Star Trek Online timeline shows where game falls in with TV and film canon
by James Egan 
Jun 13th 2009 at 4:00PM
Filed under: Sci-fi, Star Trek Online
There is perhaps nothing that Star Trek content creators fear more than the collective power of Trekkie nerd rage when the universe's canon is altered. Cryptic Studios is well aware of this and wants to clarify where Star Trek Online falls in the IP's timeline, and they frame this in reference to the latest (and eleventh) film and the deviation from canon it introduces with an altered timeline.
Plainly stated, Star Trek Online adheres to the standard timeline. STO will be set in the same reality as the first ten films and the various TV series, from First Contact right through Voyager and beyond. Cryptic Studios has put together a graphical timeline of the entirety of the Star Trek legacy, showing exactly when the game picks after the shows and films leave off, with the events of Star Trek Online taking place in 2409. Have a look at Cryptic's Star Trek Universe Timelines for more.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
UltimateQ said on 4:17PM 6-13-2009
Cool! This is good information. Well to a big fat geek trekky like myself.
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Verit said on 5:40PM 6-13-2009
I'm surprised they can do this - given that the average starfleet captain has more time travel experience than dr. who.
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starmonkey said on 7:00PM 6-14-2009
hehe well put :)
Alethos said on 12:50AM 6-14-2009
These guys aren't stupid. The new timeline is for kids growing up now. The core fan base for this MMO are going to be generations who grew up with both the old movies and, most importantly, TNG (and its spinoffs.) We want the real, canonical Trek universe, not something set in the new dumbed down and shined up Tiger Beat Time Travel Trek.
New Trek has all the quality and gravitas of New Star Wars. Both of which are their franchises' respective New Coke.
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Mewmew said on 7:27AM 6-14-2009
I liked the new Trek movie, a lot. I guess I'd be upset if I was really into the old story lines, and honestly I think they could have done the movie just as good if they followed the old story lines. I liked the action and look, I liked how it was more of a return to Trek beginnings. I loved the movie so much it did make me wonder where the game would be.
Again, I liked the movie because it seemed like a return to what the beginning Treks were supposed to be about, exciting action and fistfights as well as gun fights, Kirk wanting to hump various alien girls. I assume it's disappointing to some people that they went off storyline, and I do really believe they could have made it with the same action and excitement if they followed the normal timeline.
I have to wonder if the people who grew up with the old Trek are too old to be that much into video games where they would want to pay monthly to play and keep the game going.
Please don't compare it to the newer Star Wars. If they put a blithering idiot cartoon looking goofball sticking his cartoon fake looking tongue between some conduits and getting shocked, running around squeaking and making an ass of himself the whole movie in the new Star Trek, then you could compare the two.
I didn't see a bunch of fake looking cartoonish CGI characters in the new Trek, and it was a very violent return to the old style of Trek rather than the kinder gentler "New Generation". Sure, it was flashy and nice looking in the battles, but the new Star Wars weren't, they were fake looking and light hearted.
Anyway I just want cool action and to be able to Pilot my own ships. I really don't care which timeline it follows. The new movie to me was exciting, but the planetary exploration of the older shows to me was very interesting, so I'd play no matter which it was. I guess the game isn't being made for casual players like me tho.
Jason said on 8:13AM 6-14-2009
I thought the new star trek movie was a great action movie but a horrible star trek movie. The story was so bad. They completely changed the history and future of the trek universe. There was plenty of cheesy moments too. How do you officially go from cadet to captain of the federation flagship in a few days? It's cool he saved earth and all but here's a commendation and a medal. LOL
But seriously I'm looking forward to checking this game out. I'm not sure how many missions you can do before you get bored. I loved TNG but it was only on once a week. If I watched it everyday for hours I might get bored faster. You can only do so many away missions before it gets old.
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Dude said on 11:22AM 6-14-2009
Meh, just release it already.
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mysecretid said on 3:27PM 6-14-2009
(Warning! Possible Spoilers For The New Trek Movie!)
Part of the reason Cryptic released this timeline is that the Star Trek Online forums were getting bombarded, on an almost daily basis, with people asking over and over how the game would fit in with the new film.
Not to mention the people constantly trying to start flame wars over whether or not the new movie "erases" old Star Trek or not ... even though the new flick says (twice) very quickly that the new flick takes place in an alternative reality created by Nero and Spock's method of "time" travel.
Not only that, but both the new film's screenwriters, JJ Abrams, and the Paramount-approved, official comic book prequel to the new film (Star Trek Countdown, available on Amazon) all confirm that the new movie takes place in an alternative reality as well.
Basically, Cryptic saw that everyone was tired of answering/arguing the same points on the Star Trek Online forums, and released the chart to (at least) give forum posters a redirect link whenever the same points come up from here on out.
From an MMORPG perspective, I think Cryptic's made the right choice sticking with the original timeline. Whether you love the new movie or hate it, it doesn't contain enough material to build an MMORPG on -- and Cryptic can't just "make stuff up" to fill in the blanks, because future new movies will likely contradict whatever they do.
While STO is licensed from CBS/Paramount, the owners are not required to consult Cryptic on what they plan to do with the franchise.
The original Trek universe has 40+ years of official backstory to mine when building a Star Trek MMORPG. This is the smart way to go.
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