Star Trek Online Open Beta

[starseed]

I peed a little after reading this. Especially after the last sentence.

www.startrekonline.com/upcoming_content

Just because we're about to launch Star Trek Online doesn't mean we don't have some great updates ready for you in the coming weeks. From endgame raid Episodes, to more PvP maps, to more Klingon content, no matter what you love about STO we've got something you'll love even more. Here's a taste what we have planned over the next two months. And just in case you were wondering, everything listed here is free!
The Hive Mind Is Everywhere
The Borg are invading! Just in time for many of you to reach the rank of Admiral, we've got three new high-level Episodes centered around the classic Alpha Quadrant menace, the Borg. Here's what you can expect:
Collateral Damage - Help save civilians caught in a battle between the Borg and Undine.
Recovery - In this follow-up to Collateral Damage, Rescue colonists infected by the Borg virus and fight Undine determined to destroy them!
State of Q - Q transports you back in time to do him a special favor.
More to come!
In addition to our compelling scripted content, you'll be able to check out a brand new, Borg-themed Deep Space Encounter. Can you and your friends hold off the coming invasion? It won't be long until you're called upon by Starfleet to save the galaxy!

Don't forget to check out the new exploration content included in the Borg content pack, too. When you find some respite from the Collective, seek out new life and civilizations at your own pace. The universe is just waiting to be discovered.
Raid Episodes Coming Your Way
If you're looking for a challenge, look no further than our upcoming Raid Episodes, which combine bold storytelling with our toughest five-man missions yet. These are just a few of the Raid Episodes we'll be rolling out over the coming weeks, beginning a week after launch. Raid Episodes are available to both Federation and Klingon players.
Infected - Investigate a federation station that Starfleet has lost contact with.
The Cure - A planet has been completely taken over by the Borg. Fight them for control of the planet.
Khitomer Accord - Travel back in time and uncover and participate in the events that led to the release of old Borg you encountered in the Tutorial Episode.
Into the Hive - Track down a missing Starfleet captain and come face to face with the new Borg Queen.

More Action in the Alpha Quadrant
We've got even more great additions planned for Star Trek Online. Here's just a bit of what's coming:
Klingon Fleet Actions - Form up with your closest friends and do battle in large engagements.
A New Klingon Ship - You asked for it, we made it: A Tier 2 Klingon Battle Cruiser.
Klingon Star Clusters - Seek out new life and civilizations ... and subjugate them! Additional PvE content for the Klingon faction.
Federation vs. Federation PvP - Practice against your allies before engaging your enemies.
New Ground Maps - We'll be adding a new Ground Assault PvP map, as well as a new ground Fleet Action.
More IP Locations - Check out Rura Penthe and our whole solar system, from Mercury to Pluto.

[Peanut]

Originally Posted by starseed

buncha stuff...

You're alive!!!

[starseed]

Originally Posted by Peanut

You're alive!!!

I overworked myself, then went on vacation. Life is starting to get back to normal for me.

[Hack&Lube]

Originally Posted by 3 Justin 3

You nerds, go play Call of Duty.

Go away console gamer, that giant CODMW2 thread makes me sick. Infinity Ward sucks.

[Hack&Lube]

I just know all the "investigate" and "save the colonists" missions will all be the same. Investigation entails walking from place to place to press F to tricorder scan a computer/artifact. Saving the colonists involves walking from place to place to press F to tricorder scan a colonist (who then beams up). Between each computer/colonist, there will be a mob of bad guys. Wash, rinse, repeat. They can disguise anything they want in this game but this game really only has 2 things to do in the game. The same mechanic over and over.

There's nothing to do but press F at everything. There's no thinking involved. You just press F at something and then your 2nd in command window pops up and tells you to go find the next thing to press F on. Are all MMOs like this?

[Kerplunk]

Originally Posted by Hack&Lube

Are all MMOs like this?

Pretty close. Many will have a few more mission types, but in general its go to place A, slaughter monster X until you collect B amount of C, or kill D number of the monster. Sometimes you have to get something from behind the monsters, just to mix it up.

The thing that other MMOs have is more time sinks. In STO I was able to get from mission to mission much quicker than other games. It also lacks many of the open loot collection type environments other ones have...everything in STO is a mission.

