I see the new Elachi Dreadnought being obtained once/twice a minute this day, between all the other lock box ships.
At this rate of money spending by the players, this game has a long and vital future for its investors and will never ever go bankrupt, except on purpose.
I conclusively suggest to buy a lifetime sub, if you want to keep playing. I think, you cant do anything wrong with this.
I see the new Elachi Dreadnought being obtained once/twice a minute this day, between all the other lock box ships.
At this rate of money spending by the players, this game has a long and vital future for its investors and will never ever go bankrupt, except on purpose.
I conclusively suggest to buy a lifetime sub, if you want to keep playing. I think, you cant do anything wrong with this.
LOL. Those announcements are known to be Cryptic trolling the playerbase to give a sense of urgency......
Half the time you search for the winners = 'Player cannot be found'
STO is pretty much off life support. Doctors have switched off the machine, so I for one do not recommend any investment in a bloated corpse at this point unless you interested in necrophilia.
I think a minimum of 2 years is to be expected, but probably much longer than that.
If you look at Champions Online, I think you can expet a much longer life time than just 2 years, even if things turn worse for STO and it starts losing players.
Champions Online is not really doing great* - it has lower players numbers and all. But the consequence is not that the game is no longer around. It just has a smaller team working on it, and thus sees fewer and smaller updates than Startrek Online. But it's still around, you can still get stuff, you can play the game, and if you had a lifetime subscription, you would still get your monthly Zen and access to all the perks.
*) Maybe the description is not really good. It is simply a smaller game. It is still profitable, otherwise it would have been closed.
Star Trek Online Advancement: You start with lowbie gear, you end with Lobi gear.
I saw this subject and just had to respond. First of all, I do not claim to be a mind reader, nor any insider information to PWE or Cryptic (I am not a plant or apologist for either, you just have to make up your own mind about my allegiances). What I do have is some experience in the area of playing an mmo that made such a drastic turn in gameplay as to alienate a majority of the playerbase...if it sounds familiar then you can probably guess the game was Star Wars Galaxies. Delta Rising, from my perspective, is just as controversial as the aforementioned games' release, the NGE (New Game Enhancements). Regardless of the original intent (which was more or less a poor attempt by Sony to compete with Blizzard), the NGE caused an uproar by the SWG community that to this day I believe is unparalleled in the gaming world. Despite my extreme reservations about the update, I was one of the gamers who stuck with it to the end (please note I did not say the 'bitter end'). My point is that despite the mass exodus and alienated remaining players, the game survived for about 7 years after the abomination...that is correct, the game had a longer life after the update than it did up to that point.
What I am trying to say is never underestimate the staying power of a video game, especially one with an ip such as Star Wars or even Star Trek.
I saw this subject and just had to respond. First of all, I do not claim to be a mind reader, nor any insider information to PWE or Cryptic (I am not a plant or apologist for either, you just have to make up your own mind about my allegiances). What I do have is some experience in the area of playing an mmo that made such a drastic turn in gameplay as to alienate a majority of the playerbase...if it sounds familiar then you can probably guess the game was Star Wars Galaxies. Delta Rising, from my perspective, is just as controversial as the aforementioned games' release, the NGE (New Game Enhancements). Regardless of the original intent (which was more or less a poor attempt by Sony to compete with Blizzard), the NGE caused an uproar by the SWG community that to this day I believe is unparalleled in the gaming world. Despite my extreme reservations about the update, I was one of the gamers who stuck with it to the end (please note I did not say the 'bitter end'). My point is that despite the mass exodus and alienated remaining players, the game survived for about 7 years after the abomination...that is correct, the game had a longer life after the update than it did up to that point.
What I am trying to say is never underestimate the staying power of a video game, especially one with an ip such as Star Wars or even Star Trek.
NGE was a far more substantive change to to Star Wars Galaxies. From moving to a flexible multi-profession system to one with fixed professions, from moving a turn-based combat into a real time system and what not. The scope of changes NGE brought was enermous.
