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So Atari's real vague. How much of this game is exploring/economy?
Justjack
Member Posts: 13
I'm not real interested in PvP. I do level grinds, but only as a means to an end. Typically, when I play an MMO it's to either be a trader, crafter, or a "scientist" type role.
The FAQ's on the original site were....let's say a little too intentionally vague with the exception of some "well, we don't really know what we're gonna do with that yet" comments. It seems as though that FAQ was written back when the game was still getting hand-drawn mockups.
So how much of this game is exploration, economy, and trading? Do you have the option of making that pretty much all you do (and get a rewarding experience from it)? Can you become fairly powerful just doing that sort of thing? What have they done to make this a viable style of gameplay?
Comments
Well as the game's still under NDA, nobody can really give you a straight answer on exactly how much you can be a trader/crafter/scientist type. There will be exploration and some extent of crafting/economy stuff, but I don't think that'll be a solely viable method of playing the game.
If you are looking specifically only to do trading and research and manufacturing, stuff like that, I would say EVE is probably a bit more the type of game you are looking for. It's more sandbox style than STO is.
"Because it's easier to nitpick something than to be constructive." -roach5000
Eve is lame open-PvP with packs of 13 year olds who are only online to try and irritate others by podding people not causing em any drama.
The NDA says don't discuss specifically what you see in the game. Broad strokes are just fine. I've beta'd on enough of these games to know what can and can't be said. Unless Atari has locked theirs down more than most, in which case I'll simply pass and continue to wait for Stargate Worlds, as I'm not going to throw money at a game that the publisher is intentionally trying to give as little information as possible about. Let's face it, anything with the Atari logo on it hasn't exactly been a raging success in the MMO world. I know the devs of this game like to point to the CoH angle, but really, it was NCSoft that took CoH to the next level.
Actually dude, NDAs are there for a very good reason. Namely so that someone doesn't give you information on the game when it's not finished and could be changed before launch. You don't want to get information that turns out to be wrong, do you?
We know that STO isn't very "sandbox" style gameplay, in that they've said you follow a general path of missions and "episodes" of content throughout your space career. This likely means that in order to advance, you will have to do stuff that's not just explore/trade/research. That is something you can do in EVE, but STO seems more geared towards pve and pvp styled content rather than tradeskill style stuff. Even if you pick Science as a career, you'll likely have to do combat.
I tried to give you the best information I could, based on what you asked for, but it looks like you may have your mind made up anyways. Other than that, you'll have to try out open beta.
"Because it's easier to nitpick something than to be constructive." -roach5000
You can pre-order the game. Since the release date is only 3 1/2 weeks away, it's already 'gone gold', as the industry terms it. The RTM version is already being pressed and boxed as we speak. Whatever the game is now is what the game is. THere will be no drastic changes to it, only bug fixes and content additions. The style is set in stone.
But yeah, I've made up my mind. Sounds as though it's basically another linear grindfest that happens to be interspersed with Star Trek lore and the appearance of a plot playing out before you. Don't get me wrong, I think plotlines are somethin that are sorely missing from MMO's and that's a neat feature and all...but this game doesn't sound as "epic" as it perhaps should have been, given its following as a TV/movie franchise.
I don't think crafting will be available in the game. As far as exploration, you can do it until your heart's content. You can level thru exploring, missions, PVP or RVR. The choice is yours.
Currently Playing: World of Warcraft
From what I'veread up on, there is no crafting whatsoever in sto and no exploration whatsoever in the sense that you can find or uncover something either standard or unique in any space segment by flying around.
i didnt really get a sense, from what I have read, that there is any economy at all in the game.
it would seem that your sources were totally crap then. There is exploaration galore, the Genesis engine creates new worlds for you to find and explore. Crafting may not be as involved as in say everquest 2 but there is crafting too. Find better sources.
This is not a breach of NDA btw since both exploaration and crafting has been talked about by Cryptic to sites such as this before.
Dude... It's a MMO so as much of it as YOU choose it to be. They have stated repeatedly that you can level entirely from exploration content so the game can be 100% exploration/economy if you choose to take that path.
Bren
while(horse==dead)
{
beat();
}
There is crafting it's just not your standard MMO type crafting. From what I understand it's mostly data mining from things you encounter during your travels and then you can replicate items(for a fee of course) based on the research from your discoveries. So no... there is no repeatedly combining the same four items in a container for days on end just to get your skill up. STO has rethought what MMO crafting should be and has taken the horrible grind aspects out of it entirely.
Bren
while(horse==dead)
{
beat();
}
it would seem that your sources were totally crap then. There is exploaration galore, the Genesis engine creates new worlds for you to find and explore. Crafting may not be as involved as in say everquest 2 but there is crafting too. Find better sources.
