Search for "bonus" which appears on page 2. The bonus is actually for out performing revenue targets for CO and STO combined. There's two payout periods, the first scheduled for August of this year. The bonus may have something to do with the contractual launch date but I think it's more than likely CBS since they put up with Perpetual's vaporware for so long.
You're right that Atari acquired Cryptic specifically for their ability to quickly develop a MMO with a reduced budget and reduced resources. Cryptic uses that and their proprietary game engine which facilitates this to market themselves. Jack Emmert also mentioned how quickly STO would be finished in Vegas 2008.
There's nothing really wrong with this business wise... *if* that model fit the demand. What went wrong is CBS, Atari and Cryptic underestimated the response to STO. This is proven during Closed Beta where they simply were overwhelmed by the numbers of people who had access. Plans were changed for CB purchasers so the servers wouldn't be overloaded. Then at open beta the test servers had to be converted into live servers, etc. We know the story.
Cryptic is now the little engine that could. I don't believe they are evil people who don't care about Star Trek and who just want to grab our money so they can go onto their next MMO. They were faced with a difficult situation given their size, the overwhelming demand and the grand scope of the Star Trek IP.
They had to launch under contractual agreement. Simply put... They bit off more than they could chew. It explains everything from no TOS mini skirt at launch to an undone Klingon faction. Everything people have been ranting and raving for they want to do but didn't have the time & resources for.
This "minimal resource required" business model continues. Cryptic has lost plenty of subs (some claim a hemorrhage) over them not being able to meet player demands for features and content. I think it's maybe not a hemorrhage but certainly more than that "it's normal for MMOs to loose subs after launch" argument.
I believe they are doing their very best but most everything has to be implemented on a triage basis. I think they are honestly busting their nuggets not only for us players but also so they can show Atari and CBS that they are up to this challenge. If people understand this maybe they would be more understanding.
That being said, I still understand people who are upset about STO. After all, corners were cut to get the game launched. Advertised features are still not available or were made available much later than anticipated. The irate customer is not at fault here. Some understanding should be given to that angry person too, especially those who are staying to fight for the features they want.
To the OP. It depends on what the too far is. I think if, as a consumer of this product, you don't like what they're doing with it... yes you have a right to speak up about it. However, I also don't think that gives you the right to... cut them down and make'em feel like they've been drug through the mud. It is a fine line sometimes since often in mmo communities items like this are passionately discussed.
Hell, I'd say sometimes we get borderline fanatical about our games. Gamers that is I guess I'm saying. Speaking of bad ideas dooming an mmo as if it were our best friend... or only friend we have.
I'd like to think the above is just an exaggeration but sometimes even I have to stand back after a post and say to myself... damn... did I really put that much thought into a video game debate?
I guess for me, with 7 years of mmo play under my belt now, I think I have to look back on a good piece of Army Values I remember. Respect: Treat people as they should be treated. I think we forget that sometimes and do, indeed, make this or that person feel pretty crappy at their job. We can disagree and keep it respectful at the same time.
Maybe we can look at Wil Wheaton's PAX speech from awhile back as the perfect example: "Don't be a *edit*!" :cool:
If you think you've gone too far... and you know if you have... just chill for a bit. On the flip side of things I'm sure the Cryptic Team is quite open to criticisms as long as we attempt to keep it respectful. Even if that incurs just saying, "I'm angry about this."
We (the Forums) will stop complaining when they (CBS/Atari/Cryptic) stop giving us reason to.
Every "****gate" had a reason and they just keep going on throwing the next slap in our Faces.
You know the anger behind those "****gates" are not forgotten, they STACK!
It's as simple as that.
***
What i expected from the C-Store was that i get Canon Ships there, Canon Uniforms and everything Cryptic created just goes in the game for *free* (which means for the expensive monthly fee).
But Reality is, on the C-Store goes mostly Cryptic designed stuff (Ships + Bridges) and Canon stuff... which is the only reason i want to play a Star Trek Game get's thrown out as extras that are UBER HARD to get.
I did not get the Constitution Class... and i friggen hate Gamestop.
