I`d like to ask you all what are your thoughts about the way PW and Cryptic deal with their zen in this game ?
I feel Star Trek is genuinely good and with alot of potention that its yet to be used, but I feel quite annoyed that pretty much any action in this game is halted by either Zen or its counterpart masked as ''dilithium'' wich hinders your progress even more and works as a way for players to feel the need to buy more zen only to sell it and earn more of that thing so they can progress faster in the game.
Not only that but one of the most reconigsable feuture of StarTrek, its ships, are mostly locked behind subscriptions and 20 dollars worth of zen EACH.
I can`t belive that this is ok with this community and even if it is, can anyone honestly say that the way they are doing this isn`t at the very least agressive consumer wise ?
If I had to make a example of sucessfull free to play with a good buisness model it would be Warframe, that game can be grinding most of the time and not always can be as acessible as the people who buy they coins (platinum) with real life money, but it gives the player the option to trade gear and modules for the platinum he needs to progress better in it.
I hope at least some of you share in the same concern.
Sadly I do not share your concern. As someone that owns every c-store costume and most of the ships. I wish there was more for me to buy. More romulan costumes, more kdf costumes. And races. Let me buy color unlocks to better match uniforms. C-store unlocks of more tal shiar uniform options. (After the appropriate mission)
Originally Posted by pwlaughingtrendy
Network engineers are not ship designers.
Nor should they be. Their ships would look weird.
If the game is so fair why limit progress with dilithium then ? Why limit its refining ammount at all ?
Refinement cap? What refinement cap? I can refine up to 8k dilithium per day on *every* one of my characters. Therefore the only limit to how much dilithium you can refine is how many characters you have. Plus, since the zen exchange is *account* wide, you can use it to trade refined dilithium between your characters any time you want.
The f2p model is actually one the best part of the game...appart from the multiple game modes (space, ground, doff...single player story and multiplayer stf)
above all, the story content (any content) of the game is free...not many f2p games can say that about themselves actually.
the ships are not tiered or something so that you have to unlock 10 ships before you can get the ship you actually wanted like in most other f2p games out there.
I don't have to buy anything to be competitive, but that's mainly because PVP is practically non existing.
Gear progression is slow if you avoid using Zen or EC, but not too slow to be annoying.
If I had to make a example of sucessfull free to play with a good buisness model it would be Warframe, that game can be grinding most of the time and not always can be as acessible as the people who buy they coins (platinum) with real life money, but it gives the player the option to trade gear and modules for the platinum he needs to progress better in it.
ok, tell you what is wrong with WARFARM...everything. Yes, Warfarm, that game is so grindy, the players call it freakin' WARFARM!!!
And everything you wrote about accessability is true for STO too.
8k dilithium per char (and transferable) per day is plenty...just recently I leveled a new character and never ran out of refined dilithium for upgrades or buying reputation gear.
STO has some huge flaws, mainly the bugfixing, server instability and problems that originated during early developement which was too short. But their f2p model is one of the best in the industry. The lobi and lockbox stuff is debateable, but it is not required in any shape or form, so it shouldn't bother people who do not want to gamble like myself.
Also, there is a promotion thing once per year that yields quite a substantial amount of lobi if you want to do it.
srsly, can't stop laughing about the comparison with freakin' WARFARM! Of all the ****ty games out there, the OP chose WARFARM!
It don't bother me at all. I bought ships and stuff with cash, and I used the Dil exchange if the market was good. I'm glad they offer ways to get zen points like this.
Only thing that bothers me is the Lobi store. The crystals are hard to get and the items are not cheap.
Best part is, we getting free new content. Play "wow", your paying a sub. And any new expansion you have to pay for it. If not, sorry your not getting it.
USS Casinghead NCC 92047 launched 2350
Fleet Admiral Stowe - Dominion War Vet.
If the game is so fair why limit progress with dilithium then ? Why limit its refining ammount at all ? Why we have to rely in a third coin to pay for our progress ? Why not use the credits instead so if dilithium is so important, to be used in fleet upgrades only and leave the fleet marks/credits for the actual ships and only spend zen in cosmetic ones ??
Also id be realy happy if the lockbox bull**** could be erased as well its not worthy and a jackpot machine masked as a pretty box.
Im not being unfair or nuts about it, im mearly asking for PW review their approach and make a more friendly consumer offer.
