[GAMES] Star Trek MMO

[Manisch Depressiv]

As long es everybody can play Data it will be a major success xD.

I am wondering why literally everything has to be pressed into the MMOG format?

Is the end of "normal" games near?

Sorry that I couldn't contribute to the topic, but I am an old Trekkie fan (just ST:NG & DS9 though).

[Dreamor]

Originally Posted by Faeldawn

Read what you just posted and apply it to old and current mmo's where many, many player have for decades played support classes, healers etc and been very happy playing that role. If they are a key part of the overall success and are indeed essential crewmen, it won't be a problem.

I'm sorry, but if you think EVERYONE will want to be blowing shit up, your really quite naieve as to what mmo players actually want in their gaming and even more out of touch with the kind of thing Star Trek fans want.

Honestly you'll probably find more players want to play Tactical Officers, Helmsmen and Engineers than actual Captains.

You asked about Star Trek "flavour" and what Star Trek fans want, well there it is from my perspective.

A healer is totally different and I think you miss the point I'm trying to make. Yes, support classes are as much fun as any other (I played a Cleric myself in DAOC) but what I am trying to say is, how would you want to be stuck in a engineering room (for example) without seeing ANY of the combat. Its the combat and tactical space combat that makes Star Trek interesting (the space combat part anyway.) I'm sure the class would be perfectly fine like any other if you beam to a planet and start fighting your way through with the others, say the same engineer can setup turrets or fix Radar arrays that no other crewman can. A Healer class as you put it is a totally different fish, your there, you can see the combat, even if your just sat there hitting the 1 heal button

I'm not arguing with you, Faeldawn, I'm simply trying to make sure everyone in the game gets a fair share of the action... whatever they are doing.

[Dreamor]

Originally Posted by Manisch Depressiv

As long es everybody can play Data it will be a major success xD.

I am wondering why literally everything has to be pressed into the MMOG format?

Is the end of "normal" games near?

Sorry that I couldn't contribute to the topic, but I am an old Trekkie fan (just ST:NG & DS9 though).

I think with the 'success' of WoW, everyone tries to compete by hitting the same tick boxes... its only natural.

Am a big ST:TNG & DS9 fan myself, so comment away with ideas mate

[Faeldawn]

Originally Posted by Dreamor

A healer is totally different and I think you miss the point I'm trying to make. Yes, support classes are as much fun as any other (I played a Cleric myself in DAOC) but what I am trying to say is, how would you want to be stuck in a engineering room (for example) without seeing ANY of the combat. Its the combat and tactical space combat that makes Star Trek interesting (the space combat part anyway.) I'm sure the class would be perfectly fine like any other if you beam to a planet and start fighting your way through with the others, say the same engineer can setup turrets or fix Radar arrays that no other crewman can. A Healer class as you put it is a totally different fish, your there, you can see the combat, even if your just sat there hitting the 1 heal button

I'm not arguing with you, Faeldawn, I'm simply trying to make sure everyone in the game gets a fair share of the action... whatever they are doing.

I understand what you are saying, but i think you are looking at it too one dimentionally. Who says all an engineer can see is a bulkhead and a flashy light? It's a game, you can do all sorts of things, provide all sorts of views and interactions. There doesn't have to be any significant difference between the engineer and a support class in any other mmo.

The entire point of mmo gaming for the vast majority of players is to play with other players. There is a great opportunity for this to work with Star Trek on Starships, but it will take a lot of development and a lot of original thinking. Comments like "it'll just be EvE with a Star Trek skin job" annoy me, it smacks of the usual blinkered mind-set we have come to expect from the modern gaming monkey.

Lack of imagination plagues modern mmo's, I fear such companies take the easy options rather than actually thinking about the process or trying to come up with a new concept that works. I know the current formats work and sell well, but thats really besides the point. You can break the mould and still be successful.

IMO in making a Star Trek land-based game there is a good chance it'll be a cop out, it's the easy option and the one eveyone else takes to cash-in on a brand title. If it's done right im sure it can work, but in all honesty whats the chance it'll be anything other than Planetside with phasers?