I'm still ****ed because of this.
Now the Galaxy-X.... which is a pyramid System so it is IMPOSSIBLE for everyone to get it.
if it walks like a duck and quaks like a duck its a duck.....just like a poster before, a TRIBBLE is a TRIBBLE no matter what you do to it..
Cryptic made there bed now they have to lay in it.....they new well before hand this was a ship that was wanted for a lonf time from lots of players.
this item should have been in the VET rewards for like day 300....that would make subscribers stay not get new players in for 1-2 months then the new players go ohhh look no content...and then cancel!
I am not saying don't be angry. I am not saying don't voice your opinions. All I was getting at was maybe we should stop and think what negative effects we are having. If you can answer that and have no problem with the answer, then by all means, continue. I am not trying to convince anyone to stop, only to pause and make sure we are correct in what we are doing as a community.
I am not saying don't be angry. I am not saying don't voice your opinions. All I was getting at was maybe we should stop and think what negative effects we are having. If you can answer that and have no problem with the answer, then by all means, continue. I am not trying to convince anyone to stop, only to pause and make sure we are correct in what we are doing as a community.
Well... I'm really hard-pressed to believe that being vocal is a bad thing unless you're someone like Hagon. Choosing not to be vocal, especially in response to claims that you're the 'vocal minority' (not being made here, I know, but it's a big issue Out There) just means the other vocal people get heard and you don't. Sometimes that ends up in nobody getting heard in the cacophony, but then at least you can say you tried. There is probably a point of going too far somewhere, and I'd say something like 'hand it to another developer' probably is past that point because, y'know, there's exactly nothing productive it can do here.
As kind of an aside, I'm actually amazed that I don't have a single infraction point yet given my tendency to respond explosively to undesired news at times.
Speaking as someone who's worked retail, I can tell you that there is a fine line between being a customer with a complaint, and a screaming, entitled lunatic who treats each and every inconvenience like the Battle of Armageddon and who actively works to prevent people from addressing his complaint by being so loud and demanding.
I'm by no means capable of pointing out where that line is for this community, but I think it may have been crossed once or twice.
I am not saying don't be angry. I am not saying don't voice your opinions. All I was getting at was maybe we should stop and think what negative effects we are having. If you can answer that and have no problem with the answer, then by all means, continue. I am not trying to convince anyone to stop, only to pause and make sure we are correct in what we are doing as a community.
I actually agree, we have the potential to take things to far on these forums. Do I think we did in this instance? A bit. Everyone had a reason to be angry. And we went hog wild. Not only did we bash Cryptic, we bash on each other, and quite often and vehemently. I don't think it did any overall harm, but as a forum community we need to be careful how far we take things. In this instance, it was a very rare ship offered for an excessive amount of work. It was never said it wouldn't be offered at a later date through the C-Store or any other means, just initially it was going to be through refer-a-friend. We jumped the gun before al the details of the ship itself were even released. We over reacted at Cryptic and amongst ourselves, and I am just as guilty.
The real danger we face in doing things like this is that for forum mods and devs will quit coming here and giving us updates. Same thing happened in WoW right after release. Eyonix and Caydiem were on the forums pretty regularly discussing bugs (lots of them), what was in the works, and fixes for stuff like class balance. They got met with rage and venom and posted much less. The forum ban hammer came out in force for a few weeks. Communication basically shut down between Blizzard and the forum community. This is something we don't want, especially since Cryptic is so good about giving us info on a regular basis.
There will be instances where our rage is justified. Personally, I don't believe this was one of them.
Speaking as someone who's worked retail, I can tell you that there is a fine line between being a customer with a complaint, and a screaming, entitled lunatic who treats each and every inconvenience like the Battle of Armageddon and who actively works to prevent people from addressing his complaint by being so loud and demanding.
I'm by no means capable of pointing out where that line is for this community, but I think it may have been crossed once or twice.
I am afraid you are wrong on all accounts here. Reading a harsh message on the forum is hardly tough or demanding from a customer service perspective. I have Blue Danube playing while I nerdrage and it works wonders. Point is they dont read anything the have not provoked first. From empty promises to outright money grabs, their response and handle of those complaints, is what escalated the situation to lunatic levels.
