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Special Partership with Wal-Mart? This Just Gets Better!

SteamRangerSteamRanger Member UncommonPosts: 920

Go to the main site: www.startrekonline.com/ 

Right smack dab on the front page is a bonus offer if you buy the game from Wal-Mart:

500 Skill Points and Increased Captain Stats!

No details on Wal-Mart's site, but the very notion that Wal-Mart customers are getting such an obvious boost in the game seems a little shady to me. I'm remembering all those assurances that players wouldn't be able to buy anything in the Cryptic Store that would affect gameplay. Apparently, that doesn't apply to buying the game from specific retailers.

"Soloists and those who prefer small groups should never have to feel like they''re the ones getting the proverbial table scraps, as it were." - Scott Hartsman, Senior Producer, Everquest II
"People love groups. Its a fallacy that people want to play solo all the time." - Scott Hartsman, Executive Producer, Rift

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Comments

  • ReizlaReizla Member RarePosts: 4,092

    LOL

     

     

     

    10 chars min

  • Maverz290Maverz290 Member Posts: 447

    Well if you knew much about the game mechanic you'd know that its just a headstart in skillpoints. Five hundred skillpoints is about two missions worth. So, its a half an hour headstart. It's nothing. Just as useless as the automated defense turret on the steam download lol, and the armour.

    Longing for Skyrim, The Old Republic and Mass Effect 3

  • SteamRangerSteamRanger Member UncommonPosts: 920
    Originally posted by Maverz290


    Well if you knew much about the game mechanic you'd know that its just a headstart in skillpoints. Five hundred skillpoints is about two missions worth. So, its a half an hour headstart. It's nothing. Just as useless as the automated defense turret on the steam download lol, and the armour.



     

    I'm aware of the mechanics, but an advantage is an advantage. It's a matter of principle.

    "Soloists and those who prefer small groups should never have to feel like they''re the ones getting the proverbial table scraps, as it were." - Scott Hartsman, Senior Producer, Everquest II
    "People love groups. Its a fallacy that people want to play solo all the time." - Scott Hartsman, Executive Producer, Rift

  • drbaltazardrbaltazar Member UncommonPosts: 7,856

    honestly its brillant!it garanty shelf to one of the biggest store

    but i got to say most store ,walmart included would rater have the card thing(a la f2p)like maplestory ,and all the other

    since you can always get what you need in the game iteself after saw 1 display they had like 50 title (card format)and you could buy item ,and all kind of stuff so soon even our p2p game will go to that format since it cost a lot less to ship.

  • GdemamiGdemami Member EpicPosts: 12,342


    Originally posted by LordDraekon
    Go to the main site: www.startrekonline.com/ 
    Right smack dab on the front page is a bonus offer if you buy the game from Wal-Mart:
    500 Skill Points and Increased Captain Stats!
    No details on Wal-Mart's site, but the very notion that Wal-Mart customers are getting such an obvious boost in the game seems a little shady to me. I'm remembering all those assurances that players wouldn't be able to buy anything in the Cryptic Store that would affect gameplay. Apparently, that doesn't apply to buying the game from specific retailers.

    Can you elaborate a bit more on how much advantage over other players you get with W-Mart retail?

    Also, as far as I know, Cryptioc Store consist of 2 exceptional Federation races only, no W-Mart offer of the game.

  • wolfingwolfing Member UncommonPosts: 149

    this thread is such a loser thread.

    Every retailer had different perks. Walmart has 500 skill points (which is nothing really). Other stores have one or more of the following, and more that probably escape me:

     - Cryptic points (to buy stuff like extra races, costume options, etc)

    - Exclusive ships like the original series Enterprise (better than the starting ship)

    - Special armor (better than what you can get in the beginning)

    - Special items

    - Special emotes

     

    Not sure what your beef is with Walmart, but if anything, Walmart has the lamest of the rewards lol

  • someforumguysomeforumguy Member RarePosts: 4,088

    Meh, they just want to you to pick up different copies for all the different starterperks. More games do that over time when they release a new package with new bonus stuff, STO just does it all at the same time :/

  • Fed1Fed1 Member Posts: 167
    Originally posted by LordDraekon




     
    I'm aware of the mechanics, but an advantage is an advantage. It's a matter of principle.



