unlock awards option

[fallen]

ab357 - thanks for all the feedback. Sorry we ruffled some feathers--never our intention.

We try very hard to listen and respond to all our interested customers, and at the very least, we have a nice active discussion going on here. I hope you continue to enjoy Star Traders. I have spent months trying to get good at the game and still can't break into the Impossible realms myself.

If you are interested in other games within the Star Traders universe, try Templar Assault!

Happy gaming!

[blackgauntlet]

ab357- Hey, fellow old fart! ;D
I hear what you're saying and believe me, I was like you as well.
I'll tell you how it went for me with ST.
I played on Impossible first.
Died horribly in 32 turns... on my way to complete my 1st mission.
I played on Challenging... died again in less than 100 turns.
Finally, I played on Basic. And I enjoyed it immensely at the level I was comfortable with.
Sure, those stuff in the Star Ports look great but I was still kicking butt without them.
Unlocked some awards as well that I don't really need.
Then, I got bored and started a new game on Normal.
Died horribly in less than 300 turns.
I forgot about those rewards that I unlocked.
Continued with the Normal game with a modded vessel using said rewards.
And I thrived. Once again, unlocked more awards. Till I got bored.
Finally, I came back to Challenging Level again with new-found knowledge I obtained from previous games. Once again, I learnt new stuffs, obtained new rewards and faced new challenges.

So, don't be discouraged there, mate.
From what I see, you're already doing fine in Basic, actually.
Why not step up a gear and go to Normal with a new Captain, a new Vessel and face new challenges?
I know we get attached with our old Captains some times but they are not truly gone.
It's not like a final goodbye. And with all the different classes and professions, I'm sure you must be curious as to what each one will do, right?
Why not take this opportunity to slake your curiosity while exploring the new level at the same time?

Finally, as suggested by fallen, Templar Assault is a GREAT casual game. It has a very low learning curve, which is great for beginners but it also has punishing penalties at higher levels. Very nice tactical RPG, especially for those on the go.

[ab357]

For me it's the more elite ships I would like to have the ability to get as a reward for high reps within my factions.

I am going to take both your suggestions and give Templar Assault a try. However this time I know about the forum so I can read up on what levels etc to play on for ultimatum satisfaction.

Thanks to you both as well as Cory:)

[slayernz]

Actually, playing on "Normal" level is a good next step because again, you can't actually die. Getting new ships, even the really advanced big ships doesn't require unlocks. In Elite, they are around and available to buy. Of course, the bigger and flasher the ship, the rarer it is in the market, so don't expect it to be as common as a shuttle or even a Jango.

At level 163, it takes forever to build up the XP to buy a skill or attribute. If you start a new character in Normal, you'll probably find that you can get to level 20 with the same amount of points to move from Level 163 to 164. It'll take you a couple of thousand turns and given your playing for enjoyment approach, it'll only take a couple of days to blat out that time.

[Cory Trese]

This thread has been a huge source of stress for me.

My short form metaphor post was not well received and I regret that.

I continue to look forward to future releases that improve the play for everyone.

Discussions like this may not be able to be converted into changes to ST, but they are lessons learned for the next game.

[ab357]

Well I certainly didn't intend to cause anyone stress and it didn't appear my posts were the first. In fact someone started it long before I ever came here.

My intent wasn't as much the unlocks as it was the better ships. I would assume that regardless of the level you play on, if there are ships that are "rewards" for high reps within factions it would apply to even basic.

For what it's worth I took all suggestions given to heart and tried playing at the higher levels and gave Templar Assaut a try. Unfortunately for me, I didn't like either. But as I've always said, if I don't like what you program into your games that's my problem to take or leave. My personal preference and right.

[uuuuuuuuuuu]

The PUPOSE of basic is to train for normal.

The only point is to get to the better levels.

I emailed about this months ago -- difficulty levels should all be locked like ships.

Then this would not be an issue because they would understand how the game works.

Now PLEASE ignore this thread. Ignore me. Ignore the anonymous posters.

