A continuation of my thoughts.

 It's evident MMORPG.com has rendered this review moot, as they are saying there's another already planned.

If they want to take STO down in score there is a better way to do it, that's when they upgrade to their new approach. I think the best way to do that is remove the score from all existing reviews, and have a group (with a criteria to follow) read each review and add a score based on that review as well as chosen criteria.

Originally posted by Malickie

A continuation of my thoughts.

 It's evident MMORPG.com has rendered this review moot, as they are saying there's another already planned.

If they want to take STO down in score there is a better way to do it, that's when they upgrade to their new approach. I think the best way to do that is remove the score from all existing reviews, and have a group (with a criteria to follow) go through read the review and add a score based on that review.

 

 Sounds like an elegant solution, but I think that would require a large amount of man hours to accomplish. Would it really be worth it?

Originally posted by thefrayl

Originally posted by Malickie

A continuation of my thoughts.

 It's evident MMORPG.com has rendered this review moot, as they are saying there's another already planned.

If they want to take STO down in score there is a better way to do it, that's when they upgrade to their new approach. I think the best way to do that is remove the score from all existing reviews, and have a group (with a criteria to follow) go through read the review and add a score based on that review.

 

 Sounds like an elegant solution, but I think that would require a large amount of man hours to accomplish. Would it really be worth it?

In the long run IMO yes, as it would create a balanced criteria for all furture reviews people view here.

Great review! Couldn't agree with it more.

Originally posted by J4ck_5p4rr0w
That makes no sense. The last review was 7.4, and the game has improved since then. Your saying the game has gotten worse since the last review? I guess this websites own reviewers arent even in agreement.

The score of the past review was bought by Atari. If you read the review without looking at the score it reads like he was going to give the game 6.0. But in the end they jacked up the review score.

If you were at this site when STO was first released, they had STO ads all over the place. There was a background, a release timer, ads to pre-order in another place, etc. etc.

Originally posted by Grand_Nagus

Originally posted by MikeB

Also, let me add that the review was in progress long before Season 4 was set to hit live servers. We'll most certainly re-visit the game post-Season 4.

 

"Long before"? How long exactly? A week? A month? How much playtime did the author have? Those would be some good things to include in your "new system" at the begining of every review.

So now the CDF has resorted to shooting the messenger rather vthan attacking the arguments. Nice.

Originally posted by Xondar123

Originally posted by Grand_Nagus

Originally posted by MikeB

Also, let me add that the review was in progress long before Season 4 was set to hit live servers. We'll most certainly re-visit the game post-Season 4.

 

"Long before"? How long exactly? A week? A month? How much playtime did the author have? Those would be some good things to include in your "new system" at the begining of every review.

So now the CDF has resorted to shooting the messenger rather vthan attacking the arguments. Nice.

I dont think you understand that phrase, because "shooting the messenger" implies making personal attacks against someone. I havent done that.

Originally posted by Xondar123
The score of the past review was bought by Atari.

This game is horrible. I bought it at the beginning and cancel my preorder and got my money back. Then I resub to get access the foundry last week. But here's what really irked me about this game. I wanted to be a human starfleet officer. The character tool stinks for humans.

Next, the game play was just at mmorpg said. This comment hit the hammer on the nail, "This is likely due, at least in part, to the sub-par quality of the ground missions. They feel awkward and poorly designed, and the characters seem far slower to respond to frantic button mashing than is acceptable at this stage of the MMO industry. You can use tactics like flanking, which does give players some bonuses for maneuvering with finesse instead of random flailing, but it isn’t enough to make ground combat an enjoyable experience. "  I quite my sub after two days. 1 day for the download and the next day I created two characters and was so sorry this game couldn't be more.

STO still needs more work. The need to visit Elite Force and bring in those weapons.

They need to visit Elite Force I & II and bring in those weapons.

Hey all, just stepping in for some updates.

Firstly, we stand by Lori's score.  It may not be fair to everyone, but reviews are equal parts opinion and objective criticism.  In that much, Lori did very well.

Secondly, we are indeed instituting a new review process, and it has its share of growing pains.  Namely, in terms of "Re-Reviews" we're also changing our process there.  In short, going forward our Re-Reviews will basically be evaluations based upon the previous review.  We'll still cover the game in the listed categories in this review, and as such our scores are generally going to skew lower than before.  But, we'll try our damnedest next time to both a.) time the review better and b.) make sure we communicate why a score goes down or up.

Thanks for your patience and feedback.  It's all being heard.

Originally posted by BillMurphy

Well still cover the game in the listed categories in this review, and as such our scores are generally going to skew lower than before.

Yep, well aware that it's going to cause some noise, but we're not above hearing it.  My goal as editor is to make sure our reviews objectively rate each of what we consider the core tennants of the MMO.  The 7 categories within Lori's review reflect that.  And they'll be scored in every review from here on out.

Originally posted by BillMurphy

Hey all, just stepping in for some updates.

Firstly, we stand by Lori's score.  It may not be fair to everyone, but reviews are equal parts opinion and objective criticism.  In that much, Lori did very well.

Secondly, we are indeed instituting a new review process, and it has its share of growing pains.  Namely, in terms of "Re-Reviews" we're also changing our process there.  In short, going forward our Re-Reviews will basically be evaluations based upon the previous review.  We'll still cover the game in the listed categories in this review, and as such our scores are generally going to skew lower than before.  But, we'll try our damnedest next time to both a.) time the review better and b.) make sure we communicate why a score goes down or up.