     

    WOOHOOO a 30 minute advantage. It does not change your end game total of skill points.

    FIGHT ON Keyboard Warrior

  • TechleoTechleo Member Posts: 1,984

      I got some body armour, few emotes, nice ship designation, the auto defense and cryptic points. Screw the skill points lol. All I want is the NX designation hehe.

  • buegurbuegur Member UncommonPosts: 457

    I agree the walmart offer is rather lame in comparison to some of the other offers, that said others may think it differently..  I quess that makes Cryptic rather smart to give the consumers choices eh?

  • EkibiogamiEkibiogami Member UncommonPosts: 2,154
    Originally posted by Fed1

    Originally posted by LordDraekon




     
    I'm aware of the mechanics, but an advantage is an advantage. It's a matter of principle.



     

    WOOHOOO a 30 minute advantage. It does not change your end game total of skill points.

    FIGHT ON Keyboard Warrior



     

    This... Honestly People get mad over the Oddest things... And will let Real game changers slide right by.

    If ye love wealth greater than liberty, the tranquility of servitude; greater than the animating contest for freedom, go home from us in peace. We seek not your counsel, nor your arms. Crouch down and lick the hand that feeds you; May your chains set lightly upon you, and may posterity forget that ye were our countrymen.
    —Samuel Adams

  • WizardBlackWizardBlack Member Posts: 156

    What happens when next time it is 50k points when you buy it at some boutique that charges $5 more than anyone else? Do you guys not understand the concept of principle? Perhaps that gray area that keeps creeping the way you don't want it to? Have you ever heard the phrase "Give them an inch; they take a mile"? Perhaps to quote Picard; "This far; no further!"

  • EricDanieEricDanie Member UncommonPosts: 2,238
    Originally posted by WizardBlack


    What happens when next time it is 50k points when you buy it at some boutique that charges $5 more than anyone else? Do you guys not understand the concept of principle? Perhaps that gray area that keeps creeping the way you don't want it to? Have you ever heard the phrase "Give them an inch; they take a mile"? Perhaps to quote Picard; "This far; no further!"

    It's just that thing called not caring based on subjective boundaries above the zero. They don't care because it hasn't crossed their lines, while it has crossed for other people which are now complaining. These will be tomorrow's complainers when they take the next step and the ones who had their lines crossed already may have lost the will to resist this milking of gamers, because being unorganized makes wallet voting ineffective (I'm really concerned with how STO will do though).

    People need to stop being indifferent just because they don't care, and accept when they are being harmed, we are all gamers here, and consumers (unless you're involved with the other side, in this case you will defend it no matter what as it raises your paycheck while giving the consumer nothing besides reduction of what they get).

    The harm to what you get is there, not caring doesn't make the harm disappear, instead lets them take a step further.

  • Fed1Fed1 Member Posts: 167
    Originally posted by EricDanie

    Originally posted by WizardBlack


    What happens when next time it is 50k points when you buy it at some boutique that charges $5 more than anyone else? Do you guys not understand the concept of principle? Perhaps that gray area that keeps creeping the way you don't want it to? Have you ever heard the phrase "Give them an inch; they take a mile"? Perhaps to quote Picard; "This far; no further!"

    It's just that thing called not caring based on subjective boundaries above the zero. They don't care because it hasn't crossed their lines, while it has crossed for other people which are now complaining. These will be tomorrow's complainers when they take the next step and the ones who had their lines crossed already may have lost the will to resist this milking of gamers, because being unorganized makes wallet voting ineffective (I'm really concerned with how STO will do though).

    People need to stop being indifferent just because they don't care, and accept when they are being harmed, we are all gamers here, and consumers (unless you're involved with the other side, in this case you will defend it no matter what as it raises your paycheck while giving the consumer nothing besides reduction of what they get).

    The harm to what you get is there, not caring doesn't make the harm disappear, instead lets them take a step further.



