After watching the Webcast - My thoughts

[Trekkie69]

First off Leonard Nimoy opening the webcast was awesome. I could not think of a better person to introduce STO to the world.

Now on to the webcast, the gameplay trailer and the QA session that followed.

Webcast

Great job and I was equally impressed with how smoothly the webcast went.

Gameplay Trailer

That just blew me away, for an alpha build to be that good looking was just astounding. I am sure that when we get to the beta stage we shall see graphics a bit more optimized and hopefully (yes this is a personal request) High Definition graphics option for those of us with higher end systems that can support it.

I was a bit dissapointed in that we will only have npc only crews. I would like in the future for a feature to be implemented where we can replace npc crew members with actual player crew members.

I like the fact that we will be issuing commands to crew members such as sending out repair crews, tactical and navigational orders etc...

Question and Answer session


This was a bit short and a lot of the questions asked were, well quite disappointing.

If you have the time could you answer a few of these

1. In the webcast you mentioned an economy but as we all know the federation did not use currency as they no longer needed it. We also know that other civilations did use currency though, Kingons, ferengi that I know of. How is Cryptic gonna make it viable for federation players to obtain the currency.

Will it be by trading stuff to those factions to get the currency?

2. PvP was mentioned, for those of us that really do not have an interest in fighting against another player but instead cooperating with other players will the game have only PvP sectors such as maybe the Neutral Zone?

3. You also mentioned that possibility of having one big server instead of several (much like EvE online has). However EvE will not be and never will be as huge as the Star Trek Community is. I just don't see one server doing the job. What could be done is 4 to 6 massive servers that will hold the numbers that EvE does ( I think that is 40,000 plus).

I think I am done now, I am sure I can think of a ton of other questions but just wanted to ask you to reiterated a few of in further detail if you could.

Here's to Cryptic to doing a great job and delivering a solid Star Trek Online experience.
Economy
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[njdss4]

I was also pleasantly surprised at how smoothly the webcast went. The quality was as good as I could have expected and the broadcast was stable from beginning to end.

I'm also worried about the PvP. I don't want to PvP. I want it to be more like Final Fantasy XI where there is enough content to where no one cared about it for a long while. They eventually added Ballista, but it was instanced PvP only. I'd like to see that.

[Trekkie69]

I was also pleasantly surprised at how smoothly the webcast went. The quality was as good as I could have expected and the broadcast was stable from beginning to end.

I'm also worried about the PvP. I don't want to PvP. I want it to be more like Final Fantasy XI where there is enough content to where no one cared about it for a long while. They eventually added Ballista, but it was instanced PvP only. I'd like to see that.

You actually played long enough to worry about PvP in FFXI? hehe I didn't make it past 2 weeks. The only place I would hope to see PvP in STO is in the Neutral Zone.

[Nitescape]

You actually played long enough to worry about PvP in FFXI? hehe I didn't make it past 2 weeks. The only place I would hope to see PvP in STO is in the Neutral Zone.


OH! That's an EXCELLENT idea!
I don't want PvP either but I don't want it to be left out of the game for those who do.
That would make a really good way to have it both ways and to allow those of us who just want to get on and play by ourselves or better yet, with friends!

[Sealance]

i think pvp might actually be more interesting in sto than in other games since it will be more tactical.
anyone that isn't too drunk on romulan ale will realize that you will have a squadron of warbirds on you if you venture out alone.

Finding a fun and capable group to play with will certainly enhance this aspect of the game.

I should say that I'm mainly anti-pvp :)

It would definately be interesting if the klingons gathered a massive fleet and headed into federation territory outside of the neutral zone.

[Trekkie69]

It would definately be interesting if the klingons gathered a massive fleet and headed into federation territory outside of the neutral zone.

Although I really loathe PvP in other games you do bring up an interesting specualtion. It would be cool to get about 20 to 50 ships and head into Klingon space and invade Kronos.

[thefrayl]

I am sure that when we get to the beta stage we shall see graphics a bit more optimized and hopefully (yes this is a personal request) High Definition graphics option for those of us with higher end systems that can support it.

It's a PC game... High Definition is a given, and has been for quite a long time, as it is now with any console game, as long as you have a TV to display it.

And I am very impressed as well! The game looks so promising, with HUGE potential. I cannot wait to try it out first hand, whenever the opportunity arrises.

