Asimo posted:

I can kiiind of forgive lockboxes. It's still gambling bullshit but everything can be resold on the exchange and the boxes themselves persist and aren't in short supply even months after they've stopped dropping if you really felt the urge to open them. The contents have improved a lot over the years too, overall.

Limited-time promo boxes like this are pretty much pure unadulterated abusive gambling bullshit to the point where it's on par with the worst of immoral mobile F2P game crap though. And it's pretty telling that there were all of three during the entire run of STO before the expansion (JHAS twice, Bulwark once) and we're already up to four (Sheshar, JHSS, command sheshar, time dildo) less than a year into Delta Rising with probably a fifth (pilot JHSS) in another month or two. You can almost taste the desperation for funds from gambling addicts.

Major Spag posted:

Still waiting for them to intro Kazon players so I can RP this poo poo!

Tupac didn't die, he traveled to the delta quadrant to bring enlightenment to some aliens!

DancingShade posted:

https://www.reddit.com/r/sto/comments/3h92h5/the_results_of_opening_up_1000_delta_alliance/

This person opened 1000 gamble boxes and still didn't win a ship

I have no idea what 125k zen costs in you local currencies but I'm sure it remains "fuckloads too much" regardless.

Apparently he bought them all for EC because he seems to farm a series of alts in the game full time

Aleth posted:

They also did the cellship freighter in the Rom doff boxes for quite a while.

DancingShade posted:

https://www.reddit.com/r/sto/comments/3h92h5/the_results_of_opening_up_1000_delta_alliance/

This person opened 1000 gamble boxes and still didn't win a ship

I have no idea what 125k zen costs in you local currencies but I'm sure it remains "fuckloads too much" regardless.

Apparently he bought them all for EC because he seems to farm a series of alts in the game full time

Lagomorphic posted:

The odds of opening that many boxes without getting a ship is about 1:24,000.

sarge4id;12682475 posted:

I promise myself not to break this rule, but i can't help it when I read threads of how people whine cry after opening boxes and getting nothing. People like me rely on them to make the credits in order to afford 650,000,000 creds easily, no sweat. I've always tried very hard to control the price of master keys by buying out under-cutters. then alternating prices so it looks like people are trying to get more keys than the rest. They get so entrenched or entranced on clicking "buy," that they don't realize I'm slowly rising the price to near or even more than what it was when it was stagnant and no one was buying keys.

Cryptic and PWE know how to run a business, and they know how to take advantage of ignorant customers. The gambling with the lockboxes and promo things is a very old trick. They use it at fairs where you throw balls at bottles to try and win that giant teddy bear .And not to mention the subliminal messages and ship silhouettes they place in signs like "Requisition" and "Admiral's Office." I believe almost all of the fed ships in the tutorial are c-ships, giving people a peek on what they can get later on. Implanting the temptation or want for something as soon as they create a character. The reason why people are crying about "1%ers" and trolling about buying out cryptic and giving back ppl their money... That last one... I won't comment. No one forces you to buy ships, and you can get them for free if you get off your lazy bum and grind dil. I buy zen and sell keys to resell or get everything I want when I want it and not spend more than I need too. But not everyone can sling dough like that so grinding is the way to go if you can't. I know people that have bug ships on like 3 toons all bought with dil they earned doing missions and stuff so I know it is possible. People have posted here and many threads previously that it's possible. I've never attempted it. I can't stand grinding. I come here to try to relax, not to have a second job.

And to finally address the issue about whether it should be more accessible to the public or not? I missed the Intrepid Interiors, and since I have a retro I can't see the bundle to get them from the pathfinder, which I also have. Unless they release them separately, The bridge I have waited 5 years for is unobtainable. That is called "exclusive promotions" and it is to rev people up into throwing their money like they're in a strip joint. Since most people have financial problems (because they can't manage their finances correctly), it is the same people that will sit there with what money they do have and open box after box buying my keys to do so. And in doing so, it's how I have more credits, and they end up with less. That in itself is kind of hilarious (not to them of course).

You see, the reason cryptic has a notification pop on screen when someone wins a ship is so that stupid, i mean unaware, people will think that others are getting ships, like they're going out of style. They fail to realize that hundreds of people are opening thousands of boxes a day and even though you see a winner three to five times an hour, That's three to five lucky people out of hundreds. Another psychological mind game to entice people to buy boxes and keys. When the T6 Bug came out, some people opened over 250 R&D packs for 1K zen a piece and got nothing. They could have spent that same amount of money on x10 master key packs, and sold them via trade or exchange. They could have bought 4 bug ships with leftover credits, yes four, but did it occur to them? No. Why? I don't have a masters in psychology, only a bachelors, so I can't provide any answer other than, "a sucker is born every minute."