Because the need for / want of dilithium is an incentive for people to spend money. Don't have the time and patience to collect and refine 8,000 dilithium to stockpile and use it for whatever? Then go ahead and use cash to purchase Zen then buy dilithium. Want to use the dilithium to convert to Zen so that you can buy a ship? Then be patient to save up enough refined dilithium to get the Zen you need. Or use some cash to buy Zen to get your ship faster.
PWE (and Cryptic) is not a non-for-profit organization or charity. It is a business and it has expenses to pay. Based on your comment I am guessing that you do not work full time (meaning you are still in school) and you have no real expenses to deal with. Limiting the amount of Zen you can refine is a way for PWE to generate money from the player base. Those who are patient or simply do not want to give a penny to the developer / publisher of the game can play for free. Those people who do not have the time, but are willing to spend money will be able get buy the refined dilithium that they need or purchase something from the C-Store.
Lockboxes? Yeah, it's basically gambling. Don't like it? Then don't do it. Nothing in the game is forcing you to unlock those lockboxes. If you want to take the risk, then be my guest. Otherwise, simply ignore them.
Overall, I like the F2P model that Cryptic has devised for the game. However, I have nothing to compare it to since Star Trek Online is the only MMO that I play. All other games I play are strictly single player games. I buy 'em, play 'em, then store 'em away.
I grind for dilithium, but I also buy Zen when Cryptic gives a 15% Zen bonus. PWE (and Crpytic) get some real cash from me and I get some extra Zen. Plus converting refined dilithium into Zen means I get more Zen in return for my time.
Maybe you know of a MMO game out there that is more F2P friendly than STO. A game where you are not required to spend any money to play the game if you choose to do so. If so, then let me know. I'll give it a try as long as the game seems interesting to me.
I`d like to ask you all what are your thoughts about the way PW and Cryptic deal with their zen in this game ?
I feel Star Trek is genuinely good and with alot of potention that its yet to be used, but I feel quite annoyed that pretty much any action in this game is halted by either Zen or its counterpart masked as ''dilithium'' wich hinders your progress even more and works as a way for players to feel the need to buy more zen only to sell it and earn more of that thing so they can progress faster in the game.
Not only that but one of the most reconigsable feuture of StarTrek, its ships, are mostly locked behind subscriptions and 20 dollars worth of zen EACH.
I can`t belive that this is ok with this community and even if it is, can anyone honestly say that the way they are doing this isn`t at the very least agressive consumer wise ?
If I had to make a example of sucessfull free to play with a good buisness model it would be Warframe, that game can be grinding most of the time and not always can be as acessible as the people who buy they coins (platinum) with real life money, but it gives the player the option to trade gear and modules for the platinum he needs to progress better in it.
I hope at least some of you share in the same concern.
You think this game is awash with Microtransactions? Try Second Life or just about any other major MMORPG,... this game is a benevolent billionaire uncle in comparison,...
While I do put some rl cash into this game, just because I'm impatient, I specifically refused to use anything derived from rl cash with with my DR recruit. With the exception of some fleet weapons and a fleet ship, my DR toon has everything my pre-DR toons do and does just fine,... in fact, my per-DR toons got their Fleet ships, not with cash in, but with EC,... bought Ship Modules off the exchange, saved them up and then used them.
Getting ahead and "keeping up" in this game without putting any real money in, is more a matter of where you go and what you do as opposed to what you have. If you go to the right places often enough, you gain enough Dilithium and EC to purchase just about anything you need/want off the Exchange or cash it in for Zen for C-Store purchases,...
In fact right now, some things that used to be hugely expensive, are coming down in price due to all the new stuff from DR,... I remember my other toons be much more expensive to equip when I first started playing,...
"Go play with your DPS in the corner, I don't care how big it is." ~ Me "There... are... four... lights!" ~Jean Luc Picard
Some people are always going to want something for nothing - believing that just playing 1-3 hours per day entitles them to something special. It is very difficult to change that mind-set in some people - especially when they are not paying consumers to begin with. I do not even bother trying anymore. The OP is going to believe what the OP wants to believe. If the OP does not have $30.00, and does not wish to spend 2-3 hours per day grinding Dilthium to earn that 3,000 Zen in a month, nothing we say here is going to change his mind about the $30.00.
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.
I`d like to ask you all what are your thoughts about the way PW and Cryptic deal with their zen in this game ?
