Explore strange new worlds, seek our new civilizations... in a different game, because you won't find any of that here.
It could have been so great. Sadly, Cryptic (of Champions Online infamy) got the contract. This one-dimensional game coasts across the counter on pure label appeal as Cryptic seeks to cash in quick before the word gets out and sends this failure-to-be straight to the bargain bin. Sadly, it's the game's largest targeted demographic, Trekkies, who will suffer the greatest disappointment. Among the game's list of crimes against Roddenberry:
1) The player's journey from inexperienced Ensign to starship Captain takes exactly ten minutes. Extremely anti-climactic.
2) Gameplay is squarely focused on either blowing crap up with your spaceship or beaming down to a tiny sandbox and blowing crap up with your ray gun. There are no diplomatic missions, no medical relief missions, no technological missions... no variety at all. Forget reliving any of the franchises many Emmy award-winning episodes.
3) Each away team is comprised of player characters, and then supplimented with non-player "bridge officers" to fill in empty spots. And since bridge officers will always be more obedient than another player, there is absolutely no reason to team up with another player for away missions.
4) There's really no content control. Whereas other MMOs have sought to cater to broad definitions of immersive play through segregated servers, STO lumps all players into a random mix of unregulated instances, assuring every player the "genuine Star Trek experience" of serving alongside fine Federation officers like Captian Brittany Spearz aboard the USS Buttknuckle.
MMO junkies, go forth and conquer. Trekkies, raise shields and avoid at all costs.