If you are working for retail (not being sarcastic just invoking your experience here)l then you know that you need to be seen considering the complaint from your customers, and try to offer options and compromises to rectify the situation. From a burger joint that will offer you a free drink to a corporation that will try to settle its way out, the customer is NEVER ignored and termed a rioter in a patronising attempt to downplay any concerns raised.
Cryptic has been acting like a dictaroship, distracting public opinion, censoring those with strong indications of their claims and outright allow Devs to be make sarcastic comments that devaluate anything that does not agree with them by dismissing them as whine. I am not oblivious that other games had similar issues. I played WOW and other games for a VERY long time and have been quite active on forums. This situation is an absolute first. Not because of the nature of the complaints, but the awful way the were handled.
There is still good in them for sure. rom the engineering reports to the appearance of GM in game to chat to (which I was very impressed with) but Darth Cryptic needs to throw the Atari Emperor down the shaft already and make them see that the game will be succesful if they try LESS to sell and more to improve on it. At this point my sub gives me nothing unless I want to pay extra to try a different skin which will add another full 5min to my already quick daily runs before I log back out.
Again, I hope that Cryptic realizes that no one would bother posting, or making long-winded tirades if they didn't have feelings for STO.
Most of the people who're angry are fans who feel they've been cheated out of the Star Trek experience they dreamed of. Fact is that no matter what Star Trek Online was, people were always going to be upset about it, because nothing can ever match up to what you dream of.
I just hope that Cryptic keeps on keeping on, because as much as there is wrong with STO, it's the only Star Trek MMO we've got. Chances are that it will forever be the only one we've got, and that is something that I think is worth fighting for.
So no, don't stop complaining, but maybe take a breather once in a while to compliment Cryptic on something they've done that you do like.
I am not suggesting anything of the sort. I am only asking that we stop and look at the situation.
Situation: the U.S.S. STO launched on one quarter impulse power and has been sputtering along at roughly that same speed every since. Warp drive is offline, sensors are offline, shields are maxed out at 3.2%, the transporters produce evil twins of anyone trying to use them, and the only thing the replicators can replicate is low-fat gagh.
Chief Engineer: Maybe if we fix the turbolift doors--
Captain: Belay that! Let's add racing stripes! Oh, and hang some raccoon tails from the deflector dish!
Crew: Mutiny! Mutiny! Mutiny! Abandon ship! (Except for Crewman Green, who is excited about the new salt shakers promised in the next refit.)
Starfleet: We do NOT approve of those salt shakers.
I stopped reading right there. Cryptic Studios is a business, not a government. The comparison to a dictatorship does not stand for that one simple reason.
I personally think we all need to check in the Che' Nuts House for even being bothered by this RAF promotion.
If it never really caught on in popularity then the "X"class galaxy would eventually make it to the C-store anyways and all the complaining will be for nothing but to hear our gums flaps and the important sounds of our voices.
I stopped reading right there. Cryptic Studios is a business, not a government. The comparison to a dictatorship does not stand for that one simple reason.
That is equally your problem and Cryptics. You do not read in full.
I personally think we all need to check in the Che' Nuts House for even being bothered by this RAF promotion.
If it never really caught on in popularity then the "X"class galaxy would eventually make it to the C-store anyways and all the complaining will be for nothing but to hear our gums flaps and the important sounds of our voices.
They could offer 2k Cryptic points per referred individual, an IRL pony with care and feeding, and the Galaxy-X skin for all I care. It's the unique mechanical aspects being attributed to the ship that bother me from a broad perspective on the future of the game.
I agree with you to a point. I agree we should not be quiet when there is an issue that effects us. I am not faulting us for being upset. Like Dublin said, they knew many people wanted that ship. Which, I feel is the reason they put it in the referral program. Logically it makes sense. I don't necessarily like it too much but I can see the reasoning.
However, we should consider that there is the possibility that there are those on the other side who don't like the situation either.