     

    Well considering MMO companies endorse/facilitate the buying/selling of fully geared top level toons and gear , I don't see how the boundary can go any higher. Nor do I see the posters here complaining on those other games forums about your so called principles/boundaries.

  • darkpath19darkpath19 Member Posts: 51
    Originally posted by EricDanie

    Originally posted by WizardBlack


    What happens when next time it is 50k points when you buy it at some boutique that charges $5 more than anyone else? Do you guys not understand the concept of principle? Perhaps that gray area that keeps creeping the way you don't want it to? Have you ever heard the phrase "Give them an inch; they take a mile"? Perhaps to quote Picard; "This far; no further!"

    It's just that thing called not caring based on subjective boundaries above the zero. They don't care because it hasn't crossed their lines, while it has crossed for other people which are now complaining. These will be tomorrow's complainers when they take the next step and the ones who had their lines crossed already may have lost the will to resist this milking of gamers, because being unorganized makes wallet voting ineffective (I'm really concerned with how STO will do though).

    People need to stop being indifferent just because they don't care, and accept when they are being harmed, we are all gamers here, and consumers (unless you're involved with the other side, in this case you will defend it no matter what as it raises your paycheck while giving the consumer nothing besides reduction of what they get).

    The harm to what you get is there, not caring doesn't make the harm disappear, instead lets them take a step further.

    No, it's that those of us with a firm grip on reality know how to pick our battles. We recognize that hey this 500 skill pts isn't a big deal because it's easy and fast to get, but you better believe if it was 50K skill points then yes there'd be an uproar.

  • EricDanieEricDanie Member UncommonPosts: 2,238
    Originally posted by Fed1

    Originally posted by EricDanie

    Originally posted by WizardBlack


    What happens when next time it is 50k points when you buy it at some boutique that charges $5 more than anyone else? Do you guys not understand the concept of principle? Perhaps that gray area that keeps creeping the way you don't want it to? Have you ever heard the phrase "Give them an inch; they take a mile"? Perhaps to quote Picard; "This far; no further!"

    It's just that thing called not caring based on subjective boundaries above the zero. They don't care because it hasn't crossed their lines, while it has crossed for other people which are now complaining. These will be tomorrow's complainers when they take the next step and the ones who had their lines crossed already may have lost the will to resist this milking of gamers, because being unorganized makes wallet voting ineffective (I'm really concerned with how STO will do though).

    People need to stop being indifferent just because they don't care, and accept when they are being harmed, we are all gamers here, and consumers (unless you're involved with the other side, in this case you will defend it no matter what as it raises your paycheck while giving the consumer nothing besides reduction of what they get).

    The harm to what you get is there, not caring doesn't make the harm disappear, instead lets them take a step further.



     

    Well considering MMO companies endorse/facilitate the buying/selling of fully geared top level toons and gear , I don't see how the boundary can go any higher. Nor do I see the posters here complaining on those other games forums about your so called principles/boundaries.

    Can you point me to the official marketplace area for such endorsed/facilitated transactions? Apparently I've never known developers want long-term players to sell their characters to some new player that won't know how to play or what makes them play and then leave, nor do I see it being talked about on forums/in-game besides the occasional conspiration theories on how developers run gold selling activities and want to dominate the world.

    Oh, so no one ever complained about what Cryptic is selling for real money on STO/CO forums? All the threads and hundreds/thousands of posts about the C-Store, CO's Vibora Bay, Liberated Borgs, Pre-order goodies are part of my imagination?

    @ darkpath19

    Which means you don't care, even though 500 extra SPs is the smallest reason one would have to complain about Cryptic's revenue methods it isn't nonexistent.

  • Maverz290Maverz290 Member Posts: 447
    Originally posted by EricDanie

    Originally posted by Fed1

    Originally posted by EricDanie

    Originally posted by WizardBlack


    What happens when next time it is 50k points when you buy it at some boutique that charges $5 more than anyone else? Do you guys not understand the concept of principle? Perhaps that gray area that keeps creeping the way you don't want it to? Have you ever heard the phrase "Give them an inch; they take a mile"? Perhaps to quote Picard; "This far; no further!"

