Hey
Well I have been playing MAss Effect 2 in STO off time and while it’s been down, lot I might add lol, so my verdict.
So the Graphics, well I have a pretty powerful PC and it runs very very well on it, except if you turn on dynamic shadows then its runs good, hitting a low of 40 ish. Everything else of the Graphics front is good, higher texture models on most things, some models however look like they have been carried over from the last game. In face to be honest I think the old engine just got a minor touch up here and there. The Story, so far, is really good and the character interaction, the most important part of the game, is brilliant.
What impressed me most was the morality, if you decide to help Zaeed on his mission and want to keep him buttered up and on your side, and you will, you have to make a very tough choice on his side mission. I made the tough choice and I really felt bad, normally I don’t, normally I make the bad choice and think to hell with you! This time I felt bad and I like that. The choices you make will, unlike most games I find, have a far reaching impact on the end game make the wrong choices and your could well die for good at the end. I like that too, it makes me actually explore ever aspect of the characters to make sure they are on my side and that when the end game comes, in 30 to 40 hours, you will know you will survive.
So great graphics, great characters, great gameplay, but is it more of the same, well yes and no. It does feel like sometimes you are wasting time pandering to Jokers moaning and groaning again, it does feel like the same old travel between the stars with the galaxy map getting little more that a couple of mini games added to it which in my opinion make you feel too detached from it all. It does however feel different enough to feel new and it has been said so many time, Bioware make great stories and this is nothing short of great. I am not as taken by it as I was with Dragon Age:Origins but its a must have in any collection.
Raz/Shepherd…
So after a few days headstart Star Trek is showing disappointing signs of the strain if too many players are on. We have had lots of outages over the past few days, little communication as to why and little in the way of signs of improvement. The game is still fun and wonderful to play once you get in game and though the first 7 levels can feel repetitive you start to get diverse and involved missions that are fun. The City of the Edge of Nowhere is one of the finest quests I have ever undertaken in an MMO.
The issue is with the constant downtime, the complete lack of communication and a disregard for the player base. Yesterday was a prime example, at 9:45ish last night they took the servers down for 2 hours, no warning, no information, nothing in system chat, just bang it’s down. Then a small note on the site to say its expected downtime, it will be down two hours. Cryptic really need to understand that the main problem you have at the moment is lack of communication.
One of the posts that started as a result of unexpected downtime and lack of any kind of information went insane with 400+ pages of rage because they communicated nothing more than a generic cut and paste note to say it was being worked on. After 3 outages previous to this the fans had, had enough. While I don’t condone a lot of what was said, too much of it was pointless, idiotic crap from a litigious society that has a lot less patients than us Europeans, I do understand the frustration, the desire to know more. MMO players are nothing if not passionate about their games and a company that doesn’t communicate to its audience is going to suffer the wrath of the passion.
While things are looking up yet another two hour downtime in the middle of day, for Europe at least, today will not go down well but at least they have warned us and it could have been worse, it could have been prime time play like last night. Cryptic do need to step up their game a lot to make this game the success it deserves to be. I fear too much damage has been done already though and the reason last night was more stable than previous nights was players just didn’t log on. I know this has been one of the best launches of an MMO to date but it’s very disappointing to see this kind of thing still happening. The industry as a whole seems unwilling or unable to learn from other peoples mistakes and raise the bar for their MMO launches. They have to know that in the long run its hurts their player base and thus the money they make.
Here’s hoping the next big thing gets things right but I won’t hold my breathe.
On the whole I would give this launch a 5/10, better the Aion but way short of what it should have been. Great game let down by lack of preparation, again.
Raz…
This is the kind of note you wnat to see from a developer just before it releases it’s new MMO.
The Journey Begins…
Thank you all so very much for making this entire Beta experience as awesome as it has been.
I could look back and reminisce about the downtimes. I could wax nostalgic about the patches. I could even recall every exploit with distaste and still fondly remember the awesome emergent gameplay you’ve shown us… And yet, all that implies an end. Sure, the test is over. But, in reality, this is only the beginning.