Try something new, or just go ahead and take a slice of the WoW pie, don't procrastinate

[Faeldawn]

Originally Posted by Manisch Depressiv

As long es everybody can play Data it will be a major success xD.

I am wondering why literally everything has to be pressed into the MMOG format?

Is the end of "normal" games near?

Sorry that I couldn't contribute to the topic, but I am an old Trekkie fan (just ST:NG & DS9 though).

Simple answer is money bud

You sell a normal game, you make one sale, you sell an mmorpg, you have the same sale plus a monthly input for minimal additional effort

It's the golden goose all over again

[Dreamor]

Originally Posted by Faeldawn

I understand what you are saying, but i think you are looking at it too one dimentionally. Who says all an engineer can see is a bulkhead and a flashy light? It's a game, you can do all sorts of things, provide all sorts of views and interactions. There doesn't have to be any significant difference between the engineer and a support class in any other mmo.

The entire point of mmo gaming for the vast majority of players is to play with other players. There is a great opportunity for this to work with Star Trek on Starships, but it will take a lot of development and a lot of original thinking. Comments like "it'll just be EvE with a Star Trek skin job" annoy me, it smacks of the usual blinkered mind-set we have come to expect from the modern gaming monkey.

Faeldawn, you seem intent on trying to rip my posts apart without reading my enire post or even putting the entire line of my text in . I'm just saying that as of RIGHT now or any Perpetual/P2 ideas provided to the press ,search the web (for there 'art plenty), the engineer role sucks. And regardless of how you shape it up, if you can't make everything as exciting for all classes or be in a position to shape it early on people will get bored and whine. yes you can't please everyone all the time I know. The issue is really down to games like Star Wars whereby people enjoyed it as it was and when the changes Lucas Arts made with going from 40+ classes to just 9 (iirc) then it was really a question of 'who wants to be Luke' and 'who wants to play Han Solo' as apposed to a really decent class. I can see the same happening in Star Trek. People will play other classes, granted, but who will want to be Gerodie Le Forge when you can be Juan Luc Picard? (The TNG Universe/Series had better characters) or worse U'Huru (spelling) - who will want to sit there taking Comm' calls?

I think the game all depends on what part of the franchise they pick early on, Deep Space 9 is totally different to The Next Generation as much as The original series is to Voyager.

Like I say Faeldawn, I'm not against your ideas, I AGREE with you in part, but your looking at it from a player point of view.

Anyway, I'm off to watch more 'stills' for some of this and see what happens

[Faeldawn]

Originally Posted by Dreamor

Faeldawn, you seem intent on trying to rip my posts apart without reading my enire post or even putting the entire line of my text in . I'm just saying that as of RIGHT now or any Perpetual/P2 ideas provided to the press ,search the web (for there 'art plenty), the engineer role sucks. And regardless of how you shape it up, if you can't make everything as exciting for all classes or be in a position to shape it early on people will get bored and whine. yes you can't please everyone all the time I know. The issue is really down to games like Star Wars whereby people enjoyed it as it was and when the changes Lucas Arts made with going from 40+ classes to just 9 (iirc) then it was really a question of 'who wants to be Luke' and 'who wants to play Han Solo' as apposed to a really decent class. I can see the same happening in Star Trek. People will play other classes, granted, but who will want to be Gerodie Le Forge when you can be Juan Luc Picard? (The TNG Universe/Series had better characters) or worse U'Huru (spelling) - who will want to sit there taking Comm' calls?

I think the game all depends on what part of the franchise they pick early on, Deep Space 9 is totally different to The Next Generation as much as The original series is to Voyager.

Like I say Faeldawn, I'm not against your ideas, I AGREE with you in part, but your looking at it from a player point of view.

Anyway, I'm off to watch more 'stills' for some of this and see what happens

It's nothing personal and i only quote what im responding too, makes it easier to identify. While were on the subject, you have quoted me without listing the entire text so i think theres a double-standards issue here.

And im not trying to rip your posts apart, im trying to respond. If i wanted to rip your posts apart i'd do it line by line, but thats not my intention.

You asked:

Originally Posted by Dreamor

For all Hardcore (or non-Trekkies) Star Trek fans...

