Games Star Trek MMO

[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.

 

[Starman]

Do you work for Cryptic Studios now Dreamor?

Starship combat is a must, along with being loyal to cannon, being able to fully explore (Within reason) a ship/planet/starbase. I'll give it some more thought but these are the musts IMO.

 

[LordjOX]

Not a major trekkie, but I've seen a fair share of the tv series.

Spaceships are a really important part of Star Trek, both the interior and the exterior. Would be neat if you could walk around on a starship and have fellow players as crewmates, responsible for navigation, weapons, propulsion etc. Dunno if it would be boring not being the cap'n but kind of like Yo-ho-ho Puzzle Pirates but even better game mechanics to give incentive for teamplay.

The races / factions are also important, there should be some political metagame where players can join the federation, klingons or whatever to incite conquest over sectors by diplomacy or conflict.

Iirc I think Star Trek Online got shelved...

 

[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.

Open to ideas Starman, I'm looking for good stuff from you

Right now I see it looks like a Pirates of the Burning Sea, but in space... and tbh POTBS was boring as hell.

 

[Faeldawn]

The star-trek mmo was dropped recently, if anyone was ever going to try it again, they would need to ask why.

Co-op ship controls, as in you can't pilot a Starship without a minimum crew, then theres an optimum crew which would increase reaction times, weapons lock, firing, manouver reactions, shield balancing etc. That being said single piloted fighters should also be available as well as a broad spectrum of other specialist ships and various sizes and configurations. The key would be getting the balance right.

Have a race based system with classes unique to those races, if you want a Startrek "feel" you have to get with the racial relationships and cultures.

Federation, Ferengi, Klingon, Vulcan, Romulan etc etc all have very complicated relationships with each other and very diverse cultures.

Personally i'd put ground combat on hold and go initially for a space-based mmo. Sure you'd need ships and starbases to explore as a character, also be able to board other ships, shuttles etc. Have the basics of fps combat on the ships so you can board, invade, attack, defend etc. Actual ground assaults can follow once you have the basics sorted out in an enclosed and easily controllable environment such as a ships corridors and compartments.

One thing players will want is the ability to explore, this is a real problem as to get it right you need a huge amount of content. PvE is not a good idea on any significant scale outside of special events such as Borg invasions etc. The question is can enough players be found to cover all the races to a number where large-scale combat is not only possible, but very achievable. If not then your talking about npc races or at least npc characters making up the balance between races, and that can be tricky.

Another issue is the type of player a Star Trek mmo can attract. You want to cater for the hardcore mmo players, but if you tap into the trekkie crowd, you'll find the vast majority will want to roleplay and probably not all of them will want pvp in any way.

It's a difficult thing for something with so much background to fit into an mmo, you have to pick a specific angle and direct the game that way, you'll struggle be able to cover it all in enough detail to suit your target audience.

 

[Dreamor]

Faeldawn
Its not been dropped at all, its just struggling to find people to pick up the game full time (Cryptic have it right now.)

personally I think they are going about it the wrong way with taking on too much to soon. Yes it would be nice to have ship AND planet combat but right now nether are very good. My thoughts are doing it similar to SWG and perhaps have an expansion for space combat but alas its fallen on deaf ears. The problem you will have with making a space-based MMO is EVERYONE will be captain of a whopping big ship and it will end up being Eve with a Star Trek skin job.

Spoiler

Right now Starfleet and Klingons (although I didn't get it working) are in and the crew are pretty decent, NPC quests etc are pretty decent enough.

I'd post pic's but then I'd probably get shot ... by
a phaser no less

 

[old.Tohtori]

I could give a few ideas, but i don't want to 'cause they're written on my own design

But. If they wanted to start Star Trek MMO, they should start from the early days of the Alliance, introduce bloodlines so you play multiple characters and their offspring as the game advances(would explain "bugs" when it's crappy tech) and also it should have the opportunity and database to be really anally micromanaging of a game, or simply a "security officer" thing.

It's quite simple really.

and do remember to give due credit to us for ideas

 

[Dreamor]

Your own written design, shame Cryptic have all the franchise tied up now

PM me if you want to discuss or MSN/Skype me

... [credit to FH] no doubt will be in the back of the book

 

[old.Tohtori]

Your own written design, shame Cryptic have all the franchise tied up now

PM me if you want to discuss or MSN/Skype me

... [credit to FH] no doubt will be in the back of the book

Hehe, aye and it's gonna be REVOLUTIONARY!

Don't they all say that about design?

What you doing by the way?

As in, writing a book, actually at Cryptic?

 

[Dreamor]

Hehe, aye and it's gonna be REVOLUTIONARY!

Don't they all say that about design?

What you doing by the way?

