New to MMO's

[ToySoldier78]

I have never played an MMO before and had a few questions.
Like how to subscription fees work? are they paid up front, do they have to be paid online? How much do fees usually run?

I have never had an interest in playing an MMO before but after reading the cover story about STO in game informer magazine, I really got my hopes up.

My last few questions I know there are probably hundreds of threads about already, but I can't seem to find answers so I thought I'd give it a shot.

I know that no release date has been set, and for a good game, I can understand that. However, is there any idea when it may be confirmed what systems STO will be released on? I have never been able to get into or enjoy computer games and I saw that xbox 360 was a possibility. Really hoping for that!

Thanks for any info available on these.

[raldar]

I have never played an MMO before and had a few questions.
Like how to subscription fees work? are they paid up front, do they have to be paid online? How much do fees usually run?


.

You pay once a month upfront(unless they offer a lifetime rate). Yes, online is the only way to pay and it'll run you roughly 15 bucks.

[47Wasps]

First off,welcome to our humble forums,and the Universe of STO

your not the only one :)
Star Trek Online is going to be my first MMO,and (like everyone else here) I eagerly await its release.
Although,we are not sure when that is going to be,or how subscription fee's are going to work.

[eNDIE]

They are paid online usualy your card will be billed 10-15$ a month or you can buy 3 ,6 , year intervalls nothing confirmed about this game though. Some MMos have so called gamecards that you buy instead of using creditcards. The release date isnt confirmed but fall 2009 is mentioned and no confirmation if consoles will be included or not.

[Toaster87]

Also in other mmo's u cna pay with cach by sending it in the mail.....I prefer the internet lol

[JDHester2000]

They are paid online usualy your card will be billed 10-15$ a month or you can buy 3 ,6 , year intervalls nothing confirmed about this game though. Some MMos have so called gamecards that you buy instead of using creditcards. The release date isnt confirmed but fall 2009 is mentioned and no confirmation if consoles will be included or not.

This is a really good information. I would like to add a few things. When you first buy the game 99% of MMO's give you the first month for free. Yet when you first create your account and you fill in your personal information 99% of MMO's require that you put in your credit card information or you put in a pre paid game card. If you go w/ the credit card then every month it will be billed automatically. Usually about $15 a month. If your card # changes then when the game goes to bill it, your account will be put on hold until a new credit card can be provided. I use my debit card w/ a Visa logo and it works fine as a credit card. (To the dismay of my wife...)

[Thibor]

Welcome to the STO forums.

Many MMOs work off a monthly subscription plan. Some will argue the better MMOs certainly do. Over the years the "monthly standard" has gone up and is currently about $15/mo and is pre-paid. Some offer incentives to pay for 60 or 90 days at a time instead of just 30 by lowering the cost-per-month a buck or two when buying more than one month.

Almost all work with online payments via credit card. I believe some work with PayPal (not positive but I think I've read that.) Several also offer game cards which you buy at your local store where you buy games, like a GameStop.

Cryptic's current target is Fall of this year. Keep in mind that a) that's "Fall" and not Q3 with the difference being Fall ends around the 21st of Dec. instead of calendar Q3 ending 9/30) AND b) that many/most MMOs slip past their initial target dates from anywhere from 1 to 6 months or even more.

Also, though you didn't ask, it's a common question with those new to MMOs, most companies retain your character data such that if you choose to suspend your account for whatever reason (take a time off for end of semester, take a new job and have to sell your home and move, have a child, etc etc) you can come back at anytime, resubscribe, and your character will be there as you left it.

[thefrayl]

[...]I know that no release date has been set, and for a good game, I can understand that. However, is there any idea when it may be confirmed what systems STO will be released on? I have never been able to get into or enjoy computer games and I saw that xbox 360 was a possibility. Really hoping for that!

Thanks for any info available on these.

Welcome to the STO forums, and hopefully, the world of MMOs.

I see most of your questions have been answered in detail, except for one. While it still isn't set in stone as to whether there WILL be a console port or not, the signs so far point to a YES. On Cryptic's official site, STO is described as a new MMO for PC AND CONSOLE. What that console is, if any, has yet to be disclosed.