This is not a breach of NDA btw since both exploaration and crafting has been talked about by Cryptic to sites such as this before.
Im sorry. I wasn't thinking in terms of this being a solo-type arcade game. I guess in that regard, you can fashion, perhaps, some things for yourself, but there isnt what most would consider an industry, crafting, trades, merchandising element to this game. And as for exploration. . .well. . .your right, I guess. . .you can fly endlessley without much to show for it, unless im missing out on something epic that is so fantastic, Cryptic doesnt even want to show their hand a week a few days before open.
"Because it's easier to nitpick something than to be constructive." -roach5000
There is crafting it's just not your standard MMO type crafting. From what I understand it's mostly data mining from things you encounter during your travels and then you can replicate items(for a fee of course) based on the research from your discoveries. So no... there is no repeatedly combining the same four items in a container for days on end just to get your skill up. STO has rethought what MMO crafting should be and has taken the horrible grind aspects out of it entirely.
Bren
As they have done with the leveling process. Both STO and TOR seem to be trying to move past the mindless grinding that use to encompass MMOs. It's just too bad some people are still stuck in the past.
Far as the economic part, I still think they should add more to it once they are done with the Federation. The Federation is the only one that doesn't believe in money, while the rest of the galaxy used gold pressed latinum or something equivelent. While the crafting system you describe makes sense for the Federation, it wouldn't for someone like the Ferengi.
Currently Playing: World of Warcraft
I thought thats what the Devs hype was for? lol...
Age of Conan... We utilize DX10, the game is epic, 100 vs 100 sieges, It's EPIC, many other promises and such.
Week before launch.... Sorry we won't have DX10 in at launch Yes its hard to read thats the point
Launch happens .... While we understand why many of you are disappointed you must understand an MMO never launches finished. There was a lot we wanted to put into the game but it was just not possible. We never promised anything and simply said we would try. Sure there are a lot of tech issues and a lot of missing features, but thats how MMO's are and were no different.
The funny thing is, beta testers were telling people the whole time about the problems lol.
So Actually dude, NDA's are there for a very good reason. Namely so the devs can generate the type of hype and anticipation they want regardless of the actual state of the game. You don't want to get information that turns out to be wrong from anyone but the devs, do you?
I mean DFO's Mahirims have one of the neatest racials out there. They have a travel mode where they can travel on all 4's. The only problem is this was never put in. Non of the racial traits were in at launch.
Developers like to throw around key selling points to attract interest, regardless of weather or not they actually intend on putting said features in or not and regardless of weather or not it's even possible.
Devs now days like to talk big and generate a ton of interest only to deliver little and chalk it up to "This is how MMO's work". Tell the consumer what they want to hear, protect the hype with an NDA, bank those pre-orders and initial sales and hope to survive the chit storm that follows with enough players to sustain your game for years to come.
Edited to Add: At least thats what NDA's are for today, wasn't always this way.
If you are looking to play STO as a explorer/crafter/trader, you will be sorely disappointed. For now, at least, those aspects of the game are less than an afterthought.
Awww... and I had aspirations of being an Orion Sydicate Rumulan Ale smugger and slave trader.
If they are accepting pre-orders, then fuck the NDA. I want to know what I'm buying.
We've all seen it time and time again, if the developer wont say whats in their game before release, they know its crap. They only want to push as many opening day boxes as possible, because they know damn well what they have is weak and wont hold players.
Then thank goodness for all the information that has been available on the official site for this game as well as the numerous dev interviews on the game for the past 6 months. Otherwise I would have no idea what I just ordered , such as the fact that I can progress thru multiple ways with exploring being one of them. The info is there, but if people are too lazy to look it up for themselves then that's their own fault.
Currently Playing: World of Warcraft
Then thank goodness for all the information that has been available on the official site for this game as well as the numerous dev interviews on the game for the past 6 months. Otherwise I would have no idea what I just ordered , such as the fact that I can progress thru multiple ways with exploring being one of them. The info is there, but if people are too lazy to look it up for themselves then that's their own fault.
Information? No, Hype yes.
Linear combat, (PVE) or Instanced PVP or the ways you can progress.
As always, it is up to each person to decide in the end. If you are looking for much more than a combat game wait. It (exploration) might get fleshed out later. But seriously doubt anyone will call it a viable leveling path.
Nothing to do with current discussion but actually its hard to find someone playing eve under the age of 16. Game has a hardcore learning curve and isn't very flashy. Not exactly a 13 year olds game.
I thought thats what the Devs hype was for? lol...
Age of Conan... We utilize DX10, the game is epic, 100 vs 100 sieges, It's EPIC, many other promises and such.