I promised myself not to disclose the psychological mechanism/model cryptic uses, how they use it, because people buying my keys is my source of income in game. I can however, afford to post it here in this crybaby thread, because hardly anyone will see it and it will be lost in the forum archives soon. If everyone bought ships the safe way, then there would be no ships for sale. The ship economy would crash and ships would double or triple in price because they would be so rare. That's why you all need to forget everything I've just said, and go back to opening boxes and buying keys and dil. I get a cut of that too from two others that work constantly to manipulate the dil exchange prices. We work very hard so that 1%er's,10%er's, and 50%er's can get things for a reasonable price. The sad part is, that most super wealthy players don't join the club and set their prices accordingly with the rest of us. We have to compete and buy up their stuff to maintain a fair economy for those that work hard in or out of game. To me, anyone that grinds enough dil to buy a bug ship or annorax has my complete and absolute respect and admiration. That is dedication on a very high level (for a video game), discipline, and a lot more rewarding than using cash to buy a ship.

Life is unfair unfortunately. We can't have a society where everyone has the same amount of money and access to the same services. That's called communism and although it looks good on paper and in theory, it has never been practiced correctly to provide equality to their people. Another problem with that is that there is no drive or motivation to compete and make a better product or provide a better service. Capitalism is a catch-22 or double-bladed sword, if you will. It provides better quality and service, but it separates the population into the haves and the have nots. I was a have not over seven years ago. Had to live with my parents when I got back. Worked as a bagger in a grocery store. Then I apprenticed at a local gunsmith and eventually started my own business. Several times I've almost lost everything but have managed to recover, so far. Practically all my time spent at the PC on or off STO is with a phone in one hand and trying to operate a mouse and keyboard in the other. I got spreadsheets, financial software all running in the task tray. It takes me 4 hours to get 7 weapons along with consoles onto a new ship because I got this game windowed. It really gives me a sometimes arrogant, PO'ed attitude towards others when people come on here and complain like this. I don't know what they do for their occupation. I don't really care either. Just please stop posting these complaints about ships, zen, feeling cheated, and rage quitting.

So plan your life and set goals. How you can use the very system that big brother is using to cheat people, to make a profit as well? Piggyback or be a Remora. I constantly have moral battles with myself because I don't like taking advantage of people. I enjoy giving more than taking. And I've given so much already. My friend's tell me I'm an idiot for handing out free bug ships last year. I probably am for doing that, but I wanted those that would never get one, to get a chance to compete in a competition for one. But if I only give, I will end up with nothing left. Like I said, I normally don't tell people this. I've only told a handful that didn't know already, and posted this twice before. To me, it's plain common sense not to throw money without a strategy in place. You wouldn't empty your wallet or purse in a parking lot and drive away. That would be purse stupidity, right? Why do people do it here? How is this any different? You need to stop and think when a promo or lockbox comes out. Wait for sales and discounts if you have the patience. Wait several months till an item drops in price. But if you're like me and you usually have to have instant gratification, then expect to pay however much the going rate is for whatever it is you want.

You can also find a STO e-bayer. What is that, you ask? An "STO E-bayer" is a stereotypical term sprouting from e-bay that a few people use. People constantly place items up for bids or instant buys without researching the going rate and price for that same item. They either price it too high, or too low. The ones that price it low get ripped off big time. For example, a guy on ESD yesterday, I won't say who, posted a "WTS" for an Annorax he got. Someone immediately PMed him and I got beat to the punch, so I messaged him asking him how much he was asking for it. He said 400,000,000 creds. I asked him if he was aware of how much others are paying for it, he said he didn't know, that 400 mil sounded "good," to him. I let him know he could have gotten 200 or more for it if he had waited and hadn't said "Just a sec, I'm in a trade," to me, and not even stop to listen to me when I said "don't sell it yet! let me tell you something." And he didn't even ask anyone how much to sell it for either. He tried to ask the buyer for more after completing the trade, which was kind of pointless, but people that goof up like that, some of us call "STO E-bayers," and they are far and few between, but you can make a killing off of them with some sweet talk, ego stroking, and the temptation of the feeling of exclusiveness. You just have to keep them away from the Exchange and hope they don't ask someone for advice. A way to speed up the process is telling the person one or two others have placed offers on it and it's their last chance to get it. It's not fraud like some people do. Switching an item out quickly. They get the item, they just pay too much cause they didn't do their homework. Always do your homework! You see why your teacher's wanted you to do your homework, now? It's because they have witnessed countless victims fall prey to not doing their homework at the time, and end up paying for it when buying or selling a ship later. Listen to your teachers (if you're in school), and for us adults, think back to the early years and remember what homework is and understand how not doing it can be detrimental. If you have read this far, you're a champ!

hakimashou posted:

The sperg having a fit in the trading channel and saying he had reported STO to the FBI for being an illegal game and breaking the lottery law was reddit user JustTray. He spent 200 dollars on zen and did not win a ship.

He made a thread on reddit about how his bank's (bank of America) lawyers are going to sort it out with cryptic.

"I'm just going to dispute the charges and let my bank's lawyers deal with the rest. When they shine a light on this operation, with the facts I've given, well, I like their chances.
At a minimum I'll get my money back, and if they want to get pissy, which I doubt, they'll turn my account off.
I mean, if you want the honest truth. Of course I don't want to have to sue anybody, but those aren't my only options. And they aren't Cryptic's either. Besides, this has 'class-action lawsuit' written all over it, not something an individual should try to battle.
And again your analogy to the casino is funny because online gambling is illegal in my country, and all transactions are blocked to any company operating it."

https://www.reddit.com/r/sto/comments/3gz3v6/opened_100_boxes_and/

hakimashou posted:

The sperg having a fit in the trading channel and saying he had reported STO to the FBI for being an illegal game and breaking the lottery law was reddit user JustTray. He spent 200 dollars on zen and did not win a ship.