[theyarecomingforyou]

You also mentioned that possibility of having one big server instead of several (much like EvE online has). However EvE will not be and never will be as huge as the Star Trek Community is. I just don't see one server doing the job. What could be done is 4 to 6 massive servers that will hold the numbers that EvE does ( I think that is 40,000 plus).
That's their concern, not ours. The idea of a single server is obviously preferable because it means you don't have to worry about joining the right server in order to be able to play with your friends; it's also less for the player to have to deal with. I think it's ridiculous to be suggesting lots of servers instead of just the one. Technology moves forward and we shouldn't have to be dealing with lots of different servers.

[Trekkie69]

It's a PC game... High Definition is a given, and has been for quite a long time, as it is now with any console game, as long as you have a TV to display it.

And I am very impressed as well! The game looks so promising, with HUGE potential. I cannot wait to try it out first hand, whenever the opportunity arrises.


High Def graphics are not a given just because it is a pc game. Lord of the Rings online lets you choose if you want normal or high def graphics as does EVE Online. I am sure there are others but just because it is a PC game does not make it a given there will be high def graphics.

[Trekkie69]

That's their concern, not ours. The idea of a single server is obviously preferable because it means you don't have to worry about joining the right server in order to be able to play with your friends; it's also less for the player to have to deal with. I think it's ridiculous to be suggesting lots of servers instead of just the one. Technology moves forward and we shouldn't have to be dealing with lots of different servers.

You misunderstood what I was saying. STO will have a much, much larger fan base then EVE online does and they have well over 40,000 plus on just their one server. I am not sure if one server on STO could support several hundred thousand players.

[staticblue]

OH! That's an EXCELLENT idea!
I don't want PvP either but I don't want it to be left out of the game for those who do.
That would make a really good way to have it both ways and to allow those of us who just want to get on and play by ourselves or better yet, with friends!

You actually played long enough to worry about PvP in FFXI? hehe I didn't make it past 2 weeks. The only place I would hope to see PvP in STO is in the Neutral Zone.

That would be most likely. That is how PvP works in CoX (cryptics other MMO) and it works well.
Good Zone, Neutral Zone, then an Evil Zone.

[thefrayl]

High Def graphics are not a given just because it is a pc game. Lord of the Rings online lets you choose if you want normal or high def graphics as does EVE Online. I am sure there are others but just because it is a PC game does not make it a given there will be high def graphics.

Okay, I had a breif run in with EVE, and I believe youre referring to a high detailed facelift package. Any computer game made in the past, oh, 5 years? IS inherantly "High Def". Anything 1024x768 res and over is considered "High Def". I have not played LOTRO, but perhaps you're referring to detail and resolution settings. As for the textures and detail in the game world, I'm sure you'll be pleased with the high detail results, the game looks beautiful to me. And as they said in the conference, they want to make it available to as many as possible, so I'm sure the details will scale down considerably for lower end PC users.

[Trekkie69]

Okay, I had a breif run in with EVE, and I believe youre referring to a high detailed facelift package. Any computer game made in the past, oh, 5 years? IS inherantly "High Def". Anything 1024x768 res and over is considered "High Def". I have not played LOTRO, but perhaps you're referring to detail and resolution settings. As for the textures and detail in the game world, I'm sure you'll be pleased with the high detail results, the game looks beautiful to me. And as they said in the conference, they want to make it available to as many as possible, so I'm sure the details will scale down considerably for lower end PC users.

That is what I am hoping for is very scalable graphics options. I don't want to bogged down to low graphics settings to appease the masses.

[thefrayl]

But then again, you have to realize that the system you are using right now might be top of the line... but in another 2-3 years? Who knows what will be top of the line then. I honestly can't see it taking THAT long for release though, judging by what has already been accomplished for the gameplay trailer.

[Trekkie69]

But then again, you have to realize that the system you are using right now might be top of the line... but in another 2-3 years? Who knows what will be top of the line then. I honestly can't see it taking THAT long for release though, judging by what has already been accomplished for the gameplay trailer.

Considering I upgrade every two years that won't be a problem.

I agree with you on the last part. I don't think a release date is even 3 years off.. Maybe 1.5 at the most. They already have a game engine that is tried and working. That is the biggest part of making an MMO, creating the engine to drive it. I think we shall see it 1st quarter 2010 or about 6 months after the premiere of the new Star Trek movie.

[thefrayl]

I'd put my money on a Holiday 2009 Release. But that's pure speculation :)

[Trekkie69]

I'd put my money on a Holiday 2009 Release. But that's pure speculation :)

I would faint if that was the case, they would have to have a closed beta soon though for that to happen (likely within the next 6 months or so).