I'm kinda 'meh' about the whole issue. I like the occasional guest character to pop in and so we can say "hey I did a mission with Worf or Sela or whoever in it" to our non-gaming-nor-trekkie friends and family who will then roll their eyes and change the subject. What irks me is when a character is wedged in and a major chunk of mission time is given to their nonskippable cut scenes/voice overs that add little to what you are doing, in missions which you have to rerun multiple times for sets.
The only one of those cut scenes I really wouldn't mind being non-skip are the introduction scenes when you create a character, every one of those is pretty awesome.
Your opinion (and a very ignorant and biased one at that). I watched all seven years of Voyager. None of the Voyager actors sounded like they were reading from a script; they sounded exactly like their TV counterparts. You're clearly confusing the drone-like intonation of some of the characters for bad acting. Tuvok and Seven of Nine are supposed to sound emotionless; he is a classic reserved Vulcan, and she had been a Borg for most of her life before being liberated as an adult.
Also, contrary to your assertion that barely anyone has done stage work, Ethan Philips, Garrett Wang, and Robert Picardo have done stage work. Tim Russ and Picardo have also done voiceover work before in both movies and video games. He (Picardo) was Johnny Cab from Total Recall.
Okay? I know people have this thing of believing that ST actors are just slobs who started working yesterday, but many of them were actually veterans of stage and screen before landing a gig on a ST series. They're not "shlubs" needing "advice" on how to act or do voiceovers, especially not from pimply-faced gaming geeks who've never acted a day in their lives.
Agreed.
People would be complaining if Tuvok and Seven was more emotional.
Like I said before. This is all about finding something to complain about. Some of Cryptics best FEs has been the VOed ones.
The Devidian FEs, they were fun, but they have nothing on Sphere of Influence or any of the other ones released in the last year or so.
I'm personally excited for Miral's return. At launch, she was my favorite NPC in the game (she's been passed by a few others - VanZyl, Shon, and Tiaru most notably), and getting her in with the vastly improved writing the game has grown into is quite a delightful idea.
But everyone, at least, has that first experience with the VO. The first time you hear Spock in Past Imperfect. The first time you hear the Guardian. The first time you hear Worf, etc. It does not even matter whether or not you liked the VO actor's work. There is a certain tingle you get when something from canon connects with you in the game. That is a rare immersive feeling, IMO.
For that matter, I still get chills every time I hear Nimoy tell me "Congratulations, Admiral."
"Logic is a little tweeting bird chirping in a meadow. Logic is a wreath of pretty flowers which smell BAD." - Spock
Agree with the opinion that VO's are nice, but I'd rather have bug fixes first. Let's get the game polished and running smartly, then you can spend money on voice talents.
I also think that voice should have been included from day-one, so maybe we wouldn't be having to choose right now.
On the other hand, from what little snippets we've seen about Cryptic's inner workings, they're coding and pushing stuff live to answer unreasonable timelines, and frankly the game hasn't been anything near polished since launch. Well, maybe in the lull of time before LoR when the game hadn't changed much in a long time - that's when they actually had time to work on bugs. Now, they have to get the next shiny or FE out the door yesterday. QA has become a "nice to have."
"After a time, you may find that having is not so pleasing a thing after all as wanting. It is not logical, but it is often true. Except for a T5 Connie. That would be f*%#ing awesome." - Mr. Spock
their nonskippable cut scenes/voice overs that add little to what you are doing, in missions which you have to rerun multiple times for sets.
I think every example of that is something critical to the mission plot or, in some cases, the plot of the entire game. Its part of the stage show, without [on the first playthrough] and you just have an elaborate electronic way of wasting time.
Agree with the opinion that VO's are nice, but I'd rather have bug fixes first. Let's get the game polished and running smartly, then you can spend money on voice talents.
No game in the history of the industry has ever popularized itself based on an unusually long patch note. Just look at STO population figures when major, long-standing bugs have been fixed (like the weapon-FX cut-out during high activity or FUBAR color selection at the ship tailor.) They may have made people happy, but the game (for all real intents and purposes) is only tangentially improved by bug fixes because why we play has much more to do with major content add-ons (including VO's) than polish (its an important factor but not THE important factor. You can't sacrifice everything else in its name.)
You want polish and nothing but? Play Destiny. For something with depth you may need to accept the odd gear flying out and irritatingly taking part of the super-structure with it.
Bipedal mammal and senior Foundry author.
Notable missions: Apex [AEI], Gemini [SSF], Trident [AEI], Evolution's Smile [SSF], Transcendence
Looking for something new to play? I've started building Foundry missions again in visual novel form!
Really? For years we've complained about a lack of Trek Stars involved in STO. And now we're complaining ABOUT the influx of Stars?
Give me a break STO Forums. This is why so many dont take this place seriously. Its all about finding the next thing to cry about on here.
Forums are made up of many people with different opinions. Don't be ignorant and overgeneralize, realize that some people want X, some people want Y, and some want neither.