I feel Star Trek is genuinely good and with alot of potention that its yet to be used, but I feel quite annoyed that pretty much any action in this game is halted by either Zen or its counterpart masked as ''dilithium'' wich hinders your progress even more and works as a way for players to feel the need to buy more zen only to sell it and earn more of that thing so they can progress faster in the game.
Not only that but one of the most reconigsable feuture of StarTrek, its ships, are mostly locked behind subscriptions and 20 dollars worth of zen EACH.
I can`t belive that this is ok with this community and even if it is, can anyone honestly say that the way they are doing this isn`t at the very least agressive consumer wise ?
If I had to make a example of sucessfull free to play with a good buisness model it would be Warframe, that game can be grinding most of the time and not always can be as acessible as the people who buy they coins (platinum) with real life money, but it gives the player the option to trade gear and modules for the platinum he needs to progress better in it.
I hope at least some of you share in the same concern.
I have to say, compared to other "f"2P games, STO is the most genrous of them all. One does not need to purchase a single Zen ship if they do not choose and still gain full enjoyment from the game. One does not need to subscribe to get the same amount of base abilities/perks from the game.
As for ships, ALL ships are potntially available without zen or lobi through the exchange. One CAN enjoy the content with the provided ships through promotions and don't forget the FREE T6 event ships that ar eoffered.
I will amdit, I have used zen... I recently purchased a T6 Phantom and a few keys. not because I had to, but because I wanted to. Although I will admit, NEVER waste your zen on lockbox keys. the chances of seeing any type of reward just aren't viable. Although I did get a Plasmonic Leech console recently, so that was cool.
Only thing that bothers me is the Lobi store. The crystals are hard to get and the items are not cheap.
I would point out that several items, especially consumables, have no business being there in the first place (pointed examples: rad crystals and web grenades, as reverse-engineered Tholian tech, should be in the NSF rep store). Another major offender would be the nanoenergy cells (especially as they now work with all ranged weapons, as I understand).
Things like that aside... the microtransactions seem for the most part fairly reasonable. Still, for the curious, I offer for comparison the roster of things you can purchase for Path of Exile.
Some people are always going to want something for nothing - believing that just playing 1-3 hours per day entitles them to something special. It is very difficult to change that mind-set in some people - especially when they are not paying consumers to begin with. I do not even bother trying anymore. The OP is going to believe what the OP wants to believe. If the OP does not have $30.00, and does not wish to spend 2-3 hours per day grinding Dilthium to earn that 3,000 Zen in a month, nothing we say here is going to change his mind about the $30.00.
This in a nutshell. Over on the Neverwinter Xb1, there is a vocal group of console players who are crying and whining that they cannot buy everything in the store in a 30ish DLC pack. They are backed up by PC Neverwinter players who think all of their PC purchases should carry over including their endgame characters because ESO did it.
Cryptics market is down right exploitative, there's no way around it for anyone who's been paying attention.
How? Not once has Cryptic ever pressured anyone into making a single purchase... Exploitation intones that Cryptic are in some way stacking things against players in order to force them into making purchases...
In a very limited (and I do mean very, very, very limited) fashion this is true, but let's be perfectly honest here, it's only to incentivise those purchases, not force them upon players... If Cryptic made it too easy to get CStore content without spending cash, no one would and to suggest that people would purchase items off the CStore otherwise is being simply naive, or outright deceitful...
Cryptic rely on the impulsiveness of people and are no worse than any other company who sell their wares in a consumerist world...
I don't see anyone around here attacking Apple for releasing a new IPhone every 6 months, which is virtually the same as the model before it, it just has some new software feature that should have almost been a free update... But yet, the sheeple que for hours to be the first idiot to own one...
Cryptic are no different... They give people incentive to buy things, nice shiney things that players want because they think it will improve their gaming experience...
Not once has anyone ever been forced to spend money by Cryptic... Not once... People like yourself might jump on here and rail against Cryptic's supposed cash grabs and 'exploitative' behaviour, but the very honest and blunt truth is that if you feel you're being exploited by Cryptic's sales model, they are not the problem...
The problem is your lack of self control... If you cannot help but feel that you absolutely, positively must buy every new shiney on the CStore, that is your own failing, but rather than accept responsibility for that failing, you blame Cryptic for 'exploiting' you because you cannot accept that you have no self control...