He made a thread on reddit about how his bank's (bank of America) lawyers are going to sort it out with cryptic.

"I'm just going to dispute the charges and let my bank's lawyers deal with the rest. When they shine a light on this operation, with the facts I've given, well, I like their chances.
At a minimum I'll get my money back, and if they want to get pissy, which I doubt, they'll turn my account off.
I mean, if you want the honest truth. Of course I don't want to have to sue anybody, but those aren't my only options. And they aren't Cryptic's either. Besides, this has 'class-action lawsuit' written all over it, not something an individual should try to battle.
And again your analogy to the casino is funny because online gambling is illegal in my country, and all transactions are blocked to any company operating it."

https://www.reddit.com/r/sto/comments/3gz3v6/opened_100_boxes_and/

some reddit dude posted:

"Open enough boxes and you might get a prize" approach is terrible.....
No kidding, it's like throwing poo poo at the wall and hoping you don't get poo poo on your wall.

hakimashou posted:

Blackdog420 posted:

checked my email and I got a free t6 space ship what the h*ck

Blackdog420 posted:

checked my email and I got a free t6 space ship what the h*ck

DonDoodles posted:

Comes back two days later to prove just how little he cares.

Edit: For those that can't see, he made sure to leave all his comments under his toon name "Sera Ivey," but he liked all the posts using his real "Treavor Calkum" account, meaning he must have been regularly checking that thread on two different facebook accounts.

Editx2: And this. Remember: He TOTALLY doesn't care at all, guys.

Rahhmi posted:

...*sigh* some people just can't accept the pretty fire will hurt you...

DancingShade posted:

Lies. Everyone knows you stand in fire for healing. That's the MMO way.

Tuskin38 posted:

So Kestral, cryptic a lead writer that recently left, got a job at bungie of all places.

Guess it's still better then Cryptic

Anoia posted:

A crumbling studio is indeed still better than one that's currently on fire.

SKY COQ posted:

Destiny will run for five years and tie all of its subplots together in an unsatisfying finale.

Anoia posted:

Destiny has a plot?

Rahhmi posted:

Often times he'll accidentally like something. Remove the like. Come back a few hours later and relike. Remove again, Like it from the toonpage. Like it from main Account... This repeats several dozen times. I post and delete random stuff at all hours of the day or night because who sleeps anymore, and this routine happens shortly after almost like it's a Bot.

At one point, I took pity and blocked him due to his repeatedly trying to convince me he "didn't care", and no other relevant conversation. Then he complained about me blocking him. So I unblocked him.

...some people just can't accept the pretty fire will hurt you...

Blockhouse posted:

do any of you guys actually like this game

Mondian posted:

Does anybody actually like this game

Bieeardo posted:

I just come here for the thread.

quote:

When a new box comes out with something really good, I often buy at least 100,000 zen the first week to buy keys and ships for resell later. I've battled customer service for years now to add a $500 or $1000 purchase amount to Zen store. When they actually come around to upping the amount, they only double what you could buy at once before. Plus, there is a 48 hour purchase cap. It is impossible to buy more than four to five hundred dollars in a 48 hour period. I made such a deal out of it that I got an email from the marketing department blabbing about fraud and a lot of other ****. I offered to scan my Drivers License, BCBS Card, SS Card, A Bank Statement, and anything they could possibly ask for. They wouldn't even budge! Luckily, all the gamestops and super walmarts in town have a small supply on hand. I go around to each store and buy all of the PWE $20 prepaid cards they have in stock, even the ones in the back that are still in boxes.

I don't understand why you are spazzing out over $200 for a ship out-of-game transaction. You might get a cell ship for that much since it has no combat capabilities. But some people are making thousands selling the promo ships which easily makes up for the money they spent on keys to get them. Some people do have a strategy when it comes to opening boxes. They will buy thousands of keys then open them at the right time. They might spend a thousand dollars on zen, for keys, then sell the ships and end up with eight thousand dollars or more, depending on how many they sold out-of-game. I'm fairly surprised that you don't know about this already. Some of the exclusive trading channels were created just for this purpose as a means to communicate cryptically (no pun intended), and arrange deals. Of course, if you can't pass an on site credit check, one or two of the channels will not let you join. I know one channel requires you to place one billion credits into a trade window to prove you got the dough. If you can do that, then they let you in usually, unless you're a known scammer. STO is more than just an MMO. It's a digital and real world economy where some people will not allow PWE to make all of the cash because of some of the decisions management has made.

And Again, for the record: Doing out-of-game transactions is against the Terms of Service of STO, Cryptic and PWE and I am required to advise you against it.

hakimashou posted:

Same guys as the previous loooooong quite.

@4ID in the game I think