Personally I don't like most of the voice acting in STO. Why? It is just old actors rehashing/rehearsing their characters again. They aren't getting any character development and exploration, and some of them do sound particularly bad and don't fit the scene. I'd rather they did more voice acting for characters like Shon, Koren, and Jarok. They come out much more interesting in that we don't know what to expect from them, and as the plot develops, so does their character.
Also, the game has so many issues, dumping cash on voice acting is the last thing they should be doing. It isn't necessary and usually doesn't add enough value to make it worthwhile.
Miral could at least be interesting since honestly, she is a blank slate, but overall I could do without voice acting entirely.
I'm pretty new. I don't understand most of the jargon everyone uses here. I've played all of two online games in my life, and never really spent much time getting into them. I was into STO when it launched for about three months. Haven't played it since, until Nimoy passed. Saw an article about the tribute on Vulcan here, and wanted to come back to see how the place was thriving. So my opinion is probably uninformed and hard to relate.
The voice actors, for me, are fine. It's a small smile to hear Spock's voice or Yar's (even though the former is forever in-character and the latter may not have watched her own performance in many moons). But overall, I've always thought the gameplay and immersion should be the paramount factors for this game. I see the developers tend to disagree. Like I said, I might be alone here.
Gameplay, because no matter the window-dressing, the content comes across very hollow and repetitious at times (which is why I lost interest the first time). In comparison, having come back again after so may years, I can see great improvements in the overall gameplay and episodes/missions offered. If nothing else, they are at least expanding their imagination and allowing the universe to evolve post-Abrams. However, the nickel-and-diming crate drops keys is pretty annoying. I have over 30 boxes that requires keys to open. If this game is free, then I'm not paying to receive a reward. It's not a deal-breaker, but it is pretty "Ferengi" of them.
Immersion, because it's Star Trek. This isn't a brand new, original concept. This is a brand. And for those willing to devote time and effort into playing a game like this, a very well-known, well-loved brand. It has set parameters in both world-building and mythology. I am all for going forward with the mythology. Since those that own the brand want to play in the "Let's attract people who dislike scifi" sandbox via the modern movies, it's a nice respite for old school fans to be able to still access the original beloved universe. However, the more you add to that universe in a way that veers from what we have already been exposed to or know concerning ships, the Feds, Klingons, etc., the less it feels like home and begins to feel more like Abrams-verse Beta. I don't know. I think it's a very subjective perspective, and for every weird, new mix-match of ships/mythologies/concepts in STO that I find distancing from the original STAR TREK as created by Gene Roddenberry, I am sure there are ten playing that love it and feel more embraced by it all.
For my own tastes, I would prefer money spent on immersion efforts. Like the bridges, for example. Personally, my pet peeve is when I "visit" my own starship bridge, I'm "beamed" in and out of there. Why is my character having to go through the beam-out cutscene when the perspective only has to shift from interior to exterior, and vice versa? Talk about immersion breaking. I get it if the animation or overall aesthetics are on the cheap. This is a "free" game from a lesser developer. But it would be a nice simply little cherry to feel like my characters are in that ship and part of the action. To be able to "play" Star Trek rather than play an online game with Star Trek decorations would go a long way in endearing this game to this Trekkie's heart.
Also, why can't I rename this forced Elisa bridge officer? Why am I forced to have the same crew as everyone else to start? I seem to remember being able to pick/buy/win my own bridge officers to start. Maybe I'm misremembering. But after I created three toons (a new slang I've picked up from reading posts here) it got pretty old for them to all have the same people as their bridge officers. I guess acquisition of new bridge officers is the overall goal and reason for this. Not a deal-breaker, either way.
Overall, I think the game has improved in many ways since I originally played it. But in other ways, it's still archaic and simple. Guess that's just the way it's going to be unless someone else with a bigger budget takes over the development.
Sorry for the long rambles. This is what happens when Cryptic decided to do maintenance on the game every week on my ONLY day off.....
Forums are made up of many people with different opinions. Don't be ignorant and overgeneralize, realize that some people want X, some people want Y, and some want neither.
True but its also worth point out where that complaining is irrational. Consider the alternatives, such as when you complained that using established voice actors is a problem because their characters are still recongizable. What else is there? Development? Well we had that with just about just about all of them (arbitrary ignored by you to support your talking point. Play through the KDF tutorial mission arc if you need a refresher, Worf's a good example.) No, what the implied alternative is those same actors playing unrecongizable parts to their established characters (the Geoffry Combs approach but using actors with primarly fixed roles in the ST universe). However that would be a much more significant issue than your complaint with re-using popular star trek TV characters for a star trek video game (when no TV show exists or likely will exist to flush out the rest of these arcs).
And as using this cohort can have some awkward issues (ie. person X doesn't fit scene Y, it just seems that they're there for dialog/exposition/fan appeal), using any other recognizable cohort would have the same issues. Why for example should the flagship of the FED/KDF/RR always be there to move the plot along instead of Voyager? Why should we keep seeing anyone when in a real/organic universe you have almost innumerable diversity? Sack the TV cast in favor of exclusively using the new and what you've done is replaced one too-conveniently-there gaggle with another (which incidentally doesn't have 7 seasons of character development to draw upon).