    It's just that thing called not caring based on subjective boundaries above the zero. They don't care because it hasn't crossed their lines, while it has crossed for other people which are now complaining. These will be tomorrow's complainers when they take the next step and the ones who had their lines crossed already may have lost the will to resist this milking of gamers, because being unorganized makes wallet voting ineffective (I'm really concerned with how STO will do though).

    People need to stop being indifferent just because they don't care, and accept when they are being harmed, we are all gamers here, and consumers (unless you're involved with the other side, in this case you will defend it no matter what as it raises your paycheck while giving the consumer nothing besides reduction of what they get).

    The harm to what you get is there, not caring doesn't make the harm disappear, instead lets them take a step further.



     

    Well considering MMO companies endorse/facilitate the buying/selling of fully geared top level toons and gear , I don't see how the boundary can go any higher. Nor do I see the posters here complaining on those other games forums about your so called principles/boundaries.

    Can you point me to the official marketplace area for such endorsed/facilitated transactions? Apparently I've never known developers want long-term players to sell their characters to some new player that won't know how to play or what makes them play and then leave, nor do I see it being talked about on forums/in-game besides the occasional conspiration theories on how developers run gold selling activities and want to dominate the world.

    Oh, so no one ever complained about what Cryptic is selling for real money on STO/CO forums? All the threads and hundreds/thousands of posts about the C-Store, CO's Vibora Bay, Liberated Borgs, Pre-order goodies are part of my imagination?

    @ darkpath19

    Which means you don't care, even though 500 extra SPs is the smallest reason one would have to complain about Cryptic's revenue methods it isn't nonexistent.



     

    I understand where your coming from on the principle, but this amongst all the other problems people are complaining about, just looks so shallow, as im sure if it was on its own in the arguements against Cryptic, it'd carry more of a punch because right now, people have more important things to complain about.

    I wonder if you've played the game to know exactly how little an advantage that is? It's not even worth it. We just choose to pick our battles and fight at a better time. If you constantly complain at the smallest things, when big things come and you want your voice heard, everyone is numb to it for prior complaining. It's all about choosing when to say 'thats enough'.

     It's a trivial arguement. 500 skillpoints free, is a huge difference to 50k.

    Longing for Skyrim, The Old Republic and Mass Effect 3

  • Fed1Fed1 Member Posts: 167
    Originally posted by EricDanie


    Can you point me to the official marketplace area for such endorsed/facilitated transactions? Apparently I've never known developers want long-term players to sell their characters to some new player that won't know how to play or what makes them play and then leave, nor do I see it being talked about on forums/in-game besides the occasional conspiration theories on how developers run gold selling activities and want to dominate the world.
    Oh, so no one ever complained about what Cryptic is selling for real money on STO/CO forums? All the threads and hundreds/thousands of posts about the C-Store, CO's Vibora Bay, Liberated Borgs, Pre-order goodies are part of my imagination?
    @ darkpath19
    Which means you don't care, even though 500 extra SPs is the smallest reason one would have to complain about Cryptic's revenue methods it isn't nonexistent.

    Here is the SOE one - Toons - Coin - Gear...

     

    http://www.livegamer.com/

  • KostKost Member CommonPosts: 1,975

    www.startrekonline.com/retail

    Every single retailer that carries the game has its own special incentives attached to it, as can be seen when clicking the details button associated with a specific retailer or version shown on that page.

    500 SP is nothing, frankly it is so little that to call it an advantage at all is quite the exaggeration. When one takes the time to consider how Cryptic changed there stance on Skill Point caps, it quickly becomes crystal clear that 500SP makes absolutely no difference at all in the long run, because you are guaranteed to catch up.

  • Game-WolfGame-Wolf Member Posts: 100

    i like STO but i don't like all the free giveaways everyone should have to put the time in and quest to earn their ranks..sure i did the preorder thing from gamestop and got a free light cruiser with the blue phasers.. it's a fun old school enterprise looking ship but other then the look it really doesn't offer any kind battle advantage..

