STO Character Creator

[canadaboy]

I have an Idea that would make a lot of STO fans really happy and boost STO's popularity. What if Cryptic released a free download of the Character creator from STO? If people who are mildly interested in STO have an opportunity to see the kinds of cool characters they can make, they may be more inclined to buy STO so they can play as those characters. The Spore creature creator really boosted Spore's popularity, so I think that this would probably boost STO's popularity. What do you think?

[Loekii]

People have mentioned this before (sort of like the EQ2 offer), but I don't think there was ever an official response to it.

[knightofhyrule730]

the answer is going to be no. they would have done it for CO if they were. In addition, they can just let 500000 people into the open beta and do it that way, AND theyll be playing the game.

imo, spores creature creator did not make me want to buy the game. I already wanted it, and the CC just let me fool around when i was bored. and then i got bored with it and deleted it. spore wasnt that great anyways.

[gorn29]

Yeah there have been other threads about this, and it keeps popping back up because it is a good idea. Other games have tried similar things like Spores releasing the creature creator prior to the games release. If Cryptic did it, I'd be all over it like Kirk and a green alien chick! (Yeah I went there, I know I'm lame)

[Varrangian]

the answer is going to be no. they would have done it for CO if they were. In addition, they can just let 500000 people into the open beta and do it that way, AND theyll be playing the game.

imo, spores creature creator did not make me want to buy the game. I already wanted it, and the CC just let me fool around when i was bored. and then i got bored with it and deleted it. spore wasnt that great anyways.

I tend to agree with this. While I'd love a character creator as a pre-order perk, so I can import my characters once the game launches.

I also agree that the spore creature creator didn't make me want to buy the game, but then again if I remember correctly I had to buy the creator flat out, not even as a perk for a pre-order, but an actual purchase.

[ZeframCochrane]

While I'd love a character creator as a pre-order perk, so I can import my characters once the game launches.

This is why I would want the CC. I think it would be a good idea particulary as a pre order perk or something you buy for a small fee. Being able to create your character and maybe even reserve your name would be cool.

[Varrangian]

This is why I would want the CC. I think it would be a good idea particulary as a pre order perk or something you buy for a small fee. Being able to create your character and maybe even reserve your name would be cool.

From what is happening with CO there is no name camping. Names will not be unique as far as I have read. While STO might be different, it might not.

[ZeframCochrane]

From what is happening with CO there is no name camping. Names will not be unique as far as I have read. While STO might be different, it might not.

No unique names? Is that possible?

[Tibilicus127]

There was demand for this from the CO community. It didn't happen then, it wont happen now.

[Varrangian]

No unique names? Is that possible?

Yep, if a name is shared and you want to reach that person you simple use "mynamehere@varrangian" to send me tells and such. At least that's how I understand it.

[Roy_Vash]

No unique names? Is that possible?

Evidently, it's a brave new world we live in.:)

[ZeframCochrane]

Yep, if a name is shared and you want to reach that person you simple use "mynamehere@varrangian" to send me tells and such. At least that's how I understand it.

Wow. I don't know if I care for that. Someone else in game with the same name as me? I'm sure there must be other ways to tell people apart but that seems like a bit of a drag.

[Varrangian]

Wow. I don't know if I care for that. Someone else in game with the same name as me? I'm sure there must be other ways to tell people apart but that seems like a bit of a drag.

Well as I said I don't know if STO will work like CO. But in all honesty it makes sense for CO. Most games that have unique names have either the first or last name as the unique one. Well CO is about superheros. If I wanted to name my character Jade Blade, if anyone had Jade or Blade I wouldn't be able to have my name.

In reality most people won't have the same names. Those who care about names will be creative, and those that don't care about names will either come up with something simple (like use a different spelling of their real name) or use a name generator.

