Star Trek Online Review

I posted a review for Star Trek Online over at gamespot.

http://uk.gamespot.com/pc/rpg/startrekonline/player_review.html?id=708023

Zero Punctuation: Darksiders

This week, Yahtzee reviews Darksiders. Usual warning for language. Enjoy.

Star Trek Online: Open Beta Impressions Addendum

News from the beta testing bunker is that STO will only be allowing two character slots with a third unlocked at level 6 (when you unlock Klingons). More can be gained if you're willing to shell out for a year subscription before 1st February. Although not confirmed, it is probable that slots can be brought through the Cryptic store. When micro-transactions were announced a while back for "cosmetic items", I was worried about the precedent in a game that already requires a monthly fee. I was willing to give them the benefit of the doubt as long as it was just special uniforms and the like. This, however, reeks of trying to wring every penny out of their customers and is detrimental to the game.

The ability to create new characters and approach the game in a new way is what adds to the replayability that is vital to an MMO's long term life. As I mentioned in my earlier review, Cryptic are masters of the character creator, it's one of their hallmarks. This prevents people using one of their best features. It is also going to make some people who thinking of playing a Klingon less likely to do so, so that they can save their slots for Federation characters. This is going to unbalance the Klingons yet further in population size.

More worrying to me is the question it raises. How many more things we expect as standard, like a decent number of character slots, are Cryptic going to charge as for?

Star Trek Online: Open Beta Impressions

For the last couple of days, I have been playing Star Trek Online in it's Open Beta. I figure it's time to gather my thoughts and mention that I'm still pissed at Cryptic for not letting me in Closed Beta, especially after seeing some of the dribbling cretins that did get in only to start crying when they can't kill Klingons with screen licking. Anyway, this isn't about them so I'll move on.

I think it's important to preface this with the fact that I do like this game (translation: I'm going to say some negative things about it). The game launches in the US on 2nd February (EU 5th) although there is an early start a few days before that. Honestly, the game feels hurried. Not in terms of quality or quantity of content, but it does need more balancing and bug testing. Some of the bugs that have come up, such as appearing as a starship on a planet surface, should have been dealt with in Closed Beta.

There are a couple of episode missions that stand out already as having parts you just can't solo because a ship hasn't been scaled properly to your level, meaning that you cruise through most of it okay then get slapped like a bitch. This leads to lots of people hovering outside the star system looking for people to help them with that final bit.

Bridge Officers are mostly fine, but aren't quite as customizable as we'd been led to believe. While a certain amount of that can be dealt with at the tailor, there is no option to choose either their species or gender. You can change their nickname, but not their actual name. For those of us who had planned the officers we want before we played, this is basically a fist up the rectum after being shown the strength of the character creator when building your captain.

On to more positive thoughts. The character creator is, unsurprisingly, great. There are an astonishing number of options, although it is a little bit more limited than Cryptic's earlier efforts to fit the licence. Starship combat is great and the degree of customization you have with your ship and it's equipment adds to that. The ground game gets some criticism from others, but honestly that's a little unfair. It's not going to redefine the genre, but it's no worse than other MMOs. The environments, both in space and on the ground look fantastic and really add to the feel of the game.

For those looking for Star Trek the Sim you will be disappointed, but it's not like Cryptic have ever advertised it as such. This is a fun game in the Star Trek universe. It is a flawed gem, but the good thing about MMOs is that they will be improved and expanded after release. If you're wondering why I haven't talked about Klingons, it's because I haven't got round to playing one yet.

Zero Punctuation

I'm a little late putting this up because I've been playing Star Trek Online to much. More on that in the next post.

Do Not Adjust Your Television

Yes, I just changed the page background from black to white. It seems to be the trend on websites these days, white backgrounds instead of colours. Plus it's easier to read I think.

Zero Punctuation

Another Zero Punctuation for your viewing pleasure. Very funny, but also NSFW.

Bye Wossy

I, for one, will be sad to see Jonathan Ross leave the BBC. Partly because I enjoy his shows, but also because it feels like the moaners have won. I think the phone call to Andrew Sachs was stupid, but all it warranted was an apology to the two people actually involved (Andrew Sachs and his grand daughter). But people had to moan on and on like they were being forced to watch him.

On a positive note, hopefully this means he'll do something new and exciting for another channel (probably Channel 4) and he won't be restricted by the Thought Police decrying the waste of their licence fee as if the millions that choose to watch him don't pay it too.

Batman: Arkham Asylum

For your viewing pleasure, a song inspired by the video game, Batman: Arkham Asylum.

There are more video game inspired songs by Rebecca Mayes over at the Escapist Magazine website.

Happy New Year

Belated happy new year. I hope everyone enjoyed the festive period and is now ready to be back at the crushing grind of regular life. Still, summer is only six months away.