Quite frankly, I doubt I could care less what the staff at Cryptic wants or how they feel about any of the poor choices they have made as a company. I'm the customer. I pay. I'm right. Period.
Situation: the U.S.S. STO launched on one quarter impulse power and has been sputtering along at roughly that same speed every since. Warp drive is offline, sensors are offline, shields are maxed out at 3.2%, the transporters produce evil twins of anyone trying to use them, and the only thing the replicators can replicate is low-fat gagh.
Chief Engineer: Maybe if we fix the turbolift doors--
Captain: Belay that! Let's add racing stripes! Oh, and hang some raccoon tails from the deflector dish!
Crew: Mutiny! Mutiny! Mutiny! Abandon ship! (Except for Crewman Green, who is excited about the new salt shakers promised in the next refit.)
Starfleet: We do NOT approve of those salt shakers.
I personally think we all need to check in the Che' Nuts House for even being bothered by this RAF promotion.
If it never really caught on in popularity then the "X"class galaxy would eventually make it to the C-store anyways and all the complaining will be for nothing but to hear our gums flaps and the important sounds of our voices.
Why should we have to pay Cryptic another $5.00 or $10.00 or whatever to be able to buy a ship that gives us an advantage over other players in-game when we've already bought the box and already pay sub fees?
Why should we have to pay Cryptic another $5.00 or $10.00 or whatever to be able to buy a ship that gives us an advantage over other players in-game when we've already bought the box and already pay sub fees?
Because Atari desperately wants to be the first company that pulls off an MMO that combines both the pay-for-powers cash store and subscription model to maximize profit made from chumps.
That is equally your problem and Cryptics. You do not read in full.
I actually did read the whole post, I just simply stated that I stop reading there because your argument is flawed and as such the rest of your post doesn't matter or make sense because of it. I posted out why it was flawed.
I actually did read the whole post, I just simply stated that I stop reading there because your argument is flawed and as such the rest of your post doesn't matter or make sense because of it. I posted out why it was flawed.
If that was your reason the you did not readi t. You simply disagree and thats that really. You give no real reason. you play with words to justify it. Listen to the music not the song comes to mind.
1) This forum isnt very different than most MMO forums I've played, so whatever problem you think exists is pretty universal
2) The uproars that have happened here have been in response to things Cryptic did. Granted, they may have been a bit overboard in some cases, but the point is that they were not unprovoked.
I hate to say it, but launching a game before its ready(aka before one of the factions has PvE, before there is any end game content, with a crappy crafting system, etc) is going to create a negative atmosphere on the forums.
If that was your reason the you did not readi t. You simply disagree and thats that really. You give no real reason. you play with words to justify it. Listen to the music not the song comes to mind.
The fact of the matter is that Cryptic is not a government, and comparing them to one simply does not work. Cryptic is a business, they try to please their customers as much as they can, and seriously they have gone far farther than any other MMO company I have seen with trying to make their customers happy, but in the end they are trying to make money not control everyone's life. Cryptic is a business, not a communist government for that reason. They are in it to make a profit. That isn't me playing with words trying to justify what I am saying, that is fact.
The fact of the matter is that Cryptic is not a government, and comparing them to one simply does not work. Cryptic is a business, they try to please their customers as much as they can, and seriously they have gone far farther than any other MMO company I have seen with trying to make their customers happy, but in the end they are trying to make money not control everyone's life. Cryptic is a business, not a communist government for that reason. They are in it to make a profit.
There's such a thing as a company's loyalty to its customers. If the customer perceives that the company cares about their business, they're probably going to get more business in a positive manner. If the customers believe that the company cares about what's in their wallet and nothing else, they're not generating good will and they're only thinking very short-term.
There's such a thing as a company's loyalty to its customers. If the customer perceives that the company cares about their business, they're probably going to get more business in a positive manner. If the customers believe that the company cares about what's in their wallet and nothing else, they're not generating good will and they're only thinking very short-term.
That is true, and on the whole, outside of this one instance I still think Cryptic cares about it's customers and business. They just sometimes have to make the decisions that are in the best interests of the company and sometimes those don't always add up with what the community wants. It happens.