[triguy616]

Well as I said I don't know if STO will work like CO. But in all honesty it makes sense for CO. Most games that have unique names have either the first or last name as the unique one. Well CO is about superheros. If I wanted to name my character Jade Blade, if anyone had Jade or Blade I wouldn't be able to have my name.

In reality most people won't have the same names. Those who care about names will be creative, and those that don't care about names will either come up with something simple (like use a different spelling of their real name) or use a name generator.

If someone wants the same name as me, that's fine. I want my name to be something I really like, not something I had to modify countless times to get close when someone already has that name. Despite that, I agree that there probably won't be many people sharing the same name.

[Rota]

Yep, if a name is shared and you want to reach that person you simple use "mynamehere@varrangian" to send me tells and such. At least that's how I understand it.

I specifically always try to create 4-6 letter names in MMO's just to make it easy on people whispering me.
Making people add a whole second name is terribly inconvenient.

This idea is not a horrible idea. I understand that many common names will probably have high demand. A few dozen Brian's and Sarah's etc... I much prefer some longer whisper to the pain that is alt-letters. People who want a name that is already taken, so they make their " i " an alt-letter.

It's a fine line to walk. I hope they can find a shorter way to send a message, but I suppose this is the best option so far


If someone wants the same name as me, that's fine. I want my name to be something I really like, not something I had to modify countless times to get close when someone already has that name. Despite that, I agree that there probably won't be many people sharing the same name.

Every fantasy MMO has about a billion versions of the name Legolas on each server. I imagine there will be thousands of Jims and Kirks and Spocks etc...

[Sir.Bastage]

I think an early release of the character generator makes sense for STO. With CO, you make a hero and play. With STO, you need your Captain + at least a dozen individual bridge officers. It will take numerous hours [days, weeks? :eek:] to figure out the races, skills + career trees to build your crew. Oh, and I will want to spend some time loading out my ship. :cool: Can we have the ship info early as well? :D

[Loekii]

I tend to agree with this. While I'd love a character creator as a pre-order perk, so I can import my characters once the game launches.

I believe this was the idea behind the Pre-order disk that EQ2 gave out -- Character Creator, that allowed you to save and import your pre-created Characters into the game when it launched.

[Koroth]

Westwood, or Electronic Arts claimed that the character/ship creator they put out was worthwhile in bringing people to Earth & Beyond. The character creation process in STO can involve things like generating a homeworld for unique races, though, which might make it more difficult to cut loose from the game.

But they're already copying E&B's space model, and the graphics are of the same general style. And they even got the part about "get bought out by another company during development" down. So what's one more thing? :rolleyes:

- Koroth

[Varrangian]

I believe this was the idea behind the Pre-order disk that EQ2 gave out -- Character Creator, that allowed you to save and import your pre-created Characters into the game when it launched.


Yep, that is what it was for, unfortunately if I remember the EQ2 disk didn't have all of the character options, so people less curious than I was were the ones who imported characters.

[Loekii]

Well we might see a 'Re-Create' options as an MT service.

Personally, I think its a good service to offer because it allows people to simply change their settings without having to re-roll.

[Varrangian]

Well we might see a 'Re-Create' options as an MT service.

Personally, I think its a good service to offer because it allows people to simply change their settings without having to re-roll.

Oh I agree about the ability to change appearance. It is wonderful. I'd be more likely to like it as an MT than the way SWG did it where you had to find a willing player with the skills to help you do it. Half the time no one was willing to help and to make matters worse you didn't have access to the controls so it was an awkward process. At least you could refuse the changes if you didn't like them.

[billybob442]

No unique names? Is that possible?

It's actually not that difficult to allow redundant names - technically reusing the same values is data degeneracy. I only point this out because it gives us a nice excuse for going around calling each other degenerates.

For a computer each unique record has to have a unique identifier. Most games use the character name as that identifier which is why normally names have to be unique. However, you could just as easily use something else for an identifier (account name, nonsense word, assigned number.. etc.) which frees your name up to be as degenerate as you like. -- see it IS funny. :)