What two functional features were observed on that ship ?
1) Cannon
2) Cloak
It seems blatantly obvious the intention of this ship is to be the proper Galaxy-X AND offer it in full to encourage people to go for this offer. Thus, until I see a Dev sepecifically come out and say it WONT have a cloak, its going to have one.
As for those that will cheat the system: it was a rather sharp reminder to anyone who does intend to use this method that it IS cheating and attempting to argue it is 'to help Cryptic' is from an entirely dishonest perspective.
"Oh wait, your only complaining cause you want the Galaxy-X"
Sorry, no, I dont want this thing.
My particular issue with this offer is the precedent it sets.
Cryptic said they would NOT offer items that had REAL gameplay effects or benefits over other players. This offer shows they directly LIED and demonstrated they WILL offer items of this nature for monetary values.
Right now its the Galaxy-X,
Whats next ?
Defiant with a battle cloak - Get 10 Subscribers
Intrepid with Super batmobile armor generators - Get 5 LTS.
In other words, Cryptic have demonstrated they will use anything the players might be interested in and turn it into a ploy to fleece them out of more money. Whats better is, they use it in a manner that makes the players be their viral marketers while making them think they are actually doing them a favour...
You've stated this exact argument before, Sheridan. Regardless of your feelings on the matter Cryptic has stated that for -now- it's going to be a reward for gaining subscribers. That does not mean that in the future they're going to do things like this or that the Galaxy X won't be released in some other fashion down the road.. Reiterating the opinion over and over isn't going to help anything. What's done is done so either accept it or deny it an move on. If in the future Cryptic does something like this for a Defiant or an Intrepid I'll be the first to say you were right...but for now...let it be.
Defiant with a battle cloak - Get 10 Subscribers
Intrepid with Super batmobile armor generators - Get 5 LTS.
In other words, Cryptic have demonstrated they will use anything the players might be interested in and turn it into a ploy to fleece them out of more money. Whats better is, they use it in a manner that makes the players be their viral marketers while making them think they are actually doing them a favour...
Yeah, I see what you are saying Sheridan.
But not everyone can attain the requirements needed to get this ship. And I'm not sure if you are part of the group preventing me from seeing one of the many things I want from this game(ie a Fed cloak among other things), so buying subs & additional retail keys on my own may be my only hope of successfully getting some of the things I thought were very cool in the show that I have always wanted to try out in a video game.
No joke. It's the one thing I hate the Picard character(ie the show's writers) for. Revealing the darn cloak to the Romulans. Canon & Star Trek legacy be damned. It would be fun to have Federation with the same options as the Klingons and the Romulans.
Btw. YES I am one of those people that also want cloak for the Defiant and batmoblie-like armor on a STO ship would be funny to see.
You've stated this exact argument before, Sheridan. Regardless of your feelings on the matter Cryptic has stated that for -now- it's going to be a reward for gaining subscribers. That does not mean that in the future they're going to do things like this or that the Galaxy X won't be released in some other fashion down the road.. Reiterating the opinion over and over isn't going to help anything. What's done is done so either accept it or deny it an move on. If in the future Cryptic does something like this for a Defiant or an Intrepid I'll be the first to say you were right...but for now...let it be.
I will KEEP making this argument just like others continue to make theirs.
'Let it be'
Oh... Cryptic made a poor game... let it be.
Oh... Cryptic offered 90 days on their sale... just let it be.
Oh look... Cryptic went against their own claims... just let it be.
How about, no ?
Cryptic claim they listen to their playerbase, Cryptic claim they want to make a game people will enjoy.
When Cryptic goes against their own goddamn claims, its apparantly wrong to point this out or when they pull blatantly crass ploys like this... the playerbase is meant to just take it and move on.
Heaven forbid that Cryptic be held up to what they actually say or that they be expected to conduct themselves in a RESPECTABLE manner.
I will KEEP making this argument just like others continue to make theirs.
'Let it be'
Oh... Cryptic made a poor game... let it be.
Oh... Cryptic offered 90 days on their sale... just let it be.