Thanks for your patience and feedback.  It's all being heard.

 I have no problem with the score or how you got to it. It is your right to do so. What I don't understand is why this 're-review' was sent out on the eve of new content that addresses ground combat - one of the reviewer's main critcisms. Maybe it's me but I fail to understand why it was such a big deal to get this 're-review' on the site. But hey, if MMORPG.com wants to release a review shortly before a possible improvement is added to the game, only to come back later and review it again (thereby making the previous review a waste of time), once more it is your right to do so.  I did tell a journalist buddy of mine about all this, however - and I thank you. I don't think I've ever heard him laugh so hard in my life.

Bottom line, it just seems that the powers that be here prefer to work harder, not smarter.

Originally posted by BillMurphy

Yep, well aware that it\'s going to cause some noise, but we\'re not above hearing it.  My goal as editor is to make sure our reviews objectively rate each of what we consider the core tennants of the MMO.  The 7 categories within Lori\'s review reflect that.  And they\'ll be scored in every review from here on out.

If you really give it some thought and review Cryptic's track record on new content release , would you really like them to test it right after it releases ? May I call your attention to the fiasco,  that was the welcome back weekend. Perhaps you were there ? If you weren't , I'll just say it didn't go well. So, I wouldn't be too quick to criticize, unless you want this game to sinking faster then it already is.  They've already scaled back the content for S-4 , and the ground combat revamp will a minor uptick in the quality of the game.

Originally posted by TarotMage

Originally posted by BillMurphy

Hey all, just stepping in for some updates.

Firstly, we stand by Lori's score.  It may not be fair to everyone, but reviews are equal parts opinion and objective criticism.  In that much, Lori did very well.

Secondly, we are indeed instituting a new review process, and it has its share of growing pains.  Namely, in terms of "Re-Reviews" we're also changing our process there.  In short, going forward our Re-Reviews will basically be evaluations based upon the previous review.  We'll still cover the game in the listed categories in this review, and as such our scores are generally going to skew lower than before.  But, we'll try our damnedest next time to both a.) time the review better and b.) make sure we communicate why a score goes down or up.

Thanks for your patience and feedback.  It's all being heard.

 I have no problem with the score or how you got to it. It is your right to do so. What I don't understand is why this 're-review' was sent out on the eve of new content that addresses ground combat - one of the reviewer's main critcisms. Maybe it's me but I fail to understand why it was such a big deal to get this 're-review' on the site. But hey, if MMORPG.com wants to release a review shortly before a possible improvement is added to the game, only to come back later and review it again (thereby making the previous review a waste of time), once more it is your right to do so.  I did tell a journalist buddy of mine about all this, however - and I thank you. I don't think I've ever heard him laugh so hard in my life.

Bottom line, it just seems that the powers that be here prefer to work harder, not smarter.

The review isn't a waste of my time.  I've followed this game for a while and have considered playing but, after LotRO and AoC, IP driven mmos have really failed to deliver for me.  This review will be a good contrast for me when the next review comes around.  I would actually like to see the next re-review by the same person to see how they feel the update has changed their opinion one way or another.

I realize if you're a fan of a game it's hard to hear that your game isn't scoring high, but your "journalist buddy" anecdote only really illustrates your biased agenda in feeding back your criticism of the review process.  You want your game to get a better score and feel the upcoming content update will deliver that.  Maybe it will, and another review will reflect that if it's true.

I too would like to see better game reviews within a more well defined framework and maybe we'll see that.  This review certainly seemed to score more reasonably than many I've seen in the past.  I feel that launch reviews, this game included, just scored the games too high.  In all I think this was a decent review and an honest 6.4 score is pretty decent.  I would rather play a game with an honest middling score than try a game with an 8.x score and be very disappointed at the over-hype.

Originally posted by Everitt_Cage

Originally posted by BillMurphy

Yep, well aware that it\'s going to cause some noise, but we\'re not above hearing it.  My goal as editor is to make sure our reviews objectively rate each of what we consider the core tennants of the MMO.  The 7 categories within Lori\'s review reflect that.  And they\'ll be scored in every review from here on out.

 

I think you missed my question so I ask again, what other games have you scored down recently? And do you plan on making each \"re-review\" a featured news article like you did with this one?

Originally posted by J4ck_5p4rr0w

Originally posted by Everitt_Cage

Originally posted by BillMurphy

Yep, well aware that it\'s going to cause some noise, but we\'re not above hearing it.  My goal as editor is to make sure our reviews objectively rate each of what we consider the core tennants of the MMO.  The 7 categories within Lori\'s review reflect that.  And they\'ll be scored in every review from here on out.

 

I think you missed my question so I ask again, what other games have you scored down recently? And do you plan on making each \"re-review\" a featured news article like you did with this one?

 

I would like to hear the answer to this question as well.

Just a quick click on the front page shows the Free Realms re-review and it dropped from an 8.x to a 6.5.  Reviews are subjective.  Just saying, there is a front page re-review and the score was lowered.  I guess that answers the question, even though I'm not Bill Murphy. I just thought I'd throw some independent research out there for you.

Originally posted by Torvaldr

Just a quick click on the front page shows the Free Realms re-review and it dropped from an 8.x to a 6.5.  Reviews are subjective.  Just saying, there is a front page re-review and the score was lowered.  I guess that answers the question, even though I'm not Bill Murphy. I just thought I'd throw some independent research out there for you.

Thanks, Torv.  It's going to happen, like I said, and we'll try to make sure we give ample reason why in the future.  ;)