Grand Slam Los Angeles

By PWE_BranFlakes @ February 11, 2013 at 3:00pm

93 Comments »

• mactireaonair @ Feb 14th, 2013 4:46PM

  It is a blue DOFF. Nothing to get worked up over if you don't get one. It is just an inexpensive way to treat the players who also are at the con. Plus it is a great, and cheap, marketing gimmick. The customers do a lot of the legwork. Granted, taking one picture and sending it via email is hardly taxing to most people, but it's a heck of a lot easier than sending some employee from the game studio to the con with a digital camera and a sign that says 'pose here if you play STO, get a gift!'. It gives the game makers some publicity, pics of fans AND a way to gauge how much cross-promotional support there is between the game customers and the convention goers. This was the same DOFF as London, right? Good for them. Maybe STO will start doing this at all of the official conventions. Back in the 80's and 90's I went to *at least* ten conventions in the Chicago metro area, and half of them were Creation cons. This is just an electronic version of convention swag. Fun to have, maybe even a token for 'bragging rights', but nothing that will give players with it a significant edge over those without it. For those of you going, have a great time!

• kamifubuki @ Feb 14th, 2013 4:04PM

  So much hate just because the convention happens to be in Los Angeles. Conventions can't happen everywhere. And I guarantee that if the convention was in England or somewhere else, I wouldn't be going either. It's just how it is. It's not like you're getting something game-breaking by going. Conventions can and do happen in places other than Los Angeles. This one just happens to happen in Los Angeles. Grow up and get over it.

• itpalg @ Feb 14th, 2013 1:44PM

  Nice to see Bruce will be there. I would love to see a Babylon 5 MMOG with space and ground combat. It could be a multi-faction game (Earth, Centauri, other races) with 5-year story arcs (just like the tv show and Firefall will be having one). It could delve into 5 years before the tv show with the Earth war vs some other race I don't remember that the Centauri may have helped Earth with, followed by the tv show period of time, going through to 5 years after the Shadow War which would include the Telepath Wars (which was never covered in the tv shows; occuring after Babylon 5 Excalibur series). If there were PvP in the game there would have to be problems solved with the superiority of Minbari technology (and maybe strength for humans) over every other humanoid race. They could be small group/raid targets in PvE, never attacking one ship alone. You could be many different types of classes: Earth - military, trader, political/diplomat (Vanguard mini-game anyone?) hell even a janitor (remember that episode all about the janitors?). Minbari - the 3 castes; Worker, Religous, Warrior Centauri - diplomat, military, trader, political or many other of the featured races (Pak'ma'ra anyone? mmmm yummy!) Think Eve Online sandbox where you can trade, fight, with an over arching storyline you can participate in. Ah the imagination is great, but the budgets of companies is not.

• abby72 @ Feb 14th, 2013 1:13PM

  lol good joke I don't even live in America and I most definitely can't afford to go there. Great way to leave ppl from europe out of it.

• tc10b

  They did the exact same reward for the London convention and I foresee that they will be continuing to do this exact same reward for all the conventions in the future.

• grayfreth @ Feb 14th, 2013 10:32AM

  I dont normally complain but in this case... It's not even remotely possible for me to attend this. I live on the east coast 40 minutes from the ocean I cant afford to fly (be last minute booking at that probably $$$) or drive all the way out there for that. Great for people who happen to live in that area and thats probably quite a few but what about your loyal players from around the world who fund this game far beyond a lifetime membership. No one to blame but myself but yah Ive contributed more then a few lifetime membership worths. However because I dont live neer there I miss out. Maybe if i dont open any more lock boxes and plan now i'll be able to afford to go next year!

• vnexus @ Feb 14th, 2013 8:16AM

  Ooo.. would rather have Holo-Leeta in my krew quarters talking 'bout "Ooo... hands on the hologram, nice uniform" ..Oooh yeah. Not that i kan go anyway :] To far lol.

• itpalg @ Feb 14th, 2013 8:10AM

  Anyone else think of Denny's Grand Slam breakfast?

• simph1007 @ Feb 14th, 2013 7:04AM

  They should do a pay per view system. That way everyone can get the special in game stuff.

• romuzarii @ Feb 13th, 2013 10:21PM

  Just another reason why if you're an entertainment fan from tv shows to movies to toy lines to gaming to electronics in general and so on, Cali USA is the place to live at. It's been 20 disaapointing years of seeing such events come and go in the LA region without ever being able to attend/lack of willingness to fund the expensive trips. You get used to it.