To OP, I think you're right. To the first response, what a tool. Do you really think that it's going to make a difference? All you're doing by continuing to "fight" after it's been said by the CEO that it's staying is opening yourself up to infractions and - by extension - bans, which you'll make the claim were unnecessary and you'll say more things opening yourself up, too.
If you really want to play the victim, go ahead, but it will serve no purpose outside of making yourself look like a tool.
That is true, and on the whole, outside of this one instance I still think Cryptic cares about it's customers and business. They just sometimes have to make the decisions that are in the best interests of the company and sometimes those don't always add up with what the community wants. It happens.
1. Launching without being ready
2. The last-minute skill tree switcharoonie
3. The decision to stop refunding LTS's before the 30 days that they offered was up
4. Getting rid of their whole billing/customer service offerings
5. Just how many weeks DOES it take to get a response to a help or customer service ticket anyway?
6. "Some of you people just don't get it"
7. We'd love to put X,Y,and Z things that our customers really want in the game...some day.
8. "you people are starting riots on our forums".
9. Updating the cash shop instead of fixing the game
10. That whole sale with the 60 or 90 days that they tried to go back on and got busted
Do tell me, which of these things indicates that Cryptic gives a flying flip about their customers?
To OP, I think you're right. To the first response, what a tool. Do you really think that it's going to make a difference? All you're doing by continuing to "fight" after it's been said by the CEO that it's staying is opening yourself up to infractions and - by extension - bans, which you'll make the claim were unnecessary and you'll say more things opening yourself up, too.
If you really want to play the victim, go ahead, but it will serve no purpose outside of making yourself look like a tool.
While I dont disagree with what your saying, the way you choose to say it has ironically opened yourself up for the same thing.
Comments
If I could I would give you Mirror uni's just so you'd stop posting that in every thread on the damn forums!
Can I nominate you as the lead voice of reason?
Hell, I'd say sometimes we get borderline fanatical about our games. Gamers that is I guess I'm saying. Speaking of bad ideas dooming an mmo as if it were our best friend... or only friend we have.
I'd like to think the above is just an exaggeration but sometimes even I have to stand back after a post and say to myself... damn... did I really put that much thought into a video game debate?
I guess for me, with 7 years of mmo play under my belt now, I think I have to look back on a good piece of Army Values I remember. Respect: Treat people as they should be treated. I think we forget that sometimes and do, indeed, make this or that person feel pretty crappy at their job. We can disagree and keep it respectful at the same time.
Maybe we can look at Wil Wheaton's PAX speech from awhile back as the perfect example: "Don't be a *edit*!" :cool:
If you think you've gone too far... and you know if you have... just chill for a bit. On the flip side of things I'm sure the Cryptic Team is quite open to criticisms as long as we attempt to keep it respectful. Even if that incurs just saying, "I'm angry about this."
Every "****gate" had a reason and they just keep going on throwing the next slap in our Faces.
You know the anger behind those "****gates" are not forgotten, they STACK!
It's as simple as that.
***
What i expected from the C-Store was that i get Canon Ships there, Canon Uniforms and everything Cryptic created just goes in the game for *free* (which means for the expensive monthly fee).
But Reality is, on the C-Store goes mostly Cryptic designed stuff (Ships + Bridges) and Canon stuff... which is the only reason i want to play a Star Trek Game get's thrown out as extras that are UBER HARD to get.
I did not get the Constitution Class... and i friggen hate Gamestop.
I'm still ****ed because of this.
Now the Galaxy-X.... which is a pyramid System so it is IMPOSSIBLE for everyone to get it.
by now i only think, what will be next?
So... did we go to far or did they go to far?
Cryptic made there bed now they have to lay in it.....they new well before hand this was a ship that was wanted for a lonf time from lots of players.
this item should have been in the VET rewards for like day 300....that would make subscribers stay not get new players in for 1-2 months then the new players go ohhh look no content...and then cancel!
I am not saying don't be angry. I am not saying don't voice your opinions. All I was getting at was maybe we should stop and think what negative effects we are having. If you can answer that and have no problem with the answer, then by all means, continue. I am not trying to convince anyone to stop, only to pause and make sure we are correct in what we are doing as a community.