As in, writing a book, actually at Cryptic?

givf PM or MSN me if you want to chat

 

[Faeldawn]

Faeldawn
Its not been dropped at all, its just struggling to find people to pick up the game full time (Cryptic have it right now.)

personally I think they are going about it the wrong way with taking on too much to soon. Yes it would be nice to have ship AND planet combat but right now nether are very good. My thoughts are doing it similar to SWG and perhaps have an expansion for space combat but alas its fallen on deaf ears. The problem you will have with making a space-based MMO is EVERYONE will be captain of a whopping big ship and it will end up being Eve with a Star Trek skin job.

Spoiler

Right now Starfleet and Klingons (although I didn't get it working) are in and the crew are pretty decent, NPC quests etc are pretty decent enough.

I'd post pic's but then I'd probably get shot ... by
a phaser no less

As i said above, i agree they need to focus on something specifically, not try and fit it all in as it's 30 years of history and a huge undertaking trying to make space, land and ships all work at once in an MMO.

If you are trying to market a Star Trek MMO you have to realise everyone will primarily want to experience starship play, thats what it's famous for. If it's land-based then your only essentially making another mmo with a Star Trek flavour, same as Lotro, DDO, SWG etc etc. Sure add this content later, but i think you would be making a huge mistake if this is the basis of the game.

I think your dead wrong btw about everyone wanting to be the captain (reread my opinions above on how to make this work) . If a starship crew is run in the same way as a guild it will work as you need a good mix of crew types to make it all work properly. You just need to have smaller fighter-class ships for those intrepid soloers and other types of ships for players who play in small groups. Also you'll have a large number of players who want to experience being part of a large starship crew and thats best experienced for some as an engineer, tactical, medical or science officer.

Starships and their crews are the key to making this successful, it would be something new and unique AND something thousands of gamers have been waiting for since the days of Elite. You'll tap the MMO market, mainstream gamers and Trekkie fans alike.

 

[LordjOX]

Then again as someone mentioned, if everyone was captains of a big ship it would be EVE with star trek ships instead. Star Trek is alot about living on these ships aswell..

Do you work for cryptic, are you even allowed to talk about this?

 

[Dreamor]

Then again as someone mentioned, if everyone was captains of a big ship it would be EVE with star trek ships instead. Star Trek is alot about living on these ships aswell..

Do you work for cryptic, are you even allowed to talk about this?

I can't post any screenies that I had here or upload the videos, but I don't work for Cryptic, I work for another Developer/Publisher.

 

[Dreamor]

As i said above, i agree they need to focus on something specifically, not try and fit it all in as it's 30 years of history and a huge undertaking trying to make space, land and ships all work at once in an MMO.

If you are trying to market a Star Trek MMO you have to realise everyone will primarily want to experience starship play, thats what it's famous for. If it's land-based then your only essentially making another mmo with a Star Trek flavour, same as Lotro, DDO, SWG etc etc. Sure add this content later, but i think you would be making a huge mistake if this is the basis of the game.

I think your dead wrong btw about everyone wanting to be the captain (reread my opinions above on how to make this work) . If a starship crew is run in the same way as a guild it will work as you need a good mix of crew types to make it all work properly. You just need to have smaller fighter-class ships for those intrepid soloers and other types of ships for players who play in small groups. Also you'll have a large number of players who want to experience being part of a large starship crew and thats best experienced for some as an engineer, tactical, medical or science officer.

Starships and their crews are the key to making this successful, it would be something new and unique AND something thousands of gamers have been waiting for since the days of Elite. You'll tap the MMO market, mainstream gamers and Trekkie fans alike.

If say your engineers are offline, bank holiday weekend? then how are you going to maintain the ship? The original STO idea revolved around the idea that engineers would maintain/craft and keep the general ship running, but how likely is it that, if the Captain or Command structure are having fun blasting away on the top deck, the engineers and other 'classes' will want to be confined to the lower decks doing something else and feeling less involved?

And the problems with hitting the MMO Market is, it would have to come to a compromist on what Trekkie fans wanted... and ultimately at a cost of £££££££'s - which i hear is very high for the Star Trek license (as to be expected)

 

[Faeldawn]

If say your engineers are offline, bank holiday weekend? then how are you going to maintain the ship? The original STO idea revolved around the idea that engineers would maintain/craft and keep the general ship running, but how likely is it that, if the Captain or Command structure are having fun blasting away on the top deck, the engineers and other 'classes' will want to be confined to the lower decks doing something else and feeling less involved?

And the problems with hitting the MMO Market is, it would have to come to a compromist on what Trekkie fans wanted... and ultimately at a cost of £££££££'s - which i hear is very high for the Star Trek license (as to be expected)

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.

 

[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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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:

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:

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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.)