Oh look... Cryptic went against their own claims... just let it be.
How about, no ?
Cryptic claim they listen to their playerbase, Cryptic claim they want to make a game people will enjoy.
When Cryptic goes against their own goddamn claims, its apparantly wrong to point this out or when they pull blatantly crass ploys like this... the playerbase is meant to just take it and move on.
Heaven forbid that Cryptic be held up to what they actually say or that they be expected to conduct themselves in a RESPECTABLE manner.
There does come a point when even good arguments driven into the ground become bad ones.
I will KEEP making this argument just like others continue to make theirs.
'Let it be'
Oh... Cryptic made a poor game... let it be.
Oh... Cryptic offered 90 days on their sale... just let it be.
Oh look... Cryptic went against their own claims... just let it be.
How about, no ?
Cryptic claim they listen to their playerbase, Cryptic claim they want to make a game people will enjoy.
When Cryptic goes against their own goddamn claims, its apparantly wrong to point this out or when they pull blatantly crass ploys like this... the playerbase is meant to just take it and move on.
Heaven forbid that Cryptic be held up to what they actually say or that they be expected to conduct themselves in a RESPECTABLE manner.
Imagine the good that could be wrought in the world if we could harness nerd rage to fight poverty or hunger, or end racism.
Cryptic incentivizing recruiting = More subscribers = More Revenue = Better Game for Me
People recruiting friends = More subscribers = More Revenue = Better Game for Me
Your whining = Annoying = Turns people off to the game = Less Revenue = Worse community and game for me.
So, yeah. Shut up and stop trying to ruin things for the rest of us. Get passionate about real evils in the world and work to fix them, rather than wasting your energy on complaining about who gets what shaped pixels in a computer game.
Imagine the good that could be wrought in the world if we could harness nerd rage to fight poverty or hunger, or end racism.
Cryptic incentivizing Pyrmid Schemes = More subscribers = More Revenue = Better Game for Me
Existing players cheating to get the item = no new subscribers = Cryptic not getting SUSTAINABLE income = Worse game for me
Existing players shilling like crazy = Spreads bad image of STO playerbase = Less intrest in STO game = Worse game for me
Cryptic marketing barren unfinished game = Turns people off to the game = Worse game for me
Attempts to tell Cryptic this is a bad idea = Cryptic dosent listen = Turns existing players off to the game = Less Revenue = No community and game for me.
So, yeah. Shut up and stop trying to ruin things for the rest of us. Get passionate about real evils in the world and work to fix them, rather than wasting your energy on complaining about who gets what shaped pixels in a computer game.
Follow your own advice before you go giving others it.
You might want to read up on what a Pyramid scheme is....
A pyramid scheme is a non-sustainable business model that involves the exchange of money primarily for enrolling other people into the scheme, without any product or service being delivered.
RAF recruits will get access to the game and its content, so they are getting a product/service for their investment.
Imagine the good that could be wrought in the world if we could harness nerd rage to fight poverty or hunger, or end racism.
Cryptic incentivizing recruiting = More subscribers = More Revenue = Better Game for Me
People recruiting friends = More subscribers = More Revenue = Better Game for Me
Your whining = Annoying = Turns people off to the game = Less Revenue = Worse community and game for me.
So, yeah. Shut up and stop trying to ruin things for the rest of us. Get passionate about real evils in the world and work to fix them, rather than wasting your energy on complaining about who gets what shaped pixels in a computer game.
Referring to the highlighted portion:
What is going to keep them here after they have gobbled up all the content before their free month is up? I can see the argument Cryptic is making with the RAF, but as of now it's a short term gain. Box sales will go up a bit, but again, what is in the game that is going to keep the new people subbing?
As for the rest of your post, it comes down to hammer, wrench or screwdriver. I can't decide, but I know it is one of the three.
What is going to keep them here after they have gobbled up all the content before their free month is up? I can see the argument Cryptic is making with the RAF, but as of now it's a short term gain. Box sales will go up a bit, but again, what is in the game that is going to keep the new people subbing?
