Star Trek Online
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Star Trek Online
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| Developer(s) | Cryptic Studios | ||
| Publisher(s) | Atari | ||
| Designer(s) | Craig Zinkievich | ||
| Series | Star Trek | ||
| Engine | Cryptic Engine[1] | ||
| Platform(s) | Windows | ||
| Release date(s) | NA February 2, 2010[2] EU February 5, 2010[2] |
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| Genre(s) | Sci-Fi MMORPG | ||
| Mode(s) | Persistent world Multiplayer |
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| Rating(s) | ESRB: TBD PEGI: TBD |
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| Media | DVD-ROM, Download | ||
| System requirements |
System Requirements
OS: Windows XP SP2 / Windows Vista / Windows 7 (32 or 64-bit) CPU: Intel Core 2 Duo 1.8 Ghz or AMD Athlon X2 3800+ Memory: 1GB RAM Video: NVIDIA GeForce 7950 / ATI Radeon X1800 / Intel HD Graphics Sound: DirectX 9.0c Compatible Soundcard DirectX: Version 9.0c or Higher HDD: 8GB Free Disk Space Network: Internet Broadband Connection Required Disc: 6X DVD-ROM |
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| Input methods | Keyboard, mouse | ||
Star Trek Online, often abbreviated as STO, is the title of a massively multiplayer online role-playing game (MMORPG) being developed by Cryptic Studios based on the popular Star Trek series created by Gene Roddenberry. The game is set in the 25th century, 30 years after the events of Star Trek: Nemesis.[3] Upon its completion, Star Trek Online will become the first massively multiplayer online role-playing game within the Star Trek franchise.
Atari, Cryptic Studio's parent company, noted in its annual earnings report an expected release date of the game by March 31, 2010, the end of Atari's current fiscal year.[4] Executive producer Craig Zinkievich confirmed a target of "early 2010" in an October 2009 interview.[5]. On November 9, 2009, a release date of February 2, 2010 was announced. [6]
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[edit] Development
Previously, Perpetual Entertainment developed the game from 2004 to 2008 until its bankruptcy in January 2008. The license to develop the game and art assets were transferred to Cryptic Studios; however, the code remained with Perpetual Entertainment and its Perpetual Game Engine.
Cryptic Studios officially announced its development of Star Trek Online on July 28, 2008, as a countdown timer on Cryptic's web site reached zero and the new official site was launched. [7] A letter was sent out from Jack Emmert, the game's online producer, detailing some aspects of Cryptic's approach.[8]
[edit] Conference in Las Vegas
On August 10, 2008, a conference was held in the Hilton hotel in Las Vegas. Leonard Nimoy and the leader of Cryptic studios revealed the first gameplay trailer, featuring various Federation and Klingon starships in combat with each other and Borg vessels, as well as footage of a Klingon squad boarding a Federation ship's bridge.[9] The release date was not publicly revealed except that it would be less than three years.
[edit] Platforms
Cryptic has announced that they will release a Windows version of STO, and a possible console version also. During the August 10 Las Vegas conference, Cryptic announced that there would be neither Linux nor Mac versions for the original launch, though they did not rule out the possibility of later releases.[10]
[edit] Closed Beta
Closed beta for Star Trek Online officially began when it was announced on October 22, 2009.[11] Cryptic Studios offered guaranteed beta access to users who bought 6-month and lifetime subscriptions to Champions Online. However, the offer did not explicitly state how early in the beta process the access will be granted.[12]
[edit] Open Beta
November 19th, 2009 Cryptic announced that Star Trek Online will exit Closed Beta and begin Open Beta from January 12, 2010- January 26, 2010.
[edit] Launch Date Set
Cryptic announced that Star Trek Online will release in North America on February 2, 2010, and in Europe on February 5, 2010.
[edit] Gameplay and dynamics
According to the official website,[1] each player will be captain of his or her own ship, with explicit mention of a "Federation Captain" and a "Klingon Warrior" as possibilities. It also stated that players will be able to beam down onto the surfaces of different planets "for face-to-face confrontations". Exploration of the inside of starships will, at launch be limited to the bridge[13] and certain episodes (missions) however, it has been stated by Cryptic that they will introduce fully explorable starship interiors not too long after launch.