It wouldn't solve anything, despite how it might address your specific complaint that you don't find it appropriate to use character X because he/she is X and not Y.
And that's not a very strong complaint to begin with given that we do have a mix of established and novel characters in most cases (2 of the 3 last FE's to be precise, and the exception is probably the greatest example of character development the game has to offer). Jurok was there along with the Doctor when raiding the elachii base, Gaius was there when hoisting Taris, and Lt. "I don't have a brain parasite!" followed along with us and Sela. Cryptic is demonstrably balancing the need to progress (better than any other ST game IMO) with the need to co-opt the show's popularity (to take the worst possible view of it). Thus its very hard to see why, using one of the extreme alternatives as support, Cryptic should try the other extreme instead. What's wrong with a happy medium?
Basically the question of "just what the hell do you want?!" does apply to a diverse forum population. Each complaint needs to be taken on its own grounds and when those are lacking its worth pointing that out. Its best to still explain yourself while doing so, but none-the-less whining isn't the end-all of a conversation. No one is automatically self-justified.
Bipedal mammal and senior Foundry author.
Notable missions: Apex [AEI], Gemini [SSF], Trident [AEI], Evolution's Smile [SSF], Transcendence
Looking for something new to play? I've started building Foundry missions again in visual novel form!
I kinda hope it doesn't reach a point where Cryptic just shoehorns characters and their original actors in roles that don't make much sense. Although some currently in the game I can see being re-purposed. Manu Intiraymi a while back on Twitter expressed interest in reprising Icheb in the game, who is stuck on K-7 not doing anything. I wonder if Cryptic ever reached out to him or have new plans for his character.
I took a hiatus from the game for the better part of last year or so and when I played these episodes, I was amazed by how things were stepped up. The difference between the earlier episodes and the later voiced ones were as different as night and day. Not that there was anything wrong with the earlier episodes, but they were more "talk to a bunch of NPCs, fight that mob, solve this puzzle. The end." Later episodes like Dust to Dust feel like solid TV episodes with real flesh and blood characters existing in a real universe.
My Foundry Mission--Name: Falling Star | Mission ID: HQIH36HAW | Faction: FED
To be honest I actually prefer seeing some of Cryptic's original characters show up in episodes over canon "famous" characters, and you have to know their VO actors are a heck of a lot cheaper. T'nae, Hakeev, Obisek, etc.
However, the more you add to that universe in a way that veers from what we have already been exposed to or know concerning ships, the Feds, Klingons, etc., the less it feels like home and begins to feel more like Abrams-verse Beta. I don't know. I think it's a very subjective perspective, and for every weird, new mix-match of ships/mythologies/concepts in STO that I find distancing from the original STAR TREK as created by Gene Roddenberry, I am sure there are ten playing that love it and feel more embraced by it all.
I'm definitely one of those. If I want the original star trek as created by Roddenberry I'll watch the episodes and movies he had a direct effect upon. I won't expect it out of my Star Trek game, however much it carries the Star Trek brand, because that's placing an arbitrary constraint on what this product can do to make itself good. Not every convention needs to be applied here because why those worked so well decades ago had to do with their place in art/entertainment/society back then. Different situation, different format, different medium. That has to experience some logical evolution, or else be faced with blindly applying mal-adaptive approaches to new problems.
Its not how things work (and in any case no one is taking my Ma'Tha raptor away from me. :P)
For my own tastes, I would prefer money spent on immersion efforts. Like the bridges, for example. Personally, my pet peeve is when I "visit" my own starship bridge, I'm "beamed" in and out of there. Why is my character having to go through the beam-out cutscene when the perspective only has to shift from interior to exterior, and vice versa? Talk about immersion breaking. I get it if the animation or overall aesthetics are on the cheap. This is a "free" game from a lesser developer. But it would be a nice simply little cherry to feel like my characters are in that ship and part of the action. To be able to "play" Star Trek rather than play an online game with Star Trek decorations would go a long way in endearing this game to this Trekkie's heart.
Also, why can't I rename this forced Elisa bridge officer? Why am I forced to have the same crew as everyone else to start? I seem to remember being able to pick/buy/win my own bridge officers to start. Maybe I'm misremembering. But after I created three toons (a new slang I've picked up from reading posts here) it got pretty old for them to all have the same people as their bridge officers. I guess acquisition of new bridge officers is the overall goal and reason for this. Not a deal-breaker, either way.
Simple answers.
1. An interior revamp has been floated a few times but its low priority. They're a space that exists in the game but until, I think, someone comes up with another and very practical use for Bridges they'll remain as an awkward tool for RP'ing (with improvements steering clear to focus on those elements that directly relate to story telling, overall visuals, character progression, and gameplay.)
2. Elisa Flores is the analog to Tovan Khiev and K'Gan, semi-established characters that provide a nucleus for people to start building their crew (which may or may not involve that starting crew, except in Tovan's case. He's a permanent fixture). If you want someone else you can still hire on new officers which are entirely customizable (sources: leveling up, rare duty officer assignments, the odd mission reward, the bridge officer contact at all the major faction hubs [only common but only requiring small amounts of Dilithium], or the exchange [for small-to-insane amounts of EC depending on the officer, though prices mainly get rediculous only when ideal space traits are involved].)