I see your point and while it may be true for some, not everyone is going to reach RA 5 in a month. Also, this is something that many who will try are not going to accomplish immediately the instant the program is made live. It may take several months to locate recruits, and by that time the game will have more content.
Just putting my name on this thread ... look i'm going to be friggen spamming just about everyone i know with that TRIBBLE, because #1 i like this game and think its really cool, and #2 i really want those rewards (particularly the ship)....BUT I would way rather that ship be added to the C-Store....that way i don't have to hope to get 5 more people to play, considering I 'recruited' a bunch of people before the game went live (and they joined and some stayed to this day).
I see your point and while it may be true for some, not everyone is going to reach RA 5 in a month. Also, this is something that many who will try are not going to accomplish immediately the instant the program is made live. It may take several months to locate recruits, and by that time the game will have more content.
True many won't get to RA5, but I know plenty of people who got the game a launch and stopped playing after their free month because they had seen/played enough. They all didn't get to RA5, some of them just got tired of the repetitive nature of the missions and the smallness of the game in general, and figured they had pretty much seen all the game has to offer.
That's what I'm worried about for the RAF, it just seems to be a way to get box sales up, because that is the only guaranteed revenue for Cryptic. The continuing subscriptions aren't.
I'm curious to see how many people who get 5 friends to buy the game and think "Yes! I'm going to get my Galaxy X!!" Will come on the forums and rage about how it isn't fair that they didn't get it [the Galaxy X] because one or more of those friends didn't sub past the free 30 days.
I stand by my suggestion that something as cool as the Galaxy X be made a Vet Reward at 400 or even 500 days. That way Cryptic can count on the people who want it (including people who get referred to the game through RAF) will sub for that length of time.
It just seems to make more sense in the long term.
You might want to read up on what a Pyramid scheme is....
Keep reading your link.
The network marketing or multi-level marketing business has become associated with pyramid schemes as "Some schemes may purport to sell a product, but they often simply use the product to hide their pyramid structure." [23] and the fact while some people call MLMs in general "pyramid selling"[24][25][26][27][28] others use the term to denote an illegal pyramid scheme masquerading as an MLM.[29]
RAF recruits will get access to the game and its content, so they are getting a product/service for their investment.
The line where this crosses from simple MLM to Pyrmid scheme is when Cryptic relys on its own community to ACCURATELY and HONESTLY market their game.
Oh sure, Cryptic can hide behind the wall of ignorance by saying they have no control if a player lies or mis-represents STO to meet their quota.
However, that just makes Cryptic immune from the legal implications of what they are doing, it does not absolve them from the fact this practice is shady and pathetic.
That's what I'm worried about for the RAF, it just seems to be a way to get box sales up, because that is the only guaranteed revenue for Cryptic. The continuing subscriptions aren't.
Based on what dstahl posted, it would seem that the overall goal is to get continuing subscriptions. Like you I know of people who have come and gone in STO, yet I also see people here that have been in it since BETA and plan to be around for quite some time, so it stands to reason there are more people out there who would enjoy the game and stick with it if they joined. That's ultimately who they are targetting with the RAF.
You're reading that entirely wrong, just so you know.... but it was a nice try. It's also in no way Cryptic's fault if you go out and lie to someone about STO. They have no control over you at all.
Based on what dstahl posted, it would seem that the overall goal is to get continuing subscriptions. Like you I know of people who have come and gone in STO, yet I also see people here that have been in it since BETA and plan to be around for quite some time, so it stands to reason there are more people out there who would enjoy the game and stick with it if they joined. That's ultimately who they are targetting with the RAF.
That's why I think that it [Galaxy X] would be better served as a Vet Reward. Then you can pretty much count on people subbing for the long term to get it.
Put something else in the RAF, the Captain's yacht for example, so people have incentive to recruit. But put the Galaxy X as a 400 or 500 day reward so that everyone, including those people that are referred through the RAF will have, if for no other reason, the promise of a Galaxy X to keep subbing it out.