The first announcement of the game structure took place at a media event in Las Vegas in August 2008. It was announced that players could play as a Starfleet or Klingon officer, or can create entirely new races. Adventures will be possible in space, on planets, or aboard ships.[14][15][16][17] Every player will be captain of their own individual ship; in keeping with naval tradition, anyone who commands a ship, regardless of his or her 'actual' rank, is considered a 'captain'.[18] Their ships will have a number of crewmen who will all be NPCs.[19]
According to an interview by Gamespot with Cryptic Studios' executive producer Craig Zinkievich, there will be references to several famous storylines, ships, and characters from various Star Trek shows. Players will be able to explore uncharted star systems, and might find content which opens up new resources and technologies. Players may find races with various special abilities who can be recruited to the players' crew.[20]
The game will feature two very different combat systems. Away-team missions will feature fast paced "run and gun" combat. Space combat will stress the long-term tactical aspect of combat between capital ships, in concert with the Star Trek storyline, and will entail positioning, shifting power from weapons to shields, and finding various weaknesses.[20]
There might be a Galactic Economy, which would be based on trade, and might fluctuate like a stock market. It will be possible for players to pool resources to form fleets or guilds. Fleets will be able to build space stations, mining platforms, satellites, shipyards, and more. Quests will be issued from Central Command, and players can join together on the ground. Gameplay will be fully co-operative, and dynamic events will be one part of the game. A "system of infinite exploration" will enable players to find and explore random, uncharted planets.[21]
There will be a variety of ship classes which can be used by all players. Playable ship classes will not be restricted based on a player's specialty.[22]
[edit] Community
Even though Star Trek Online has not yet been released, there is already an active community forming on the developer's official website. The development team, including the Lead Online Community Representative and the Executive Producer, also post regularly on Twitter.[23][24]
[edit] See also
[edit] References
[edit] Footnotes
- ^ a b http://www.startrekonline.com/about_star_trek_online
- ^ a b Welsh, Oli (November 6, 2009). "Star Trek Online out in February". EuroGamer. http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/star-trek-online-out-in-february. Retrieved 2009-11-06.
- ^ "Star Trek Online: FAQ - When does the game take place?". Cryptic Studios. 2009-04-27. http://www.startrekonline.com/faq#15.
- ^ "Atari May 2009 Financial Report". http://corporate.atari.com/MT-3.34-en/mt-static/FCKeditor/UserFiles/File/052909PR_FY09_earnings_GB_FINAL.pdf.
- ^ http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/star-trek-online-interview_9?page=4
- ^ http://www.startrekonline.com/node/490
- ^ Cryptic Studios Confirmed For Star Trek Online, Gamasutra news, July 28, 2008.
- ^ producer's letter, accessed 7/29/08.
- ^ Gameplay trailer.
- ^ Forum thread detailing the Las Vegas conference, accessed 8/10/08.
- ^ "Closed Beta, Here We Come!". Cryptic Studios. 2009-10-22. http://www.startrekonline.com/node/458.
- ^ "Champions Online Special Offer". Cryptic Studios. 2009-08-04. http://www.startrekonline.com/node/330.
- ^ http://www.startrekonline.com/node/499
- ^ New Enterprise: Online ‘Trek’, by DERRIK J. LANG, Associated Press via Miami Herald, Sunday, August 10, 2008.
- ^ Newsfactor article Barry Levine, newsfactor.com, Mon Aug 11, via yahoo news.
- ^ Online 'Star Trek' game coming soon, by DERRIK J. LANG, Conn Post, August 8, 2008.
- ^ Star Trek Online Unveiled:First gameplay trailer released, by Charles Onyett, ign.com, August 10, 2008.
- ^ Star Trek Online official FAQ, at game website.
- ^ Ask Cryptic article, 9/17/08.
- ^ a b Interview with Craig Zinkievich, Cryptic Studios' executive producer, By Staff, GameSpot, Posted Aug 10, 2008 2:00 pm PT. (Star Trek Online Q&A - Overview, New Developer, Early DetailsWe sit down with developer Cryptic Studios to discuss this upcoming massively multiplayer online game based on the classic sci-fi universe.)
- ^ Star Trek Online out within three years by Rob Purchese, erogamer.net, August 11, 2008.
- ^ Star Trek Online: Ask Cryptic, posted by Suzie Ford, cryptic.com, September 17, 2008.
- ^ [1], CrypticAwen on Twitter.
- ^ [2], CrypticZinc on Twitter
[edit] External links
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