Gearbox did not have anything to do with the purchase. Here's how I understand it's going to work: Embracer Group is a holdings company which means that they hold shares over the companies in which they have acquired. Gearbox is one such subsidiary & will oversee Cryptic Studios. However, the press release says that Cryptic studios & PWE Publishing well remain independent, which to me sounds like there's not going to be any meaningful change that is happening here.
I know what I said is likely going to be a big disappointment, but this is what the press release from Embracer said. It did also say though that Gearbox is going to onboard them, meaning that there is going to probably be some kind of new expectations from Gearbox, but we won't know anything really until the deal finalizes next month.
What will happen if Gearbox doesn't make any kind of meaningful change with Cryptic here?
If there are no notable changes, it means that Embracer and Gearbox is content with how things are going, and acquired PWE NA and Cryptic more for IP deals/licensing. As it is currently, there are no announced changes to staffing, which sometimes happen when game companies change hands. Everyone who was already involved with PWE NA and Cryptic are going to remain where they are for the most part. Nothing will change for awhile then, as Gearbox and Embracer leave their newest acquisitions alone for awhile to see how they do financially and operationally.
So at the very least, we're looking at 3-6 months, or at least 2 financial quarters, before Gearbox makes any potential recommendations and Embracer uses their shareholding power to force a board/staff change if necessary, up to maybe one full financial year before anything is adjusted.
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That being said, the only realistic change that might happen sooner than later is pushing to hire more staff, if only to help with bug-fixing, code documentation and clean-up, and additional content creation. Given that Cryptic is now more or less permanently operating from home for the most part, no need to have individuals physically move to Cali and into the office. Even then, it would mostly be apprenticing under the main Cryptic staff until they have more familiarity with the game code and game assets, which can take awhile (moreso given the clunky engine and ancient production methodology).
That would still leave a year or two of no notable changes while the new hires get caught up with things, meaning still no major changes during that time. Just a larger fixed bugs list and some additional content work put in.
It should also be noted that everybody is getting the wrong idea by just saying "Gearbox". There are two Gearbox's. Gearbox Publishing and Gearbox Studios. Cryptic is under Gearbox Publishing. Gearbox Studios is also under Gearbox Publishing. Randy Pitchford and crew are Gearbox Studios, which develops the Borderlands games.
If anything the PWE functions will likely be moved to or merged with some function of Gearbox Publishing, eventually. But even then it is more likely that most of the changes will simply be a name change on the office door and the games splash page. Cryptic and Gearbox Studios do not compete in any market segments. They have very different skillsets and product lines. Similarly while Gearbox Publishing is a game publisher, they do not publish any MMO's. They are not likely to come in and rearrange anything. It looks like Embracer came in and picked up a ready made turnkey MMO operation because Perfect World China saw the writing on the wall with regard to the CCP and what went down with Tencent, and sought to divest itself of its North American assets. (Preferably for cash that could be safely stashed within the western Banking system or Real Estate outside of the CCP's reach).
They would have to use a better model than that though, the one you suggested does not take into account the change in the gamer population over time. The pool of MMO player in general was much more hardcore back when the game started, but since then far more casuals and semi-casuals have entered the MMO player population and greatly outnumber the (generally spendier) hardcore players. That is also why PvP is struggling in most games nowadays too.
Anyway, the bottom line is that you cannot directly compare curves that originate at different times because the market is constantly changing, you need to make allowances for that.
Also, they may actually be giving both ships and scenarios equal priority but the scenario stuff probably takes a lot more time and effort. They could even be giving the mission content MORE priority than the ships and have that same thing happen because of the difference in time and effort each takes.
Yes, it's true that when the game's servers are shut off for good, all uniforms, characters, ships, gear etc. will no longer be available for us to play with.
SWG and COH say otherwise
Granted that whoever decides to run the private server has the equipment necessary to allow everyone to access it. and not lock it behind and absurd paywall
> @livinlifejb90#4082 said: > Granted that whoever decides to run the private server has the equipment necessary to allow everyone to access it. and not lock it behind and absurd paywall
The ones in question accept donations to cover the costs, but donations are stopped at the exact dollar amount need. The cannot accept any more than is exactly needed or it is profit and too big of a potential legal problem. For reasons unknown many companies seem to turn a blind eye and let the emus exist as long as NO actual profit is made.
More or less we've been at THREE content updates a year,
IMO, the term "content updates" is a fairly useless term because it can mean so many different things and also does not even quantify the actual amount of content.
And TBH, I feel the same way about long lists that you know who was famous for. So let's put it another way; a very simple and easy to understand way.
What is the yearly average number of:
A: new episodes
B: new TFOs
Once we get that we can talk about those actual numbers, and not have to use vague terms that can mean different things to different people.
