Just like The Sess before him, the beginning of a new year means that Casey gets to look forward to the games that are planning to release in 2009. This next year holds some serious milestones for MMOs, specifically the existence of many home console versions. What will happen when A-list MMO titles invade the living rooms of millions of people? Will they have mass appeal? Before you answer those questions make sure you strap-in, gun it to 88, and watch for the three bright flashes. This is...

The MMO Report.
» Read More 

Cryptic Studios writes, "Our first Ask Cryptic of 2009 brings you answers about art, ship capabilities, and more. Thanks as always to our development team for taking the time to answer these questions!

This is a universe at war, so combat will be a major factor, but there will also be a large component of exploration. You will get to meet new species, some of which you'll fight against, some of which you'll protect, and some of which you'll ally with. There won't be extensive dialogue trees, but you'll get to explore and have missions that don't involve just clobbering everybody..."
» Read More 

GamingShogun writes, "Cryptic Studios has released a new starship profile on the Star Trek Online website for the NX-91001, an experimental ship class which is basically a new Sovereign type vessel with a similar multi-role mission as well..."
» Read More 

GamingShogun writes, "Cryptic has released some new backstory leading up to the time in which its Star Trek Online takes place within the Trek universe. This part of the 'Path to 2409' series tells the events of the year 2383, which includes a disagreement between the Federation and..."
» Read More 

Eurogamer writes: "New details of forthcoming MMO Star Trek Online have popped up on the official website.

According to a Q&A with developer Cryptic, you will see ships just like the Enterprise, Defiant and Voyager - or Cruisers, Escorts and Science Vessels, as they're known.

"More details on the exact roles and differences are coming soon, but for now, suffice it to say that the ship roles are a combination of naval combat and traditional MMO gameplay," the Q&A reads.

'Klingon ships are different, and reflect their style and culture. And everything will be very customisable and very Star Trek.'"
» Read More 

Massively: Magazine Game Informer's October issue (due to appear on stands any day now) will feature a ten page report on Star Trek Online, with new information and artwork. The game even graces the cover of the issue, which can already be seen online. It's not a screenshot, though. It's just some artwork depicting Sovereign and Galaxy class starships.

Previously featured articles in Game Informer have generally been quite substantial; they have combined tons of new images with descriptions of gameplay and dozens of quotes from developers. We haven't seen the STO piece yet, but it's probably worth flipping through at your local newsstand.
» Read More 

Videogamer writes: "Cryptic has published an official Star Trek Online FAQ detailing a host of information on the upcoming PC and console MMO.

First off, Cryptic confirmed that the game will feature an economy, but one that "makes sense in the Star Trek universe".

"Since the Federation has explicitly done away with money, expect bartering and trading of goods to be an important part of the economy. Less tangible forms of economics such as Reputation are also not out of the question," explains the FAQ."
» Read More 

Spong: Cryptic Studios is hoping to enable PC and console users to play Star Trek Online on the same servers.

In an FAQ published on the game's official site, the question "Will console and PC players be on the same servers?" is posed. The response goes as follows - "We would like that to be the case. There is nothing technologically keeping us from making it so."
» Read More 

Just about everything you need to know about Star Trek Online has been released in the form of a FAQ on the official website.

The main points to come out of it are that the will possibly be PC and console play on the same servers, that these servers will combine PvP and competitive PvE, trading will play a role (although the Federation has done away with money...), and will be set 30 years from the events of Star Trek Nemesis. Developers Cryptic seem to be looking for every level of gamer to join, including such vital information about the internet requirements, such as the need to have it connected to play... Thanks.
» Read More 

GiN Reports:

"Cryptic Studios, a leading independent developer and publisher of massively multiplayer online role-playing games (MMORPGs), today revealed at the annual Star Trek Convention the first details and gameplay trailer for Star Trek Online, a massively multiplayer online game based on the legendary Star Trek franchise.

