Posts for January 2010

Star Trek Online Beta Impressions

Some feedback I posted on the Star Trek Online Open Beta. Reposting here in case there is interest.

These are my initial impressions after 2 hours of play. It's only 2 hours but I think this is important as it's what forms my initial impression of the game.

* Space is way too crowded. Having ship after ship stacked up on each other gives the whole game way too much of an amusement park feel.

* Waypoints to missions and goals are very confusing to me if they even exist. Which they don't seem to. Not knowing where to go leaves players dead in the water.

* The overall pacing in the game feels slow and boring in ground combat.

* Distances in Space combat feels and looks too cramped and confusing. I'm often so close to things, particularly the borg cube, that I can't even see what's going on. The general distances make me feel like I should be able to throw rocks at the other ships. Definitely lacks that Trek Feel.

* Power management is good and gives that Trek Feel.

* Weapon arcs, shields and so forth all feel good and have that Trek Feel.

* Ship customization is great. Beef up the descriptions more please though.

* Skill descriptions are nice but some of the numbers leave me a bit flat. One ability gives me a 0.01 increase to something, which makes it seem pointless. Perhaps a more meaningful scale for players.

* I like the skills system but it's difficult to get a feel for how things should play out. Perhaps a suggested builds system similar to what you have in CO would help.

* I don't see why I don't have a list of targets in the system, right now the only way I ...

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