Minor correction: Their lawsuit was with Viacom, not CBS - that was before the breakup.
But, yeah, they claimed that the game license required Viacom to release movies faster than they were and keep Star Trek on TV with high ratings, cover development costs, do all the advertising for the game's, and a few other things. Activision eventually dropped the lawsuit, and Viacom pulled their license (which was purely symbolic at that point, it was about to end anyway and Activision had already dropped it themselves).
New content every 6 months is more frequent than other games.
however, the amount of content per year is staggeringly low compaired to other games.. cryptic may update more often, but its with much much less content.. and usually less enjoyable content as well...
but whatevs.. as long as sto is making money, it will still be going.. pwe wont get rid of it cause everytime the devs change the color of shoelaces in the game, all the fan boys run and purchase it first day.. which is not helping the game, cause it is making the devs feel like there is nothing wrong with the game..
And financed the purchase of the former Flying Lab Studios, now Cryptic North, to do work on CO - and it's starting to show; the last couple of updates have featured massive amounts of bug fixes (where we'd gotten used to "this is just a server restart, no patch notes"), the new Rampage that's been promised for over a year is coming online, they're revamping how Dodge works (and adding a new Blocking power, Fluidity, to represent characters who dodge out of the way of attacks rather than simply resisting them), there's a promise of new costume pieces actually finding their way into the C-Store...
I can't comment on most of this, but I want to reiterate what jonsills is saying. The Cryptic North guys are doing some great work on Champs. I'm very glad to see that they've picked up the ball and run with it. While STO may be your home, I encourage you guys to go give Champs a try.
Let's see. From my observations, I believe the average STO player is:
- Fairly casual
- Not a PvPer
- Enjoys Space Combat
- A Star Trek fan
Change fairly casual to extremely casual. I think the majority of STO players would choose a difficulty setting of autoplay if it were an option. Just sit back and watch your character and away team go through the mission, maybe click a dialog box once in a while.
I can't comment on most of this, but I want to reiterate what jonsills is saying. The Cryptic North guys are doing some great work on Champs. I'm very glad to see that they've picked up the ball and run with it. While STO may be your home, I encourage you guys to go give Champs a try.
40 dollars per character to free form? No thanks. And people here dump on other game's F2P model?
___________________
"There is no problem in the universe that can't be solved with a bribe, a paid assassin, or an overpowered fighter." - Chubain from Jumpgate Evolution
I can't comment on most of this, but I want to reiterate what jonsills is saying. The Cryptic North guys are doing some great work on Champs. I'm very glad to see that they've picked up the ball and run with it. While STO may be your home, I encourage you guys to go give Champs a try.
I've gone back to CO recently myself. Some of the changes the new Cryptic North guys have made are very nice. I even went all in and got myself a pimped out Widow Grav Bike. It's very cool. Also picked up the new dinosaur Halloween costume set. Flying around on a grav bike dressed like a pink and yellow dinosaur with guns is hilarious.
Change fairly casual to extremely casual. I think the majority of STO players would choose a difficulty setting of autoplay if it were an option. Just sit back and watch your character and away team go through the mission, maybe click a dialog box once in a while.
That may be so, but I would like STO to be harder.
Hopefully I'll come back from my break; this break is fun; I play intellectual games.
That may be so, but I would like STO to be harder.
"Harder" would satisfy a few hardcore players, but most likely drive away far more casual players.
And as has been indicated already, the Casual Players are this games bread & butter.
One doesn't normally do things to try and disenfranchise the majority of ones player-base, if one wishes to stay in business.
(yep, I'm up)
:cool:
STO Member since February 2009. I Was A Trekkie Before It Was Cool ... Sept. 8th, 1966 ... Not To Mention Before Most Folks Around Here Were Born! Forever a STO Veteran-Minion
I think that CBS will extend the agreement on the grounds they make a bit more cash from it. Its fairly obvious that the deal that was originally negotiated was not based on cryptic selling ships, and other items (and having a cash economy), i mean ships in this game can set someone back around twice a monthly subscription.
Personally however if i was CBS i would ask Cryptic/PWE to put some focus in to the overall quality of the game. I don't mean the content design specifically, its clear that the content that is coming out is actually fairly decent from a design point of view (not exceptional, but lets face it star trek or not, we all enjoy the game play some what as much as we like to complain).