Follow your own advice before you go giving others it.
I've spent about an hour and a half this week on these boards reading your whining and posting a few responses. I've spent about 20 hours this week visiting people in the hospital and nursing homes. I do follow my own advice. How's your ratio?
If I worked for Cryptic, I'd frankly shut down the message boards. These are supposed to be here for people to contribute in a positive way, and to help build a community to support each other, and the game. But all it is is a venue for the maldjusted to whine, complain, and drag the game and other players down into misery with them. It does love company after all. Now, off to enjoy my life. I'll probably check in again next week, because hope springs eternal.
That's why I think that it [Galaxy X] would be better served as a Vet Reward. Then you can pretty much count on people subbing for the long term to get it.
Put something else in the RAF, the Captain's yacht for example, so people have incentive to recruit. But put the Galaxy X as a 400 or 500 day reward so that everyone, including those people that are referred through the RAF have a reason to keep subbing it out.
Seems sort of Win-Win to me.
That's assuming that that ship is of paticular interest to someone. There are those who have posted here that have said they wouldn't want it at all, so having it as a vet reward is pointless for some.
People who are recruited via the RAF could also find 5 other recruits themselves and get the ship sooner (if that's what they want) without having to wait a year or more for it too.
That's assuming that that ship is of paticular interest to someone. There are those who have posted here that have said they wouldn't want it at all, so having it as a vet reward is pointless for some.
People who are recruited via the RAF could also find 5 other recruits themselves and get the ship sooner (if that's what they want) without having to wait a year or more for it too.
Maybe in a perfect world. But to be honest, I don't expect to see too many people flying around in one in the near or even far future if the RAF is the only way to acquire it.
A game should be able to stand on it's merits if it wants a successful recruiting program, and IMO STO just doesn't do that, and it will be quite a while before it can.
Maybe in a perfect world. But to be honest, I don't expect to see too many people flying around in one in the near or even far future if the RAF is the only way to acquire it.
A game should be able to stand on it's merits if it wants a successful recruiting program, and IMO STO just doesn't do that, and it will be quite a while before it can.
If it can.
I will admit, ST:O released a un-finished game. But they had a year and a half from start to finish/release. But they didn't make that point strongly enough. So they keep getting flack. But it's well deserved, as they boasted as making a all-dancing, all-singing ST MMO.
You're reading that entirely wrong, just so you know.... but it was a nice try. It's also in no way Cryptic's fault if you go out and lie to someone about STO. They have no control over you at all.
How am I reading it wrong ?
Demonstrate.
Oh right, its totally not Cryptics fault to encourage this sort of behaviour when obviously they cant control it. Hey, what about actually marketing it themselves rather than rely on the community to do it, they can controlt heir own marketing if they are doing it themselves, right ?
Oh wait, the repeated disasters with their marketing so far shot that in the foot.
I've spent about an hour and a half this week on these boards reading your whining and posting a few responses. I've spent about 20 hours this week visiting people in the hospital and nursing homes. I do follow my own advice. How's your ratio?
If I worked for Cryptic, I'd frankly shut down the message boards. These are supposed to be here for people to contribute in a positive way, and to help build a community to support each other, and the game. But all it is is a venue for the maldjusted to whine, complain, and drag the game and other players down into misery with them. It does love company after all. Now, off to enjoy my life. I'll probably check in again next week, because hope springs eternal.
Welcome to the internet and MMO gaming forums in general. Enjoy your stay, dont enjoy it or leave.
Your choice.
That's why I think that it [Galaxy X] would be better served as a Vet Reward. Then you can pretty much count on people subbing for the long term to get it.
Put something else in the RAF, the Captain's yacht for example, so people have incentive to recruit. But put the Galaxy X as a 400 or 500 day reward so that everyone, including those people that are referred through the RAF will have, if for no other reason, the promise of a Galaxy X to keep subbing it out.
Seems sort of Win-Win to me.
I would suggest that the best reward for someone who's going out of their way to promote STO to their friends is gametime or more C-Store points at the recipients choice.
