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Q&A: Cryptic takes Star Trek online

Executive producer Craig Zinkievich tells GameSpot that studio's anticipated MMOG will be set 30 years after most recent film, when existing characters are "retired or passed on."

Over the weekend, Trekkies from all walks of life made their annual pilgrimage to the Star Trek Convention to meet, greet, and flash Vulcan peace signs. As a special treat this year, Cryptic Studios delivered the first details and gameplay footage of Star Trek Online, a massively multiplayer online role-playing game based on Gene Roddenberry's beloved sci-fi series.

Best known for its work on the City of Heroes/Villains MMOG (which is now fully owned and run by NCsoft), Cryptic Studios acquired the license to develop Star Trek Online from Perpetual Studios in the wake of that outfit's closing earlier this year. In an interview with Cryptic executive producer Craig Zinkievich over the weekend, GameSpot confirmed that the new rights holders have opted to build the game from scratch, making use of only a portion of the concept art created by Perpetual.

Zinkievich also told GameSpot that the game will be set 30 years after the most recent film, Star Trek: Nemesis. In addition to setting the stage for an all-new storyline, the time period means that established characters will be "retired or passed on," so players won't simply be reenacting old TV episodes, according to Zinkievich.

For more on the types of ships, locations, and exploration destinations in Star Trek Online, check out GameSpot's full interview.

33 Comments

  • dg3215

    Posted Sep 25, 2008 2:47 pm GMT

    I hope this game is decent I am excited to see what it will be like especially on a console. I wonder how they could run both a ps3 and 360 one unless they were on seperate servers.

  • datniccah187

    Posted Aug 18, 2008 3:24 pm GMT

    Guess i'll have to check out the video.

  • TENTHROW2

    Posted Aug 16, 2008 10:37 am GMT

    I guarantee before this game launches, EA will put an offer out to cryptic studios, and if cryptic doesnt accept, EA will force a buyout.

    This game WILL be launched under the EA banner - guaranteed

  • TENTHROW2

    Posted Aug 16, 2008 10:37 am GMT

    I guarantee before this game launches, EA will put an offer out to cryptic studios, and if cryptic doesnt accept, EA will force a buyout.

    This game WILL be launched under the EA banner - guaranteed

  • DiscGuru101

    Posted Aug 15, 2008 10:52 am GMT

    The video looks awesome.

  • Zoomer30

    Posted Aug 14, 2008 7:02 pm GMT

    MMOs will never be free. They cant run them on nothing. If they have a beta I may be get in it, probably wont buy. I did SWG for 4 years and WoW for a year, they just get boring.

  • CharlieFubar

    Posted Aug 13, 2008 5:18 pm GMT

    Zloth2 um arent you forgetting that the mmo cost 60 bucks before you had to pay 15 / month? I understand u get the first month free... so u should say "you pay 60 for the first month and 15 every month after..." thats a good, fair, and truthful way to look at it. Also you are paying a company to allow yourself to ruin your social life lol but i digress...

  • Zloth2

    Posted Aug 13, 2008 12:42 pm GMT

    "It would be nice as long as there are no recurring fees. That is what keeps me away from MMORPGS...."

    Why do people keep saying this? They will go out and buy a game for $60, play it for a few weeks, and toss it in the "maybe I'll finish it some day" pile. $60 for 5 weeks of play vs. $15 for 4 weeks. Heck, even if you only play it half as much as the other game, you're still WAY ahead.

  • Garrick-S GameSpot staff member

    Posted Aug 12, 2008 3:57 pm GMT

    How very cool

  • necronaux

    Posted Aug 12, 2008 10:23 am GMT

    30 years in the future, eh? I guess it's better than another pre-quel.

  • tawagivercetti

    Posted Aug 12, 2008 12:39 am GMT

    hope its good

  • jazilla

    Posted Aug 11, 2008 10:45 pm GMT

    star trek's battle scenes are too slow paced for me. the guns stink, but i love the storylines. if this game can make waves with it's stories, then i am all about it. otherwise, who want to use a phaser as a weapon LOL.