• amunknephra @ Feb 13th, 2013 6:15PM

  Darn it! They gave out a medal of honor to anyone attending the D-Day! I want a medal of honor for free to. Never mind that i wasnt born at the right time in the right place and that 90% of those attending the D-Day died in the first few hours of the whole terrible ordeal. But how dare you US Army and German Army not to give me this great opportunity. How do people not grasp the concept of exclusivity? And that you go to a Con to meet your favorite stars and people of like mind?

• sboslayer @ Feb 13th, 2013 2:17PM

  Wow totally terrible marketing for your game. Go to LA and go to this convention... sorry, but for the majority this isn't just economic. Where's the London convention based reward? :P then again I don't even know if i'd travel from Scotland just for that. Poor show imo.

• tc10b

  The London convention reward was exactly the same, although I didn't get mine as I'd forgotten to bring my camera on the day. No big loss considering it was another £100 or so to actually do anything once you'd arrived.

• imadoctornota @ Feb 13th, 2013 10:14AM

  "Sir Patrick Stewart," I didn't realize he'd been Knighted, go Patrick!

• glintyeye @ Feb 13th, 2013 9:32AM

  Why have it in Los Angeles? Let's see...where do the concentration of your celebrity guests live? Los Angeles area? That means its cheaper to get them to be here for the attendees and more likely they will be here, some may even do it for free because it will cost them so little to come (gas). Cost for them to hold it in every state or even multiple ones will be prohibitive because its a Free to Play game. Be glad they even are doing this! I believe a nice option would be to make the convention "exclusives" be available in some other way for those who just HAVE to have them but not cheaper than a tank of gas, 1 day hotel stay and price of a ticket. So factor in all those costs and offer the item for that price. People will whine about that as well, but that is what someone pays to attend the event in the first place at the minimum for many attendees who do live closer to the event.

• imadoctornota

  A blue doff and a title I wouldn't use isn't worth it. I'd love to go to the convention, but I know that won't be possible, but I wouldn't pay anything for the 'exclusives'

• dhalium87 @ Feb 13th, 2013 8:25AM

  what about all the other players i dont have the cash to fly to la im am dutch so this i find a very inlogical option is there any other way to obtain it or should i foto shop my self to the convention

• bgd3183 @ Feb 13th, 2013 4:27AM

  For all those overseas as I have lived myself I feel your pain but honestly going to LA unless you live there in this economy is not logical. I couldn't even afford the fuel for my virtual Danube Runabout let alone actual fuel and hotel costs one for beam out captain!

• imadoctornota

  Exactly! I think some people think of things in local terms. Many countries are smaller than most states in the US. So they hear it'll only be in LA so they think all American players are going to benefit, since if it had been anywhere in their country they could've attended pretty easily. This could not be farther from the truth! I live in Kansas and there are people in the states that live farther from LA than you and I combined! It's definitely not a valid point, thank you for helping to debunk it!

• lordrevan35 @ Feb 12th, 2013 10:14PM

  Why can't you guy hoast these things in every major city of every state? Like come the frak on? I live in Albuquerque, New mexico, and yes it is part of the U.S.A. morons, and there is no way I can makenit to LA for this event. I would to see the cast of STAR TREK: TNG while they are still with us.

• wolfpacknz @ Feb 12th, 2013 9:13PM

  And meanwhile those of us overseas who can't get to it get shafted because we miss out AGAIN. Getting really tired of this "If you're not in America you can just miss out because you're not part of the STO community" attitude by PWE/Cryptic. Had it since launch...

• imadoctornota

  I live in the united states, but there's no way I could afford to go halfway across the country! North America is huge, and to say that they are catering to Americans is stretch. California is where Cryptic Studios is!! I realize there have been certain things that were unavailable internationally, but this was due to laws that they have no control over. Perhaps there could've been a few oversights that I'm not aware of, but it's nothing like the way you're putting it.

• subspace12 @ Feb 12th, 2013 7:45PM

  how did i not know about this in my home town? off i go to the tickets!

• plas01 @ Feb 12th, 2013 3:52PM

  Oz Comic Con is on next month in a few states in Australia, it's not a small con and would be worth cryptic exhibiting for it's players down here. Any chance that you can send some codes down for those attending?