And for new characters (perhaps without the resources to buy their own perfect crews) its good to know that Bridge Officers can be mailed between characters...on the same account (just type your own @ handle in the "To" box.)
Bipedal mammal and senior Foundry author.
Notable missions: Apex [AEI], Gemini [SSF], Trident [AEI], Evolution's Smile [SSF], Transcendence
Looking for something new to play? I've started building Foundry missions again in visual novel form!
Forums are made up of many people with different opinions. Don't be ignorant and overgeneralize, realize that some people want X, some people want Y, and some want neither.
Personally I don't like most of the voice acting in STO. Why? It is just old actors rehashing/rehearsing their characters again. They aren't getting any character development and exploration, and some of them do sound particularly bad and don't fit the scene. I'd rather they did more voice acting for characters like Shon, Koren, and Jarok. They come out much more interesting in that we don't know what to expect from them, and as the plot develops, so does their character.
Also, the game has so many issues, dumping cash on voice acting is the last thing they should be doing. It isn't necessary and usually doesn't add enough value to make it worthwhile.
Miral could at least be interesting since honestly, she is a blank slate, but overall I could do without voice acting entirely.
And there are plenty of non-VOed missions for all of you to enjoy that dont care for it. Infact the vast majority of the missions in this game from patrols to actual missions that move the story along are still non-VOed. So maybe move over and let the portion of the playerbase that likes X to get some attention from Cryptic since everyone that enjoys Y already have their fair share?
True but its also worth point out where that complaining is irrational. Consider the alternatives, such as when you complained that using established voice actors is a problem because their characters are still recongizable. What else is there? Development? Well we had that with just about just about all of them (arbitrary ignored by you to support your talking point. Play through the KDF tutorial mission arc if you need a refresher, Worf's a good example.) No, what the implied alternative is those same actors playing unrecongizable parts to their established characters (the Geoffry Combs approach but using actors with primarly fixed roles in the ST universe). However that would be a much more significant issue than your complaint with re-using popular star trek TV characters for a star trek video game (when no TV show exists or likely will exist to flush out the rest of these arcs).
And as using this cohort can have some awkward issues (ie. person X doesn't fit scene Y, it just seems that they're there for dialog/exposition/fan appeal), using any other recognizable cohort would have the same issues. Why for example should the flagship of the FED/KDF/RR always be there to move the plot along instead of Voyager? Why should we keep seeing anyone when in a real/organic universe you have almost innumerable diversity? Sack the TV cast in favor of exclusively using the new and what you've done is replaced one too-conveniently-there gaggle with another (which incidentally doesn't have 7 seasons of character development to draw upon).
It wouldn't solve anything, despite how it might address your specific complaint that you don't find it appropriate to use character X.
And that's not a very strong complaint to begin with given that we do have a mix of established and novel characters in most cases (2 of the 3 last FE's to be precise, and the exception is probably the greatest example of character development the game has to offer). Jurok was there along with the Doctor when raiding the elachii base, Gaius was there when hoisting Taris, and Lt. "I don't have a brain parasite!" followed along with us and Sela. Cryptic is demonstrably balancing the need to progress (better than any other ST game IMO) with the need to co-opt the show's popularity (to take the worst possible view of it). Thus its very hard to see why, using one of the extreme alternatives as support, Cryptic should try the other extreme instead. What's wrong with a happy medium?
Basically the question of "just what the hell do you want?!" does apply to a diverse forum population. Each complaint needs to be taken on its own grounds and when those are lacking its worth pointing that out. Its best to still explain yourself while doing so, but none-the-less whining isn't the end-all of a conversation. No one is automatically self-justified.
Lets see. Having just played through the Worf-Alexander arc with a delta recruit, I again say that yes, it is just rehashing everything we already know about Worf. Every scene is something we already saw him do in TNG or DS9. Nothing surprised me, nothing felt new, nothing felt original. Everything about Worf felt like it was tied down to the fact we already know him very well. Alexander was more interesting, though, and developed the character in new ways, although it still felt like a TNG plot we've seen before (and I'm not a fan of Alexander in TNG.)
I will say, I totally disagree with your statement on what roles the actors should be playing, because I think had Micheal Dorn been hired to do a different character, not Worf, I might very well like hearing his new character more than the old one.
If you've ever played The Secret World, Tim Russ did a small character early in the game there that I enjoyed much more than hearing and seeing Tuvok in STO. And that character sounds just like Tuvok, very emotionless and stoic, but as a Star Trek fan, I appreciated that role much more than I like seeing Tuvok in half the Delta quadrant missions.
And for sure, that is at least partially, a factor of the writing. Like you said, we shouldn't see the Enterprise F everywhere, nor the Llieset, nor the Bortasqu. Neither should Tuvok be in every other Delta mission with Voyager. It is just weird.
But then the writing is done the way it is to hamfist the actor into the episode, presenting a character we already know as we already know them. It doesn't work for me.