Ignore them all AND GO BACK TO MAKING GAMES.

your games are good enough you do not need to listen to every suggestion.

Do what you do because according to the thousands of reviews of you online, you are doing $?@&%? GREAT

[Cory Trese]

Lessons learned for the next game. Thanks.

[antixeele]

I think an unlock awards option is a horrible idea. You might as well ask Cory to put a button on the main menu labled "enable cheat mode" (Shudder!).

Ab357 asked "Isnt the point to have fun the way I prefer?" Sure it is! Within the established limits of the game. The game's purpose is not simply "Entertainment". The game is an established world. Its a complex puzzle. Its a work of art.

Modifications which violate the established infrastructure of the game, or skirt in game limitations, undermine the integrity of the game itself.

In otherwords, cheating cheapens the experience.

[Fenikso]

Jan 24, 2012 7:34:23 GMT -5 antixeele said:

The game is an established world. Its a complex puzzle. Its a work of art.

Modifications which violate the established infrastructure of the game, or skirt in game limitations, undermine the integrity of the game itself.

In otherwords, cheating cheapens the experience.

Exalt for wise and well put words.

[taatuu25]

Uuuuuuuuuu is damn good in reverse psychology...

[blackgauntlet]

He's probably Criss Devil- the "Mindf*ck".

[ab357]

Jan 24, 2012 7:34:23 GMT -5 antixeele said:

I think an unlock awards option is a horrible idea. You might as well ask Cory to put a button on the main menu labled "enable cheat mode" (Shudder!).

Ab357 asked "Isnt the point to have fun the way I prefer?" Sure it is! Within the established limits of the game. The game's purpose is not simply "Entertainment". The game is an established world. Its a complex puzzle. Its a work of art.

Modifications which violate the established infrastructure of the game, or skirt in game limitations, undermine the integrity of the game itself.

In otherwords, cheating cheapens the experience.

So making changes is cheating? There has been a pretty good percentage of forum posters that state they play for entertainment. If the app isn't a game, it should be reclassified on the market.

Successful business ventures offer the customer plenty of choices. Now if the game is invented solely to entertain the creator and a few die hard devotees. It's succeeded. However if the point is to entice as many customers as possible into paying to play, you have to design something they want to play. A significant percentage has expressed the fact they aren't entertained fighting to be permanently killed or told what level they must play on to have all the tools available.

This isn't the opinion of the few that bother to post here. It is proven by the fact that game makers offer more levels, make levels progressively harder as you gain experience, and DON'T PERMANENTLY KILL YOU OFF is you don't successfully complete a level.

A chef has his favorite dishes. But he knows if he wants to keep his place full with satisfied, returning customers; he better offer them choices and definitely keep on the menu the favorites of his customers.

If the goal of the game maker is to gain as large a following of paying customers as possible, he better listen to feedback and give the masses what they want.

After all, that is how the Android op system was created. It filled the hole left by Microsoft and Apple dictating what the customer could and couldn't do with their systems after they bought it.

Just one player's opinion. With a whole lot of fellow players expressing the same thoughts.

Even the die hard devotees ask for changes and/or additions. Does Cory want this to be a sideline or would he like to be successful enough that he doesn't have to worry about his next paycheck?

[taatuu25]

I think you really dont have much base for what you're saying. And actually you may not understand it, but if the permanent death was turned off, t would make a big part of the players get bored in the game because of the lack of challenge, because if there is no permanent death you can lose. If you play a game where you cant lose, you cant say it is hard. (except in puzzle games where you may get stuck in a level)

[taatuu25]

Ex. Not so many players actually want perma-death off. I havent seen even one market review out of the hundred i have seen (to clear, i managed to access the english ones)to complain about perma-death. also, as said before, in basic yu. Dont. Need. A good ship. You can fly a rotten herring and still easily beat the s**t ot of that grand capital destroyer. Once again, if there is no perma-death its like being a god in real life.. So theres actually no reason to follow rules.