• kirkryder @ Feb 12th, 2013 2:55PM

  Im sorry to put you all right, AGAIN!!! We had the same doff offered to us in LONDON, which was nice and close for all you Europeans. Which we have quite a few come over to take part in the world record breaking attempt, which we did break! And I got my Leeta doff to. In fact I got more then 1!!! So please do not complain that us peeps in Europe cannot get it and its unfair, because it is fair, I have had my doff a full 3 months before the Americans get theirs... ;)

• sc0rpi0be

  Not really complaining but even London is pretty far I'm not gone buy a airplain/boat/train ticked

• bgd3183

  Hmmm this is the captain of the U.S.S. America shields up full power to phasers fire on my mark across the pond!

• dhalium87

  its still very expansive for my to go to london i only make 1500 euro a moth and the rent alone is already 650 euro so keep counting food water electric if i have 50 euro left at the end of the month im very happy. so reconsider what you say !! london aint very cheat you know

• sc0rpi0be @ Feb 12th, 2013 12:40PM

  Europe mainland o pretty please

• srtosha @ Feb 12th, 2013 11:42AM

  For you who dont understand why we are upset about do not receive the doff, the doff isnt important at all, sorry Leeta, the important is we want it with equality, balanced and without favor to any especific group, in this case, YOU in US, and IF they give the doff or a ship or whatever just to people in Europe, or just to brazilians, can you feel how... anoying... it could be? The same happened to us in another game, but they gave a Ship, the same could happen here... Why the favoretism? To prevent this nex time, plz, do something similar to the rest of the world, which give you Cryptic a lot of... customers...

• mattack13

  Sorry, but it's kinda ignorant to say that this prize is for "YOU in the US". I live in Florida, and California is about as close to me as London; hell, Brazil would be closer for me. In any case, I won't be getting that doff and you know what? Who cares? It is one small thing, and I don't begrudge Cryptic for giving a small prize for trekkies who make it out there. If they ever have an event in south Florida that I can attend to get a gift, I'll be thrilled, but seriously, what does it really matter if not everybody can participate. This isn't a benefit for the US, just the small percentage of the population who are nearby the event or already had a trip planned. Now, if the prize was a monthly 500,000 dilithium stipend, that would be another matter...

• srtosha

  Hmmm sorry about it then, its because we had a huge discussion in that game i mentioned, and all US received the prize... my fault... at least now some of u know how we feel, about Leeta or whatever they launch in the future. Ignored, despised... and in the other hand favoritism, protectionism... like the rest of the world does no exist... we go through this every day, can u imagine it?

• bafflynn @ Feb 12th, 2013 11:26AM

  Don't waste money on going to the convention just to get this, go to the con only if you are interested, although I have never been to a star trek con, I can say that other cons are quite fun, however it seems that there's this idea that star trek fans can be swindled out of their money easier then other fans, unfortunately this would only really benefit people local to the con, I hope Crimpdick didn't expect people to waste hundreds of dollars for a trip to the con just for this incentive, perhaps then they will offer this duty officer in the future, like the mission revisit rewards, otherwise you don't need this doff really.

• ludacrisspeed @ Feb 12th, 2013 10:12AM

  How much does one spend when going to any type of convention like this ? They have to buy the ticket to get in, and chances are they are going to buy something or even many things when they get in. So PWE giving them a Duty Offficer for free, big deal. Then again if you have common sense which most of you should have, you would realize its not free.

• bomafen @ Feb 12th, 2013 9:04AM

  well, too bad that i live in sweden :/

• kirkryder

  You could have gone to the London one back in November, it only cost me £49.99 for the whole weekend ;)

• glintyeye

  Yes I feel sorry for you in Sweden. I wish I had the higher quality of living that exists in Sweden for its citizens. I am even part Swedish but due to immigration of my ancestor and renouncing citizenship I can not emigrate as a low income disabled person from a supposedly first world nation.

• glintyeye

  I wish I lived in Sweden. You have a significantly higher quality of life according to a study than many other countries including my own. I have know someone that immigrated to Sweden but didn't like it due to racism based upon having darker hair to both her and her school age children. However the social services were very good she commented (compared to the United States). She was a very well educated person as well as being healthy so she had no trouble being successful in the United States and apparently didn't feel discrimination against her ethnicity (Russian) in the 1990s.