The title is a nice thing, but by giving time/C-Store it's something a true fan of the game would want and get benefit from without affecting those that already have all their friends playing or don't know anyone who they can recommend the game to.
Obviously lifers have to take the c-store points, but as we're around forever we're even more likely to use them.
I would suggest that the best reward for someone who's going out of their way to promote STO to their friends is gametime or more C-Store points at the recipients choice.
The title is a nice thing, but by giving time/C-Store it's something a true fan of the game would want and get benefit from without affecting those that already have all their friends playing or don't know anyone who they can recommend the game to.
Obviously lifers have to take the c-store points, but as we're around forever we're even more likely to use them.
If they offered all of THAT it would actually be worth doing and entice more people than those only interested in the Galaxy-X
Additionally, none of those things would be unavailable to everyone else. The benefit of the referal program is you would get them ALL at once in a lump sum.
Those that didnt do the referral program could get them via the other means, C-Store, Ingame or Vet Rewards piecemeal.
Oh no, Cryptics idea is to make a completely Exclusive item with exclusive features that noone else is going to have a chance of getting. An item which not only is dubious in the features it is offering but will also be the ONLY item of its class until the equivelents are brought out later.
I.E This is meant to be a T5.5 / 6 ship which will be available to the player as soon as they complete the offer while the rest of the playerbase has to wait for the regular versions to become available.
This is the equivelent of limiting the entire playerbase to T3 while coming out with an exclusive T4 ship. THAT is direct unbalance right there.
Maybe in a perfect world. But to be honest, I don't expect to see too many people flying around in one in the near or even far future if the RAF is the only way to acquire it.
A game should be able to stand on it's merits if it wants a successful recruiting program, and IMO STO just doesn't do that, and it will be quite a while before it can.
If it can.
I'd almost guarantee you'll see several of them a month after the RAF program goes live. You already have a number of players who bought every available edition of the game to get costume pieces, playable factions, etc. That's plunking down a lot of cash for the game and I believe it safe to say there will be those who will do this for the RAF as well.
The reason it is considered a scam or scheme of some kind or another and what makes these things illegal is that ultimately, those scammed get nothing for something - ie. they were asked to fork over money and got nothing for it.
Any recruit that pays for the game and subscribes can access it from now until the end of time. There is nothing illegal about that.
Hey, what about actually marketing it themselves rather than rely on the community to do it, they can controlt heir own marketing if they are doing it themselves, right ?
Just about every business that exists takes advantage of word of mouth advertising and offers programs for customers who help spread the word about them. Marketing costs a lot of money. Any business owner will tell you that. "Free advertising" via word of mouth and customer referrals doesn't cost that business anything. It's part of a smart business plan.
They aren't solely relying on the community either. I've seen ads for STO on SyFy and banners on websites all over the internet and ads in a few sci-fi/gaming magazines. The RAF program is part of the marketing plan, not the entire thing.
Is there any word on this ships special abilities as well? If I remember correctly, the Galaxy X could do Warp 14. I'm hoing that will translate into some special engines that make it significantly faster. A special Phaser Cannon slot (sax XIII) would be nice too for the underside of the saucer. DAMN!!! I want that ship!
Cryptic claim they listen to their playerbase, Cryptic claim they want to make a game people will enjoy.
When Cryptic goes against their own goddamn claims, its apparantly wrong to point this out or when they pull blatantly crass ploys like this... the playerbase is meant to just take it and move on.
Heaven forbid that Cryptic be held up to what they actually say or that they be expected to conduct themselves in a RESPECTABLE manner.
Good grief man, have you been paying any attention to the course of this game at all?