Captain Kim is probably a notable exception because he seemed to have grown as a character (and even got promoted!) and certainly wasn't doing the same thing he was on Voyager. The writing also works better for him, because he is assigned to Kobali prime, and as such we generally only see with him in that area dealing with that one plot, not every new plot that pops up.
However don't mischaracterize my opinion as demanding things done my way. I don't like the way they have reprised the ST actor roles. I don't think it works. I don't think it is interesting. That is my opinion. I'd rather they did different things. I do appreciate the STO original characters much more.
That is my opinion, and my preference on how they should use voice acting, if they must use it at all. They can do whatever they want, but for the most part when I hear a ST actor in their original role, I don't like it.
no, but its nice anyway, it makes the whole game seem even more trek like then it already is, the more star trek stars they can feature the better in my opinion.
When I think about everything we've been through together,
maybe it's not the destination that matters, maybe it's the journey,
and if that journey takes a little longer,
so we can do something we all believe in,
I can't think of any place I'd rather be or any people I'd rather be with.
I'd rather see the old model of no voice talent but 5-episode FEs. Stuff like Spectres or The 2800 are some of the best miniarcs in the game, dated or no.
as story arcs go this one has to be the biggest and best ever in this games history, everything from the introduction of new Romulus has been building up to this.
you had the discovery of the iconian gateway on new rom at the end of the reputation storyline to the discovery of the first dyson sphere in the episode 'Sphere of Influence' then on to the discovery of the second sphere in delta quadrant in the episode 'A Step Between Stars'.
all of these episodes and basically everything else in between and on into the delta quadrant missions and of course the FE “Uneasy Allies” and the delta recruit event has been leading up to this point.
all of this has been blessed with star trek character voice overs that added an extra layer of realism to the whole thing.
its just the best this game has ever seen and I just cant get enough of it.
keep up the good work cryptic.
When I think about everything we've been through together,
maybe it's not the destination that matters, maybe it's the journey,
and if that journey takes a little longer,
so we can do something we all believe in,
I can't think of any place I'd rather be or any people I'd rather be with.
Neither should Tuvok be in every other Delta mission with Voyager. It is just weird.
So the commanding officer of Voyager shouldn't have been in every other Delta mission...even though everyone owes the exploration and everything they know about the Delta quadrant to that ship, and he is the liaison between Starfleet and other key members of the Voyager crew (Neelix, The Doctor, Seven of Nine, Harry Kim)...
Um, okay. *shrugs*
My Foundry Mission--Name: Falling Star | Mission ID: HQIH36HAW | Faction: FED
As far as I know and please correct me if I'm wrong. . .
But he has said so many times he won't have anything to do with STO since the bad experience he had ages ago with STO players..
So even though this would be amazing it's very unlikely to happen.
Ive never heard this story. But honestly its Shatner so I kind of want to believe it was the opposite. Those STO Players had a bad experience meeting Shatner.
I certainly don't mind, but if it ends up costing the game more and them having to super-sale us to death ... then yeah, go back to the voiceless 5+ featured arcs like days of yore
so your considering general game immersion to an opinion? okay, so you want to compare a car to a brickwall, thats not my business anymore...
Game immersion on sto is simple, starfleet and the klingons were at war, each faction had their own ships based on federation and klingon designs. both sides never had alien starships in their ranks serving in fleets and doing missions, ever. so that immersive factor was broken the moment player captains got the bug ship back in 11'. so if that was so easily broken its not going to be the last time either. thats a fact, its not an opinion and there is nothing subjective about it.
jeri ryan's acting is wooden at best. but then again Denise Crosby's first attempt wasnt that great either. in order to make a better point to your exampl, Jeri needs more time on STO. you think cryptic will take note? :P
if you dont like it then dont post here. but complaints on this forum happens all the time and its a way of life on these forums for those who come. also what your doing when you wrote that is ironically what you are attacking others over as well. complaining, so much for not serious. :P
1st quote: You misunderstood what I was saying, basically I consider what immerses a player is subjective I wasn't talking about general game immersion thats a much larger topic ^^ and it is subjective because different people like different things, one person may find one thing immersive and the other may not, do you get what I mean?
2nd quote: I wasn't "attacking" anyone thats a strong word, I was just making a comment on how it confuses me how people can be so negative here I mean some seem pretty passionate about the game but it seems like everyone has to drag each other down all the time I wasn't complaining either merely making an observation/question, If i was complaining I was be like "god this forums so bad you guys never stop crying grow up a little" or something like that, like I said just an observation/question. (though I should of probably added a "?" too ), as for liking the forums they are fine otherwise i wouldnt of posted here 300+ times lol, my only gripe is its more troll less constructive debates etc. lol When I dont like a forum I dont post at all
Comments
The only one of those cut scenes I really wouldn't mind being non-skip are the introduction scenes when you create a character, every one of those is pretty awesome.
Agreed.
People would be complaining if Tuvok and Seven was more emotional.
Like I said before. This is all about finding something to complain about. Some of Cryptics best FEs has been the VOed ones.
