Cryptic Studios introducing hybrid subscription/microtransaction-based business model change for sci-fi MMOG next year.
Cryptic Studios launched Champions Online and Star Trek Online within a few months of each other, but their switch to free-to-play hasn't been quite as in lockstep. With Champions Online having assumed its new business model earlier this year, Cryptic has announced that Star Trek Online will begin its free-to-play service beginning January 17.
Originally scheduled for later this year, Star Trek Online's transition to free-to-play splits players' payment options into two forks. For $15 per month, gamers can purchase a Gold membership, which grants expanded character slots, inventory space, veteran rewards, and priority login to the game's servers.
Those who opt for a free Silver membership will still have access to all of the game's areas and sections. However, those who go the free-to-play route will have limited access to parts of Star Trek Online, such as in-game chat, customer support, and forums.
A full breakdown of the differences between the two ways to play Star Trek Online is available through Cryptic's website. For more information on the game, check out GameSpot's previous coverage.
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So Star Trek Online has a shooter mode, an off the rails space combat system that requires you the pay attention to everything, a crafting system in which you can make everything except the ship, a mission creation system in which you can make your own city for a map and it will be going free to play. The only thing SW :TOR has going for it is the Star Wars franchise, its built pretty much like WOW.
This is actually sad news my friends. First DC universe online, Everquest 2, Aion and Star Trek Online, its like a chain reaction. With SWTOR coming in, many MMOs stopped struggling and accepted the fate of F2P. Whole MMO industry is going to be effected by SWTOR and WOW alone dominating it all and its sad to see such declines.
@usermikey A lot of the "chat limits", etc, that will plague silver accounts will be "unlocks" instead of "perma-blocks". Those who have a subscription now, but cancel it when the game goes F2P, will retain all their chat options, but will find a lot of their "subscription" content locked until they decide to resubscribe. At least, that's what I saw on my last reading of their website / FAQ. It may have changed along with the release date...
My main problem is that I like WoW, STO, EQ2, EvE, WhO and a ton more. But my wallet has problems keeping money in it. So these companies going F2P is good for me.
It seems that nearly every Western MMO not named World of Warcraft is going this route. I find it pretty amusing actually.
I like that companies are doing this :) I find it such a waste to drop $15/mo on a game I play casually.
Well look like xbox360 getiing a free mmo but since i got ps3 and it isnt comeing to ps3 i dont really care about this game.
It's a fun game, deserving of a revised rating. It isn't perfect but then what game is? It's just good fun. I would give it an 8 or an 8.5 myself and I hope that going to Free To Play will give the game a much needed content boost.
I've been waitin on this one since they announced its freedom. If they hadn't, I may have bought it in the last couple months :V
Hoping this will increase the amount of players. They should follow DC Universe online where paid members retain benefits, 3 types of accounts, 2 depending on pay to play benefits
I loved STO for the first few weeks. I hope this game can find new life by going free-to-play.
Can Star Trek Online take you where no one has gone before? Find out in this review.
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