  • gutterdude

    Posted Aug 11, 2008 10:05 pm GMT

    TRADE!!! Should be able to trade crew members.

  • headymo

    Posted Aug 11, 2008 5:13 pm GMT

    Data could be in it as he don't age. He could be a captain or admiral. Oh crap that's right he died in the last movie, but maybe his prototype duplicate could be in it somehow.

  • Treflis

    Posted Aug 11, 2008 4:43 pm GMT

    I'm not a fan of Star Trek, I've seen some episodes.
    But the thought of flying around in galaxies with other players online flying around sounds rather appealing. Hopefully it'll be well made

  • ScreamDream

    Posted Aug 11, 2008 4:35 pm GMT

    Leonard Nimoy says they have been playing this game on Vulcan for a while already. Please come on consoles too. http://www.usatoday.com/tech/gaming/2008-08-11-star-trek-online-spock_N.htm?loc=interstitialskip

  • Jshaw71

    Posted Aug 11, 2008 4:01 pm GMT

    i like the idea of a star trek online game, away missions, ship invansions, battling evil ships, maybe some socail interaction between ships crew, and even ship to ship interaction, could make this a fun game, we'll have to wait and see...

  • ps3thabest

    Posted Aug 11, 2008 3:45 pm GMT

    who would buy this?

  • 1357900

    Posted Aug 11, 2008 3:43 pm GMT

    I hate monthly fees, as well as poor maintenance. I'm waiting out for the DC comics mmo. Hopefully, the currently "canned" Marvel comics mmo will return, eventually. I'll be tracking this, though.

  • Sandro23

    Posted Aug 11, 2008 2:54 pm GMT

    A subscription fee is what keeps a good mmo going. updates, server maintenance . there are free moos, but most of the time they aren't that good. i'll be keeping an eye on this one though

  • Tiburon1186

    Posted Aug 11, 2008 2:16 pm GMT

    It would be nice as long as there are no recurring fees. That is what keeps me away from MMORPGS....

  • demoralizer

    Posted Aug 11, 2008 1:59 pm GMT

    This could be interesting.

  • atopp399

    Posted Aug 11, 2008 1:55 pm GMT

    eryk1:

    My comment wasn't about it not coming to a console. Sorry if that's how I made it sound. I would like to see an MMO come to any console. I just made my comment based on Sony's Star Wars MMO for computer...

  • Sony_Loyalist

    Posted Aug 11, 2008 1:42 pm GMT

    Live long and prosper!

  • King_Wii

    Posted Aug 11, 2008 1:39 pm GMT

    Woot STO is on its way!

  • eryk1

    Posted Aug 11, 2008 1:27 pm GMT

    atopp399:

    "Let's hope Sony doesn't get their hands on it..."

    Why! Why did you need to say that. Come on.

    It would be great to see this game on a console ( especially Sony's). I don't like playing on a computer ( I like my couch a lot). I hope it turns out well because I'm a big fan of Star Trek and we deserve a great game.

  • InuHanyou1701

    Posted Aug 11, 2008 12:44 pm GMT

    The presentation at the Convention was pretty good and the game looks decent but, to me, the biggest drawback is that it's an MMO. I have zero respect for the MMO genre. As I said when KOTOR Online was announced. "Well... there goes the franchise..."

  • tester962

    Posted Aug 11, 2008 11:37 am GMT

    I will give the game a chance but I dont expect it to be anything more than the same old crap were used to.

  • atopp399

    Posted Aug 11, 2008 11:33 am GMT

    Let's hope Sony doesn't get their hands on it...

  • flackstone

    Posted Aug 11, 2008 11:31 am GMT

    risistance if futial

  • Phazevariance

    Posted Aug 11, 2008 11:15 am GMT

    30 years later, i guess technology will be further improved, and the borg completely defeated...

  • wukepingu

    Posted Aug 11, 2008 10:43 am GMT

    Star trek yeah nerdchasm

  • PMonkey

    Posted Aug 11, 2008 10:37 am GMT

    Lets just hope you can battle the borg!

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