  • KostKost Member CommonPosts: 1,975
    Originally posted by Game-Wolf


    i like STO but i don't like all the free giveaways everyone should have to put the time in and quest to earn their ranks..sure i did the preorder thing from gamestop and got a free light cruiser with the blue phasers.. it's a fun old school enterprise looking ship but other then the look it really doesn't offer any kind battle advantage..



     

    None of the offers provide a "battle advantage", so you are not at any disadvantage at all.

    See my prior post for a more in-depth explanation.

  • GrayGhost79GrayGhost79 Member UncommonPosts: 4,775
    Originally posted by Kost


    www.startrekonline.com/retail
    Every single retailer that carries the game has its own special incentives attached to it, as can be seen when clicking the details button associated with a specific retailer or version shown on that page.
    500 SP is nothing, frankly it is so little that to call it an advantage at all is quite the exaggeration. When one takes the time to consider how Cryptic changed there stance on Skill Point caps, it quickly becomes crystal clear that 500SP makes absolutely no difference at all in the long run, because you are guaranteed to catch up.

     

    500 skill points are enough to purchase 5 ranks in any Lieutenant skill. Skill Points determine a character’s abilities

    And no that isn't even the worst of what was being offered. 250 to play as the Borg is still the worst to me. 

     

    The theres

     


    Target

    Target customers who pre-order Star Trek Online receive a unique ground weapon -- a TR-116. This rare projectile weapon is used in dampening fields and other challenging environments; it is also modified with a micro-transporter which beams the fired projectiles to targets at close range so that a user can fire without a direct line of site.

     

     

    And 

     


    Direct2Drive

    Direct2Drive customers receive an exclusive Multi-Spatial Personal Shield. This advanced personal shield system is based on Borg technology, which constantly regenerates itself and the health of its wearer.

     


    STEAM

    STEAM is offering customers Chromodynamic Armor. This armor is based on technology brought back from the Delta Quadrant by USS Voyager improves the damage and critical hits of energy weapons.

     


    Best Buy

    Best Buy is offering their customers a fun in-game pet. As a Federation Captain, players own a famed Tribble of Star Trek lore that will accompany them on their travels into the final frontier. As a Klingon commander, players control the boar-like Targ, a beast found on the Klingon home world of Qo'noS. (Seems to be more than a Vanity pet as well at least for Klingons) 

     

    There was someone that had the full list, special race with abilites (Everyone can play that race but only pre-order players have the abilities), ships, etc. Tons and Tons lol. 

     

    When the final tally comes in on box's sold it's best to divide that number by like 3 and assume the average buyer purchased 3 pre-ordered copies for the different bonuses. 



  • GdemamiGdemami Member EpicPosts: 12,342


    Originally posted by GrayGhost79
     
    500 skill points are enough to purchase 5 ranks in any Lieutenant skill. Skill Points determine a character’s abilities
    And no that isn't even the worst of what was being offered. 250 to play as the Borg is still the worst to me. 
     
    The theres
    <snip> 

    Good thing is that the game is level based and those starter items become very quickly obsolete as much as 500 skill points is a benefit for Admiral ;-)

  • _Jord__Jord_ Member Posts: 228
    Originally posted by LordDraekon

    I'm aware of the mechanics, but an advantage is an advantage. It's a matter of principle.

     

    In the real world, they call it sticking to your principles.

    In the online world, it's called QQ.

     

    QQ More. It doesn't matter. In fact, the possibility of selling more copies makes the game more viable for everyone involved in playing it. Just be happy they're taking an active approach to marketing, because the game *ucking sucks right now, and the only hope is has of staying alive and improving is if enough people buy it so that the investors/capitalists don't get ansy and pull out.

    ------
    Played - UO, FFXI, WAR, WoW, EVE
    Currently - Bored.

  • KostKost Member CommonPosts: 1,975
    Originally posted by GrayGhost79


    500 skill points are enough to purchase 5 ranks in any Lieutenant skill. Skill Points determine a character’s abilities



     

    Indeed, 500 points that count towards the users total SP Cap like every other player, so no, they do not end up with 500 more than anyone else. It does not raise your cap by 500 SP, you are still subject to the same SP cap as everyone else.

    You do understand what "cap" means in terms of gaming, right?

    This should not be a difficult concept to grasp.

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