Well... I'm really hard-pressed to believe that being vocal is a bad thing unless you're someone like Hagon. Choosing not to be vocal, especially in response to claims that you're the 'vocal minority' (not being made here, I know, but it's a big issue Out There) just means the other vocal people get heard and you don't. Sometimes that ends up in nobody getting heard in the cacophony, but then at least you can say you tried. There is probably a point of going too far somewhere, and I'd say something like 'hand it to another developer' probably is past that point because, y'know, there's exactly nothing productive it can do here.
As kind of an aside, I'm actually amazed that I don't have a single infraction point yet given my tendency to respond explosively to undesired news at times.
I'm by no means capable of pointing out where that line is for this community, but I think it may have been crossed once or twice.
I actually agree, we have the potential to take things to far on these forums. Do I think we did in this instance? A bit. Everyone had a reason to be angry. And we went hog wild. Not only did we bash Cryptic, we bash on each other, and quite often and vehemently. I don't think it did any overall harm, but as a forum community we need to be careful how far we take things. In this instance, it was a very rare ship offered for an excessive amount of work. It was never said it wouldn't be offered at a later date through the C-Store or any other means, just initially it was going to be through refer-a-friend. We jumped the gun before al the details of the ship itself were even released. We over reacted at Cryptic and amongst ourselves, and I am just as guilty.
The real danger we face in doing things like this is that for forum mods and devs will quit coming here and giving us updates. Same thing happened in WoW right after release. Eyonix and Caydiem were on the forums pretty regularly discussing bugs (lots of them), what was in the works, and fixes for stuff like class balance. They got met with rage and venom and posted much less. The forum ban hammer came out in force for a few weeks. Communication basically shut down between Blizzard and the forum community. This is something we don't want, especially since Cryptic is so good about giving us info on a regular basis.
There will be instances where our rage is justified. Personally, I don't believe this was one of them.
I am afraid you are wrong on all accounts here. Reading a harsh message on the forum is hardly tough or demanding from a customer service perspective. I have Blue Danube playing while I nerdrage and it works wonders. Point is they dont read anything the have not provoked first. From empty promises to outright money grabs, their response and handle of those complaints, is what escalated the situation to lunatic levels.
If you are working for retail (not being sarcastic just invoking your experience here)l then you know that you need to be seen considering the complaint from your customers, and try to offer options and compromises to rectify the situation. From a burger joint that will offer you a free drink to a corporation that will try to settle its way out, the customer is NEVER ignored and termed a rioter in a patronising attempt to downplay any concerns raised.
Cryptic has been acting like a dictaroship, distracting public opinion, censoring those with strong indications of their claims and outright allow Devs to be make sarcastic comments that devaluate anything that does not agree with them by dismissing them as whine. I am not oblivious that other games had similar issues. I played WOW and other games for a VERY long time and have been quite active on forums. This situation is an absolute first. Not because of the nature of the complaints, but the awful way the were handled.
There is still good in them for sure. rom the engineering reports to the appearance of GM in game to chat to (which I was very impressed with) but Darth Cryptic needs to throw the Atari Emperor down the shaft already and make them see that the game will be succesful if they try LESS to sell and more to improve on it. At this point my sub gives me nothing unless I want to pay extra to try a different skin which will add another full 5min to my already quick daily runs before I log back out.
Most of the people who're angry are fans who feel they've been cheated out of the Star Trek experience they dreamed of. Fact is that no matter what Star Trek Online was, people were always going to be upset about it, because nothing can ever match up to what you dream of.
I just hope that Cryptic keeps on keeping on, because as much as there is wrong with STO, it's the only Star Trek MMO we've got. Chances are that it will forever be the only one we've got, and that is something that I think is worth fighting for.
So no, don't stop complaining, but maybe take a breather once in a while to compliment Cryptic on something they've done that you do like.