Though, yeah - even that allowed still 7 years of further gaming. Though I am not sure how well sub-based games and F2P games compare in this.
Star Trek Online Advancement: You start with lowbie gear, you end with Lobi gear.
In theory, STO could last indefinitely - it has a supportive (if vocal) playerbase who will spend vast amounts of cash on it and want it to succeed, and is based on a franchise of worldwide awareness and importance.
You would need to be quite stupid to f**k STO up.
Now, the problem is beyond the skin there is very little Trek in STO - and that means you have to consider it as a game, not a Trek feeling thing.
And, as a game, it is seriously f**ked. Even before you consider the competition.
Welll, even though I've had a head cold for a week now, I'm still in pretty good shape for a 56 year old guy.
I'm hoping I've still got another 35-40 years left in this hide of mine, but I'd settle for another 25.
...wait...???...
... did you mean the game???
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
Difficult question to answer. I've seen people stating this game won't last a year since day 1. In fact it was my listening to these people for 18 months that kept me from going LTS. However I think they could have been right except they forgot one very important aspect, the IP. Star Trek isn't just another IP, it's a phenomenon, it's a genre all it's own, it's tightly controlled by the IP owners who don't let it stray too far off course.
I think the only way it would actually be forced to shut down is if a better version was available. Strangely enough it's STO's mediocre success that probably prevents larger studios from having a go. Those other studios would also be aware of the incredibly loyal ST fan base and how easy it is to TRIBBLE them off, I'm sure this would be a factor in their decision making process.
However I could see this game being bought out by a larger company should there be a massive resurgence of interest in the IP, for example after the next movie if CBS announce a new series with good marketing and link it to the STO story.
So I don't think it's shutting down any time soon, the Devs aren't stupid, the company knows how to maximise balanced profit against player longevity, they do seem to be walking a knife edge though, pushing people to the limit and there is much they could do to improve the situation whilst still maintaining a profitable game.
Off topic for a second, what's this woobal thing? If you are making a reference to the last Blackadder episode and what he says, you've got it wrong. It's actually wibble.
If you've come to the forums to complain about the AFK system, it's known to be bugged at the moment.
Since I have no actual data and no real expertise in online gaming management, I can't give any answer that a magical 8-ball couldn't give just as well. I would assume the same goes for pretty much everyone here. :P
I don't really want STO to fail but I have since stopped playing and spending any more money on this aging version of STO.
IMO, With the company having many more assets now, I think it's time for Cryptic to start work on STO 2, secure a much larger budget this time around and produce a AAA mmo to rival SWTOR, as prestigious an IP as Star Trek deserves
I don't really want STO to fail but I have since stopped playing and spending any more money on this aging version of STO.
IMO, With the company having many more assets now, I think it's time for Cryptic to start work on STO 2, secure a much larger budget this time around and produce a AAA mmo to rival SWTOR, as prestigious an IP as Star Trek deserves
define rival, cause cyptic and bioware make very different kinds of games... a star trek version of swtor would probably not go over well... not that anything would.
if I stop posting it doesn't make you right it. just means I don't have enough rum to continue interacting with you.
NGE was a far more substantive change to to Star Wars Galaxies. From moving to a flexible multi-profession system to one with fixed professions, from moving a turn-based combat into a real time system and what not. The scope of changes NGE brought was enermous.
Though, yeah - even that allowed still 7 years of further gaming. Though I am not sure how well sub-based games and F2P games compare in this.
It is very true that the NGE was far more disruptive to Galaxies than DR has been to this game, but as you surmised, that was my point...if SWG could survive the NGE then this game should definitely survive DR. The sub versus ftp aspect of each game could be the deciding factor in this games fate, however. Only time will tell, but I try to have fun with what we are given in the game.
