tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-753333248840902848.post1057364029100312507..comments2023-12-18T16:26:30.322-06:00Comments on Theory by Flatfingers: Sensors and Star Trek OnlineFlatfingershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04883676416000369594noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-753333248840902848.post-8188294523890547072012-06-26T12:12:21.055-05:002012-06-26T12:12:21.055-05:00Thanks, Doug!
Creating this was a lot of fun -- I...Thanks, Doug!<br /><br />Creating this was a lot of fun -- I'm glad you enjoyed it.<br /><br />I built this while the Star Trek Online MMORPG was in development, first by Perpetual, then by Cryptic. If you've seen what Cryptic actually created, it's obvious that their view of what an online Star Trek game should be is radically different from the design thinking behind my Sensors notions presented here.<br /><br />I don't say they were wrong, exactly. We know now (as some suspected when we saw the beta) that STO was adapted from the code for Cryptic's Champions Online superhero game. This explains why characters in Star Trek Online are built around magic-like "powers," as well as the emphasis on ground-based combat. Time and money are always hard to come by, so perhaps Cryptic's approach is understandable as a practical necessity.<br /><br />Still, I never thought the idea of implementing complex, powerful starships as basically horses has ever properly represented an important element of what makes Star Trek fun, which is the connection of a crew to their complex ship as basically a character itself. In part, this detailed exploration of how sensors might work in an online Star Trek game was intended as a rebuttal to those who claimed that this kind of cooperative, tool-using, discovery-oriented gameplay couldn't be fun.<br /><br />The most vocal proponents of that position liked to say, "It's not going to be a starship simulator!" Sensors and Star Trek Online was my way of saying, "Why not?"<br /><br />Maybe someday someone will make that game. Until then, I really appreciate your taking the time to let me know you enjoyed this essay.<br /><br />If you really liked it, you might also enjoy some of the many other Star Trek game design pieces scattered around this site. :) I put a couple of my favorites on the sidebar here, or you can click on the Star Trek and Star Trek Online keywords for a full list of related pieces.<br /><br />Thanks again!Flatfingershttp://flatfingers-theory.blogspot.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-753333248840902848.post-33398475912070620662012-06-26T06:02:24.960-05:002012-06-26T06:02:24.960-05:00Heey,
Alright, I haven't read all of this, b...Heey, <br /><br />Alright, I haven't read all of this, but I can see the work you put in here and I can't BELIEVE that there is not a single comment. I'm probably going to read this if I have the time, because dammit, it's awesome and I like it! I've always tried to imagine the perfect Star Trek game which is ACTUALLY scientifically correct(ish) and true to the show in how it SHOULD function. <br /><br />In any case, mostly just so that at least someone says it, but AWESOME work :p<br /><br />DougDouglas Pluylaarhttp://dougurasu.deviantart.comnoreply@blogger.com