My what i would like to see CBS ask cryptic PWE to commit to is some fixes to core parts of the game that are lacking. we are 2 years down the road and there STILL nebula's and back gorunds in the game that flicker; most of these are in featured episodes, if a member of CCBS was to play the whole leveling up process they would be appalled at how "rough" the game is in terms of these issues. The UI is also a mess and ground combat is still unresponsive and blatantly substandard mechanics wise, its a shame because i would love to play the ground content if it was slicker, like say neverwinter or even champions.
I doubt we'll ever see "massive amounts" of BUG fixes at one time.
But if one has been paying attention over the last couple of months, They ARE slowly attempting to eradicate one or two with each patch.
"Harder" would satisfy a few hardcore players, but most likely drive away far more casual players.
And as has been indicated already, the Casual Players are this games bread & butter.
One doesn't normally do things to try and disenfranchise the majority of ones player-base, if one wishes to stay in business.
(yep, I'm up)
:cool:
A long time ago, I made the bad idea of suggesting a discussion of perma-death here on the forums. While loads of people said I like EVE (I had not really heard of it at that point), eff off etc etc, one person came up with a marvelous idea, where you have like a mega elite version mode. So when do you a mission / pve if you die once, the mission ends.
I would like to see that incorporated, BUT, the bugginess would have to be removed before that ever comes into STO. And the damage output and / or hull would have to be temporarily increased.
Hopefully I'll come back from my break; this break is fun; I play intellectual games.
I can't comment on most of this, but I want to reiterate what jonsills is saying. The Cryptic North guys are doing some great work on Champs. I'm very glad to see that they've picked up the ball and run with it. While STO may be your home, I encourage you guys to go give Champs a try.
I haven't played in a long time... I'd probably have to let my computer download the updates overnight...
40 dollars per character to free form? No thanks. And people here dump on other game's F2P model?
Honestly, a Free-form character is a way better value than buying a 3-pack ship for one character in STO. The amount of customization allowed doesn't even compare.
I think that CBS will extend the agreement on the grounds they make a bit more cash from it. Its fairly obvious that the deal that was originally negotiated was not based on cryptic selling ships, and other items (and having a cash economy), i mean ships in this game can set someone back around twice a monthly subscription.
Personally however if i was CBS i would ask Cryptic/PWE to put some focus in to the overall quality of the game. I don't mean the content design specifically, its clear that the content that is coming out is actually fairly decent from a design point of view (not exceptional, but lets face it star trek or not, we all enjoy the game play some what as much as we like to complain).
My what i would like to see CBS ask cryptic PWE to commit to is some fixes to core parts of the game that are lacking. we are 2 years down the road and there STILL nebula's and back gorunds in the game that flicker; most of these are in featured episodes, if a member of CCBS was to play the whole leveling up process they would be appalled at how "rough" the game is in terms of these issues. The UI is also a mess and ground combat is still unresponsive and blatantly substandard mechanics wise, its a shame because i would love to play the ground content if it was slicker, like say neverwinter or even champions.
Absolutely Nothing, is "fairly obvious" about what the contract between Cryptic and CBS actually is.
(remember PWE was not in the picture at that point)
We Know Nothing about the Exact Details.
(Well that's not entirely true, we do know from a comment from DStahl, that a T-5 Connie is out of the question):rolleyes:
What we can 'infer' at this point is, that CBS did not object to PWE buying the game, nor did CBS object when the game went F2P.
(and all that entailed)
We can also infer that CBS probably doesn't give a TRIBBLE about the day-to-day details of running the game.
The best we can deduce at this point, is that when the contract does actually come up for renegotiation...,
It will be PWE that CBS talks to.
:cool:
STO Member since February 2009. I Was A Trekkie Before It Was Cool ... Sept. 8th, 1966 ... Not To Mention Before Most Folks Around Here Were Born! Forever a STO Veteran-Minion
Absolutely Nothing, is "fairly obvious" about what the contract between Cryptic and CBS actually is.