Who cares? Play it until the servers shut down. Just don't spend any actual cash on it. you're only gonna get hosed in the end. Play foundry missions.
I agree totally. There have been serious errors made that point to short sighted or just plain mistaken views from higher level staff involved with this game.
My money is better spent on other things. I might just put the cash I was going to spend on this game over the next 12 months into a big pile and set fire to it.
The game won't just go away, even if 90% of the population left, they'd put it on maintenance mode, get rid of any devs and just let the player churn pump money into it.
Kinda like Champions Online. So long as it's making some money, they'll keep it running.
While I do not have specifics to STO these types of licenses often involve a guaranteed minimum royalty structure: CBS is given X% of the sales with a guaranteed minimum of Y amount of dollars. So just throwing some example numbers, CBS might get 7% of sales with a guaranteed minimum of $500,000.00. No matter what STO's sales are CBS gets at least $500,000 in license fees.
The guaranteed minimum is often what causes licenses to fold where an IP owned by the publisher can roger-on indefinitely on very little income.
STO is about my Liberated Borg Federation Captain with his Breen 1st Officer, Jem'Hadar Tactical Officer, Liberated Borg Engineering Officer, Android Ops Officer, Photonic Science Officer, Gorn Science Officer, and Reman Medical Officer jumping into their Jem'Hadar Carrier and flying off to do missions for the new Romulan Empire. But for some players allowing a T5 Connie to be used breaks the canon in the game.
If you can turn a blind eye to the shortcomings as of late, I genuinely believe that STO has at least another strong five years ahead of it. I do think though, that in order to achieve those five years, and go further even, Cryptic need to take the game in a different direction.
Another five years with more of the same just isn't going to cut it; we've had that ever since Season 8. Almost everything that has followed Season 8 hasn't done the long-term job of satisfying the playerbase (more so the majority of forum users) - and yeah, not everyone who plays the game visits the forums - but if we [estimate] that 60% of forum users are unhappy, then I'd say it's a fair bet that equally, 60% of non forum users are also unhappy.
I don't care how good and successful Cryptic say Delta Rising was, that's bull. I suppose it depends on what they call a success; such as multiple purchases of the DR pack, but as far as expansions go (and in my opinion, whatever that counts toward) I found DR quite poor. It offered hardly anything new, and didn't really advance the story at all. All of the missions were generic and offered very little (if anything) for Republic or Imperial players.
STO needs a new direction, and a new plan of attack. Whatever they've got planned for Season 10 is no doubt already well in the works, but after that Cryptic really needs to go back to the start, think about what it is that they wish to do, and the best way they can achieve that. The factions (be them mini factions or full ones) need to run unique to each other, and not similarly. There needs to be a benefit, a significant benefit to play an Imperial or Republic character, and for the love of trek, the Republic faction needs to be tidied up, and further developed.
Oh, and specialization points - make them account achievements. Season 8 (I think) did a favour to those players with multiple characters. Expansion 2 took that favour away and spat in our faces.
Oh, and specialization points - make them account achievements. Season 8 (I think) did a favour to those players with multiple characters. Expansion 2 took that favour away and spat in our faces.
I call it the Ghekco Maneuver.
PROUD TO PLAY THIS GAME MINUS TO GIVING ANY INCOME TO CRYPTIC
I've played the game for about 2 and a half years now, and I've spent a good deal on the game (more than I'd be willing to admit) and in my opinion as an avid supporter for the game and a businessman, it's a matter of how they run the game. If they keep on this current trend, the game will crash hard. Though if they clean up their act, they will do just fine. The servers won't get taken down very easily, since this isn't a stand alone MMO. Since there are two companies that own this, and one of them being rather large, if they discontinue development, they can easily keep the servers running. If worst comes to worst, you just won't see updates and the game will be still playable. The C-Store will cover the cost of the servers. I'm sure that funding for development will be around for a few more years, and I'd love to see that!
