STO (Star Trek Online) is a space-themed mmo (I use the term loosely) with multiple layers of each section you take part in. Last time I played it the combat was rinse/repeat but the space part of it and the Trekkie aspects were fun.

I vowed if the game went F2P I would pick it back up and see if any improvements had been made, and as of yesterday it went F2P. If you are interested go here:

https://register.perfectworld.com/sto_splash

If you already have a STO account, just go to the STO homepage and log in with your Cryptic credentials and you can download the F2P client from there, but be forewarned it uses Pando Media Booster which you will want to uninstall after downloading the client. It's notorious for slowing down internet speeds when it sits idle on your PC.

So have they?

I think they had a head start program for F2P, it went F2P to the general public yesterday. The only reason I bring that up is there's probably already some written opinions/reviews out there already.

I just signed up! Looking forward to pulling myself away from Super Crossfire once and awhile.

How come lately all these MMORPGs are turning into F2P MMORPGs?

Because people are finally realizing that they are worthless, publishers are starting to realize that they get a lot more out of you if they get you hooked on a game for free, then get you to buy in game items.

And also because there's already so many f2p mmos out there, that unless you're a big name like wow, you have to turn f2p to be competitive.

Because some of them simply aren't successful, and are now looking for ways to enlarge their user base. Star Trek Online is a good example. It was conceived at a time when everyone in the industry thought that MMOS were a gold mine. It then went through a very troubled development phase marked by concept redesigns, financial troubles, switch of publisher and developer, delays, and nigh-cancellation of the project. Another problem is that it was based on a dying franchise in the first place. The thing was finally released as a thoroughly unspectacular game which gave neither MMO fans nor trekkies much reason to invest time in it. It was never successful, and now has been acquired by the Perfect World publishers.

For such a game, going F2P is probably the last chance to survive, though in case of STO I still think that the game simply isn't good enough as a game, and too far removed from the Star Trek philosophy to keep the interest of a larger player base despite that.

Is this a new record for going from P2P to F2P? It's been less than a year.

DC Universe probably did it bit faster.


On the OP, need the check it out this one day.

DC:U was what 8 months? and FF14 only just stopped being F2P after going free its first month due to all the problems...

If I find an mmo I enjoy I dont mind paying for it on a monthly basis (if you have read some of my older posts on MMO's you will know this is new for me)

If I can find an FtP that I enjoy as much as EvE then i will stop paying and playing it..

Fallen earth kept me busy for a few days. but with my net connection as it is at the moment im not playing much online.

I only reinstalled it over night. I can say my character was not locked :) Other than that some improvements have been made, yes, but I haven't spent any time to see what's been done.

Is it any good, or is it like EvE?

(not meant to insult EvE, I just didnt like it).

Wuu! Star Trek comes from TV next sunday.