Star Trek Online: Here We Go Again!

[Malakili]

Y'know, somehow "I told you so" just doesn't quite say it

Heh.  I said as soon as the NDA lifted that the game was total crap, but I was drowned out by a chorus of "but the space combat is pretty fun" which to be fair, it isn't bad.  But that doesn't really make a whole MMO more than total crap :)

Total crap is a pretty big piece of rhetoric for a game that a lot of people played to max level.

*shrugs* A lot of people play to max level in games worse than Star Trek, I don't think thats a very good measure.

[Tmon]

If the idea behind an MMO is that people will pay to play game for an extended period of time, then having most people quit after 6 weeks or so of play is a pretty good indication that it's a bad MMO regardless of how much fun was had by the players prior to quitting. 

[Rasix]

Y'know, somehow "I told you so" just doesn't quite say it

I think anyone that's been around the block here could spot this one from a mile away (of course many will still throw away their money thinking this bite of shit-sannich will be different from the last).  Only thing more ominous about this entire situation is if the game was put out by EA-Mythic, NetDevil, or Funcom.

[Shatter]

Y'know, somehow "I told you so" just doesn't quite say it

I think anyone that's been around the block here could spot this one from a mile away (of course many will still throw away their money thinking this bite of shit-sannich will be different from the last).  Only thing more ominous about this entire situation is if the game was put out by EA-Mythic, NetDevil, or Funcom.

Im curious, in order of 1 being worst, 5 being best(and I use that term loosely), how would some of you all rate the launches of the following games: AOC, WAR, Aion, STO, CO.
Mine would be:
1.  STO
2.  CO
3.  AOC
4.  WAR
5.  Aion

[Rasix]

I wouldn't know how to rank the AION, CO and STO launches outside of word of mouth.  I've almost completely ignored CO.  Aion seemed like it was stable (for which people were a little too happy about), while CO and STO have had various gripes about the state of the game.

For me, AoC was a bit worse than WAR.  AoC had more technical issues, while WAR just showed it was a crappy, broken, soulless game after level 11.  AoC I just had a hard time playing and had more obvious bugs/glitches.   This is what scares me with Funcom and Secret World.  They're going to push the graphics envelope again, and it's going to cause huge fucking headaches again as people getting a hundred FPS in their current MMO struggle to get 12 in latest Funcom offering.

[Shatter]

Ahhh Rasix you and I share the same worry with Secret World.  Im intrigued but very sceptical after AOC and I've been an MMO gamer long enough now that I dont plan to get burned twice.  Are they using the same engine for SW as they did AOC? 

[Ollie]

Oh yes, same in-house developed engine. Pure unadulterated Funcom goodness.

[Shatter]

Well if it is then maybe by some act of holy oversight they might of learned something from AOC and can produce this one with something higher then 10FPS...maybe?

[Murgos]

*shrugs* A lot of people play to max level in games worse than Star Trek, I don't think thats a very good measure.

Whatever, many of the people who played it will say they enjoyed it, regardless of how short the experience was, which is pretty much the antithesis of 'total crap'.

It's like the people saying that borderlands had no re-playability, that once you had played it through three times or so that was it...

[Shatter]

I guess if you went into it knowing you were only going to get a few weeks of play and dont mind spending the $50 for it, then ok.  Then there are the other people who think they are getting a game that will be a long term MMO and quickly discover that they were duped.  I think the majority of people who tried STO fall into category 2 just like WAR, AOC, etc.  People who keep up on games on sites like here are more likely to fall into category 1.  Luckily I fall into category 3 which is played beta, smelt the stinky and never went back.

[Ghambit]

As much as I hated Cryptic's design and implementation for the game, there WERE a few things they could've done to hold onto more subs.  Completing the social areas, finishing bridges, finishing functional bridges, finishing endgame, fixing pvp, finishing Klingon-play, increasing group sizes, finishing fleet management, and on and on.  All of this stuff they had partially implemented at release, but never truly were functional or finished.

What was left was a completely bland, "tease" of a title.  And they'll never recover from it either.

[kaid]

As much as I hated Cryptic's design and implementation for the game, there WERE a few things they could've done to hold onto more subs.  Completing the social areas, finishing bridges, finishing functional bridges, finishing endgame, fixing pvp, finishing Klingon-play, increasing group sizes, finishing fleet management, and on and on.  All of this stuff they had partially implemented at release, but never truly were functional or finished.

What was left was a completely bland, "tease" of a title.  And they'll never recover from it either.

This was my problem in CO there was fun there to be had but so much of the group integration and social stuff plus end game were just unfinished and clearly so.

[Draegan]

Im curious, in order of 1 being worst, 5 being best(and I use that term loosely), how would some of you all rate the launches of the following games: AOC, WAR, Aion, STO, CO.

Quite easy really.  Aion had a stellar launch from a technical standpoint.  The game was very stable (except one server which was over-over populated), the game was feature complete with what they promised and shit worked.  I'll leave it up to other to define if the game was fun or not.