(remember PWE was not in the picture at that point)
(AND LOTS OF OTHER STUFF IN HIS POST)
Whilst you are kinda right, and i was definitely taking a leap, it is not a huge leap for cryptic/atari (at the time), to go to CBS with a proposal, and that will almost certainly have had some financial diligence figures in it
"here is our model, here is how we intend to pay the licensing fee's" etc, that is what i am getting at, these things absolutely have to happen in most competently negotiated licensing deals.
We also know that PWE/Cryptic are in fairly regular communication with CBS as IP holders (especially with regards to content production), and it would be logical to assume that when the license is next up, CBS will take a look at how the game intends to pay its license feee's going forward and the business model etc it intends to use.
for example if CBS felt that PWE was nickle and diming customers with this IP , it wouldnt allow it (or it would) etc. Thats what i was getting at. not saying your reply was wrong, just saying that there are obvious things that happen in licensing deals that take things in to account on both sides; it absolutely is not "pay this, do what you want".
What would people do if the big announcement next week was STO is closing?
To be honest, I wouldn't really do anything.
At the moment, my gaming time (on STO) is limited (by choice) because there is nothing exciting to do. I log on daily, usually get the lore assignments out of the way and then update my doff missions, and throw any common doffs I might have at starbase projects. Once all that is done, I log off. Occasionally I'll run an STF or two (if I log in when the bonus event is running), though that's only to further my reputation grind (something we'll have even more of with season 8).
But yeah, I'd miss the game, sure, but I don't think I'd miss it that much. It doesn't exactly offer me a great deal at the moment, and I fear season 8 will only keep me entertained for a month or two before it becomes yet another grind (which it will). I think Season 8 will be very much like Season 7 was.
What (I think) we need is another final expansion (Cardassians) and then a complete overhaul of the game server.
STO has been PWE's number 1 profit driver. Yes, they will renew.
"If you have never used Cello, I'm not interested in your browser opinion."
___________________________
In game: Commadore_Bob; Joined Jul 2009; That post count + 20,000
...talking to players is like being a mall Santa. Everyone immediately wants to tell you all of the things they want, and you are absolutely powerless to deliver 99% of them.
I could see CBS pulling the contract if they had a new Star Trek show, and wanted the game to be focused on THAT show's background/IP. Otherwise, I'm not sure why they'd pull the license.
Also, if someone else did get the license, they'd almost certainly have to start from scratch, so whatever new game we got in 2017 or so would have a lot less content out of the gate. I'm not sure who would win there.
Regarding the rate of content additions. . .I actually find 'every 6 months' to be reasonably good for a game like STO. The issue lies in the fact that Cryptic is using months-long reputation grinds to fill in that time, and that gets boring quick.
Well, usually IP deals like these run for 5 years. Cryptic first got the IP license in 2008 - which would have already had/made the first renewal 2013 (IE this year); and given what we're seeing, I'd say the option was renewed. That would make the next renewal date sometime in 2018.
^^^
ALL speculation of course as deals can be structured many ways; but again, a 5 year option is usually the 'standard'. Which is what I base the above speculation on.
Formerly known as Armsman from June 2008 to June 20, 2012 PWE ARC Drone says: "Your STO forum community as you have known it is ended...Display names are irrelevant...Any further sense of community is irrelevant...Resistance is futile...You will be assimilated..."
I could see CBS pulling the contract if they had a new Star Trek show, and wanted the game to be focused on THAT show's background/IP.
Why would they need to pull the contract? Surely they can run different games within the Trek universe?
There is a JJ-style game for consoles out soon (if not already), surely that went through CBS? They can easily come round and say "well yeah, it's just another universe".
STO's license does not end in 2015. Our exclusive contract extends for years beyond that and we have the option to renew.
Cheers,
Brandon =/\=
And how do we know this? I DEMAND proof of this. I want to see the contract, hear the audio recordings of all negotiations and see a video of everyone agreeing, signing and everything. Then and ONLY the. Will I decide if it is real or if it is a hoax like so many things Cryptic does .
NERF CANNONS - THEY NEED A 50% NERF
CRUISERS NEED A 206% HULL BUFF
To respond to the OP, PWE does not care about pvp or pve, neither does CBS. All either company cares is that the game is making money. Last we heard it was, in fact it was Cryptics big money maker, and was doing well overall for PWE.