I think they could have a decent game if they put in two things (besides fixing the stuff that doesn't work now): 1) an actual crafting system, where you need to search out and gather materials for better equipment, and 2) areas to explore on a planet after your initial mission to that planet is done, where you can get materials, equipment, bridge officers, etc. And put some damn wildlife on the planets; its weird to walk around and never see an animal. Give the players something to do other that constant missions/killing.

I'd say that if they gave this thing another 6 months of solid development time (with good developers) to put in more time sinks/things to do, the release would be ok. As it is, they will have a lot of work trying to get back the beta players they lost with the lack of additional content.

[starseed]

The game is apparently running smoothly once you get in... But I cannot get in anymore. Welcome to launch day. Ugh

[Yeah_Baby]

Originally Posted by Hack&Lube

I just know all the "investigate" and "save the colonists" missions will all be the same.

I've always said, being in Starfleet would generally suck if you weren't on a ship called Enterprise. You'd almost think sometimes that the Enterprise was the only competent ship in the fleet.

[Bigtime]

I don't know why all of you in here just don't go and play EVE Online. Sure its got a learning curve that is steep as hell, but you can do so much in it.

I played it for about a year and a half in Goonfleet, it was a blast.

pew pew

[sclitheroe]

Originally Posted by Bigtime

I don't know why all of you in here just don't go and play EVE Online. Sure its got a learning curve that is steep as hell, but you can do so much in it.

I played it for about a year and a half in Goonfleet, it was a blast.

pew pew

Isn't EVE online that graphical MMO spreadsheet simulator?

I kid, I just don't have the time to play it at a high level.

[Bigtime]

Originally Posted by sclitheroe

Isn't EVE online that graphical MMO spreadsheet simulator?

I kid, I just don't have the time to play it at a high level.

That's the one!

However if you fit the criteria for Goonfleet it was more of "throw yourself a the enemy with hundreds of you fellow newbs in frigates."

Good times. I never got into the market stuff that much, although you can make billions if you play the markets right. I believe some economists have actually studied the EVE market, since it represents a truly free market.

[BlackArcher101]

Who's going to post up their name?

Alena@BlackArcher101

[spuzzum]

I waited and read for over a year for STO. I've only played the beta for 5-10 hours but I am severely disappointed. A couple of members are spot on - press F move, press F, move. There is no thinking or logic involved. I've tried to push myself to be playing on the first release date but I just can't. $60 dollars plus 20 bucks a month. I am a total Star Trek fan and played Eve to compensate until STO came - but the game is total crap. I love Eve but everyone is right - it just takes too many hours in the week to be successful. So I guess I'll get NHL 2010 out and try to 'Be a Pro' when time permits. Summer is approaching anyways.

[Kjesse]

I broke down and bought the game to get in the open beta.

What a mistake. This 'game' is boring. I've only played about an hour since the restart, but I can't be bothered to play any more. Was a total waste of money.

[BlackArcher101]

Originally Posted by spuzzum

I waited and read for over a year for STO. I've only played the beta for 5-10 hours but I am severely disappointed.

What level did you get to? Did you start any of the better missions?

[starseed]

@st4rseed

[Hack&Lube]

Originally Posted by BlackArcher101

What level did you get to? Did you start any of the better missions?

The missions don't really get any better. They just get longer with more variations on pressing F.

The best part of the game are fleet actions on the ground and in space. This is the big problem. There are only like 3 fleet actions between Lt. and Commander when these are the only parts of the game that actually feel MMO because they force players to play together. The Crystalline Entity doesn't even count as a fleet action as that thing dies in under 10 seconds of it spawning.

Instead of only 3 fleet actions, there should be like 30. All the missions should involve multiple players AFAIAC.

The only time I enjoyed ground missions where when we had 20+ players running around on a planet mowing down a Klingon army with phaser rifles.

[sclitheroe]

Originally Posted by Hack&Lube

The missions don't really get any better. They just get longer with more variations on pressing F.

I decided to map out the first few quadrants of space.

Here it is:

[Hack&Lube]

[starseed]

I just flew to DS9, and played the DS9 intro.

I honestly cried when at the end someone tripped the wormhole.

This game has been a long time coming.

Also, the City of the Edge of Never is an awesome episode/mission!