Another reflection of modern society though I suppose, everything is always someone else's fault...
Not only that but one of the most reconigsable feuture of StarTrek, its ships, are mostly locked behind subscriptions and 20 dollars worth of zen EACH.
Yah saying that ships are locked behind 20 dollars worth of zen is one way to say it. BUT you forgot to mention or maybe you dont know that you can also unlock them by simply playing the game. So one person can say it takes 20 dollars to unlock one ship, but me i can say that on my army of alts it would take 15 days of play to unlock a ship.
I dont find STOs microtransaction system annoying...i find it *less annoying* then micro systems from other games. In SWTOR for example as a brand new F2P you will be faced with a lot of limitations. Limited action bars, cant hide your helm, cant easily color coordinate your gear, cant run raids or pvp, you can do unlimited dungeons but you are limited to 3 loot rolls a week. Cant show titles, cant use epic/purple quality gear, have to play with reduced xp rate after level 20. And probably a bunch of others that i'm forgetting about. Luckily though in SWTOR you can pay to unlock some of those things on a per character basis or unlock them account wide. But the main thing about SWTOR is that they have no way for you to earn cartel coins (zen equivalent) in game. Technically there is a way but it is very very slow, so slow that you cant depend on it to buy anything worthwhile.
So i like STO's F2P model better but i just dont like what they have chosen to monetize. But since i'm able to play the game damn near unrestricted as an F2P and without having to spend money.
Some people are always going to want something for nothing - believing that just playing 1-3 hours per day entitles them to something special. It is very difficult to change that mind-set in some people - especially when they are not paying consumers to begin with. I do not even bother trying anymore. The OP is going to believe what the OP wants to believe. If the OP does not have $30.00, and does not wish to spend 2-3 hours per day grinding Dilthium to earn that 3,000 Zen in a month, nothing we say here is going to change his mind about the $30.00.
Very true.
I'm good if I get to play 2-4 hour per week. So I don't expect to get everything or the best stuff. It took me a couple months of playing to get enough Dil up to equip my Romulan ship fully with Romulan Rep stuff. I did it cause I made up my mind to do it. Its all part of the mind set and the will to do it.
USS Casinghead NCC 92047 launched 2350
Fleet Admiral Stowe - Dominion War Vet.
Cryptics market is down right exploitative, there's no way around it for anyone who's been paying attention.
No,
Cause you buy what you want. Not once they are forcing you or tricking you into buying it. There is several ships I want, services, lobi stuff, etc. However they are not forcing me to buy. I buy it when I want to buy it.
USS Casinghead NCC 92047 launched 2350
Fleet Admiral Stowe - Dominion War Vet.
0
rattler2Member, Star Trek Online ModeratorPosts: 58,675Community Moderator
Cryptics market is down right exploitative, there's no way around it for anyone who's been paying attention.
As people have said, STO is quite generous. I didn't shell out anything for my Delta Pack. I was probably THE nut who ground it out via in game means only. Was long, but more than worth the effort.
Other than Vet perks, everything is available to everyone if you're willing to put in the time.
Easy way to do this is:
Set a goal
work towards incrimental goals if ultimate goal is large
time Exchange trades
reap hard earned reward after achieving goal
It took a long time and lots of dead Voth to get the Delta Pack, but it was more than worth it after grinding 6 characters. And trust me... I don't want to shoot any more Voth on the ground for a bit after that one... but just goes to show anything is possible if you have a goal.
I can't take it anymore! Could everyone just chill out for two seconds before something CRAZY happens again?!
The nut who actually ground out many packs. The resident forum voice of reason (I HAZ FORUM REP! YAY!)
normal text = me speaking as fellow formite colored text = mod mode
I`d like to ask you all what are your thoughts about the way PW and Cryptic deal with their zen in this game ?
I feel Star Trek is genuinely good and with alot of potention that its yet to be used, but I feel quite annoyed that pretty much any action in this game is halted by either Zen or its counterpart masked as ''dilithium'' wich hinders your progress even more and works as a way for players to feel the need to buy more zen only to sell it and earn more of that thing so they can progress faster in the game.
Not only that but one of the most reconigsable feuture of StarTrek, its ships, are mostly locked behind subscriptions and 20 dollars worth of zen EACH.
I can`t belive that this is ok with this community and even if it is, can anyone honestly say that the way they are doing this isn`t at the very least agressive consumer wise ?
