We recently had the chance to fire off a few photon torpe…. err, I mean questions to Star Trek Online’s Executive Producer, Craig Zinkievich. The results are filled with juicy tidbits about what you can expect during your tour of duty with Starfleet.
1) Cryptic has explored and created a great deal of lore for this game – did you work directly with any of the writers from the show? Were there any major hurdles in getting the existing cannon to jive with your vision for the future of the Star Trek universe?
We have created quite a lot, yes. No major hurdles, though. I think the biggest challenge (when it comes to lore) is deciding when and where to draw the line. Games, if not properly managed, are susceptible to feature creep. With a universe as large and compelling as Star Trek, we ran the risk of letting it carry us away. We could have been adding stories forever, which just isn’t a good design practice. Aside from ancillary products (like a novel), we haven’t worked directly with any writers associated with the IP for the game.
2) How has the new Star Trek movie effected your plans for the future of the game?
It really hasn’t impacted us day-to-day. It sure impacted the Romulans, though! In our prime timeline the year is 2409 (which follows even “future Spock’s” escapades and the destruction of Romulus). So, there was an impact to the universe, just not to development. Certainly, the popularity of the film only helped us. If the movie were not so well received critically and commercially, it’s only logical that there’d be less interest in the game.
3) Any plans to add additional playable factions such as the Ferengi?
Of course! We have all kinds of plans for the future. Launch will be Klingon and Federation. But if the community screams for Romulans, we’ll tackle Romulans. Long-term development is largely driven by the desires of our community.
4) How many new planets will we be able to explore? How many new civilizations will we be able to seek out?
We have thousands of systems in the game. Civilizations? Technically, unlimited. Realistically, a healthy amount. The thing is, players can create their own unique species in Star Trek Online using our advanced character creator. So, there is no limit to new life. If your readership plays or even reads anything about our other titles (Champions Online, City of Heroes and City of Villains), they’ll see that we’re very serious about customization.
5) Will any friends or enemies from the delta quadrant be making an appearance?
You better believe it.
6) In an early Ask Cryptic, the possibility of logs was mentioned – is this something that’s likely to make it into the final product?
Yes. We’re looking at implementing a Captain’s Log that will propagate to the official website.
7) What role does diplomacy play in STO? Will there be diplomatic missions (that possibly go awry)?
We have a huge amount of exploratory and diplomatic non-combat missions. But, the alpha quadrant is in a state of war. Action is inescapable. In fact, players cannot advance through the game without partaking in combat. We want to be clear about that to set expectations. In the same way the Command, Academy, Elite Force, and Armada Star Trek titles focused on combat, so do we. Action is the cornerstone of our title.
8) In the show, the chief engineer often came up with some crazy solution to an immediate problem such as dumping the warp core, or making a modification to the deflector dish – is there any sort of mechanic in the game for this “think outside the box” sort of problem solving?
Probably not in the way you’re thinking. We have a tremendous variety of special abilities and skills in Star Trek Online — everything from the everyday (tractor beam) to the rare (eject warp plasma) — but it’s not like a… I don’t know, puzzle game or something like The Incredible Machine? That is, we do not present users with a problem such as, “The moon’s orbit is deteriorating” and then say “Good luck!” Our title is an RPG, an action game and an MMO.
9) Can you talk some about the economy? What sort of resources will be traded? Will there be any black market trading between the Klingon Empire and the Federation?
In-game, players can earn Starfleet merits (or the Klingon equivalent), energy credits, PVP tokens, and alien artifacts / technology / mineral samples, etc. Lots of different things. There’s no trading between the Empire and the Federation as factions, but we do have “black market” NPC vendors and vendors of different races.
Of course, players can trade everything listed above. And, they can also trade bridge officers.
10) It’s been a while since anyone heard from The Borg – have they undergone any major changes in the years since we last saw them?
They’ve… adapted. Still bent on the total biological and technological assimilation of all races, but they’ve changed some.
11) Will The Borg be able to assimilate player characters and ships? NPC characters and ships?
Players? No. In the game, being beaten by the Borg is more like a traditional death. The Borg have assimilated other… things, however.
12) Just how persistent is the game world? Will decisions made early on effect the state of things a year down the line?
We have story plans. But, an individual user decision (do quest vs. don’t do quest) will have no bearing on the immediate future of STO, no.
13) There’s been talk of STO and Champions Online coming to consoles – any news on that front?
We’ve always intended to release our games on consoles, but due to the nature of development and various unsigned business deals, we have nothing we can officially announce right now.
Star Trek Online hits retail on February 2nd. If you’re hungry for more info about the game, stay tuned – we’ll have a preview up soon!
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