Start trek mmo getting strangled

[Corpeces]

Ok here are some official words. True it is short for a statement and still kinda vague but it puts my mind at rest with the whole online store business.

Joystiq: "Star Trek MMO going 'more casual'" - StarTrek-Online.NET

and

StarTrek-Online.NET - DevLog Response With STO Story Lead Mike Stemmle

Copy of the latest statement,

You guys are very charitable - thanks for the support. And I mean that. There are some really nasty and incorrect rumors circulating right now and while the support is obviously not unanimous, I was expecting much more piling-on in this thread than is the case.

I personally think that MMOs need to be a better deal. Paying $200/year is a good deal for some but I don't think that is sustainable for the category and certainly rules out a lot of people who don't have the time to get enough value out of that expense. So we are discussing this issue internally. Unfortunately that discussion leaked and the characterization is incorrect. It's also unfortunate that we have not yet come to conclusion internally so it is hard to present the real story since we are in the process of figuring it out.

But I do want to reassure everyone that STO is still going, it is still a triple-A game, and we are thinking hard about how to make our efforts even more appealing with a lower barrier to entry than is the norm.

Oh btw, why is GnH board still up? We now need an STO board

[Ryo]

What kinda projected release they have Corp?

[Dragonhammer]

sounds more to me like damage controll,like the old saying goes where there is smoke there is fire.
That news is leaked by PE employers who are concerned what is happening at their firm.
And now some PR bloke swoops in to give it a spinn.

[Corpeces]

Don't think they have a projected release...not that I have seen. They have changed the mechanics of the game couple of times and they might again depending on the backers.

Yeah the first report on Shacknews was leaked by an employee but that could have been something that was mentioned in passing. They did say they are talking about bunch of options. You got a group of peeps handing in ideas and one could have been that. Does not mean that's something that is being considered. I really don't believe an online store will be something to replace monthly fees like an asian game.

Any company placed in this situation would have to do some damage control. So that I do believe but how much of a spin they put on this? I don't know cause they are still not saying much, so there is not that much to spin off of yet. As it was said, There have been employees that left or laid off from the company. I would not be surprised if it was a disgruntled ex-employee or a rival company.

One thing for sure, they did admit they will be doing something different with STO in regards to how much it will cost to play. Sounds like they are still making the game and they are looking for new backers. Which I think it was hinted they might have one already.

Bottom line is, at this point I have no choice but to believe an official word over a leak.

[Dragonhammer]

What the future is of STO only time will tell.
One thing is for sure they had and have a good scare,If there was the intention to turn it to a Free to play grindfest ill bet they are scratching behind their ears right now.
If they are smart they don't becuase i can garrantee they get hacked to pieces.

[Corpeces]

Well the good news is they are still making the game. The bad news, by what I saw of the first in game screen shot, I can see where they are going with this game.

STO DevLog, Entry #05 - "Interactions in Action" - StarTrek-Online.NET

They took out player crew ships and made the ships single player piloted.

The graphics on that SS is horrid. Looks like they are going the way of the cartoonish WoW style. Bad bad idea.

I don't see any signs of the interior helm where the Capitan looks at a big view screen to communicate with others. If you look at the SS you can see its a 3rd person view of the ship and a window off to the side.

I seen quotes of them saying they are not making the game for Trekkies and it seems to be true. Not only they are not making the game for Trekkies, they are embarrassing the whole Star Trek title by dumbing it down.

Next to Conan and Stargate, this was on the top 3 games I ever wanted to play. Looks like that is not gonna happen

[Cincinnatus]

I haven't been keeping track of this forum very much since the demise of GnH (I have been playing a LOTRO a lot) but I can safely say that it comes as no surprise to me that Perpetual and the STO project have arrived at this point.

The writing really was on the wall with the collapse of GnH so late in the dev cycle.

I must say that as a fan of Star Trek, this new direction that the game is heading in concerns me but in the meantime I guess I'll be playing around in Middle Earth some more.

[Arep]

This makes me sad...I had a buddy who was really looking forward to STO but not after hearing this. I was starting to get interested as well. I'll still be keeping an eye on it from time to time because, who knows?

Here's hoping that Stargate remains on track...

[Deadfyre]

Why would someone make a STO and not make it for trekkies?

Thats like making a car racing game aimed at model T's with nitrus.

Way to shoot them selves in the, erm, foot.

[[Silencer]]

Hmm

Thanks for the tidbit of info guys. Something of a science fiction fan of all sorts however this game appears to have been assimilated by the Borg.