If I had to make a example of sucessfull free to play with a good buisness model it would be Warframe, that game can be grinding most of the time and not always can be as acessible as the people who buy they coins (platinum) with real life money, but it gives the player the option to trade gear and modules for the platinum he needs to progress better in it.
I hope at least some of you share in the same concern.
Either this is a lame attempt at a troll thread or its a shameless promotion for a different game
Oh look X game has better this and that etc etc and etc
well .....if warframe is so much better then STO why are you not there playing warframe but here on the STO forum pestering us STO players about it.
Ive been there, its EA and they love totwist evrything they put their money into a freakshow of microtransactions.
The Last Sim City game, worst $60 bucks I ever spent. Everyday I missed playing, I got emails from EA telling me about a new building I could purchase with real money.
How? Not once has Cryptic ever pressured anyone into making a single purchase... Exploitation intones that Cryptic are in some way stacking things against players in order to force them into making purchases...
Cause you buy what you want. Not once they are forcing you or tricking you into buying it. There is several ships I want, services, lobi stuff, etc. However they are not forcing me to buy. I buy it when I want to buy it.
No where in the word exploitive is the idea of being forced to do things, lack of freedoms would merit far more derogatory terminology.
The Last Sim City game, worst $60 bucks I ever spent. Everyday I missed playing, I got emails from EA telling me about a new building I could purchase with real money.
Say wha? :eek:
Dang... that game just gets worse and worse just from what I hear.
Mandatory internet connection
Buildings for real money
I'll stick with the free copy of Sim City 2000 that I got off Origin.
I can't take it anymore! Could everyone just chill out for two seconds before something CRAZY happens again?!
The nut who actually ground out many packs. The resident forum voice of reason (I HAZ FORUM REP! YAY!)
normal text = me speaking as fellow formite colored text = mod mode
2. Utilization of another person or group for selfish purposes: exploitation of unwary consumers.
Your claim that you were 'exploited' by Cryptics' sales model would imply you were forced or coerced into spending money, which has never been further from the truth...
You claim they 'exploited' you... They offered a product which you chose to buy, probably on impulse and later came to regret... If so, there was no exploitation involved, just poor judgement on your part...
So please, where has Cryptic ever 'exploited' the players?
Or are you trying to use buzzwords, which you clearly do not fully comprehend, in order to try and validate a weak position attacking Cryptic?
Say wha? :eek:
Dang... that game just gets worse and worse just from what I hear.
Mandatory internet connection
Buildings for real money
I'll stick with the free copy of Sim City 2000 that I got off Origin.
Yeah, SimCity went the way of The Sims... I've heard of $80 furniture sets and so forth... Doesn't suprise me in the slightest they would release real money buildings for SimCity...
Your claim that you were 'exploited' by Cryptics' sales model would imply you were forced or coerced into spending money, which has never been further from the truth...
You claim they 'exploited' you... They offered a product which you chose to buy, probably on impulse and later came to regret... If so, there was no exploitation involved, just poor judgement on your part...
So please, where has Cryptic ever 'exploited' the players?
Or are you trying to use buzzwords, which you clearly do not fully comprehend, in order to try and validate a weak position attacking Cryptic?
Yeah, SimCity went the way of The Sims... I've heard of $80 furniture sets and so forth... Doesn't suprise me in the slightest they would release real money buildings for SimCity...
No where in those definitions is a fundamental lack of choice in the matter. You're so detached from reality that you'll say anything, this is really sad.
No where in those definitions is a fundamental lack of choice in the matter. You're so detached from reality that you'll say anything, this is really sad.
Not only do you accuse Cryptic of exploiting players, you now insist on trying to defend the accusation by suggesting I am the one detached from reality... That's actually quite amusing...
The implication that Cryptic would 'exploit' players infers that there was a measure of coercion or lack of choice in the matter... An implication you are refusing to acknowledge and supply even a single shred of evidence to support your case on...
You can argue you never claimed players had no choice all you want, your original remark made quite clear exactly what you were implying...
Cryptics market is down right exploitative, there's no way around it for anyone who's been paying attention.
A basless accusation that Cryptic are exploiting players and that 'there is no way around it', indicating players are forced into CStore purchases, which could not be further from the truth...
You keep those strawman arguments coming as your refusal to provide even anecdotal evidence to support your completely unfounded accusations says more than you realise...