I thought there was a page on the wiki that showed all content released by year, but I can't find it at the moment to maybe someone else can.
Has anybody got an answer to items "A" and "B" above? I'm looking for simple numbers here, not walls of text.
After a quick check through the wiki, it looks like the past three years have looked like this:
2019: 5 missions and 4 queues
2020: 5 missions and 3 queues
2021: 5 missions and 2 queues
Another thought on this.
So, episodes are the story content of this game. And on average, let's say episodes represent 2 hours (if we're being generous) of playtime.
So this means Cryptic is putting out... 10 hours (again, being generous) of actual story content... PER YEAR.
That is just...hard to comprehend...for an MMO.
But hey, they sure are putting out a bunch of ships to play those10 hours with!
Well... I suppose if one were to compare that to a contemporary TV show on a streaming service, 10 hours would be about right as many shows have 10 one-hour-long episodes per season. Some even less. And the wait time between seasons is worse than the wate time in STO.
What they should aim to do is divide up those 10 hours and release one hour per month for 8 months and a 2-hour finale in the 9th month and take the next 3 months to finalize the first three missions of the next season. That 3 months could get a cooperative assignment intended to last for those 3 months. Something like an Alliance Holding that lets the entire playerbae participate in progressing the content resulting in the new social hub where the next season's primary mission givers would be located.
Marvel Heroes Online did that way back in the day introducing the Asgard Hub and Artifacts.
> @sirsitsalot said:
> Well... I suppose if one were to compare that to a contemporary TV show on a streaming service,
But why would anyone make such a crazy comparison in the first place? This isn't a streaming service or a TV show, it is an MMO. So any comparisons regarding playable content would only make sense in relation to other MMOs.
Its an interesting thought though. One 'argument' I've seen used against FFXIV (as an example) that was stated in this, or another, thread (not going to go hunting for these comments) was "I'm not playing that - it's a subscription based model and you don't get your money's worth if you don't play every day". I wonder how many of those who have that mindset about an MMO with a sub-based business model have subscriptions to one or more of the various streaming services out there but don't watch shows/movies on them every single day.
Cryptic has a small team with everyone having to do pretty much everything, the result being very little actually gets done because of all the internal bottlenecking that causes. It's like a Home Depot expecting someone hired to work in the paint department being expected to work in the lumber department, the plumbing department AND the paint department and get everything done 100%.
They would have to use a better model than that though, the one you suggested does not take into account the change in the gamer population over time. The pool of MMO player in general was much more hardcore back when the game started, but since then far more casuals and semi-casuals have entered the MMO player population and greatly outnumber the (generally spendier) hardcore players. That is also why PvP is struggling in most games nowadays too.
Anyway, the bottom line is that you cannot directly compare curves that originate at different times because the market is constantly changing, you need to make allowances for that.
Also, they may actually be giving both ships and scenarios equal priority but the scenario stuff probably takes a lot more time and effort. They could even be giving the mission content MORE priority than the ships and have that same thing happen because of the difference in time and effort each takes.
STO doesn't and won't appeal to the 'hardcore' MMO gamer who likes very challenging content and fight mechanics. STO WAS NEVER designed in that fashion. It has always been a VERY casual MMO pretty much designed to appeal to Star Trek fans who want to experience a fantasy about commanding a ship in the Star Trek Universe. About the only aspect of STO that is 'hardcore' and requires specific knowledge of how to (as in game legally as possible) use STO game mechanics is the group of players who strive to maximize their DPS output overall to the highest degree (Read: largest output possible). There's absolutely no in game content that requires this - it's just the one challenge this group of players find worthwhile for their time in game.
And as someone who's been playing MMOs since the genre started - many an MMO developer found that just catering to the hardcore folks actually cost them money in that if they made the games more casual, they'd cast and get a wider net of players who didn't quit in frustration.
And of course there always are exceptions (like FFXIV) who from day one of the remake (after the initial disaster that caused the game to shutter for 18 months while they retooled and effectively remade it with the same engine); who have successfully managed to cater to both hard core raiders and very casual players (they have a cadre of players who just primarily focus on the games crafting system; or sit for day decorating and redecorating their in game houses, to the point some players PAY other player to decorate their in game houses - no lie). But hell, even with FFXIV's latest expansion (that took them two years to make) - most players FINISHED the added storylines (even with the massive queue times to get in) within 1 week to 10 days. (Took me 9 days and no, I wasn't rushing as I watched every cutscene because I actually DO like the story the game is telling.) those who just rushed and skipped cutscenes did it in about two days. (Oh and as far a VO talent, FFXIV have their own characters and the same stable of actors for the past decade or so as well, so they probably don't have to pay on the same level as Cryptic does to get VO talent. Plus they don't put VO in every cutscene.)
