Warping Forward
By PWE_BranFlakes @ June 26, 2012 at 5:19pm
Hi Captains,
Now that we are about a week into the website conversion and things are (slowly, but surely) starting to get back to normal, I wanted to take a few minutes of your time to talk to you. I speak to you today not only as your Community Manager, but as a fellow Star Trek Online player (2008 forum join date, lifetime subscriber, playing since Closed Beta).
Last week, the Community experienced a big out-of-game change: the port of the STO website to the Perfect World Entertainment (PWE) framework. This change involved a site redesign, a different version of the forums, and account merging. This is a big change to undertake at one time, and I can tell you that it was definitely no small task for all parties involved, including our players. As a long-time player myself, I can empathize with you in that change can be hard to adjust to, especially when you've been used to something for so long.
It's important to note that these changes were/ are being made for business and technical reasons, and to further the integration of PWE and Cryptic. Since PWE is the publisher for Cryptic games (and almost a dozen other titles), bringing all game sites to the PWE framework allows for the teams involved in the publishing of them to work more efficiently together. This in turn provides a better experience to our players, including more features and benefits that can and will be introduced.
I also want to let you know that your feedback is important to us and that we are listening and taking note. We recognize that next to the actual game, the site and forums are typically the next most important aspect of a MMO. I'm not sure if you've seen this Community-created thread, but, as you can see, the Web Team and I have been responding to and remedying concerns as fast as we can. Please feel free to post any site/ forum functionality concerns that come up in that thread and we will continue do our best to address them.
You may have not seen the news yet, but I wanted to let you all know that we just announced that a similar change will be taking place over at the Champions Online site and forums in just a couple days. I know the first question that probably came to mind when you read that is "Why didn't we get advance notice?" The Champions Online community is receiving this news because of the feedback you have provided this past week, and based off what we've learned from the experience of porting STO. While this does not go back to change the fact that this community did not learn about the change until after site maintenance was complete, we've listened, are responding, and are taking your feedback into consideration.
In closing, I want to reaffirm that we will continue doing our absolute best to resolve issues that are brought up, as well as to provide support and answer additional questions as we warp into the future.
Thanks for reading, and I'll see you in the forums and in-game. LLAP!
Cheers,
Brandon "BranFlakes" Felczer
Community Manager
Star Trek Online
P.S. Here is a collection of FAQs/ articles that have been posted recently:
Account Linking Article: http://sto.perfectworld.com/news/?p=570451
Account Linking FAQ: https://support.perfectworld.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/4134
Account Linking Promo: http://sto.perfectworld.com/news/?p=569601
Cryptic Points Conversion FAQ: https://support.perfectworld.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/4136
mattachine @ Jun 28th, 2012 2:08PM
You might want to look in to why the search engine isn't working if you're searching for a user's posts. I keep getting redirected to this Database Error page: http://sto-forum.perfectworld.com/search.php?do=process
aeyunga @ Jun 28th, 2012 5:13AM
Jesus, what a bunch of whiny pricks you all are. Its a FORUM CHANGE not the freaking holocaust. Suck it up. To everyone who said "This was unforgivable" or "I'll no longer play" - GOOD! Piss off and leave more room on the servers for the rest of us! To everyone who said "Give us some free points/zen/items" shut your ungrateful holes! you're already getting a game you can play completely for free, you are certainly not entitled to anything else! Finally, to Brandon - Thanks. See you in game, sometime...
admskyhawk @ Jun 27th, 2012 6:13PM
I just wish the in game login screen would update itself with the new account name I have, since PW doesn't allow _ in the middle like Cryptic did. I told it to stop remembering the Cryptic one, then typed in the PW one and told it to remember it, but it still is stuck with the cryptic Fell_Skyhawk. Inconvenience only, but it would be better if we could switch characters without having to login again.