WAR has some glitches and bugs.  You could play the game and everything worked but the balance and the combat engine were terrible.

AOC was a disaster.  Client crashes, everything bugged to hell or just incomplete.

Didn't play STO/CO at launch.

[Ghambit]

Im curious, in order of 1 being worst, 5 being best(and I use that term loosely), how would some of you all rate the launches of the following games: AOC, WAR, Aion, STO, CO.

Quite easy really.  Aion had a stellar launch from a technical standpoint.  The game was very stable (except one server which was over-over populated), the game was feature complete with what they promised and shit worked.  I'll leave it up to other to define if the game was fun or not.

WAR has some glitches and bugs.  You could play the game and everything worked but the balance and the combat engine were terrible.

AOC was a disaster.  Client crashes, everything bugged to hell or just incomplete.

Didn't play STO/CO at launch.

Oddly enough, as of now... AoC is probably the best game of the bunch.
I've been tempted more than once to re-sub.

[Tannhauser]

Liking Star Trek must be the litmus test of liking STO.

There are six in my gaming group, five of which love the ST universe.
Of those five, one has basically quit and gone back to WAR(!)
Three have hit max level and have at least two alts, they play almost every night.
One (me) plays about every third night and am level 28.  ME2 has swallowed me whole.
The non-ST fan played the trial and didn't like it.  He is a hardcore WoW player.

I like STO and will continue to play it.  I also want to see what they will add down the road.  Klingon storyline? Yes please!
I am currently a Ferengi captain wearing Kirk's red "Wrath of Khan" uniform, using dual phasers and will soon be flying an Intrepid class science ship.  LOVE IT!

So my opinion is in the vast minority on these boards, I'm used to it.  I'm the only liberal in a lab full of Palin-Americans. :)

[Ratman_tf]

Liking Star Trek must be the litmus test of liking STO.

I know of a Trekkie who was really looking forward to this game. She got into the Beta, and never bought the retail. She was too disappointed in the DIKU and feel of the game.

FWIW.

[Ghambit]

I like STO and will continue to play it.  I also want to see what they will add down the road.  Klingon storyline? Yes please!
I am currently a Ferengi captain wearing Kirk's red "Wrath of Khan" uniform, using dual phasers and will soon be flying an Intrepid class science ship.  LOVE IT!

So my opinion is in the vast minority on these boards, I'm used to it.  I'm the only liberal in a lab full of Palin-Americans. :)

Dont you get phreakin BORED?  It's the same bland crap over and over.
You must be having a friend to run the Storyline with you, 'cause that's the only way I see people really making it through the treadmill.

[Tannhauser]

Nope, the game is relaxing to me. Just did 2.5 hours solo.  I even read the mission text!  *shudder*

Different people like different things. 

[Valmorian]

Dont you get phreakin BORED?  It's the same bland crap over and over.
You must be having a friend to run the Storyline with you, 'cause that's the only way I see people really making it through the treadmill.

That's what EVERY MMO is like.  Even the very best of them (WoW) is the same bland crap over and over.  Either you trick yourself into thinking it's somehow different or you enjoy the gameplay elements enough to not mind the repetition.

[Ollie]

To be fair, even though the current MMORPG landscape is a bit of a bleak wasteland, not every single game out there is as horrid as your average Diku. But more to your point, some people actually enjoy the repetition itself. It's the warm comforting blanket of a predictable event horizon in a cruel and fragmented world. There's a certain safety in having one's expectations met without fail.

Slog through the levelling game in even the marquee MMOGs, and you'll likely spend many joyous hours doing the same things over and over again. Sure, the barrier of entry is higher, but your average end-game grind is conceptually not all that far removed from the "click, wait, repeat" Excel spreadsheet nonsense Zynga puts on Facebook. If I'm not terribly mistaken, a few people play those.

[Shatter]

Im curious, in order of 1 being worst, 5 being best(and I use that term loosely), how would some of you all rate the launches of the following games: AOC, WAR, Aion, STO, CO.

Quite easy really.  Aion had a stellar launch from a technical standpoint.  The game was very stable (except one server which was over-over populated), the game was feature complete with what they promised and shit worked.  I'll leave it up to other to define if the game was fun or not.

WAR has some glitches and bugs.  You could play the game and everything worked but the balance and the combat engine were terrible.

AOC was a disaster.  Client crashes, everything bugged to hell or just incomplete.

Didn't play STO/CO at launch.

Oddly enough, as of now... AoC is probably the best game of the bunch.
I've been tempted more than once to re-sub.

Gone back twice, trust me dont bother

[Draegan]

Oddly enough, as of now... AoC is probably the best game of the bunch.
I've been tempted more than once to re-sub.

It's actually quite good now, but my only turn off is the instancing of the game.  It's not a full open world.  Beautiful game though.  I gave it a second go around when a group of us here went at it again.

[taolurker]

So the major update for STO just went live, including respecs (both "in-game" and for sale in the C-store).

Full notes in spoiler:

[Riggswolfe]

Oddly enough, as of now... AoC is probably the best game of the bunch.
I've been tempted more than once to re-sub.

