Star Trek Online

[Rico]

Yep.  There was a time when eMachines used low-end hardware to keep their costs down.  It really all depends on the components inside.  That said, ST: Online seems to need some pretty good hardware to run well.

[KingIsaacLinksr]

Sorry, I should have explained why.  We have an emachines system atm. It was underpowered then, as it is now.  (Despite them saying it had more than enough power to run XP.  Yeah, 512MB of ram runs XP...)  My gateway laptop had many issues over the years and I simply gave up on them as a quality company.  They're customer service is poor to none, and they quit making customizable computers about 1-2 years ago.  My mom's laptop is currently experiencing problems they can only fix and their excuse is: "We find no issues with it".

But I apologize for bashing the system.  I just don't trust emachines or Gateway.  

*edit*

Back to STO, it sounds like the missons so far have been related to the TV series, are their any that aren't involved directly with ST Canon?

King

[RickPeete]

King:

Not sure how you are defining "Canon".  I would expect that a game with the Trek name would by its very nature need to follow Canon.  Otherwise, it is not official 'Trek' but a 'game that borrows from Trek'.

I think the game takes Canon and extends the missions and such along a reasonable progression from the series.  Most of the missions are not direct from the series at all.  I mean all the Gorn content is not Canon -- there was only really one TOS episode that dealt with the Gorn in any detail.  So from that perspective, I think the game does take Canon forward but with an eye towards not totally violating it.

Even the content that is pulled directly from episodes -- The Guardian and Doomsday -- have taken those missions in a different direction.  The destruction of the Doomsday Device (the prototype) was not done using torpedoes as the game does -- it was done by the self destruct of another Constitution class vessel inside of it.

I think Cryptic is trying to ride a careful line of providing content that gives us fans a real sense of being in the Trek Universe while also giving us and Non-Trekkers new stuff to enjoy and explore (and destroy!).

[KingIsaacLinksr]

King:

Not sure how you are defining "Canon".  I would expect that a game with the Trek name would by its very nature need to follow Canon.  Otherwise, it is not official 'Trek' but a 'game that borrows from Trek'.

I think the game takes Canon and extends the missions and such along a reasonable progression from the series.  Most of the missions are not direct from the series at all.  I mean all the Gorn content is not Canon -- there was only really one TOS episode that dealt with the Gorn in any detail.  So from that perspective, I think the game does take Canon forward but with an eye towards not totally violating it.

Even the content that is pulled directly from episodes -- The Guardian and Doomsday -- have taken those missions in a different direction.  The destruction of the Doomsday Device (the prototype) was not done using torpedoes as the game does -- it was done by the self destruct of another Constitution class vessel inside of it.

I think Cryptic is trying to ride a careful line of providing content that gives us fans a real sense of being in the Trek Universe while also giving us and Non-Trekkers new stuff to enjoy and explore (and destroy!).

kk, that's basically what I was asking for. 

King

[Ricardocameron]

emachines are made by gateway for the past few years. Gateway is a quality company. Having build and owned quite a few computers, eMachines can be a great value for the money.

Hence my buying one!!  sure, it's cheeeeep..i paid what, $350 with shiiping on Ebay?  I'd love a 600 gigaquad LCARS system, but I'm not rich, with 3 kids; but guess what...It gets me online and runs STO just fine 4 now anyway :D... and to think i got a NEW LAPTOP for under $1000.... i'm ok with that.

[Ricardocameron]

King:

Not sure how you are defining "Canon".  I would expect that a game with the Trek name would by its very nature need to follow Canon.  Otherwise, it is not official 'Trek' but a 'game that borrows from Trek'.

I think the game takes Canon and extends the missions and such along a reasonable progression from the series.  Most of the missions are not direct from the series at all.  I mean all the Gorn content is not Canon -- there was only really one TOS episode that dealt with the Gorn in any detail.  So from that perspective, I think the game does take Canon forward but with an eye towards not totally violating it.

Even the content that is pulled directly from episodes -- The Guardian and Doomsday -- have taken those missions in a different direction.  The destruction of the Doomsday Device (the prototype) was not done using torpedoes as the game does -- it was done by the self destruct of another Constitution class vessel inside of it.

I think Cryptic is trying to ride a careful line of providing content that gives us fans a real sense of being in the Trek Universe while also giving us and Non-Trekkers new stuff to enjoy and explore (and destroy!).

kk, that's basically what I was asking for. 

King

well said

[Darkmolerman]

I prefer making my gaming rigs, my case (Antec 30) looks so basic but it is in fact a power house of greatness

[Chrystabel]

You can find me at @Chrystabel.  My Borg is Two of Twelve and my Klingon is Qapla'.  I don't play that often (too many papers to grade...yuck!), but I would love to join a Treks in SF fleet if one of you creates it.  I'm sure my husband would join, too. 

[Blackride]

You can find me at @Chrystabel.  My Borg is Two of Twelve and my Klingon is Qapla'.  I don't play that often (too many papers to grade...yuck!), but I would love to join a Treks in SF fleet if one of you creates it.  I'm sure my husband would join, too. 

I have not looked into creating a fleet at all. That would be cool though.

Currently I am Commander 4.