myladyoffire @ Jun 27th, 2012 5:07PM
well guess it time find new mmog so -10 sto acounts. i will not be rip off on 100 to 80 convesion and game does not give heads up on changes.
nennavari
Do you... actually GET the conversion? There's no ripping off whatsoever. You still pay the EXACT same amount of real cash for whatever it is you want to buy in-game, whether you buy zen or cp. The conversion simply takes into account that the 1,000 point pack, for example, will cost less in zen that with cp, and makes balance so that it's EXACTLY the same. And they DIDN'T give heads up, notice the past tense. That is after all what this whole freaking article is about - learning from mistakes. I'm prepared to hold of on saying "They don't give heads up, EVARRR!!!!!!!!" until they prove that they haven't learned from the past.
palpha2clearance @ Jun 27th, 2012 12:23PM
Very poor replacement..... Pwe should not of transitioned until they could import all account names, handle, avatars and functionality to new forums. This should of been a seamless transition.....not a forcedd relocation. I have to add anything short of this was short sided incompetence on the part of pwe, and they have taken the usefulness that crypic built on theses forums and flusned them.
fn8472 @ Jun 27th, 2012 11:08AM
Im mostly annoyed with the fact of the Exchange Rate. If I'm going to buy this "Zen", I want ALL of it transferred. not this "100 zen = 80 C points" crap. I can accept my name being stupid, But if im paying them MORE money, I want a fair exchange. Should look into that Cryptic and PWE. (will not give the decency to spell there name out)
darthpostal
For the hundredth time: YOU ARE NOT PAYING MORE MONEY! 100 ZEN = 80 C-Points if you convert them both to USD. You will not have to spend more real life money. Besides, as of now, C-Points still can be purchased directly via Steam Wallet. Use Steam if you a so afraid to be ripped off.
aveldra @ Jun 27th, 2012 9:40AM
Communication; it's not just a word, it should be a mantra. It's especially true in the case of mmos where patches, can have great effect on the community. A week or two notices for any changes isn't simply ideal, it should be common sense.
broken1981 @ Jun 27th, 2012 8:59AM
i like how, Welcome, redricky. You last visited: 12-31-1969 at 04:00 PM lmao wtf??
nyiad
LOL!!!!! Well that's STO / Cryptic-PWE. You can expect flaws always.
salemkane @ Jun 27th, 2012 8:28AM
"I know the first question that probably came to mind when you read that is "Why didn't we get advance notice?" The Champions Online community is receiving this news because of the feedback you have provided this past week, and based off what we've learned from the experience of porting STO." So basicly the STO Community is nothing more than a Beta testing place for you? Sorry but this just reads like that, and to some degree its sadly true (e.g. foundry...)
stormymav @ Jun 27th, 2012 8:15AM
A couple of suggestions which might smooth things over a little for some. ( 1 ) For those whose screen name is changed to something they do not particularly care for, the option of changing it would be nice or the option to go back to their original one would be better; ( 2 ) Customization- as in avatars and signatures. It's what make Cryptic who they are and if PW takes that away, they take away a part of what players love about you.
alastorforthrigh @ Jun 27th, 2012 7:41AM
I thank you for your post Brandon I do hope it helps calm a great deal. and I'll be sure to compile a list of suggestions for the forums in regards to functionality.
towani @ Jun 27th, 2012 6:56AM
So, I'm in the minority that obviously does have better things to do than bash a few people or a company for changing forums as if it was the end of the world or in any way impeeded my STO progress. I'm sure over time bugs will work themselves out. Also, real world shows that most of the stuff that heppens in my life isn't told to me prior to it happening... it's called... LIFE.
zardonfar @ Jun 27th, 2012 6:38AM
I'll add my angst to this.. But I would like to point out that an apology is a good start, but a GIFT is usually better received with it. At least that works with my wife.. **hint** **hint**
lassitim @ Jun 27th, 2012 4:23AM
I think we all realize that Cryptic is doing the best it can to keep up with the needs and wants of the players, but the fact remains that the merger of accounts with PWE and the lack of interest PWE seems to hold in its customers is shocking. Things really feel as though they are spiraling out of control with STO.
