Sling your phasers in STO's first timeline video
Filed under: Video, New titles, News items, Star Trek Online
You're gonna get two things with this new Star Trek Online timeline video: Lots of in-game footage and plenty of lore at the same time. The footage is 100% ships blowing the ablative plating off each other, and for those hardcore Trekkies out there wondering why the Klingon Empire and Federation are blowing each other up, we've got one word for you: war.
Now of course, you're probably wondering why there's a war going on in the game -- which is set 30 years after Star Trek: The Next Generation's final movie, Nemesis. Well, you'll really need to watch the video for that. Said video -- full of awesome space battles -- can be found after the break.
Now of course, you're probably wondering why there's a war going on in the game -- which is set 30 years after Star Trek: The Next Generation's final movie, Nemesis. Well, you'll really need to watch the video for that. Said video -- full of awesome space battles -- can be found after the break.




















Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
JP said on 5:33PM 10-14-2009
Nice of them to put it into video, but you'd be doing yourself a real disservice by not reading the really great backstory they have in the write ups on the site - Path to 2409.
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Nint said on 5:40PM 10-14-2009
The backstory is great on the site, but I'm glad that they've dumbed it down enough to put into a video with lots of explosions to keep everyone at least up to speed on the context of what is going on.
I can't wait to be a Klingon hunting down poor defenseless Federation carebears!
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Angel said on 5:56PM 10-14-2009
You must realize, Kingon puissant, that not all of the federation is comprised of what you have termed a "carebear". There are plenty of us that have held up a tradition of military conquest and domination. and the counselors have finally unleashed their dogs of war...
Nint said on 6:58PM 10-14-2009
Angel,
That is only because we lent you Worf. But the Federation is still made up of too many Wesley Crushers, and no amount of posturing can hide that stink.
Firebreak said on 8:01PM 10-14-2009
Sweet ... pre-beta smack talk ... :)
Angel said on 8:23PM 10-14-2009
Wesley turned his back on the Federation for some warm feely good inter-dimensional hippy life. good riddance.
Worf was one of us through and through. it was the Klingon empire that abandoned him, not loaned him to us.
Unfortunately history in the federation is painted as one diplomatic act after another. Propaganda is fun like that. Its all about spin as well. Believe that crap if you wish. It will only keep you off guard for the REAL military minded backbone of the federation when you encounter us.
Kirk was not a feel good kind of guy. His diplomacy, more often than not, began with phasers and then ended with a photon torpedo barrage.
Baburnama said on 11:48PM 10-14-2009
We might be down and almost out, but I'm looking forward to some Federation-Cardassian cooperation. Despite all their terribleness (Nazis... IN SPACE!), the Cardassians have always been my favorite. Time to get some redemption on.
Also: rebuilding a home planet that was all but glassed.
UltimateQ said on 1:25AM 10-15-2009
We are the Borg. Lower your shields and surrender your ships. We will add your biological and technological distinctiveness to our own. Your culture will adapt to service us. Resistance is futile.
Brian! said on 5:39AM 10-15-2009
I'm gonna bust a lightsaber in your... oh wait. Wrong game.
Tempora said on 5:44PM 10-14-2009
Err Star Trek online??..... I get the impression these guys just want to make a generic space war MMO, thats another franchise, this sample really seems to lack or miss the point of what makes Star Trek unique.
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Kaphik said on 6:24PM 10-14-2009
You're pretty far off, actually. Star Trek always has had war lingering in the background. What makes the Federation push forward is trying to resolve these conflicts peacefully, through understanding. Unfortunately, fighting is sometimes a necessary action, and the Federation would not be in the position to fight for peace if it were unable to fight for it's life.
The Klingon is one that is completely based on war and combat. However, as seen throughout the years both in The Next Generation and in the movies, some in the Klingon empire have been influenced by the Federation's noble motives, and have realized that kill first, ask questions later is not always the best tactic.