The Devidian FEs, they were fun, but they have nothing on Sphere of Influence or any of the other ones released in the last year or so.
I also think that voice should have been included from day-one, so maybe we wouldn't be having to choose right now.
On the other hand, from what little snippets we've seen about Cryptic's inner workings, they're coding and pushing stuff live to answer unreasonable timelines, and frankly the game hasn't been anything near polished since launch. Well, maybe in the lull of time before LoR when the game hadn't changed much in a long time - that's when they actually had time to work on bugs. Now, they have to get the next shiny or FE out the door yesterday. QA has become a "nice to have."
I think every example of that is something critical to the mission plot or, in some cases, the plot of the entire game. Its part of the stage show, without [on the first playthrough] and you just have an elaborate electronic way of wasting time.
No game in the history of the industry has ever popularized itself based on an unusually long patch note. Just look at STO population figures when major, long-standing bugs have been fixed (like the weapon-FX cut-out during high activity or FUBAR color selection at the ship tailor.) They may have made people happy, but the game (for all real intents and purposes) is only tangentially improved by bug fixes because why we play has much more to do with major content add-ons (including VO's) than polish (its an important factor but not THE important factor. You can't sacrifice everything else in its name.)
You want polish and nothing but? Play Destiny. For something with depth you may need to accept the odd gear flying out and irritatingly taking part of the super-structure with it.
Notable missions: Apex [AEI], Gemini [SSF], Trident [AEI], Evolution's Smile [SSF], Transcendence
Looking for something new to play? I've started building Foundry missions again in visual novel form!
Forums are made up of many people with different opinions. Don't be ignorant and overgeneralize, realize that some people want X, some people want Y, and some want neither.
Personally I don't like most of the voice acting in STO. Why? It is just old actors rehashing/rehearsing their characters again. They aren't getting any character development and exploration, and some of them do sound particularly bad and don't fit the scene. I'd rather they did more voice acting for characters like Shon, Koren, and Jarok. They come out much more interesting in that we don't know what to expect from them, and as the plot develops, so does their character.
Also, the game has so many issues, dumping cash on voice acting is the last thing they should be doing. It isn't necessary and usually doesn't add enough value to make it worthwhile.
Miral could at least be interesting since honestly, she is a blank slate, but overall I could do without voice acting entirely.
My only problem is that the writing and storylines are so terrible...
The voice actors, for me, are fine. It's a small smile to hear Spock's voice or Yar's (even though the former is forever in-character and the latter may not have watched her own performance in many moons). But overall, I've always thought the gameplay and immersion should be the paramount factors for this game. I see the developers tend to disagree. Like I said, I might be alone here.
Gameplay, because no matter the window-dressing, the content comes across very hollow and repetitious at times (which is why I lost interest the first time). In comparison, having come back again after so may years, I can see great improvements in the overall gameplay and episodes/missions offered. If nothing else, they are at least expanding their imagination and allowing the universe to evolve post-Abrams. However, the nickel-and-diming crate drops keys is pretty annoying. I have over 30 boxes that requires keys to open. If this game is free, then I'm not paying to receive a reward. It's not a deal-breaker, but it is pretty "Ferengi" of them.
Immersion, because it's Star Trek. This isn't a brand new, original concept. This is a brand. And for those willing to devote time and effort into playing a game like this, a very well-known, well-loved brand. It has set parameters in both world-building and mythology. I am all for going forward with the mythology. Since those that own the brand want to play in the "Let's attract people who dislike scifi" sandbox via the modern movies, it's a nice respite for old school fans to be able to still access the original beloved universe. However, the more you add to that universe in a way that veers from what we have already been exposed to or know concerning ships, the Feds, Klingons, etc., the less it feels like home and begins to feel more like Abrams-verse Beta. I don't know. I think it's a very subjective perspective, and for every weird, new mix-match of ships/mythologies/concepts in STO that I find distancing from the original STAR TREK as created by Gene Roddenberry, I am sure there are ten playing that love it and feel more embraced by it all.
For my own tastes, I would prefer money spent on immersion efforts. Like the bridges, for example. Personally, my pet peeve is when I "visit" my own starship bridge, I'm "beamed" in and out of there. Why is my character having to go through the beam-out cutscene when the perspective only has to shift from interior to exterior, and vice versa? Talk about immersion breaking. I get it if the animation or overall aesthetics are on the cheap. This is a "free" game from a lesser developer. But it would be a nice simply little cherry to feel like my characters are in that ship and part of the action. To be able to "play" Star Trek rather than play an online game with Star Trek decorations would go a long way in endearing this game to this Trekkie's heart.
Also, why can't I rename this forced Elisa bridge officer? Why am I forced to have the same crew as everyone else to start? I seem to remember being able to pick/buy/win my own bridge officers to start. Maybe I'm misremembering. But after I created three toons (a new slang I've picked up from reading posts here) it got pretty old for them to all have the same people as their bridge officers. I guess acquisition of new bridge officers is the overall goal and reason for this. Not a deal-breaker, either way.