TheGrateLordeCheesus Ship build coordinator for The Breakfast Club http://WWW.TBCSTO.COM Doesn't Owe AnyoneEC Kirks Prot
Another five years with more of the same just isn't going to cut it; we've had that ever since Season 8. Almost everything that has followed Season 8 hasn't done the long-term job of satisfying the playerbase (more so the majority of forum users) - and yeah, not everyone who plays the game visits the forums - but if we [estimate] that 60% of forum users are unhappy, then I'd say it's a fair bet that equally, 60% of non forum users are also unhappy.
That is only if you believe that an happy customer is just as likely to report on the forums than an unhappy customer.
I am afraid forums have a selection bias. (But not only for unhappy customers. They also often have a bias for people that know a lot about the game, for example, because these people want to share and find the last corners of knowledge they didn't already gather. In that regard a forum is probably "better" than a support hotline, where really only people call when they have a problem.)
Star Trek Online Advancement: You start with lowbie gear, you end with Lobi gear.
I've played the game for about 2 and a half years now, and I've spent a good deal on the game (more than I'd be willing to admit) and in my opinion as an avid supporter for the game and a businessman, it's a matter of how they run the game. If they keep on this current trend, the game will crash hard. Though if they clean up their act, they will do just fine. The servers won't get taken down very easily, since this isn't a stand alone MMO. Since there are two companies that own this, and one of them being rather large, if they discontinue development, they can easily keep the servers running. If worst comes to worst, you just won't see updates and the game will be still playable. The C-Store will cover the cost of the servers. I'm sure that funding for development will be around for a few more years, and I'd love to see that!
Cryptic are laughing in their back pockets all the way to the bank right now. THEY DONT CARE about customer satisfaction. Their game is play-to-win and they get plenty of us mugs (me included) throwing money at every little damn unlock and pay-to-unlock feature that they are, I can assure you, raking in some HUUUUUGE profits. Game will continue all the time this continues.. and it will.
Comments
I see the new Elachi Dreadnought being obtained once/twice a minute this day, between all the other lock box ships.
At this rate of money spending by the players, this game has a long and vital future for its investors and will never ever go bankrupt, except on purpose.
I conclusively suggest to buy a lifetime sub, if you want to keep playing. I think, you cant do anything wrong with this.
Holy Grail of Gamification is Addiction | 5 Ways to Accomplisch | and the Psychology of Freemium
LOL. Those announcements are known to be Cryptic trolling the playerbase to give a sense of urgency......
Half the time you search for the winners = 'Player cannot be found'
STO is pretty much off life support. Doctors have switched off the machine, so I for one do not recommend any investment in a bloated corpse at this point unless you interested in necrophilia.
Too much LOL?
If you look at Champions Online, I think you can expet a much longer life time than just 2 years, even if things turn worse for STO and it starts losing players.
Champions Online is not really doing great* - it has lower players numbers and all. But the consequence is not that the game is no longer around. It just has a smaller team working on it, and thus sees fewer and smaller updates than Startrek Online. But it's still around, you can still get stuff, you can play the game, and if you had a lifetime subscription, you would still get your monthly Zen and access to all the perks.
*) Maybe the description is not really good. It is simply a smaller game. It is still profitable, otherwise it would have been closed.
What I am trying to say is never underestimate the staying power of a video game, especially one with an ip such as Star Wars or even Star Trek.
NGE was a far more substantive change to to Star Wars Galaxies. From moving to a flexible multi-profession system to one with fixed professions, from moving a turn-based combat into a real time system and what not. The scope of changes NGE brought was enermous.
Though, yeah - even that allowed still 7 years of further gaming. Though I am not sure how well sub-based games and F2P games compare in this.
You would need to be quite stupid to f**k STO up.
Now, the problem is beyond the skin there is very little Trek in STO - and that means you have to consider it as a game, not a Trek feeling thing.
And, as a game, it is seriously f**ked. Even before you consider the competition.
