Star Trek

Our man in the trenches...your Forum thanks you.  

Yep, Mr. Okuda being roped into the thing is a good, good sign.  For people wishing to ascend up the Technology Expertise ladder, they can bring the learning curve of the 80s-00s series with them.  The continuity he represents will have ripples outside of merely the 'tech' end of the game world, too.

Role Playing Server:  Good news--considering the nature of the core market:  it was really indespensible and a no-brainer.

In my opinion, there really isn't a prospective buyer out there who isn't certain that, assuming the game is successful enough at release, alternative factions won't be available at some later date.  So they'll either wait, or subscribe and play up their StarFleet Character's career in the meantime (far more likely).  But I just don't see this issue being critical at the outset--the game will sink or swim on other merits.

"Galactic War"...Yeah, that term is a little grandeous and "Star Wars"-ish.  One might induce that this is the 'Catastrophic Bang' of the beginning of the game.  So now I'm cautious about the setting conditions at this point.

The nearly galaxy-wide Dominion war has been done in DS9, as has an inexplicably stupid war against the Klingons before it.  Good Lord please don't recycle this crap!  I'd rather face a ressurgent Borg Threat.  But basically any supermassive power that turns all of the old rivals against it (or each other) makes me nausious.  It was halfway to a cop-out-from-real-writing the first time around.

But if a 'galactic war' is to be...let it be:  Romulans press some unforseen, surprise advantage and inititiate war on the 200-year-old battlegrounds after signing up the Cardacians to press from the other side--forcing the Fed/Klingon Alliance split fronts (and strain its resolve.)

That's Galactic enough, for crying out loud.

I greatly appreciate this information that you have brought to us Tal, as it is very enlightening.

Although, I am very glad to see Mr. Okuda joining the team in being a consultanat for keeping things canon in the game.
I am still worried if the game will be just Trek in title and something else in play, I guess only time will tell and that is what beta is for.

On Niles' point, if there were a galactic war, why not introduce some fresh empires? We've had all the Klingon vs. Cardassians vs. Romulans vs. Federation vs. Dominion most can stomach. There are other games for that. If people want to play the Dominion war there is a game for that. SF3 as well. Mods abound. Bridge commander, Mods abound. Okay, so what if there are new empires? Most of the galaxy is still unexplored. When you take out what Voyager saw, Dominion, Romulans, Klingons, Feds, blah blah blah, there is still a big part left. What if the Iconians come back and try to lay waste the capitols of the different empires? What if the bad guys are on the level of the Borg in TNG, not Voyager (dumbed down). As in, why not just seize entire worlds and even empires! This is 20 years in the future, unless Berman decides to make a 29th C series its all conjecture and open to whatever. It would be more interesting to see something more than "Betazed is taken". How about "Seventeen star systems have been completely destroyed" or something to make it seem... not like the Dominion war or anything else.

Honestly, Trek became a warlike series, instead of what made it popular to begin with: Exploration, Peace, and Diplomacy. Why not add some new Federation races in those periods, as well as have players negociate or watch negotiations of new races come into the Federation? If its that far ahead the potential is HUGE for expanding the Federation. Why not add another hundred planets to the Federation? Then maybe a war done to an extent of maybe, a Cold War, (NOT TEMPORAL!!!! would be more of a change for ppl who have watched the Dominion War on DS9 and the warlike stories of Voyager.

Thx for infos, I'm worried about this war and the servers split though .
Don't want PvP and RP servers and war should be introduced (if have to) after some time...with some plot development inside the game .
Don't want a war ruining Star Trek experience.

Any chance you an describe the Uniforms? I am happy with all the info given to us by Perpetual and Im feeling for better about it now  Okuda is on the team. Well done all guys at PE!

TSO - Thankyou very much for bringing back that information.

I've very happy with this, the Galactic War will be an issue that many will rant about, but frakly it was expected, and can be done easily with a convincing storyline.

Uniform changes, non-issue, ST has had plenty of uniform revamps, Perpetual has the right to change them again if they wish.

Economy of Voicechat - Both are needed.

Mike:

Quote

Star Trek: The Next Generation, Star Trek: Deep Space Nine and Star Trek: Voyager, during which he was recognized with three Emmy nominations for Best Visual Effects.

^^Very Nice.

--------------
Jaz
Star Trek Online Universe - STGU
StarTrekOnlineUniverse.com

Quote (JazH @ Aug. 14 2005, 4:43 am)

TSO - Thankyou very much for bringing back that information. I've very happy with this, the Galactic War will be an issue that many will rant about, but frakly it was expected, and can be done easily with a convincing storyline. Uniform changes, non-issue, ST has had plenty of uniform revamps, Perpetual has the right to change them again if they wish. Economy of Voicechat - Both are needed. Mike: Quote Star Trek: The Next Generation, Star Trek: Deep Space Nine and Star Trek: Voyager, during which he was recognized with three Emmy nominations for Best Visual Effects. ^^Very Nice. -------------- Jaz Star Trek Online Universe - STGU StarTrekOnlineUniverse.com

He also co-authored the Star Trek encyclopedia.

I'm concerned about the setting being so far beyond Nemesis.  We knew it'd be after, but 20 years?  20 years after means I can't play any of my existing characters in STO.  That greatly lessens the anticipation I'm feeling toward the game.