Week before launch.... Sorry we won't have DX10 in at launch Yes its hard to read thats the point
Launch happens .... While we understand why many of you are disappointed you must understand an MMO never launches finished. There was a lot we wanted to put into the game but it was just not possible. We never promised anything and simply said we would try. Sure there are a lot of tech issues and a lot of missing features, but thats how MMO's are and were no different.
The funny thing is, beta testers were telling people the whole time about the problems lol.
So Actually dude, NDA's are there for a very good reason. Namely so the devs can generate the type of hype and anticipation they want regardless of the actual state of the game. You don't want to get information that turns out to be wrong from anyone but the devs, do you?
I mean DFO's Mahirims have one of the neatest racials out there. They have a travel mode where they can travel on all 4's. The only problem is this was never put in. Non of the racial traits were in at launch.
Developers like to throw around key selling points to attract interest, regardless of weather or not they actually intend on putting said features in or not and regardless of weather or not it's even possible.
Devs now days like to talk big and generate a ton of interest only to deliver little and chalk it up to "This is how MMO's work". Tell the consumer what they want to hear, protect the hype with an NDA, bank those pre-orders and initial sales and hope to survive the chit storm that follows with enough players to sustain your game for years to come.
Edited to Add: At least thats what NDA's are for today, wasn't always this way.
You forgot to mention that in both cases you cite - Age of Conan and Darkfall - the NDAs for each game were kept in place until just a couple or few days before LAUNCH. And, neither game had an open beta.
STO's NDA comes down tomorrow, three weeks before launch. STO is also having an open beta period.
These are some pretty substantial differences for anyone other than a blind conspiracy theorist.
Hell hath no fury like an MMORPG player scorned.
Just got into open beta this morning and while I haven't played yet, it's only the very last patch note that says that the content created by the Genesis system has now been added.
In other words, no one - including closed beta testers - has had experience with this exploration bit. That's the bad news. The good news is that it is in-game and that you'll hear all about it from open beta.
"Id rather work on something with great potential than on fulfilling a promise of mediocrity."
- Raph Koster
Tried: AO,EQ,EQ2,DAoC,SWG,AA,SB,HZ,CoX,PS,GA,TR,IV,GnH,EVE, PP,DnL,WAR,MxO,SWG,FE,VG,AoC,DDO,LoTRO,Rift,TOR,Aion,Tera,TSW,GW2,DCUO,CO,STO
Favourites: AO,SWG,EVE,TR,LoTRO,TSW,EQ2, Firefall
Currently Playing: ESO
I suspect the game will be bare bones.. I have not heard of anything in the form of crafting/engineering.. Therefore I'm guessing their isn't any player economy.. From the looks of it, STO is an online version of "Starfleet Command", a game that had limited content other then dog fighting and improving your ship with victories.. I wouldn't be surprised if most of the playing population isn't maxed within 2-4 months.. After that it will be PvP end game.. Enjoy..
O boy just to my suprise this game will be another linear bore fest im sick of these company going in the wrong direction with mmo's. I DONT WANT TO START OUT AS A SHIP CAPTAIN. I just want to be in the world and forge my own destiny in game. I want that freedom instead of these damm games holding your hand. here start off on home planet have a social aspect on planet do quests join the federation become a trader build a house then if u want get a ship explore the galaxy. I want an mmo that is based in a living and breathing world where the players live in it and go where no man has gone before if they freaking want to. Star trek could have been an epic sandbox mmo if done right but hey these companys just want to make a quick buck and not do something that will be around for years to come. Look at eve online (im not a fan) but having freedome in an mmo keeps it interesting and people stay bottomline.
Hate to break it to you, but everyone in EVE starts out as a ship captain...
anyway, i get your point, just wanted to point out the irony. I also dislike the idea of everyone in-game being an admiral. But this is the legacy of SWG - apparently most people didn't want to play as just regular people, they all wanted to be Luke Skywalker. So from now on, no more of that. Everyone is an Admiral or a Jedi or "The Chosen One".
This is not how I would have built the game, but that's a moot point. The game is built and it is what it is. Might as well enjoy it for that.
"Id rather work on something with great potential than on fulfilling a promise of mediocrity."
- Raph Koster
Tried: AO,EQ,EQ2,DAoC,SWG,AA,SB,HZ,CoX,PS,GA,TR,IV,GnH,EVE, PP,DnL,WAR,MxO,SWG,FE,VG,AoC,DDO,LoTRO,Rift,TOR,Aion,Tera,TSW,GW2,DCUO,CO,STO
Favourites: AO,SWG,EVE,TR,LoTRO,TSW,EQ2, Firefall
Currently Playing: ESO