Star Trek: Online Redux (... again)
Roo
For the tl;dr crowd, it basically says that the new executive producer of Star Trek Online is open to the idea of the game becoming essentially free to play, but with lots of little microtransactions in order to make a profit (a la Dungeons and Dragons Online or Lord of the Rings Online). As I've stated a couple of times, I actually enjoyed this game back when it first came out. Of course, this angered and frightened some people (especially those on YouTube... don't mess with some people's perception of Star Trek via YouTube). The biggest problem I had with the game was that it didn't have enough content to last me past the free month, so I never resubscribed.
That was the biggest problem. But there were others - primarily shallow ground combat and an obvious rushed feel to the game in general. But like I said, I still enjoyed it. I'm sure my immense Trek fandom played no small role in that, but I stand by my opinion. I was originally thinking of waiting a few more months and then perhaps trying the game again, to see what they've added and what problems they fixed. But I know there are many more who won't give STO a second chance. An essentially free way to play the game is probably Atari's best hope to restore a lot of the squandered faith in both the Star Trek and MMO communities.
I'd like to share another point of view that probably puts the situation in much plainer light. Below you'll find an excerpt from an e-mail a good friend sent me after I asked him the simple question back in March, "What did you think of STO thus far?"
I think the game is in serious trouble. It may not even last a year if they don't turn things around quickly, and so far their calendar for releasing content is not impressive from the standpoint of they are things that should have been in the game from release.
Did you see the Atari deals scandal? Before the first month of release was over, they had a deal on Atari.com that sold the game for $10 less than the original price, but what's more troubling was a bonus 60 days free game time on top of the first 30 day that all of us who bought the game at release/pre-order got... I gotta say that is some terrible marketing and kinda pisses me off that had we waited we would have gotten 90 days free. The forums went crazy and so they took the deal down after a few days though they of course had to honor it for many, but the game's price is reduced on their site and other places again just a week or so after they took the first deal down. It looks like Atari is scrambling to make as much money as possible form a sinking ship to me, which is sad.
I am waiting a few months as well, hoping they improve the game and add a ton more depth to it as I would like to play it again some day, but I think they have a lot of work to do to make the game worth re-subbing and just adding more quests and a few more ships here and there is not going to be enough. Though I admit, the one thing that could get me back immediately is introduce Romulans as a playable faction, then I would re-sub for a month again, get to cap there, then likely never play again heh.
I don't see anything short of a complete re-do of the ground combat system ever being good, so a big chunk of the game I have little hope for, but romulan ships and/or about three times as much content, with something to work towards once reaching level cap and I may try it again.
Nailed it. I have nothing more to say.
wow, not even a full year on the market and already thinking about going free...
lotro was out for a few years before they started looking at a free service.
I think Atari really shot themselves in the foot when they obviously rushed STO out the door. The free talk is just another log on that fire.
Mix metaphors much?
I cant really say I've played STO at all. But Im not very surprised if everything I've heard and read are true.
anyone Remember Aion. I actually liked that game More than WoW despiteo nly having played it for a few measly minutes. The reason I liked it better was because they did a lot of little things better. Allowign you to set up your own shop, theway they did the shopst themselves, the collection areas, and the fact that you got to fly at an early level. The only rpoblem, Well, it was seriously flawed with it's customer service from what I understand. I had two friends who played the game and there accounts got hacked big time. The company who made theg ame (Wich I think also made Guild Wars, a game they also loved) said, "Sorry there's nothing we can do, we'll get your account back but all that armor gear and money you lost...we cant do anything about." Really tickedo ff both of my friends. and tyo make things worse for them (the company) from what I understand there were tons upon tons of Accoutns hacked from Aeon, loads of Spam. I mean, Let me show you a video my friend put up on youtube. It's not sped up and seriously, It's all spam you see there.
Aeon Spam I kid you not, I saw this in person. It's true this is not sped up and that is nothing but spam. Now this was a couple of months ago so I don't know how bad it is now, But shesh. After I saw this I kinda forsaw Aeons downfall. That and all the hacked accounts.
Imagine if this was the case with Atari and STO. Do you really think you would trust Atari to make anything Much less an MMO if they are gonna show blatient Disrespect to its customers. In a way you coulds say they have already started belittleing there Clientell with the Pricing Scandel your friend mentions, but, thats more or less up for debate and probably just them trying to get customers and unintentionally offending there clientell. Thats an acceptible Offence, you know one where they accidently do it. However, it will effect the future of there sells. more people might wait for the great deal as opposed to preordering it.
there seems to bea trend in mmo lately. they start out as a monthly sub then afetr a few years when it's nto as profitable they switch over to a free game,
Blizzard has already been discussing what changes will be made to WoW when/if it switches over to a free to play game. Devs have started they are talking about it, but aren't going to switch anytime soon.
The only things I want to know is when l2 and it's 70millions subs is going to go free :P