I'm hoping I've still got another 35-40 years left in this hide of mine, but I'd settle for another 25.
...wait...???...
... did you mean the game???
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
Off topic for a second, what's this woobal thing? If you are making a reference to the last Blackadder episode and what he says, you've got it wrong. It's actually wibble.
IMO, With the company having many more assets now, I think it's time for Cryptic to start work on STO 2, secure a much larger budget this time around and produce a AAA mmo to rival SWTOR, as prestigious an IP as Star Trek deserves
Idle speculation, such as seen in this thread, has a tendency to be way off when making predictions of a game's shutting down day.
define rival, cause cyptic and bioware make very different kinds of games... a star trek version of swtor would probably not go over well... not that anything would.
if I stop posting it doesn't make you right it. just means I don't have enough rum to continue interacting with you.
We'll see how things go after the Winter and Anniversary events..
It is very true that the NGE was far more disruptive to Galaxies than DR has been to this game, but as you surmised, that was my point...if SWG could survive the NGE then this game should definitely survive DR. The sub versus ftp aspect of each game could be the deciding factor in this games fate, however. Only time will tell, but I try to have fun with what we are given in the game.
I agree totally. There have been serious errors made that point to short sighted or just plain mistaken views from higher level staff involved with this game.
My money is better spent on other things. I might just put the cash I was going to spend on this game over the next 12 months into a big pile and set fire to it.
Free Tibet!
Completed Starbase, Embassy, Mine, Spire and No Win Scenario
Nothing to do anymore.
http://dtfleet.com/
Visit our Youtube channel
The guaranteed minimum is often what causes licenses to fold where an IP owned by the publisher can roger-on indefinitely on very little income.
Another five years with more of the same just isn't going to cut it; we've had that ever since Season 8. Almost everything that has followed Season 8 hasn't done the long-term job of satisfying the playerbase (more so the majority of forum users) - and yeah, not everyone who plays the game visits the forums - but if we [estimate] that 60% of forum users are unhappy, then I'd say it's a fair bet that equally, 60% of non forum users are also unhappy.
I don't care how good and successful Cryptic say Delta Rising was, that's bull. I suppose it depends on what they call a success; such as multiple purchases of the DR pack, but as far as expansions go (and in my opinion, whatever that counts toward) I found DR quite poor. It offered hardly anything new, and didn't really advance the story at all. All of the missions were generic and offered very little (if anything) for Republic or Imperial players.
STO needs a new direction, and a new plan of attack. Whatever they've got planned for Season 10 is no doubt already well in the works, but after that Cryptic really needs to go back to the start, think about what it is that they wish to do, and the best way they can achieve that. The factions (be them mini factions or full ones) need to run unique to each other, and not similarly. There needs to be a benefit, a significant benefit to play an Imperial or Republic character, and for the love of trek, the Republic faction needs to be tidied up, and further developed.
Oh, and specialization points - make them account achievements. Season 8 (I think) did a favour to those players with multiple characters. Expansion 2 took that favour away and spat in our faces.
I call it the Ghekco Maneuver.
Ship build coordinator for The Breakfast Club http://WWW.TBCSTO.COM
Doesn't Owe Anyone EC
Kirks Prot
I am afraid forums have a selection bias. (But not only for unhappy customers. They also often have a bias for people that know a lot about the game, for example, because these people want to share and find the last corners of knowledge they didn't already gather. In that regard a forum is probably "better" than a support hotline, where really only people call when they have a problem.)
Cryptic are laughing in their back pockets all the way to the bank right now. THEY DONT CARE about customer satisfaction. Their game is play-to-win and they get plenty of us mugs (me included) throwing money at every little damn unlock and pay-to-unlock feature that they are, I can assure you, raking in some HUUUUUGE profits. Game will continue all the time this continues.. and it will.
Will their customers be happy customers? - No.
Do they care? - No.