If you could design or have input to the Star Trek Online game, what would they be? What features would you like to see/have?

Can be anything from Crafting to classes.

You then asked:

Originally Posted by Dreamor

I've watched plenty of the TV series from the original to the 'new' Enterprise. Personally I was a bigger fan of Deep Space 9.

Right now the focus is on both Ship Combat AND Planetary combat, but I'm struggling to see where the 'star trek feel' comes in.

All I have done is reply, but it seems thats causing you an issue and for the life of me i fail to understand why.

I disagree with your opinion that it should be land based with space as an afterthough, personally I would like to see something that has some originality instead of the same old cop-out cash-in. Star Trek has the potential to explore something completely new and totally original that could work well.

In all honesty, if this is turning into a discussion about the actual mmo that PE started, then dropped, as your last post indicates, then it's a speculative subject at best until July 27th at the earliest.

[Cadelin]

Originally Posted by Faeldawn

Simple answer is money bud

You sell a normal game, you make one sale, you sell an mmorpg, you have the same sale plus a monthly input for minimal additional effort

It's the golden goose all over again

Also having it in MMORPG format means that its harder for people to pirate. (you need a cracked version of the game and a freeshard to play it on)

There are also more marketting opportunities with a MMPORG compared to a stand alone game.

It also allows games companies to release unfinished games and in such a competitive market that extra money is a huge help to all but the largest companies.


I think most software is heading towards a subscription based approach. The actual software will be free but you will have to pay a small monthly fee for updates and support.

[Faeldawn]

Originally Posted by Cadelin

Also having it in MMORPG format means that its harder for people to pirate. (you need a cracked version of the game and a freeshard to play it on)

There are also more marketting opportunities with a MMPORG compared to a stand alone game.

It also allows games companies to release unfinished games and in such a competitive market that extra money is a huge help to all but the largest companies.


I think most software is heading towards a subscription based approach. The actual software will be free but you will have to pay a small monthly fee for updates and support.

I think your right on all points.

If i might add that also with the wide availability of broadband and consoles being able to connect to the internet the market for multiplayer games is rocketing.

[Dreamor]

Originally Posted by Cadelin

Also having it in MMORPG format means that its harder for people to pirate. (you need a cracked version of the game and a freeshard to play it on)

There are also more marketting opportunities with a MMPORG compared to a stand alone game.

It also allows games companies to release unfinished games and in such a competitive market that extra money is a huge help to all but the largest companies.


I think most software is heading towards a subscription based approach. The actual software will be free but you will have to pay a small monthly fee for updates and support.

Well with the success of the XBOX 360 and PS3, a lot of MMOs have already hinted at making there games available to the consoles. They would be mad not to at least give it a try. I'd say the Wii, but really only the casual games could run on that thing Online Wii Fit anyone?

Don't forget a lot of these development companys are now getting finances from the publishers now, so the developers have something more to work with as they reach milestones etc.

I think with a subscription game its easier to warrant money being spent on expansions/extra content because the bulk of the finances has already been done in box sales and then topped up with the monthly sub's. The only thing I hope is that people don't start asking ridiculous prices monthly.

[Ctuchik]

been a while since i visited the page and OMG its been updated!

Star Trek Online Official Site

wonder what the timer is for tho


/edit: oh man just LOOK at those screenshots!!!

[Faeldawn]

Aye, a LOT has happened recently and although i quite like the direction they are taking, it's not going to appeal to me personally.

[Manisch Depressiv]

Those screenshots do not look nice. They look like Champions Online but in space.

[Faeldawn]

Originally Posted by Manisch Depressiv

Those screenshots do not look nice. They look like Champions Online but in space.

One thing that bothers me is that it doesn't look very "star-trekkie".

From the art style it looks more like a mmo of a cult sci-fi show, like Farscape for example, rather than a mainstream sci-fi. Star Trek is very clean-cut in both appearance and morals, this just seems a bit too "cool" for the title.

[Dreamor]

Originally Posted by Manisch Depressiv

Those screenshots do not look nice. They look like Champions Online but in space.

they are using the same graphics engine as Champions Online, the same teams are working on both (I think the focus is more on Champions right now though.)