Given the fact that Champions Online is coming out in the spring for PC and Xbox 360, and that STO uses the same engine as Champions Online, I think it's a safe bet you'll be seeing an Xbox 360 port. But anything could change in nearly a year...

[JDHester2000]

I would bet money that the 360 gets STO and the PS3 does not. The 360 is kicking the PS3's arse. I don't want to turn this into "Which console is better" thread, because we all know the 360 is. Also the 360 has a much better online service then the PS3 and XBL has allot more subscribers then the PS3 has people using its online service.

[Toaster87]

And now some PS3 fanboy is gonna be annoid that you said that lol

Personally i dont care about consoles and once they tell everyone about what console its gonna be on they should make a seperate forum for those people......i dont want to get into an argument about how they think consoles are better than pc's and vice versa. Cause they blatently arent :p lol j/k....or am i?

[Spirt_Of_Fire]

I would bet money that the 360 gets STO and the PS3 does not. The 360 is kicking the PS3's arse. I don't want to turn this into "Which console is better" thread, because we all know the 360 is. Also the 360 has a much better online service then the PS3 and XBL has allot more subscribers then the PS3 has people using its online service.

wOOt ya but the PS3's online is just awful . Im hoping they release it for both so i can play on my xbox with my big screen.

[cv_coco]

I would bet money that the 360 gets STO and the PS3 does not. The 360 is kicking the PS3's arse. I don't want to turn this into "Which console is better" thread, because we all know the 360 is. Also the 360 has a much better online service then the PS3 and XBL has allot more subscribers then the PS3 has people using its online service.

If you follow your logic then it would be released on the Wii, because it's kicking every other console's arse. And PS3 is kicking xbox's arse here so it just depends in which region you live. It's a simple fact that porting a pc game to xbox is easier, that's all.

OT I think Thibor mentioned the major points. Depending on where you live you might not be able to get cash cards (like here for most MMOs) but online payment is always available.

[jojobean]

I have never played an MMO before and had a few questions.
Like how to subscription fees work? are they paid up front, do they have to be paid online? How much do fees usually run?

I have never had an interest in playing an MMO before but after reading the cover story about STO in game informer magazine, I really got my hopes up.

My last few questions I know there are probably hundreds of threads about already, but I can't seem to find answers so I thought I'd give it a shot.

I know that no release date has been set, and for a good game, I can understand that. However, is there any idea when it may be confirmed what systems STO will be released on? I have never been able to get into or enjoy computer games and I saw that xbox 360 was a possibility. Really hoping for that!

Thanks for any info available on these.

Welcome hopefully this will be a new challenge and great experience for you :)

[jojobean]

wOOt ya but the PS3's online is just awful . Im hoping they release it for both so i can play on my xbox with my big screen.


You can play it on PC with your big screen also :P Im using a 42'inch plasma tv for my monitior and it was well worth it :D

[Toaster87]

If you have never played an MMO then heres something they dnt tell you on the box. U will get addicted, its worse than crack

enjoy :D

Im playing on my 42" tv :D....but im only 2 foot away from it. hmmm that cant be good

[minago]

I have never played an MMO before and had a few questions.
Like how to subscription fees work? are they paid up front, do they have to be paid online? How much do fees usually run?
.

taken from the faq

Q: Will a monthly fee be required to play?
A: We haven't decided on pricing plans yet.


http://www.startrekonline.com/faq

[ToySoldier78]

Just wanted to say thanks to all that replied. granted, you all didn't have much info to go on, but you were all still very helpful.
As far as computer vs. xbox vs. ps3. I personally am a 360 lover. I would never bash the gaming choice of anyone else, just computers aren't my thing, (in fact, very computer illiterate here.) and sony wronged me one too many times with my ps2.
Besides, whatever platform, we're all gamers here right?

Now as far as the Size of the TV's go....
can't wait to get rid of my old tv this week for it's replacement friday.
out with the old 65 inch projection, in with the new 65 inch DLP.
I want to see the final frontier as close to life size as possible and in the best HD I can afford!!!!