We’ve been working without rest for nearly two years to reach this moment — the moment when we can begin expanding Star Trek Online in earnest. The years ahead when we get to work directly with you to figure out what we add next to the game, where we fill out content, and what new systems we might add. That’s real development. That’s live development.
Not a team to just sit back and wait, we’re already working on content additions, bug fixes and ‘quality of life’ improvements that we’re going to roll out over the next couple months. Here are a few of the things we’re working on:
The Borg
The Borg have planned. They have adapted. They have evolved. What the Borg cannot assimilate, they will destroy.
You saw a little Borg action in our End of Beta event – prepare to see more. The Federation have tracked down the Borg staging ground for their assault on the Alpha Quadrant. Join up with Battle Group Omega and take the fight to the Borg. Experience new Federation Episodes, Borg Exploration Clusters, deep space encounters. Also expect daily missions for these tasks to maximize the rewards you’ll be getting for helping out Starfleet in the Gamma Orionis Sector.
“Raid-i-sodes”
These are the high-end episodes you’ve been waiting for. Locked to 5-players, you’ll need every trick and every bit of teamwork to complete these challenges.
A Borg raid-i-sode series culminating in an encounter with the Borg queen is on its way. Expect a couple other “loose ends” to be addressed in the future, as well.
Available for both Klingon Generals and Starfleet Admirals, we’ll be releasing a new one of these every few weeks for the next three months.
First Update
We’re already working on it and it’ll be out before you know it.
The first update is going to have more PvP, Klingon exploration content, more ground fleet actions, more ship costume pieces, more playable species, and then some.
Bugs and Reactions to Them
Of course, like any MMO, we’ll scramble during the first couple weeks reacting to new bugs. putting in quality of life fixes, and closing exploits that weren’t exposed to us during Beta.
We’ll be fine tuning as well, but don’t expect thoughtless or harsh changes to game balance. We’re more than willing to wait and make sure everything we do is measured and calculated.
Expect a public test shard to become available real soon, too. We’ve named her “Tribble.” This is where the brave Captains (read: addicted testers) amongst you can try out our changes before we push them live. If you’re one of those who can’t get enough of the bleeding edge of development – or have a penchant for finding bugs and balance issues – keep an eye on the forums for details.
So, thank you again for the awesome Beta, but the fun begins now.
We have years of development left in us and a universe of content still to add. Here’s where it gets interesting… Here’s where you help us figure out what comes next.
I, for one, am looking forward to taking that journey.
-Zn
This is copied as is from the site, orignial link here.
Raz…
I was reading and article that basically had a way to work around the problems with the DLC (Download Content) for Mass Effect 2. I was sat there thinking, that I should comment on the article, add my view, use the internet as it was intended. Then I stopped myself, you see my view was this.
“wait a second, so Bioware, the company that monumentally fucked up their download content for Dragon Age a mere few months ago, has fucked up the content on it’s newest release. I mean what kind of fuckwits screw the same thing up twice!”
Ok so not a great view, nor a well thought out one, or maybe even one worth reading but it’s a view, but what stopped me was what occurred to me, what the fuck is the point of posting anything on any forum anywhere, you just get flamed. The freedom of speech and ability to exchange valid logical, well formed opinion that I have no doubt the internet had on it’s list of things to achieve is fucking wasted on people who just want to flame on as they say. What is the point of it? I mean I know that most people think of the internet as a free way to get porn but it does or at least is in part supposed to be, a place to speak freely and exchange ideas, thought and information. What it actually is a place to get free porn and get flamed by a people unable to coherently string any kind of sentence together.
You know I don’t think myself a particularly intellectual, intelligent or well adjusted person, nor do I really think I have anything useful to say, but surely I should be able to construct a point of view without getting flamed by said individuals who want nothing more that to draw attention to themselves. I know what your thinking, just by adding this to my blog that doesn’t really get read that I am doing my part to draw attention to them, but…damn they win.
