2009
11.06
11.06
A prequel episode of STOradio, brought to you by MMO Junkies. Star Trek Online is a soon to be released MMORPG, based on the Star Trek film, television and literature universe! We aim to bring the best pre-release coverage.
Show notes:
Hosts: Missy Shade, Madam Scotty
Guest commentary: WHEROcast(Sata, David West, Lady Zyre)
Release date: November 6th, 2009
Topics: (quick update)STOradio panelists, Release date for Star Trek Online, Beta entry for Champions Online subscribers
Edited by: B. Alvarez
Links: www.mmojunkies.tv, www.mmorpg.com, www.startrekonline.com, www.crypticstudios.com, www.twitter.com/WHEROcast, www.twitter.com/STO_Radio
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First of all, promised Closed beta access is all marketing and it has nothing to do with anyone really caring about community or players. CB keys were given either through various promotions through conventions, sites and Twitter/IRC or actually sold through CO subscriptions.
Naturally, Cryptic didn’t release any numbers, but my impression is that they’ve actually sold way too many 6-month/lifetime subscriptions with promised beta access when compared to those 6-month subs without such access and while they managed to achieve their goal and ultimately get more players subscribed to the CO game, they also got worried about securing the beta access to large amount of people.
For people who are outside gaming industry, beta means early access to the game (let’s be honest here and say that most beta’s being offered now are almost finished games meant for demo/trial purposes because beta is the buzzword people are looking for to get that kind of special treatment/feeling) and most gamers do not think or care for that matter, about what beta means to the developers and such players are usually set to complain and get disappointed about all those things that are not working as they should during the beta process. As I said, this is because publishers (and software industry in general) uses word beta mostly for promotion, while true testing is being done inside the company or through contractors.
In that sense, Cryptic made one crucial mistake with their closed beta offering. Since it is very obvious that Cryptic is now inviting only its closest partners and members of media, they shouldn’t have announce the begging of beta until they were ready to accommodate at least 15-20% of those subscription/giveaways group of people every week. Also, they needed to explain beta cycle process to the community before announcing the beta or promising early access (some of their employees even made a mistake of promising “first to beta access”).
People who are trying to justify what Cryptic did (or what it didn’t for that matter) have to understand the people who paid $100-200 to get into the beta believing they would be granted the access as soon as the beta is announced since other developers/publishers did exactly that with their “beta” (explained above) . It is very obvious that most of these people are not even an active CO players.
Another fun show, but way too short.
I can’t wait until the full episodes start, I listen to alot of MMO, gaming and star trek podcasts and I really hope for some of the heated debates of the last one to be a regular feature. I may not always agree but most podcasts don’t show that kind of passion.
So my thoughts on .5:
First I agree that while Cryptic did not say when the players would have access it did seem like it would be pretty soon, and I can understand why players who shelled out the cash to be in the beta would be mad. That said I also know what a Beta really is and I can understand why Cryptic would not just let everyone log in right away. From what I understand Tabula Rasa had some trouble letting too many into their Beta before they were ready. I think one real issue is that the game companies marketting departments have really changed what a beta is. A Beta is no longer a large scale testing phase but is a free (or for 200 bucks eh, Cryptic?) preview of the game. Is that fair no, but it is the reality of it, even this closed Beta is more a marketing ploy to get gamers to sign up for Champions. I personally have been obsessed with STO even back when it was with perpetual, but I was not realy to throw down the money for Champions. I am sure it is a solid game (I did like City of Heroes) and the exclusive mirrior mirrior outfit really made me consider it I chose to wait.
I am sure now that everyone knows that Feb.2 the game comes out it doesn’t seem so long to wait after all.
I am also really interested to see how the leveling and how the episodes work. I just was reading some more on them today and I have to say this game seems more and more different than any MMO I have yet played. I am excited and nervious at the same time about it.
Oh and if you guys need any help with your show let me know I would love to help out.