Overall, I think the game has improved in many ways since I originally played it. But in other ways, it's still archaic and simple. Guess that's just the way it's going to be unless someone else with a bigger budget takes over the development.
Sorry for the long rambles. This is what happens when Cryptic decided to do maintenance on the game every week on my ONLY day off.....
True but its also worth point out where that complaining is irrational. Consider the alternatives, such as when you complained that using established voice actors is a problem because their characters are still recongizable. What else is there? Development? Well we had that with just about just about all of them (arbitrary ignored by you to support your talking point. Play through the KDF tutorial mission arc if you need a refresher, Worf's a good example.) No, what the implied alternative is those same actors playing unrecongizable parts to their established characters (the Geoffry Combs approach but using actors with primarly fixed roles in the ST universe). However that would be a much more significant issue than your complaint with re-using popular star trek TV characters for a star trek video game (when no TV show exists or likely will exist to flush out the rest of these arcs).
And as using this cohort can have some awkward issues (ie. person X doesn't fit scene Y, it just seems that they're there for dialog/exposition/fan appeal), using any other recognizable cohort would have the same issues. Why for example should the flagship of the FED/KDF/RR always be there to move the plot along instead of Voyager? Why should we keep seeing anyone when in a real/organic universe you have almost innumerable diversity? Sack the TV cast in favor of exclusively using the new and what you've done is replaced one too-conveniently-there gaggle with another (which incidentally doesn't have 7 seasons of character development to draw upon).
It wouldn't solve anything, despite how it might address your specific complaint that you don't find it appropriate to use character X because he/she is X and not Y.
And that's not a very strong complaint to begin with given that we do have a mix of established and novel characters in most cases (2 of the 3 last FE's to be precise, and the exception is probably the greatest example of character development the game has to offer). Jurok was there along with the Doctor when raiding the elachii base, Gaius was there when hoisting Taris, and Lt. "I don't have a brain parasite!" followed along with us and Sela. Cryptic is demonstrably balancing the need to progress (better than any other ST game IMO) with the need to co-opt the show's popularity (to take the worst possible view of it). Thus its very hard to see why, using one of the extreme alternatives as support, Cryptic should try the other extreme instead. What's wrong with a happy medium?
Basically the question of "just what the hell do you want?!" does apply to a diverse forum population. Each complaint needs to be taken on its own grounds and when those are lacking its worth pointing that out. Its best to still explain yourself while doing so, but none-the-less whining isn't the end-all of a conversation. No one is automatically self-justified.
Notable missions: Apex [AEI], Gemini [SSF], Trident [AEI], Evolution's Smile [SSF], Transcendence
Looking for something new to play? I've started building Foundry missions again in visual novel form!
I took a hiatus from the game for the better part of last year or so and when I played these episodes, I was amazed by how things were stepped up. The difference between the earlier episodes and the later voiced ones were as different as night and day. Not that there was anything wrong with the earlier episodes, but they were more "talk to a bunch of NPCs, fight that mob, solve this puzzle. The end." Later episodes like Dust to Dust feel like solid TV episodes with real flesh and blood characters existing in a real universe.
I'm definitely one of those. If I want the original star trek as created by Roddenberry I'll watch the episodes and movies he had a direct effect upon. I won't expect it out of my Star Trek game, however much it carries the Star Trek brand, because that's placing an arbitrary constraint on what this product can do to make itself good. Not every convention needs to be applied here because why those worked so well decades ago had to do with their place in art/entertainment/society back then. Different situation, different format, different medium. That has to experience some logical evolution, or else be faced with blindly applying mal-adaptive approaches to new problems.
Its not how things work (and in any case no one is taking my Ma'Tha raptor away from me. :P)
Simple answers.
1. An interior revamp has been floated a few times but its low priority. They're a space that exists in the game but until, I think, someone comes up with another and very practical use for Bridges they'll remain as an awkward tool for RP'ing (with improvements steering clear to focus on those elements that directly relate to story telling, overall visuals, character progression, and gameplay.)
2. Elisa Flores is the analog to Tovan Khiev and K'Gan, semi-established characters that provide a nucleus for people to start building their crew (which may or may not involve that starting crew, except in Tovan's case. He's a permanent fixture). If you want someone else you can still hire on new officers which are entirely customizable (sources: leveling up, rare duty officer assignments, the odd mission reward, the bridge officer contact at all the major faction hubs [only common but only requiring small amounts of Dilithium], or the exchange [for small-to-insane amounts of EC depending on the officer, though prices mainly get rediculous only when ideal space traits are involved].)
And for new characters (perhaps without the resources to buy their own perfect crews) its good to know that Bridge Officers can be mailed between characters...on the same account (just type your own @ handle in the "To" box.)
Notable missions: Apex [AEI], Gemini [SSF], Trident [AEI], Evolution's Smile [SSF], Transcendence
Looking for something new to play? I've started building Foundry missions again in visual novel form!
And there are plenty of non-VOed missions for all of you to enjoy that dont care for it. Infact the vast majority of the missions in this game from patrols to actual missions that move the story along are still non-VOed. So maybe move over and let the portion of the playerbase that likes X to get some attention from Cryptic since everyone that enjoys Y already have their fair share?