A basless accusation that Cryptic are exploiting players and that 'there is no way around it', indicating players are forced into CStore purchases, which could not be further from the truth...
You keep those strawman arguments coming as your refusal to provide even anecdotal evidence to support your completely unfounded accusations says more than you realise...
In what grammatical world is saying that there's no way around a statement imply forced participation in a transaction?
Comments
Sadly I do not share your concern. As someone that owns every c-store costume and most of the ships. I wish there was more for me to buy. More romulan costumes, more kdf costumes. And races. Let me buy color unlocks to better match uniforms. C-store unlocks of more tal shiar uniform options. (After the appropriate mission)
Originally Posted by pwlaughingtrendy
Network engineers are not ship designers.
Nor should they be. Their ships would look weird.
Refinement cap? What refinement cap? I can refine up to 8k dilithium per day on *every* one of my characters. Therefore the only limit to how much dilithium you can refine is how many characters you have. Plus, since the zen exchange is *account* wide, you can use it to trade refined dilithium between your characters any time you want.
The-Grand-Nagus
Join Date: Sep 2008
above all, the story content (any content) of the game is free...not many f2p games can say that about themselves actually.
the ships are not tiered or something so that you have to unlock 10 ships before you can get the ship you actually wanted like in most other f2p games out there.
I don't have to buy anything to be competitive, but that's mainly because PVP is practically non existing.
Gear progression is slow if you avoid using Zen or EC, but not too slow to be annoying.
ok, tell you what is wrong with WARFARM...everything. Yes, Warfarm, that game is so grindy, the players call it freakin' WARFARM!!!
And everything you wrote about accessability is true for STO too.
8k dilithium per char (and transferable) per day is plenty...just recently I leveled a new character and never ran out of refined dilithium for upgrades or buying reputation gear.
STO has some huge flaws, mainly the bugfixing, server instability and problems that originated during early developement which was too short. But their f2p model is one of the best in the industry. The lobi and lockbox stuff is debateable, but it is not required in any shape or form, so it shouldn't bother people who do not want to gamble like myself.
Also, there is a promotion thing once per year that yields quite a substantial amount of lobi if you want to do it.
srsly, can't stop laughing about the comparison with freakin' WARFARM! Of all the ****ty games out there, the OP chose WARFARM!
Only thing that bothers me is the Lobi store. The crystals are hard to get and the items are not cheap.
Best part is, we getting free new content. Play "wow", your paying a sub. And any new expansion you have to pay for it. If not, sorry your not getting it.
USS Casinghead NCC 92047 launched 2350
Fleet Admiral Stowe - Dominion War Vet.
Because the need for / want of dilithium is an incentive for people to spend money. Don't have the time and patience to collect and refine 8,000 dilithium to stockpile and use it for whatever? Then go ahead and use cash to purchase Zen then buy dilithium. Want to use the dilithium to convert to Zen so that you can buy a ship? Then be patient to save up enough refined dilithium to get the Zen you need. Or use some cash to buy Zen to get your ship faster.
PWE (and Cryptic) is not a non-for-profit organization or charity. It is a business and it has expenses to pay. Based on your comment I am guessing that you do not work full time (meaning you are still in school) and you have no real expenses to deal with. Limiting the amount of Zen you can refine is a way for PWE to generate money from the player base. Those who are patient or simply do not want to give a penny to the developer / publisher of the game can play for free. Those people who do not have the time, but are willing to spend money will be able get buy the refined dilithium that they need or purchase something from the C-Store.
Lockboxes? Yeah, it's basically gambling. Don't like it? Then don't do it. Nothing in the game is forcing you to unlock those lockboxes. If you want to take the risk, then be my guest. Otherwise, simply ignore them.
Overall, I like the F2P model that Cryptic has devised for the game. However, I have nothing to compare it to since Star Trek Online is the only MMO that I play. All other games I play are strictly single player games. I buy 'em, play 'em, then store 'em away.
I grind for dilithium, but I also buy Zen when Cryptic gives a 15% Zen bonus. PWE (and Crpytic) get some real cash from me and I get some extra Zen. Plus converting refined dilithium into Zen means I get more Zen in return for my time.
Maybe you know of a MMO game out there that is more F2P friendly than STO. A game where you are not required to spend any money to play the game if you choose to do so. If so, then let me know. I'll give it a try as long as the game seems interesting to me.