But for example both Ever Quest and World of Warcraft started out catering more to 'hardcore' gamers, but then started to retool and started catering more to the casual gamer because in the end, what drives business is sustainable profit and the best return of investment (IE money spent) possible.
It remains to be seen just what changes (and their will be changes) Gearbox makes once the deal is concluded and they have control. they may already have an idea of what they ultimately want to do with Cryptic; and how they plan to leverage to company and it's licenses and properties to further their larger business goals.
It may mean that they ultimately start to restructure how Cryptic runs itself and its business model - or they may just leave it pretty much alone at let it continue as it has been (and yeah I take any statements made during an acquisition lie this as worth a grain of salt. Gearbox does have a plan for Cryptic and will execute that plan.)
^^^
Whether it will lead to changes a majority of the STO player base like, or will lead to expand the player base for STO in the long run remains to be seen.
(Oh and as for Cryptic being 'cheap' - yeah, no SAG and former Star trek actor comes that cheap and especially not series leads like Sonequa Martin-Green<--- Which was the first lead actress Cryptic ever got for STO and now Kate Mulgrew - you have to be willing to spend to get that level of talent. I'm sure the reason you'll probably never see Patrick Stewart is because Cryptic can't afford his asking price. But no, on that level Cryptic is not going 'cheap' - and they obviously have seen the RoI on that expenditure for talent drives higher profit. -- Of course it could also be a reason why Never Winter IS more profitable than STOas it doesn't have to pay as much for any VO talent it uses.)
Formerly known as Armsman from June 2008 to June 20, 2012 PWE ARC Drone says: "Your STO forum community as you have known it is ended...Display names are irrelevant...Any further sense of community is irrelevant...Resistance is futile...You will be assimilated..."
They would have to use a better model than that though, the one you suggested does not take into account the change in the gamer population over time. The pool of MMO player in general was much more hardcore back when the game started, but since then far more casuals and semi-casuals have entered the MMO player population and greatly outnumber the (generally spendier) hardcore players. That is also why PvP is struggling in most games nowadays too.
Anyway, the bottom line is that you cannot directly compare curves that originate at different times because the market is constantly changing, you need to make allowances for that.
Also, they may actually be giving both ships and scenarios equal priority but the scenario stuff probably takes a lot more time and effort. They could even be giving the mission content MORE priority than the ships and have that same thing happen because of the difference in time and effort each takes.
STO doesn't and won't appeal to the 'hardcore' MMO gamer who likes very challenging content and fight mechanics. STO WAS NEVER designed in that fashion. It has always been a VERY casual MMO pretty much designed to appeal to Star Trek fans who want to experience a fantasy about commanding a ship in the Star Trek Universe. About the only aspect of STO that is 'hardcore' and requires specific knowledge of how to (as in game legally as possible) use STO game mechanics is the group of players who strive to maximize their DPS output overall to the highest degree (Read: largest output possible). There's absolutely no in game content that requires this - it's just the one challenge this group of players find worthwhile for their time in game.
And as someone who's been playing MMOs since the genre started - many an MMO developer found that just catering to the hardcore folks actually cost them money in that if they made the games more casual, they'd cast and get a wider net of players who didn't quit in frustration. . . .
I was speaking of the changes in the industry and playerbase in general to point to Sirsitsalot that the model he suggested to analyze player response in STO was far too simple to give any meaningful output since it did not take those changes into account and would only work if the market had remained static instead.
It is true that STO was never meant as a hardcore game, though some old-school hardcore players do play it for the Star Trek novelty of it and their spending habits do tend to differ a bit from the typical casual gamer who nowadays far outnumbers everyone else.
Comments
It should also be noted that everybody is getting the wrong idea by just saying "Gearbox". There are two Gearbox's. Gearbox Publishing and Gearbox Studios. Cryptic is under Gearbox Publishing. Gearbox Studios is also under Gearbox Publishing. Randy Pitchford and crew are Gearbox Studios, which develops the Borderlands games.
If anything the PWE functions will likely be moved to or merged with some function of Gearbox Publishing, eventually. But even then it is more likely that most of the changes will simply be a name change on the office door and the games splash page. Cryptic and Gearbox Studios do not compete in any market segments. They have very different skillsets and product lines. Similarly while Gearbox Publishing is a game publisher, they do not publish any MMO's. They are not likely to come in and rearrange anything. It looks like Embracer came in and picked up a ready made turnkey MMO operation because Perfect World China saw the writing on the wall with regard to the CCP and what went down with Tencent, and sought to divest itself of its North American assets. (Preferably for cash that could be safely stashed within the western Banking system or Real Estate outside of the CCP's reach).