Situation: the U.S.S. STO launched on one quarter impulse power and has been sputtering along at roughly that same speed every since. Warp drive is offline, sensors are offline, shields are maxed out at 3.2%, the transporters produce evil twins of anyone trying to use them, and the only thing the replicators can replicate is low-fat gagh.
Chief Engineer: Maybe if we fix the turbolift doors--
Captain: Belay that! Let's add racing stripes! Oh, and hang some raccoon tails from the deflector dish!
Crew: Mutiny! Mutiny! Mutiny! Abandon ship! (Except for Crewman Green, who is excited about the new salt shakers promised in the next refit.)
Starfleet: We do NOT approve of those salt shakers.
I stopped reading right there. Cryptic Studios is a business, not a government. The comparison to a dictatorship does not stand for that one simple reason.
If it never really caught on in popularity then the "X"class galaxy would eventually make it to the C-store anyways and all the complaining will be for nothing but to hear our gums flaps and the important sounds of our voices.
That is equally your problem and Cryptics. You do not read in full.
They could offer 2k Cryptic points per referred individual, an IRL pony with care and feeding, and the Galaxy-X skin for all I care. It's the unique mechanical aspects being attributed to the ship that bother me from a broad perspective on the future of the game.
Quite frankly, I doubt I could care less what the staff at Cryptic wants or how they feel about any of the poor choices they have made as a company. I'm the customer. I pay. I'm right. Period.
LOL! Hmm I think this might be my new signature.
Why should we have to pay Cryptic another $5.00 or $10.00 or whatever to be able to buy a ship that gives us an advantage over other players in-game when we've already bought the box and already pay sub fees?
Because Atari desperately wants to be the first company that pulls off an MMO that combines both the pay-for-powers cash store and subscription model to maximize profit made from chumps.
I actually did read the whole post, I just simply stated that I stop reading there because your argument is flawed and as such the rest of your post doesn't matter or make sense because of it. I posted out why it was flawed.
If that was your reason the you did not readi t. You simply disagree and thats that really. You give no real reason. you play with words to justify it. Listen to the music not the song comes to mind.
1) This forum isnt very different than most MMO forums I've played, so whatever problem you think exists is pretty universal
2) The uproars that have happened here have been in response to things Cryptic did. Granted, they may have been a bit overboard in some cases, but the point is that they were not unprovoked.
I hate to say it, but launching a game before its ready(aka before one of the factions has PvE, before there is any end game content, with a crappy crafting system, etc) is going to create a negative atmosphere on the forums.
The fact of the matter is that Cryptic is not a government, and comparing them to one simply does not work. Cryptic is a business, they try to please their customers as much as they can, and seriously they have gone far farther than any other MMO company I have seen with trying to make their customers happy, but in the end they are trying to make money not control everyone's life. Cryptic is a business, not a communist government for that reason. They are in it to make a profit. That isn't me playing with words trying to justify what I am saying, that is fact.
There's such a thing as a company's loyalty to its customers. If the customer perceives that the company cares about their business, they're probably going to get more business in a positive manner. If the customers believe that the company cares about what's in their wallet and nothing else, they're not generating good will and they're only thinking very short-term.
That is true, and on the whole, outside of this one instance I still think Cryptic cares about it's customers and business. They just sometimes have to make the decisions that are in the best interests of the company and sometimes those don't always add up with what the community wants. It happens.
If you really want to play the victim, go ahead, but it will serve no purpose outside of making yourself look like a tool.
1. Launching without being ready
2. The last-minute skill tree switcharoonie
3. The decision to stop refunding LTS's before the 30 days that they offered was up
4. Getting rid of their whole billing/customer service offerings
5. Just how many weeks DOES it take to get a response to a help or customer service ticket anyway?
6. "Some of you people just don't get it"
7. We'd love to put X,Y,and Z things that our customers really want in the game...some day.
8. "you people are starting riots on our forums".
9. Updating the cash shop instead of fixing the game
10. That whole sale with the 60 or 90 days that they tried to go back on and got busted
Do tell me, which of these things indicates that Cryptic gives a flying flip about their customers?
While I dont disagree with what your saying, the way you choose to say it has ironically opened yourself up for the same thing.
.....DOINK......doink.......