The players asked for Klingon content................................Cryptic listened and it's coming
The players asked for a change in difficulty.......................Cryptic listened and put in the Difficulty slider
The players (some) asked for a Death Penalty...................Cryptic listened and put in an optional DP
The players asked for additional races...............................Cryptic listened and put them in the C-Store (more coming)
The players asked for additional ships/customization.........Cryptic listened and they're in the C-Store (more coming)
The players spoke out against the Council..........................Cryptic listened and put it on hold
The players asked for a change in the STFs.......................Cryptic listened and is looking into it
The players asked for a change in movement (ships)........Cryptic listened and is exploring the possibilty
The players posted numerous bugs/glitches.......................Cryptic listened and many are fixed and being fixed
The players complained about BO powers.........................Cryptic listened and altered the "big three"
The players asked for more interiors..................................Cryptic listened and they are being included
The players asked for functioning Bridges..........................Cryptic listened and they are being included
The players asked for T5 variants of T4 ships....................Cryptic has stated they will be in in the future
The players asked for additional weapons at BG/RA5.......Cryptic listened and now we have them
The players asked for an increased skill cap......................Cryptic listened and it's coming
The list goes on, are you seeing a pattern here?
Just because Cryptic makes a business decision or two that you don't like, doesn't mean that they are not listening to us or going back on their word.
Comments
You've stated this exact argument before, Sheridan. Regardless of your feelings on the matter Cryptic has stated that for -now- it's going to be a reward for gaining subscribers. That does not mean that in the future they're going to do things like this or that the Galaxy X won't be released in some other fashion down the road.. Reiterating the opinion over and over isn't going to help anything. What's done is done so either accept it or deny it an move on. If in the future Cryptic does something like this for a Defiant or an Intrepid I'll be the first to say you were right...but for now...let it be.
Yeah, I see what you are saying Sheridan.
But not everyone can attain the requirements needed to get this ship. And I'm not sure if you are part of the group preventing me from seeing one of the many things I want from this game(ie a Fed cloak among other things), so buying subs & additional retail keys on my own may be my only hope of successfully getting some of the things I thought were very cool in the show that I have always wanted to try out in a video game.
No joke. It's the one thing I hate the Picard character(ie the show's writers) for. Revealing the darn cloak to the Romulans. Canon & Star Trek legacy be damned. It would be fun to have Federation with the same options as the Klingons and the Romulans.
Btw. YES I am one of those people that also want cloak for the Defiant and batmoblie-like armor on a STO ship would be funny to see.
I will KEEP making this argument just like others continue to make theirs.
'Let it be'
Oh... Cryptic made a poor game... let it be.
Oh... Cryptic offered 90 days on their sale... just let it be.
Oh look... Cryptic went against their own claims... just let it be.
How about, no ?
Cryptic claim they listen to their playerbase, Cryptic claim they want to make a game people will enjoy.
When Cryptic goes against their own goddamn claims, its apparantly wrong to point this out or when they pull blatantly crass ploys like this... the playerbase is meant to just take it and move on.
Heaven forbid that Cryptic be held up to what they actually say or that they be expected to conduct themselves in a RESPECTABLE manner.
How does that work, anyway?
There does come a point when even good arguments driven into the ground become bad ones.
Imagine the good that could be wrought in the world if we could harness nerd rage to fight poverty or hunger, or end racism.
Cryptic incentivizing recruiting = More subscribers = More Revenue = Better Game for Me
People recruiting friends = More subscribers = More Revenue = Better Game for Me
Your whining = Annoying = Turns people off to the game = Less Revenue = Worse community and game for me.
So, yeah. Shut up and stop trying to ruin things for the rest of us. Get passionate about real evils in the world and work to fix them, rather than wasting your energy on complaining about who gets what shaped pixels in a computer game.
Fixed for you.
Follow your own advice before you go giving others it.
You might want to read up on what a Pyramid scheme is....
RAF recruits will get access to the game and its content, so they are getting a product/service for their investment.
Referring to the highlighted portion:
What is going to keep them here after they have gobbled up all the content before their free month is up? I can see the argument Cryptic is making with the RAF, but as of now it's a short term gain. Box sales will go up a bit, but again, what is in the game that is going to keep the new people subbing?
As for the rest of your post, it comes down to hammer, wrench or screwdriver. I can't decide, but I know it is one of the three.