New home of the Romulan Republic.
I have an idea for what Season 11 should be; Season 11: The Big Bug Fix.
I have not been able to read my bug tickets in over a year, not even the tickets about not being able to see my tickets.
I find the drama of your signature proof of your immaturity, this means you, DR whiners.
Comments
But, yeah, they claimed that the game license required Viacom to release movies faster than they were and keep Star Trek on TV with high ratings, cover development costs, do all the advertising for the game's, and a few other things. Activision eventually dropped the lawsuit, and Viacom pulled their license (which was purely symbolic at that point, it was about to end anyway and Activision had already dropped it themselves).
however, the amount of content per year is staggeringly low compaired to other games.. cryptic may update more often, but its with much much less content.. and usually less enjoyable content as well...
but whatevs.. as long as sto is making money, it will still be going.. pwe wont get rid of it cause everytime the devs change the color of shoelaces in the game, all the fan boys run and purchase it first day.. which is not helping the game, cause it is making the devs feel like there is nothing wrong with the game..
If STO doesn't continue, who will make STO 2? (Hint hint: Bridge commander online)
Seriously though, you have got me worried.
I hope STO get's better ...
I can't comment on most of this, but I want to reiterate what jonsills is saying. The Cryptic North guys are doing some great work on Champs. I'm very glad to see that they've picked up the ball and run with it. While STO may be your home, I encourage you guys to go give Champs a try.
40 dollars per character to free form? No thanks. And people here dump on other game's F2P model?
"There is no problem in the universe that can't be solved with a bribe, a paid assassin, or an overpowered fighter." - Chubain from Jumpgate Evolution
I've gone back to CO recently myself. Some of the changes the new Cryptic North guys have made are very nice. I even went all in and got myself a pimped out Widow Grav Bike. It's very cool. Also picked up the new dinosaur Halloween costume set. Flying around on a grav bike dressed like a pink and yellow dinosaur with guns is hilarious.
Mine Trap Supporter
That may be so, but I would like STO to be harder.
I hope STO get's better ...
I doubt we'll ever see "massive amounts" of BUG fixes at one time.
But if one has been paying attention over the last couple of months, They ARE slowly attempting to eradicate one or two with each patch.
"Harder" would satisfy a few hardcore players, but most likely drive away far more casual players.
And as has been indicated already, the Casual Players are this games bread & butter.
One doesn't normally do things to try and disenfranchise the majority of ones player-base, if one wishes to stay in business.
(yep, I'm up)
:cool:
I Was A Trekkie Before It Was Cool ... Sept. 8th, 1966 ... Not To Mention Before Most Folks Around Here Were Born!
Forever a STO Veteran-Minion
Personally however if i was CBS i would ask Cryptic/PWE to put some focus in to the overall quality of the game. I don't mean the content design specifically, its clear that the content that is coming out is actually fairly decent from a design point of view (not exceptional, but lets face it star trek or not, we all enjoy the game play some what as much as we like to complain).
My what i would like to see CBS ask cryptic PWE to commit to is some fixes to core parts of the game that are lacking. we are 2 years down the road and there STILL nebula's and back gorunds in the game that flicker; most of these are in featured episodes, if a member of CCBS was to play the whole leveling up process they would be appalled at how "rough" the game is in terms of these issues. The UI is also a mess and ground combat is still unresponsive and blatantly substandard mechanics wise, its a shame because i would love to play the ground content if it was slicker, like say neverwinter or even champions.
A long time ago, I made the bad idea of suggesting a discussion of perma-death here on the forums. While loads of people said I like EVE (I had not really heard of it at that point), eff off etc etc, one person came up with a marvelous idea, where you have like a mega elite version mode. So when do you a mission / pve if you die once, the mission ends.
I would like to see that incorporated, BUT, the bugginess would have to be removed before that ever comes into STO. And the damage output and / or hull would have to be temporarily increased.
I hope STO get's better ...
Absolutely Nothing, is "fairly obvious" about what the contract between Cryptic and CBS actually is.
(remember PWE was not in the picture at that point)
We Know Nothing about the Exact Details.