[Blackride]

Reviews are coming in.....and they aren't good:

http://www.gamespot.com/pc/rpg/startrekonline/review.html
http://pc.ign.com/articles/106/1069985p1.html

[KingIsaacLinksr]

I'm starting to hear a pattern that does not excite me at all:

Ground and anything to do with it sucks.
Repetition, repetition, repetition.  <---Never exciting
Charge in and hope you survive, tactics be damned.  <---Again, not a good thing.
Exploration is lacking.  <---In a game based on exploration, that is never a good thing.

And I'm not basing it solely on the above two comments.  People that I've been playing Eve Online with are saying the same thing.  I've also read other blogs and reviews.  Its sad, but this looks like another Warhammer.  Lots of features promised, just the one little thing you didn't hear: Its coming "Soon".  

I wish I could play this game, but $60 + monthly fee to find out its a so-so game...not in my budget atm.  Can anyone change my mind on this?  (Yes, that's a challenge :) )

King

[Blackride]

I'm starting to hear a pattern that does not excite me at all:

Ground and anything to do with it sucks.
Repetition, repetition, repetition.  <---Never exciting
Charge in and hope you survive, tactics be damned.  <---Again, not a good thing.
Exploration is lacking.  <---In a game based on exploration, that is never a good thing.

And I'm not basing it solely on the above two comments.  People that I've been playing Eve Online with are saying the same thing.  I've also read other blogs and reviews.  Its sad, but this looks like another Warhammer.  Lots of features promised, just the one little thing you didn't hear: Its coming "Soon". 

I wish I could play this game, but $60 + monthly fee to find out its a so-so game...not in my budget atm.  Can anyone change my mind on this?  (Yes, that's a challenge :) )

King

I hate to say it but Warhammer online was a much better game than this. I am level 25 currently on STO and bored to death. There is literally nothing to do except repeat the same patrol and defend missions over and over again.

I've told all my friends to steer clear from this game for a bit to see if they add anything because if they don't it's going to die. I hate saying that because I love Star Trek and wanted so much to love this game. It's just not working for me at this point. I will most likely keep playing hoping to see some changes.

[Rico]

I still haven't had a chance to get into the game really, but this is what scared me.  I feel the game was rushed.  Yes, they will probably be adding content but less than a month of most people playing and to hear comments like this from Trek fans is not good.  I do hope they can add new content quickly and keep it fresh.

- Oh, on a side note the Collector's Edition is on sale at Amazon!

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B002V1PTO8/ref=s9_simi_gw_p14_i2?pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_s=center-2&pf_rd_r=17EBN8EAHT7NQZ0YPYGF&pf_rd_t=101&pf_rd_p=470938631&pf_rd_i=507846

[KingIsaacLinksr]

What really confuses me, is why would they rush this game?  Was it lack of caring?  Was it corp executives pressure?  What?  I mean, is Cryptic really in financial trouble that they had to rush a game to avoid crumbling under?  I have to wonder, why did they rush this game.  It makes no sense to me, no one is going to break the WoW level by rushing a game development.  Blizzard certainly did not rush their game.  And in the long run, your game is going to be crushed by some of the power hitters.  World of Warcraft, Eve Online, City of Heroes (their own game!) Warhammer (I guess) and other competitors.  Especially Eve Online which is all about quality and is its direct competitor.  (In terms of the Sci-Fi element).  

But yet, what we get is an incomplete game, full of bugs (usually forgivable), lack of content and other issues.  I have to ask, "What the hell has Cryptic been working on for the past couple+ years?"  The graphics engine?  

It confuses me...and I don't like being confused.  *I'll end the rant now, I swear, I'm just disappointed.*

King

[X]

I'm starting to hear a pattern that does not excite me at all:

Ground and anything to do with it sucks.
Repetition, repetition, repetition.  <---Never exciting
Charge in and hope you survive, tactics be damned.  <---Again, not a good thing.
Exploration is lacking.  <---In a game based on exploration, that is never a good thing.

And I'm not basing it solely on the above two comments.  People that I've been playing Eve Online with are saying the same thing.  I've also read other blogs and reviews.  Its sad, but this looks like another Warhammer.  Lots of features promised, just the one little thing you didn't hear: Its coming "Soon". 

I wish I could play this game, but $60 + monthly fee to find out its a so-so game...not in my budget atm.  Can anyone change my mind on this?  (Yes, that's a challenge :) )

King

Nope. I personally wouldn't even attempt to. You're basing your opinion of something on second hand information. You also started by comparing it to a game you like again, without trying it. You've convinced yourself that it's not for you and that's fine, but not really worth the energy to convince you otherwise. Either you try it or you take the opinions of other who might not have your taste.

The simple fact is that all MMORPGS are pretty damned repetitive. The only thing that drives most people isn't the grinding, but hitting the next level and rounding that next bend. If it's too hard, you lose people. If it's too easy you lose people. The only thing that changes is the setting. If you fight in your level, you level up, fight something too hard and you die. Fight something too safe and you level slowly.

I don't even know why they call them RPGs because there is pretty close to no role playing that happens. Kinda like calling Halo an RPG. It's not. They stole some of the magic of the table top combat systems, but tossed all the actual role playing.