I see your point and while it may be true for some, not everyone is going to reach RA 5 in a month. Also, this is something that many who will try are not going to accomplish immediately the instant the program is made live. It may take several months to locate recruits, and by that time the game will have more content.
True many won't get to RA5, but I know plenty of people who got the game a launch and stopped playing after their free month because they had seen/played enough. They all didn't get to RA5, some of them just got tired of the repetitive nature of the missions and the smallness of the game in general, and figured they had pretty much seen all the game has to offer.
That's what I'm worried about for the RAF, it just seems to be a way to get box sales up, because that is the only guaranteed revenue for Cryptic. The continuing subscriptions aren't.
I'm curious to see how many people who get 5 friends to buy the game and think "Yes! I'm going to get my Galaxy X!!" Will come on the forums and rage about how it isn't fair that they didn't get it [the Galaxy X] because one or more of those friends didn't sub past the free 30 days.
I stand by my suggestion that something as cool as the Galaxy X be made a Vet Reward at 400 or even 500 days. That way Cryptic can count on the people who want it (including people who get referred to the game through RAF) will sub for that length of time.
It just seems to make more sense in the long term.
Keep reading your link.
The line where this crosses from simple MLM to Pyrmid scheme is when Cryptic relys on its own community to ACCURATELY and HONESTLY market their game.
Oh sure, Cryptic can hide behind the wall of ignorance by saying they have no control if a player lies or mis-represents STO to meet their quota.
However, that just makes Cryptic immune from the legal implications of what they are doing, it does not absolve them from the fact this practice is shady and pathetic.
Based on what dstahl posted, it would seem that the overall goal is to get continuing subscriptions. Like you I know of people who have come and gone in STO, yet I also see people here that have been in it since BETA and plan to be around for quite some time, so it stands to reason there are more people out there who would enjoy the game and stick with it if they joined. That's ultimately who they are targetting with the RAF.
You're reading that entirely wrong, just so you know.... but it was a nice try.
That's why I think that it [Galaxy X] would be better served as a Vet Reward. Then you can pretty much count on people subbing for the long term to get it.
Put something else in the RAF, the Captain's yacht for example, so people have incentive to recruit. But put the Galaxy X as a 400 or 500 day reward so that everyone, including those people that are referred through the RAF will have, if for no other reason, the promise of a Galaxy X to keep subbing it out.
Seems sort of Win-Win to me.
I've spent about an hour and a half this week on these boards reading your whining and posting a few responses. I've spent about 20 hours this week visiting people in the hospital and nursing homes. I do follow my own advice. How's your ratio?
If I worked for Cryptic, I'd frankly shut down the message boards. These are supposed to be here for people to contribute in a positive way, and to help build a community to support each other, and the game. But all it is is a venue for the maldjusted to whine, complain, and drag the game and other players down into misery with them. It does love company after all. Now, off to enjoy my life. I'll probably check in again next week, because hope springs eternal.
That's assuming that that ship is of paticular interest to someone. There are those who have posted here that have said they wouldn't want it at all, so having it as a vet reward is pointless for some.
People who are recruited via the RAF could also find 5 other recruits themselves and get the ship sooner (if that's what they want) without having to wait a year or more for it too.
Maybe in a perfect world. But to be honest, I don't expect to see too many people flying around in one in the near or even far future if the RAF is the only way to acquire it.
A game should be able to stand on it's merits if it wants a successful recruiting program, and IMO STO just doesn't do that, and it will be quite a while before it can.
If it can.
I will admit, ST:O released a un-finished game. But they had a year and a half from start to finish/release. But they didn't make that point strongly enough. So they keep getting flack. But it's well deserved, as they boasted as making a all-dancing, all-singing ST MMO.
How am I reading it wrong ?
Demonstrate.
Oh right, its totally not Cryptics fault to encourage this sort of behaviour when obviously they cant control it. Hey, what about actually marketing it themselves rather than rely on the community to do it, they can controlt heir own marketing if they are doing it themselves, right ?
Oh wait, the repeated disasters with their marketing so far shot that in the foot.