I don't really care about the war, but the timeline setting is an odd choice.

The other problem with the time period is that cameos of existing characters are going to be a little weird.  The familiar characters will be 20 years older and in who-knows-what positions.  Picard will be retired or something, even Riker might be a retired Admiral by then.

The uniforms are disappointing.  It's justified given the 20 year difference, but it's still disappointing.  =)


Powers  &8^]

20 years after Nemesis is a little strange. I believe it has been said that they won't be using existing characters from the series so the timeline would not matter in that regard. May be they know plans about the next series and are making the game around that another reason why Mike Okuda is onboard. Probably not but it would be a very collaborative effort.

Anyone see Perpetuals attendance at Las Vegas mentioned on StarTrek.com?? Nope. Anyone see the new Communicator Phone mentioned on StarTrek.com?? Nope. That is one problem with Viacom/Paramount and now Viacom has been split into two divisions. Star Trek products need to be promoted across Viacom's companies. I know they aren't fully responsible for promoting the games but there are soooo many parties involved. A proper site needs to be created for the games, a sister site to startrek.com, a place where all of the publishers can publish news etc.

There are going to be exploiters no matter what. Perpetual will just have to release updates asap to shut them down.

Whilst I would prefer a close 'post nemesis', I guess the reasoning of having it set later is to

a: allow for future events to be dictated by PE which would compliment the game.
b: allow us to meet some of people, such as Ensign Crusher, but as an adult. (Naomi Wildman would be another good one too see as an adult)

Hmmm I have one concern about the game being 20 years after Nemesis: Most starships 'suppose' to be old and outdated, so Excelsior, Defiant, Soverign, Akira, Nebula and Galaxy classes suppose to be outdated by that time. And its hard to believe that PE will draw lot of new models. so In my opinion, placing it 20 years after is too much, if ships stay same models.

About the war - I just hope they dont make something as suggested here (Romulans get The Cardassians to help them open front against Federation/Klingon alliance), because logically, after 2 wars they lost against the Federation, with millions of dead, and on the alst war (Dominion Wars) their homeworld was conquered, ffew cities (such as Lekarian City) were completly destroyed by the Jem'Hadar. So I cant hoentsly believe there is anythign to convince the Cardassian people to fight another war against the Federation, at least not some 25 years after the last one  

About uniforms, it is bad choise.. I love the "Starfleet standard Issue"    and I really think most people will agree that standard uniforms are the preferable choise here. I honestly am waiting to see myself in Nemesis uniforms  

About the structure that the more experienced are sent to the frontlines, I think its wrong, experienced should command the newly recruited (newbies )


Last but not least: Thanks to Tal for the sum up

Tal_Shiar_Officer,

I really want to thank you for going out of your way to share a wonderful after action report with us. You didn't have to do that, and we know it, thanks.

Hopefully, we will get a chance to meet in the future, but an autographed copy of your forum contributions isn't necessary.

Thank you for all the data Tal_Shiar_Officer.
I d say most things ar ok by me.

New uniforms will be cool if nicely designed and i belive Tal that they did a good job at it.

The galactic war is not a problem. We have the war that was depicted in the Enterprise series so this is not such a problem.

The thing that PE is not yet sure how to make an economy if make it is a good sign.

The story being 20 years after nemesis will make it posible to make some preparations for the galactic war story. And this time can be used to distnace a litle form the main caracters in the series and so not risking to depict them as somthing different than what we know.

The only thing I am afraid is that they won't follow what was said in the dev blog and will make a standard MMOG. They did say that they don't like how other MMOGs work and i certainly would like to see them deviate from the beaten path.

Well anyway most that i have heard now was positive and we will just have to wait and see what will they come up to.

Quote (Magecu @ Aug. 14 2005, 6:47 pm)

The thing that PE is not yet sure how to make an economy if make it is a good sign. The only thing I am afraid is that they won't follow what was said in the dev blog and will make a standard MMOG. They did say that they don't like how other MMOGs work and i certainly would like to see them deviate from the beaten path.

I believe they wont make it standard MMORPG, cause doing this is admitting failure to make something special with the special raw material they have (ST licence).

About economy, I prefer to think that additional time will allow PE to find the best formula for economics.
IMO if they would do 2 factions from the start (Ferengy and Federation), it would allow to solve the problem of property. and therefore those who want property will play as Ferengi?

Quote (Carmageddon @ Aug. 13 2005, 5:55 pm)

Quote (Magecu @ Aug. 14 2005, 6:47 pm) The thing that PE is not yet sure how to make an economy if make it is a good sign. The only thing I am afraid is that they won't follow what was said in the dev blog and will make a standard MMOG. They did say that they don't like how other MMOGs work and i certainly would like to see them deviate from the beaten path. I believe they wont make it standard MMORPG, cause doing this is admitting failure to make something special with the special raw material they have (ST licence). About economy, I prefer to think that additional time will allow PE to find the best formula for economics. IMO if they would do 2 factions from the start (Ferengy and Federation), it would allow to solve the problem of property. and therefore those who want property will play as Ferengi?

ferengi might not be required, but possibly a trader profession...?