. Don't even get me started on Klingons....
I smell another Taldren coming up in the not too distant future.........
Seriously, I like the game's possibilities, but there's a ton of work needing doing to it as it stands right now. Aside from all the bugs, there's just such a shortage of variation in content for an MMO. It really needs some hard work and I hope that Cryptic are not only in progress on that, but more importantly, allowed to do that by their corporate partners. Don't even get me started on Klingons....
i wonder how to find the contract information on the deal with this game. id love to see how it stands and if it is possible for another company as atari is to take it from them.
Comments
They fixed the mini-skirts, and they fixed the lack of communication for about two days and then went silent again.
Now my two main complaints are lack of communication and their insistence on lying about why they're charging for extra character slots.
Most games company are working on a number of different games at the same time. Cryptic is no different even with 3-4 MMORPGS on the go. Sony has 5-6 I think, Funcome have 2 out working on a 3rd, NC have a few.
In most cases each game has its own development team and while people move between you have a core of people that just focus on that one game. For example during development you might have 10 coders working 5 of those might stay on post deployment which the other 5 move on to the next game. They may even share resources like the art department may create models for all 3 games.
At the end of the day money will determine how much goes back into the game. Like AOC failed to deliver the number required so Funcom scaled the team back it is still going just a small operation. Where as WOW expanded the team to cover the growth of the game.
So no I dont worry they are working on other games that is normal for games developer. In fact it tends to work out better as bits such as the engine can mean parts developed for one game will be used in another. STO would certainly seem have have used CO character creation system.
Now, do they know that ? I'm not sure. Anyway, lately, they made a few good moves :
1) Revelation is free, they are working to improve their relationships with the CO community : it seems that they don't intend to sink this game
2) They announced that they are working on more non combat / exploration / diplomacy stuff, which is one of the main request in the main feedback thread in the forum
3) They are trying to push at least one patch a week according to D. Stahl
Now, I hate their business model (1 engine, 3 MMOs) but I suspect that we wouldn't have a ST MMO today without them because this very business model is probably the only reason why Atari invested in it.
All in all, I'm less annoyed by Cryptic since one week or two : we'll see.
I dont think it is really cryptic you have to worry about. i think it is Atari is the more worrisom of the duo.
Atari is all about short term profits at any cost and customers be damned. They are the wild card in this.
this is very common for all platform games from pc to ps3. i would just call STO a MAJOR-MOD of champions online engine.
it is wise not to replicate developmental cost. when cryptic has a new engine, they would lease their old one and use the new one. same goes for crysis, unreal tournament, and command and conquer.
final fantasy franchise is an exception to that business model. they develop a new engine for every series. and they would sell a limited license to someone else. lol
technically, Id be more worried about CBS. How much negative press are they going to be OK with before they yank the liscence?
I never thought of that--that is a really good point. My Brother in law is a big honcho at CBS and i will call him tommorow and ask.
I smell another Taldren coming up in the not too distant future.........
Seriously, I like the game's possibilities, but there's a ton of work needing doing to it as it stands right now. Aside from all the bugs, there's just such a shortage of variation in content for an MMO. It really needs some hard work and I hope that Cryptic are not only in progress on that, but more importantly, allowed to do that by their corporate partners. Don't even get me started on Klingons....
Taldren? eh?