This one?
https://sto.fandom.com/wiki/Season
Anyway, the bottom line is that you cannot directly compare curves that originate at different times because the market is constantly changing, you need to make allowances for that.
Also, they may actually be giving both ships and scenarios equal priority but the scenario stuff probably takes a lot more time and effort. They could even be giving the mission content MORE priority than the ships and have that same thing happen because of the difference in time and effort each takes.
Granted that whoever decides to run the private server has the equipment necessary to allow everyone to access it. and not lock it behind and absurd paywall
> Granted that whoever decides to run the private server has the equipment necessary to allow everyone to access it. and not lock it behind and absurd paywall
The ones in question accept donations to cover the costs, but donations are stopped at the exact dollar amount need. The cannot accept any more than is exactly needed or it is profit and too big of a potential legal problem. For reasons unknown many companies seem to turn a blind eye and let the emus exist as long as NO actual profit is made.
The-Grand-Nagus
Join Date: Sep 2008
Marvel Heroes Online did that way back in the day introducing the Asgard Hub and Artifacts.
Lots. Like gymnasiums, it is how they make money
So...just like reality?
STO doesn't and won't appeal to the 'hardcore' MMO gamer who likes very challenging content and fight mechanics. STO WAS NEVER designed in that fashion. It has always been a VERY casual MMO pretty much designed to appeal to Star Trek fans who want to experience a fantasy about commanding a ship in the Star Trek Universe. About the only aspect of STO that is 'hardcore' and requires specific knowledge of how to (as in game legally as possible) use STO game mechanics is the group of players who strive to maximize their DPS output overall to the highest degree (Read: largest output possible). There's absolutely no in game content that requires this - it's just the one challenge this group of players find worthwhile for their time in game.
And as someone who's been playing MMOs since the genre started - many an MMO developer found that just catering to the hardcore folks actually cost them money in that if they made the games more casual, they'd cast and get a wider net of players who didn't quit in frustration.
And of course there always are exceptions (like FFXIV) who from day one of the remake (after the initial disaster that caused the game to shutter for 18 months while they retooled and effectively remade it with the same engine); who have successfully managed to cater to both hard core raiders and very casual players (they have a cadre of players who just primarily focus on the games crafting system; or sit for day decorating and redecorating their in game houses, to the point some players PAY other player to decorate their in game houses - no lie). But hell, even with FFXIV's latest expansion (that took them two years to make) - most players FINISHED the added storylines (even with the massive queue times to get in) within 1 week to 10 days. (Took me 9 days
But for example both Ever Quest and World of Warcraft started out catering more to 'hardcore' gamers, but then started to retool and started catering more to the casual gamer because in the end, what drives business is sustainable profit and the best return of investment (IE money spent) possible.
It remains to be seen just what changes (and their will be changes) Gearbox makes once the deal is concluded and they have control. they may already have an idea of what they ultimately want to do with Cryptic; and how they plan to leverage to company and it's licenses and properties to further their larger business goals.
It may mean that they ultimately start to restructure how Cryptic runs itself and its business model - or they may just leave it pretty much alone at let it continue as it has been (and yeah I take any statements made during an acquisition lie this as worth a grain of salt. Gearbox does have a plan for Cryptic and will execute that plan.)
^^^
Whether it will lead to changes a majority of the STO player base like, or will lead to expand the player base for STO in the long run remains to be seen.
(Oh and as for Cryptic being 'cheap' - yeah, no SAG and former Star trek actor comes that cheap and especially not series leads like Sonequa Martin-Green<--- Which was the first lead actress Cryptic ever got for STO and now Kate Mulgrew - you have to be willing to spend to get that level of talent. I'm sure the reason you'll probably never see Patrick Stewart is because Cryptic can't afford his asking price. But no, on that level Cryptic is not going 'cheap' - and they obviously have seen the RoI on that expenditure for talent drives higher profit. -- Of course it could also be a reason why Never Winter IS more profitable than STOas it doesn't have to pay as much for any VO talent it uses.)
PWE ARC Drone says: "Your STO forum community as you have known it is ended...Display names are irrelevant...Any further sense of community is irrelevant...Resistance is futile...You will be assimilated..."
I was speaking of the changes in the industry and playerbase in general to point to Sirsitsalot that the model he suggested to analyze player response in STO was far too simple to give any meaningful output since it did not take those changes into account and would only work if the market had remained static instead.
It is true that STO was never meant as a hardcore game, though some old-school hardcore players do play it for the Star Trek novelty of it and their spending habits do tend to differ a bit from the typical casual gamer who nowadays far outnumbers everyone else.