Welcome to the internet and MMO gaming forums in general. Enjoy your stay, dont enjoy it or leave.
Your choice.
I would suggest that the best reward for someone who's going out of their way to promote STO to their friends is gametime or more C-Store points at the recipients choice.
The title is a nice thing, but by giving time/C-Store it's something a true fan of the game would want and get benefit from without affecting those that already have all their friends playing or don't know anyone who they can recommend the game to.
Obviously lifers have to take the c-store points, but as we're around forever we're even more likely to use them.
Free C-Store Points
Free VANITY items
Free Titles
Access to Captains Table
Pre-Order items
Liberated Borg
Free Respecs
Free Costume Slots
Free Ship Slots
Free XP starter bonus
Free Uniforms
Free Emote packs
If they offered all of THAT it would actually be worth doing and entice more people than those only interested in the Galaxy-X
Additionally, none of those things would be unavailable to everyone else. The benefit of the referal program is you would get them ALL at once in a lump sum.
Those that didnt do the referral program could get them via the other means, C-Store, Ingame or Vet Rewards piecemeal.
Oh no, Cryptics idea is to make a completely Exclusive item with exclusive features that noone else is going to have a chance of getting. An item which not only is dubious in the features it is offering but will also be the ONLY item of its class until the equivelents are brought out later.
I.E This is meant to be a T5.5 / 6 ship which will be available to the player as soon as they complete the offer while the rest of the playerbase has to wait for the regular versions to become available.
This is the equivelent of limiting the entire playerbase to T3 while coming out with an exclusive T4 ship. THAT is direct unbalance right there.
I'd almost guarantee you'll see several of them a month after the RAF program goes live. You already have a number of players who bought every available edition of the game to get costume pieces, playable factions, etc. That's plunking down a lot of cash for the game and I believe it safe to say there will be those who will do this for the RAF as well.
The reason it is considered a scam or scheme of some kind or another and what makes these things illegal is that ultimately, those scammed get nothing for something - ie. they were asked to fork over money and got nothing for it.
Any recruit that pays for the game and subscribes can access it from now until the end of time. There is nothing illegal about that.
Is the front office gone for the weekend, or are they in this mix as yet?
Just about every business that exists takes advantage of word of mouth advertising and offers programs for customers who help spread the word about them. Marketing costs a lot of money. Any business owner will tell you that. "Free advertising" via word of mouth and customer referrals doesn't cost that business anything. It's part of a smart business plan.
They aren't solely relying on the community either. I've seen ads for STO on SyFy and banners on websites all over the internet and ads in a few sci-fi/gaming magazines. The RAF program is part of the marketing plan, not the entire thing.
Good grief man, have you been paying any attention to the course of this game at all?
The players asked for Klingon content................................Cryptic listened and it's coming
The players asked for a change in difficulty.......................Cryptic listened and put in the Difficulty slider
The players (some) asked for a Death Penalty...................Cryptic listened and put in an optional DP
The players asked for additional races...............................Cryptic listened and put them in the C-Store (more coming)
The players asked for additional ships/customization.........Cryptic listened and they're in the C-Store (more coming)
The players spoke out against the Council..........................Cryptic listened and put it on hold
The players asked for a change in the STFs.......................Cryptic listened and is looking into it
The players asked for a change in movement (ships)........Cryptic listened and is exploring the possibilty
The players posted numerous bugs/glitches.......................Cryptic listened and many are fixed and being fixed
The players complained about BO powers.........................Cryptic listened and altered the "big three"
The players asked for more interiors..................................Cryptic listened and they are being included
The players asked for functioning Bridges..........................Cryptic listened and they are being included
The players asked for T5 variants of T4 ships....................Cryptic has stated they will be in in the future
The players asked for additional weapons at BG/RA5.......Cryptic listened and now we have them
The players asked for an increased skill cap......................Cryptic listened and it's coming
The list goes on, are you seeing a pattern here?
Just because Cryptic makes a business decision or two that you don't like, doesn't mean that they are not listening to us or going back on their word.