Convention attendees and Trek fans from around the globe attended the live webcast event held in the Gene Roddenberry Theater. Cryptic's Chief Creative Officer, Jack Emmert, was joined on stage by renowned Star Trek actor Leonard Nimoy, as he outlined the details of Star Trek Online.

"I spent many, many Saturday afternoons watching reruns of Star Trek and dreaming of its worlds. Leonard Nimoy helped inspire my imagination of what mysteries the universe might in fact hold," said Emmert. "I'd like to think that very same imagination is what fuels my desire and drive as a game designer, pushing toward creating an MMO that is the ultimate Star Trek experience."
» Read More 

Cryptic creative boss Jack Emmert just confirmed that all Star Trek Online launch players will either be part of Star Fleet or a member of the Klingon Federation.
» Read More 

Binge Gamer editor and avid Trekkie James Walker has compiled a small, helpful fact sheet for those gamers who are excited about the upcoming 'Star Trek Online', but couldn't see the presentation live.

A few of the details revealed include a general timetable for release, details on the game's PvP and character creation and customization options.
» Read More 

It's game over for the crews of the Star Trek TV and movie franchises. Cryptic Chief Creative Officer Jack Emmert has set his mouth to stun and announced that the characters we know and love from our screens will not be showing up in Start Trek Online.

"There might be a ship called Enterprise flying around, but it's probably not the same ship anymore," said Emmert. "Most of the characters will have either retired or passed on, but you'll definitely be going to all the places you know and love from Star Trek."
» Read More 

VG247: Cryptic just showed the first gameplay trailer of Star Trek Online, and, to be completely fair, it was grade-A tonto awesome.

Creative lead Jack Emmert described ship combat as "tactical" and "slow-paced," and this was borne out in the footage, which showed Federation ship fleets against Borg cubes and more.
» Read More 

Speaking in Las Vegas tonight, Cryptic creative lead Jack Emmert has failed to put a release date on Star Trek Online, but said it's going to be sooner than you think.
» Read More 

VG247: The official Star Trek Online site just showed a "too many connections" error before being taken offline, minutes after Cryptic Studios showed first footage and details of the game in Las Vegas via a live webcast.
» Read More 

Cryptic creative boss Jack Emmert has just confirmed that Star Trek Online is to be set in 2409, 30 years after Star Trek Nemesis.
» Read More 

The big gameplay reveal of Cryptic's Star Trek Online is taking place this Sunday in Las Vegas, with a special guest appearance from Spock, who portrays Leonard Nimoy in real life. If you, like me, have spent several hours sitting in the corner curled up in a ball crying because you couldn't be there, dry those tears! The Star Trek Online website has updated today with info on the simultaneous live webcast of the event. It kicks off at 1:30 PM Pacific on Sunday afternoon, so you might want to pencil that stardate down on your...starcalendars?
» Read More 

GamePlasma writes:

"Cryptic studios, makers of Star Trek Online, have announced that Leonard Nimoy of Star Trek fame will join Cryptic's Jack Emmert to unveil Star Trek Online."
» Read More 

Destructoid writes: "Awhile back, we showed you a timer on developer Cryptic's official page that was a bit suspicious in origin. The natural conjecture that this timer would count down to an official announcement of Star Trek Online now appears to be true. WarCry recently found two different announcements of the game, which go quite a way to validate the revival of the once ill-fated game.

The first piece of evidence comes from the Star Trek Convention site. The announcement is painfully blunt, but if you look at the schedule for August 10 at 1:30 P.M. there is an event planned called 'Star Trek Online Revealed.' Apparently, when it comes to videogames, these guys really don't like to beat around the bush.

Another interesting tidbit comes from the Game Career Guide, where Cryptic Studios plastered an advertisement on page 42 that states they are hiring for positions. Notably, they claim to be "developer and publisher of...Champions Online and Star Trek Online." I think Cryptic may have killed the need for speculation on their timer already, unless it's for a Stargate MMO or something."
» Read More