You think this game is awash with Microtransactions? Try Second Life or just about any other major MMORPG,... this game is a benevolent billionaire uncle in comparison,...
While I do put some rl cash into this game, just because I'm impatient, I specifically refused to use anything derived from rl cash with with my DR recruit. With the exception of some fleet weapons and a fleet ship, my DR toon has everything my pre-DR toons do and does just fine,... in fact, my per-DR toons got their Fleet ships, not with cash in, but with EC,... bought Ship Modules off the exchange, saved them up and then used them.
Getting ahead and "keeping up" in this game without putting any real money in, is more a matter of where you go and what you do as opposed to what you have. If you go to the right places often enough, you gain enough Dilithium and EC to purchase just about anything you need/want off the Exchange or cash it in for Zen for C-Store purchases,...
In fact right now, some things that used to be hugely expensive, are coming down in price due to all the new stuff from DR,... I remember my other toons be much more expensive to equip when I first started playing,...
"There... are... four... lights!" ~Jean Luc Picard
I have to say, compared to other "f"2P games, STO is the most genrous of them all. One does not need to purchase a single Zen ship if they do not choose and still gain full enjoyment from the game. One does not need to subscribe to get the same amount of base abilities/perks from the game.
As for ships, ALL ships are potntially available without zen or lobi through the exchange. One CAN enjoy the content with the provided ships through promotions and don't forget the FREE T6 event ships that ar eoffered.
I will amdit, I have used zen... I recently purchased a T6 Phantom and a few keys. not because I had to, but because I wanted to. Although I will admit, NEVER waste your zen on lockbox keys. the chances of seeing any type of reward just aren't viable. Although I did get a Plasmonic Leech console recently, so that was cool.
Things like that aside... the microtransactions seem for the most part fairly reasonable. Still, for the curious, I offer for comparison the roster of things you can purchase for Path of Exile.
This in a nutshell. Over on the Neverwinter Xb1, there is a vocal group of console players who are crying and whining that they cannot buy everything in the store in a 30ish DLC pack. They are backed up by PC Neverwinter players who think all of their PC purchases should carry over including their endgame characters because ESO did it.
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Yes, they do traffic in tribbles for "petting" if that's your thing. Not that there's anything wrong with that.
How? Not once has Cryptic ever pressured anyone into making a single purchase... Exploitation intones that Cryptic are in some way stacking things against players in order to force them into making purchases...
In a very limited (and I do mean very, very, very limited) fashion this is true, but let's be perfectly honest here, it's only to incentivise those purchases, not force them upon players... If Cryptic made it too easy to get CStore content without spending cash, no one would and to suggest that people would purchase items off the CStore otherwise is being simply naive, or outright deceitful...
Cryptic rely on the impulsiveness of people and are no worse than any other company who sell their wares in a consumerist world...
I don't see anyone around here attacking Apple for releasing a new IPhone every 6 months, which is virtually the same as the model before it, it just has some new software feature that should have almost been a free update... But yet, the sheeple que for hours to be the first idiot to own one...
Cryptic are no different... They give people incentive to buy things, nice shiney things that players want because they think it will improve their gaming experience...
Not once has anyone ever been forced to spend money by Cryptic... Not once... People like yourself might jump on here and rail against Cryptic's supposed cash grabs and 'exploitative' behaviour, but the very honest and blunt truth is that if you feel you're being exploited by Cryptic's sales model, they are not the problem...
The problem is your lack of self control... If you cannot help but feel that you absolutely, positively must buy every new shiney on the CStore, that is your own failing, but rather than accept responsibility for that failing, you blame Cryptic for 'exploiting' you because you cannot accept that you have no self control...
Another reflection of modern society though I suppose, everything is always someone else's fault...
Yah saying that ships are locked behind 20 dollars worth of zen is one way to say it. BUT you forgot to mention or maybe you dont know that you can also unlock them by simply playing the game. So one person can say it takes 20 dollars to unlock one ship, but me i can say that on my army of alts it would take 15 days of play to unlock a ship.