Raz…
…and another thing…why did I keep typing pron instead of porn while writing that?
Well the Open Beta is over, the end event was a bit of a joke, some people are calling the death of Star Trek as early as July 2010, all wrong, it’s great! People are just on the moan, moan, moan cycle. Sure it has its problems but hey, they all do, even the beloved and much over-hyped and actually not really that good WoW.
Mass Effect 2 out on Friday too, this is looking very good it has to be said, poor timing for me though to be honest, STO early start Friday, mind you I have got 7 hours or so to finish it in lol. No I don’t think so either.
Is it cold or what? what’s going one damn you, mind you I am the first to complain when it’s hot lol. I do prefer the cold it’s easier to warm up than cool down. Random but true.
Oh I was trying out the 3D Vision on my Nvidia GTX 295 yesterday and its way better that you would think, really way, way better. So much so that I am thinking of saving for a replacement monitor and the glasses/IR emitter combo esp this one from Scan.
Don’t forget, every once in a while, look out of your window, and smile for a satellite photo…
Raz…
Been a bit under the weather last couple days, bad head and I mean bad!!
Talking of bad, attitude that is, just watched the trailer for the A-Team, see what I did there, shocking wasn’t it.
So not sure about that but I do like Liam Neeson so may watch it, however Hollywood’s insistence on ruining remakes make me shudder.
Nothing much else to say I am going to catch up on some browsing now and see what I can see. Have fun.
Raz…
Captain Sierra Reporting, actually its Lieutenant Commander Sierra but hey never mind.
Nearly a week into the Open Beta of Star Trek Online and all is looking good, I still think it’s launching too early and I still think their are plenty of issues but as I have mentioned before and will again, what MMO doesn’t launch with a list of issues as long as…well my Captain’s Log pictured up there (Yes I know it’s a very old bad joke but I never claimed to be original).
Back to the matter at hand does it warrant my time, well I just invested in the Lifetime Subscriber deal so for me, yes, it’s so much fun and ignore all the people screaming all you get are Patrol Missions. While it is technically true the name Patrol Mission really only means that it’s a mission you are doing on your ships patrol, your episodes if you will, they are varied and entertaining without seeming repetitive.
Planets and their systems are varied and beautifully realised along with some stunning away team locals and some stunning vegetation, the looks of the game cannot be disputed, Cryptic are doing a brilliant job with their new engine which I personally think is being used to it’s best in STO. As you will see in the picture below of my ship, the U.S.S Beliskner, hovering over the UK, the visuals are lovely.
I don’t want to turn this into an STO blog, but I wanted to throw up an update, I had so much fun yesterday playing with friends that I just had to say the a lot of the worries I had are gone and I believe their is still more to be realised from both the engine and game content meaning a bright future for STO and Cryptic.
Raz…
Star Trek Online Wants You!
Well the Open Beta has started, the NDA’s lifted and people can start talking about it freely. So what to say…
Well I had my reservations, I still have some, not all is perfect, that said, when was the last time an MMO released that was perfect. It’s clear that Atari are rushing the game, just like they rushed Champions Online, any players think should many of the issues the game has should have been sorted by now can therefore level the blame at Atari, that said again, they are a business and want to see a return on investment. I am in now way condoning their actions, merely stating the obvious, personally i would like to see it released for selfish reasons, but also want it to be good so do think it needs a little while longer in the Beta stages but that isn’t going to happen.
Having played through the Closed and now into Open Beta I can say no other company, Cryptic that is, has worked harder and with more passion to fix bugs, listen to the player base and generally improve its product. If this is the kind of dedication we can look forward to then the game should succeed, as with any MMO though it’s going to be down to how many people keep their accounts past Open Beta or even past Head Start.