It's actually quite good now, but my only turn off is the instancing of the game.  It's not a full open world.  Beautiful game though.  I gave it a second go around when a group of us here went at it again.

Half price books near me have unopened boxes for like $10 I think. I've been tempted to pick it up and give it a try just for the hell of it. Is it worth even the free trial month at that box price?

[koro]

Oddly enough, as of now... AoC is probably the best game of the bunch.
I've been tempted more than once to re-sub.

It's actually quite good now, but my only turn off is the instancing of the game.  It's not a full open world.  Beautiful game though.  I gave it a second go around when a group of us here went at it again.

Half price books near me have unopened boxes for like $10 I think. I've been tempted to pick it up and give it a try just for the hell of it. Is it worth even the free trial month at that box price?

I felt the free month was worth it at $50, so $10 is a definite.

[Tannhauser]

Some good stuff in the new patch.  My friend will be thrilled to play a Tellerite. Good to see more stuff for the Klingon players, but I guess their pve content is still a ways off. 

I'm going to try the new fleet actions and hopefully they fixed a couple of the original ones.

[01101010]

Some good stuff in the new patch.  My friend will be thrilled to play a Tellerite. Good to see more stuff for the Klingon players, but I guess their pve content is still a ways off. 

I'm going to try the new fleet actions and hopefully they fixed a couple of the original ones.

No Romulans, still? No thanks, still.

[Snee]

do the respecs include traits or just skills?

[Cyrrex]

Oddly enough, as of now... AoC is probably the best game of the bunch.
I've been tempted more than once to re-sub.

It's actually quite good now, but my only turn off is the instancing of the game.  It's not a full open world.  Beautiful game though.  I gave it a second go around when a group of us here went at it again.

Half price books near me have unopened boxes for like $10 I think. I've been tempted to pick it up and give it a try just for the hell of it. Is it worth even the free trial month at that box price?

I felt the free month was worth it at $50, so $10 is a definite.

The Tortage tutorial experience (roughly the first 20 levels?) of AoC was arguably worth the 50 dollar box cost even back on launch day, if you were lucky like me and didn't have bugs to deal with.  At ten bucks, it's a steal.  Reminds me, though, didn't AoC offer up a permanent free trial for Tortage?  Maybe they aren't doing it anymore.

[Draegan]

Half price books near me have unopened boxes for like $10 I think. I've been tempted to pick it up and give it a try just for the hell of it. Is it worth even the free trial month at that box price?

I felt the free month was worth it at $50, so $10 is a definite.

Absolutely.  $10 bucks is worth it, especially if you have a decent rig to play with godrays and the rest of the dx10 toys.

[koro]

I felt the free month was worth it at $50, so $10 is a definite.

The Tortage tutorial experience (roughly the first 20 levels?) of AoC was arguably worth the 50 dollar box cost even back on launch day, if you were lucky like me and didn't have bugs to deal with.  At ten bucks, it's a steal.  Reminds me, though, didn't AoC offer up a permanent free trial for Tortage?  Maybe they aren't doing it anymore.

As far as I know, the "permanent free Tortage" deal was a limited-time thing that required you to sign up for an account, download the client, and log in at least once before, I think, January first of this year. I tried it and absolutely detested the melee combat, which everyone else seemed to love. Mount&Blade spoiled me for third-person melee combat.

[Riggswolfe]

I was wrong. It was $6. I grabbed one for the wife and one for me. I also walked by the unopened WAR collector's edition for $15 but wasn't tempted at all.

[taolurker]

I felt the free month was worth it at $50, so $10 is a definite.

The Tortage tutorial experience (roughly the first 20 levels?) of AoC was arguably worth the 50 dollar box cost even back on launch day, if you were lucky like me and didn't have bugs to deal with.  At ten bucks, it's a steal.  Reminds me, though, didn't AoC offer up a permanent free trial for Tortage?  Maybe they aren't doing it anymore.

As far as I know, the "permanent free Tortage" deal was a limited-time thing that required you to sign up for an account, download the client, and log in at least once before, I think, January first of this year. I tried it and absolutely detested the melee combat, which everyone else seemed to love. Mount&Blade spoiled me for third-person melee combat.

Off Topic, but:
They still have an unlimited trial page for AoC, which is permanent free Tortage BTW.

[Stormwaltz]

So, haven't logged in yet, but I did patch and check to see what they added to the store.

New race? Guys? No one wanted to play the racist pig-men. Really. Fail.

New bridges? They still don't do anything, so who cares? Fail.

New ship parts? I was excited about this, but... it's only for Tier 5 (sensible), and only for one of the three classes. It's not a science ship, which I use. Fail.

Respecs, renames, and extra character slots? These are actually nice options to have, but I don't need any of them. I still only have one main and one alt.

I've got 700-some points for their store (500 came with the game, plus a few for completing their survey). Looks like my account's going to lapse without spending any of them.

[Cadaverine]

You can spend 400 of them on a respec that doesn't work.