(Well that's not entirely true, we do know from a comment from DStahl, that a T-5 Connie is out of the question):rolleyes:
What we can 'infer' at this point is, that CBS did not object to PWE buying the game, nor did CBS object when the game went F2P.
(and all that entailed)
We can also infer that CBS probably doesn't give a TRIBBLE about the day-to-day details of running the game.
The best we can deduce at this point, is that when the contract does actually come up for renegotiation...,
It will be PWE that CBS talks to.
:cool:
I Was A Trekkie Before It Was Cool ... Sept. 8th, 1966 ... Not To Mention Before Most Folks Around Here Were Born!
Forever a STO Veteran-Minion
Whilst you are kinda right, and i was definitely taking a leap, it is not a huge leap for cryptic/atari (at the time), to go to CBS with a proposal, and that will almost certainly have had some financial diligence figures in it
"here is our model, here is how we intend to pay the licensing fee's" etc, that is what i am getting at, these things absolutely have to happen in most competently negotiated licensing deals.
We also know that PWE/Cryptic are in fairly regular communication with CBS as IP holders (especially with regards to content production), and it would be logical to assume that when the license is next up, CBS will take a look at how the game intends to pay its license feee's going forward and the business model etc it intends to use.
for example if CBS felt that PWE was nickle and diming customers with this IP , it wouldnt allow it (or it would) etc. Thats what i was getting at. not saying your reply was wrong, just saying that there are obvious things that happen in licensing deals that take things in to account on both sides; it absolutely is not "pay this, do what you want".
True ... but many players would leave.
I hope STO get's better ...
They'd have to essentially wipe to slate clean unless they want to get sued.
I would be really upset, and then I would turn to any other available Star Trek game - such as Legacy.
I hope STO get's better ...
At the moment, my gaming time (on STO) is limited (by choice) because there is nothing exciting to do. I log on daily, usually get the lore assignments out of the way and then update my doff missions, and throw any common doffs I might have at starbase projects. Once all that is done, I log off. Occasionally I'll run an STF or two (if I log in when the bonus event is running), though that's only to further my reputation grind (something we'll have even more of with season 8).
But yeah, I'd miss the game, sure, but I don't think I'd miss it that much. It doesn't exactly offer me a great deal at the moment, and I fear season 8 will only keep me entertained for a month or two before it becomes yet another grind (which it will). I think Season 8 will be very much like Season 7 was.
What (I think) we need is another final expansion (Cardassians) and then a complete overhaul of the game server.
Cheers,
Brandon =/\=
Bah... your facts have no power here! On with the speculation!
Star Trek Online, Now with out the Trek....
STO has been PWE's number 1 profit driver. Yes, they will renew.
___________________________
In game: Commadore_Bob; Joined Jul 2009; That post count + 20,000
That's just what we'd expect you to say, isn't it?
More evidence that DOOM IS COMING.
Also, if someone else did get the license, they'd almost certainly have to start from scratch, so whatever new game we got in 2017 or so would have a lot less content out of the gate. I'm not sure who would win there.
Well, usually IP deals like these run for 5 years. Cryptic first got the IP license in 2008 - which would have already had/made the first renewal 2013 (IE this year); and given what we're seeing, I'd say the option was renewed. That would make the next renewal date sometime in 2018.
^^^
ALL speculation of course as deals can be structured many ways; but again, a 5 year option is usually the 'standard'. Which is what I base the above speculation on.
PWE ARC Drone says: "Your STO forum community as you have known it is ended...Display names are irrelevant...Any further sense of community is irrelevant...Resistance is futile...You will be assimilated..."
There is a JJ-style game for consoles out soon (if not already), surely that went through CBS? They can easily come round and say "well yeah, it's just another universe".
And how do we know this? I DEMAND proof of this. I want to see the contract, hear the audio recordings of all negotiations and see a video of everyone agreeing, signing and everything. Then and ONLY the. Will I decide if it is real or if it is a hoax like so many things Cryptic does .
CRUISERS NEED A 206% HULL BUFF
I have an idea for what Season 11 should be; Season 11: The Big Bug Fix.
I have not been able to read my bug tickets in over a year, not even the tickets about not being able to see my tickets.
I find the drama of your signature proof of your immaturity, this means you, DR whiners.