There are currently two types of people playing, maybe three, you have the Star Trek fanboys who are ecstatic to be playing a Star Trek game, the Sci-Fi MMO people and the cross-over people who are fans of both, like me. So what do they think of it? well from early posts on the forums the fanboys love it, bugs and all, the MMO people love it, bugs and all, and the cross-over peeps they love it too. Sure it’s not finished, sure there are bugs, sure the servers are not coping with the Open Beta as well as they should be, but one thing unique to this game, everyone sees the gem it will become. There are still the screamers and the shouters crying fail, but they are few and far between, the forums are actually an ok place to be and for an MMO prior to release that’s amazing. Those of us that saw the venomous attacks from fanboys on the Aion forum for instance, are amazed at how pleasant it all is, this is a nice place to play an MMO, it does seem to be indicative of Cryptic games or at least this one and Champions Online, the player base is really nice and behind the product 100%, being able to see past the current issues.
You do have to be concerned at the drop off rate once the game goes live but see past that and, if you have been lucky enough to see the dedication of the Dev’s, you can see that in time this will be a very good MMO.
I am looking at how much I have written here and starting to think people, if there are any reading this, are going to be falling asleep right about now! zzzzzzz huh what now? Sorry I wont let that happen again. What was I saying…Oh yes, I won’t try and do a review in addition to everything I have said, I’ll do a separate review after release I think. If anyone is thinking of dipping their toe into the game I say do it, see the bugs as they are now and watch the dedication of the team as they fix them, watch the game grow, experience the diverse fun that is Star Trek Online.
Raz… (In game Sierra, Trill Engineer)
Myself and a few friends are eagerly awaiting the 12th, finally we will be able to play together again. We have played many games, mostly MMO’s, you will recall if you have read my blog before that we were all looking forward to Aion together.
Sadly after its initial pull, I left, followed a month or so later by my aforementioned friends, I guess since then we have been looking for something to play together. Now we seem to have found it, the only sad thing is my other half who we also end up playing together with, is not interested in the IP so she will no be joining us. All of this is a tab irrelevant to most I guess, I just wanted to convey why we a re looking forward to it so much, we are all sci-fi buffs, we love MMO’s and we love playing together, though I have still yet to get them to sign up to the Guild website (Do it damn you!).
I have been playing under the Closed beta and yes I am not allowed to tell you that and yes Cryptic could kick my arse but really all I am saying is I have been playing. I have been and always shall be…no no, I am enjoying it, but I also know that it will be much more fun when playing together. Both of Cryptic’s games (Champions Online and Star Trek Online, or all four even (City of Heroes/City of Villains), while they are playable solo are really designed to be completely enjoyed while in groups. Star Trek itself, by Cryptic’s own admission, is best enjoyed in groups and this is the aspect I am most looking forward to.
We have thrown up a Guild/Fleet site in the hope of attracting more to play with and grow a nice fleet to expand into both PVE and PVP, it is going to be a good laugh charging into the PVP zones or the Fleet Action zones with your entire fleet at your side. I think I am going to into this new or next MMO with a little more caution, though I am looking forward to it with more enthusiasm that I was looking forward to Aion.
Board you ships and prepare to baldly go where no MMO has gone before. (I know but how else was I going to end this)
Raz…
…stay up till 2am having insane fun in a…hmm how to put it without breaking an NDA, lol I can’t still was huge fun but I am so tired this morning. Sooooooooooooo tired!
Nothing interesting at all to tell you today, though you may want to look up Allods Online if you like your free MMO’s or your MMO’s free, it’s a good one too to be honest especially when you consider it will be free. Closed Beta at the moment and hmm you know I don’t know the release date, Calling Ravven, calling Ravven, where are you Ravven? I am sure she knows when it’s released.
I will try and post something daily, even if it’s drivel, oh and check out damn Darkriders for the love of god, and go pre-order Star Trek Online and get off my lawn dammit!
Quote test of the day (new feature for no particular reason). What film is the line “If he pulls a knife you, pull a gun, if he puts one of yours in the hospital, you put one of his in the morgue! That’s the Chicago way…” said?
Raz…