I dont find STOs microtransaction system annoying...i find it *less annoying* then micro systems from other games. In SWTOR for example as a brand new F2P you will be faced with a lot of limitations. Limited action bars, cant hide your helm, cant easily color coordinate your gear, cant run raids or pvp, you can do unlimited dungeons but you are limited to 3 loot rolls a week. Cant show titles, cant use epic/purple quality gear, have to play with reduced xp rate after level 20. And probably a bunch of others that i'm forgetting about. Luckily though in SWTOR you can pay to unlock some of those things on a per character basis or unlock them account wide. But the main thing about SWTOR is that they have no way for you to earn cartel coins (zen equivalent) in game. Technically there is a way but it is very very slow, so slow that you cant depend on it to buy anything worthwhile.
So i like STO's F2P model better but i just dont like what they have chosen to monetize. But since i'm able to play the game damn near unrestricted as an F2P and without having to spend money.
Very true.
I'm good if I get to play 2-4 hour per week. So I don't expect to get everything or the best stuff. It took me a couple months of playing to get enough Dil up to equip my Romulan ship fully with Romulan Rep stuff. I did it cause I made up my mind to do it. Its all part of the mind set and the will to do it.
USS Casinghead NCC 92047 launched 2350
Fleet Admiral Stowe - Dominion War Vet.
No,
Cause you buy what you want. Not once they are forcing you or tricking you into buying it. There is several ships I want, services, lobi stuff, etc. However they are not forcing me to buy. I buy it when I want to buy it.
USS Casinghead NCC 92047 launched 2350
Fleet Admiral Stowe - Dominion War Vet.
As people have said, STO is quite generous. I didn't shell out anything for my Delta Pack. I was probably THE nut who ground it out via in game means only. Was long, but more than worth the effort.
Other than Vet perks, everything is available to everyone if you're willing to put in the time.
Easy way to do this is:
It took a long time and lots of dead Voth to get the Delta Pack, but it was more than worth it after grinding 6 characters. And trust me... I don't want to shoot any more Voth on the ground for a bit after that one... but just goes to show anything is possible if you have a goal.
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Ive been there, its EA and they love totwist evrything they put their money into a freakshow of microtransactions.
Either this is a lame attempt at a troll thread or its a shameless promotion for a different game
Oh look X game has better this and that etc etc and etc
well .....if warframe is so much better then STO why are you not there playing warframe but here on the STO forum pestering us STO players about it.
The Last Sim City game, worst $60 bucks I ever spent. Everyday I missed playing, I got emails from EA telling me about a new building I could purchase with real money.
No where in the word exploitive is the idea of being forced to do things, lack of freedoms would merit far more derogatory terminology.
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Say wha? :eek:
Dang... that game just gets worse and worse just from what I hear.
Mandatory internet connection
Buildings for real money
I'll stick with the free copy of Sim City 2000 that I got off Origin.
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Definition of the terms 'Exploit' and 'Exploitation' from Dictionary.com...
Your claim that you were 'exploited' by Cryptics' sales model would imply you were forced or coerced into spending money, which has never been further from the truth...
You claim they 'exploited' you... They offered a product which you chose to buy, probably on impulse and later came to regret... If so, there was no exploitation involved, just poor judgement on your part...
So please, where has Cryptic ever 'exploited' the players?
Or are you trying to use buzzwords, which you clearly do not fully comprehend, in order to try and validate a weak position attacking Cryptic?
Yeah, SimCity went the way of The Sims... I've heard of $80 furniture sets and so forth... Doesn't suprise me in the slightest they would release real money buildings for SimCity...
No where in those definitions is a fundamental lack of choice in the matter. You're so detached from reality that you'll say anything, this is really sad.
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I had Sim City 2000 for my old SNES back in the day loved that game alot of fun and hours spent just grinding away
I was i think around 20 or close to 20 when i had that game and i miss it
Not only do you accuse Cryptic of exploiting players, you now insist on trying to defend the accusation by suggesting I am the one detached from reality... That's actually quite amusing...
The implication that Cryptic would 'exploit' players infers that there was a measure of coercion or lack of choice in the matter... An implication you are refusing to acknowledge and supply even a single shred of evidence to support your case on...
You can argue you never claimed players had no choice all you want, your original remark made quite clear exactly what you were implying...
A basless accusation that Cryptic are exploiting players and that 'there is no way around it', indicating players are forced into CStore purchases, which could not be further from the truth...
You keep those strawman arguments coming as your refusal to provide even anecdotal evidence to support your completely unfounded accusations says more than you realise...
In what grammatical world is saying that there's no way around a statement imply forced participation in a transaction?
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