felspar @ Jun 27th, 2012 3:08AM
No advance warning of these changes was unforgivable!
tervoldchan @ Jun 27th, 2012 1:07AM
What about nick on forum. I want change it but I can't and customer support don't help me. They send me only to pleace where sun don't shine. I'm here from start (not beta) but this is only going be worst and worst. I will not play this game if only at last you will make something for players and no for PW. Like give players option 1)to change forum nick 2)change cost of items in C-store (like in Champion online. Devices cost here 920C (it can be like ne ship) but in STO similar item cost 2000/4000) 3)Give Us option to change foto of avatar on forum (it's confused for people find here somebody (is it tom or is it lukas? I don't know thez have same foto) 4)Listen players about this troubles.
forcardassia6 @ Jun 27th, 2012 12:58AM
To be honest, I don't really care about the changes to the forum. With that being said, not even telling people in advance that such a major change was happening (for those that do enjoy the forums) it was a d*ck move. Just goes to show that Cryptic still doesn't care about its player base. Also goes to show that they still just don't have a clue in general.
scottaprice @ Jun 27th, 2012 12:01AM
2 STO FORUM CRITICAL POINTS - SHOWSTOPPERS: 1) Access to In-Game E-Mail from the STO Website 2) Access to a Friend List of who is logged on... I have been going to the CO Site and using those tools, but they are now being taken away. Please find a way to restore this functionality as soon as possible.
scottaprice
My apologies - it posted twice somehow.
scottaprice @ Jun 27th, 2012 12:01AM
2 STO FORUM CRITICAL POINTS - SHOWSTOPPERS: 1) Access to In-Game E-Mail from the STO Website 2) Access to a Friend List of who is logged on... I have been going to the CO Site and using those tools, but they are now being taken away. Please find a way to restore this functionality as soon as possible.
kintisho @ Jun 26th, 2012 8:42PM
my only real issue with the unannounced change is the loss of the _ (underscore) in my log in name.. kinda wondering why I cant change it in the remembered acct name when I log in.. please advise.
kdawgenigma @ Jun 26th, 2012 8:39PM
How about you use Champions as the place to test poor decisions on since they don't seem to be as "angrily outspoken" as we are.
nynik @ Jun 26th, 2012 8:05PM
The majority of the loss-of-functionality issues that occurred were discovered when the Neverwinter forums were converted to the PWE framework. I fail to see how their feedback was not used to ease the transition sufficiently for the STO community, a LIVE game community. The apology is accepted, however, this does nothing to remedy Cryptic's complete failure in assuring a quality service for customers as of late.
dalolorn
You do realize this is PWE's doing, not Cryptic? Cryptic's involved in the actual game, not the website - not anymore, anyway.
sumghai @ Jun 26th, 2012 7:45PM
You know, an apology isn't that hard, but instead, we all get screwed around with this fail. To the Chinese Ferengi that run PWE, what a dick move your part for blatantly toying with one of the most dedicated franchise's fan base. (To put things in perspective, I'm Asian myself)
jayfresh11
hahaha, I'm also Asian, and I always thought the ferengi looked like some sort of Asian. Good point
truewarper @ Jun 26th, 2012 7:42PM
You know something, this was the same way. When certain patch information was not forthcoming that would alter some aspects of game play. I voiced my dsimay back then and even had a Dev replied too it, with a near quote. "Such behavior has happened before and can happen in the future" Thank you for proving that person right. As much we are paying customers or whatever we are called by the bean counters. We Are People Too.
darkenzedd @ Jun 26th, 2012 7:40PM
Just shows that Star Trek Online means less to Cryptic than Champs does. They at least get informed of the forums changes/account merge while stou users got the finger!
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