Lets see. Having just played through the Worf-Alexander arc with a delta recruit, I again say that yes, it is just rehashing everything we already know about Worf. Every scene is something we already saw him do in TNG or DS9. Nothing surprised me, nothing felt new, nothing felt original. Everything about Worf felt like it was tied down to the fact we already know him very well. Alexander was more interesting, though, and developed the character in new ways, although it still felt like a TNG plot we've seen before (and I'm not a fan of Alexander in TNG.)
I will say, I totally disagree with your statement on what roles the actors should be playing, because I think had Micheal Dorn been hired to do a different character, not Worf, I might very well like hearing his new character more than the old one.
If you've ever played The Secret World, Tim Russ did a small character early in the game there that I enjoyed much more than hearing and seeing Tuvok in STO. And that character sounds just like Tuvok, very emotionless and stoic, but as a Star Trek fan, I appreciated that role much more than I like seeing Tuvok in half the Delta quadrant missions.
And for sure, that is at least partially, a factor of the writing. Like you said, we shouldn't see the Enterprise F everywhere, nor the Llieset, nor the Bortasqu. Neither should Tuvok be in every other Delta mission with Voyager. It is just weird.
But then the writing is done the way it is to hamfist the actor into the episode, presenting a character we already know as we already know them. It doesn't work for me.
Captain Kim is probably a notable exception because he seemed to have grown as a character (and even got promoted!) and certainly wasn't doing the same thing he was on Voyager. The writing also works better for him, because he is assigned to Kobali prime, and as such we generally only see with him in that area dealing with that one plot, not every new plot that pops up.
However don't mischaracterize my opinion as demanding things done my way. I don't like the way they have reprised the ST actor roles. I don't think it works. I don't think it is interesting. That is my opinion. I'd rather they did different things. I do appreciate the STO original characters much more.
That is my opinion, and my preference on how they should use voice acting, if they must use it at all. They can do whatever they want, but for the most part when I hear a ST actor in their original role, I don't like it.
As far as I know and please correct me if I'm wrong. . .
But he has said so many times he won't have anything to do with STO since the bad experience he had ages ago with STO players..
So even though this would be amazing it's very unlikely to happen.
But then again I play mostly for the stories/missions and don't mindlessly skip the dialogue. I read it and usually enjoy the story being told.
Mindless "pew pew" is easy. You can find it anywhere. But storylines and characters? A tad harder to find.
We need Wil Wheaton to reprise the role of Wesley Crusher!
no, but its nice anyway, it makes the whole game seem even more trek like then it already is, the more star trek stars they can feature the better in my opinion.
When I think about everything we've been through together,
maybe it's not the destination that matters, maybe it's the journey,
and if that journey takes a little longer,
so we can do something we all believe in,
I can't think of any place I'd rather be or any people I'd rather be with.
as story arcs go this one has to be the biggest and best ever in this games history, everything from the introduction of new Romulus has been building up to this.
you had the discovery of the iconian gateway on new rom at the end of the reputation storyline to the discovery of the first dyson sphere in the episode 'Sphere of Influence' then on to the discovery of the second sphere in delta quadrant in the episode 'A Step Between Stars'.
all of these episodes and basically everything else in between and on into the delta quadrant missions and of course the FE “Uneasy Allies” and the delta recruit event has been leading up to this point.
all of this has been blessed with star trek character voice overs that added an extra layer of realism to the whole thing.
its just the best this game has ever seen and I just cant get enough of it.
keep up the good work cryptic.
When I think about everything we've been through together,
maybe it's not the destination that matters, maybe it's the journey,
and if that journey takes a little longer,
so we can do something we all believe in,
I can't think of any place I'd rather be or any people I'd rather be with.
To me if there isn't some VOs. Then the game is kinda bland. Specially now since most games has them to an extent.
USS Casinghead NCC 92047 launched 2350
Fleet Admiral Stowe - Dominion War Vet.
So the commanding officer of Voyager shouldn't have been in every other Delta mission...even though everyone owes the exploration and everything they know about the Delta quadrant to that ship, and he is the liaison between Starfleet and other key members of the Voyager crew (Neelix, The Doctor, Seven of Nine, Harry Kim)...
Um, okay. *shrugs*
Ive never heard this story. But honestly its Shatner so I kind of want to believe it was the opposite. Those STO Players had a bad experience meeting Shatner.
1st quote: You misunderstood what I was saying, basically I consider what immerses a player is subjective I wasn't talking about general game immersion thats a much larger topic ^^ and it is subjective because different people like different things, one person may find one thing immersive and the other may not, do you get what I mean?
2nd quote: I wasn't "attacking" anyone thats a strong word, I was just making a comment on how it confuses me how people can be so negative here I mean some seem pretty passionate about the game but it seems like everyone has to drag each other down all the time I wasn't complaining either merely making an observation/question, If i was complaining I was be like "god this forums so bad you guys never stop crying grow up a little" or something like that, like I said just an observation/question. (though I should of probably added a "?" too