Now, as far as advertising, what is going to be more visually spectacular, and have a greater impact on people for the first time? Why, space battles with lasers and explosions of course! There is going to be exploration and diplomacy as well in the game, but how can one show that in a promo video that wouldn't turn people off of the game?
mpdivo said on 11:48PM 10-14-2009
You are right - if they don't allow RP elements as well as a sandbox element - this game will miss the point of Star Trek. Star Trek fans are a rabid bunch and will make the game better than any developer can.
I'm not sure what I don't like about this game...but there is something that doesn't feel like Star Trek with it.
I'm still turned off by their first trailer that said that the mission of the Federation was to explore strange new worlds and to seek out new life and new civilizations.
Baburnama said on 11:55PM 10-14-2009
I see both sides of the argument. The Star Trek series have been oriented towards space exploration and peaceful inter-species cooperation. War was constantly averted by Jean-Luc Picard and company; despite his best efforts, James T. Kirk didn't start any, either.
Of course, there's Deep Space Nine, which was pretty much space opera writ large - the Federation at war, and losing but for the (literal) gods in the machine.
So: the game appears to focusing on warfare more than "The Next Generation" did. But 1) the universe has always been a angry place teetering on war, it's just that the series have all been set at relatively peaceful moments in history, and 2) who knows how missions will actually resolve. If I remember correctly, parts of space/missions are randomly generated. Maybe Federation players can use Charisma to talk down new hostile races?
dudemanjac said on 12:53AM 10-15-2009
Sorry to tell you, usually my least favorite Star Trek episodes are the ones that don't involve ppl being blown up. There is a reason Wrath of Kahn is my favorite. And despite it's reviews and being labeled as the one that killed the series, I thoroughly enjoyed Nemesis.
Ppl need to realize that others enjoy the franchise different reasons. There those like me. There are those who dedicate themselves to learning kilngon in the back of German class. There are those who like the fantasy of the science behind it all and study schematics of ships. And there are those who like the lore.
Tomorrow, my mailman will be dropping off the next disc in the DS9 series for me to watch. I decided to watch the entire series after seeing a clip of Sacrifice of Angels (Sins of a solar Empire has a very nice Star Trek mod). In fact I just got to that part of the story last week.
Let's not try to pan this as "generic space game 436" when 1. there aren't but a handful (like a two year old's hand) of games like this out there, 2. The game is still pre alpha, and 3. the space combat looks to be at least trying to emulate Star Trek.
Zan said on 6:39PM 10-14-2009
Love it! Looks good! Having bought the lifetime Champions package, I'll be checking this out in closed beta, whooo hoooo.
(Was it just me, or did the second guy talking look like the living dead? lol. He needs to get out in the sun a little more. :)
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Tempora said on 7:12PM 10-14-2009
@Kaphik
I made no attempt to suggest war was not an element of Star Trek, but this establishing timeline is painting a picture that will find it very difficult to capture the spirit and attitude Star Trek presented for the vast majority of its life (the things that actually defined the franchise and set it apart). Even when dealing with war the message was invariably about finding other ways to resolve crises - the key here is what tools cryptic will provide the player with aside from some phasers and a few photon torpedoes..
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Scarecrowe said on 7:39PM 10-14-2009
"the key here is what tools cryptic will provide the player with aside from some phasers and a few photon torpedoes.."
I hoping at least part of Cryptic's answer has the following in it: "lots and lots of photon torpedoes." :)
Scarecrowe said on 7:37PM 10-14-2009
I think they *all* looked dead. I didn't see any cybernetic implants or I'd assume they had already been assimilated.
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pogger said on 11:02PM 10-14-2009
Game looks great! Space battles look fun and reminiscent of the ones in the tv show and movies.
Has anyone said whether there will be quests that take you back in time to maybe interact with some of the famous old crews?
Vaya con Dios Redshirts!
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Super Healer said on 5:39AM 10-15-2009
Just a polite reminder, people who say that this game isn't looking like it will be in the true spirit of Star Trek (i.e. peaceful exploration) need to realise that there was also a lot conflict and battles in Star Trek (theres a reason why Best of Both Worlds was one of the most popular episodes in TNG, and the introduction of the Dominion and the Defiant in DS9 made the show). Just because it doesnt fit into their idea of star trek doesnt mean it wont be "star trek".
Also we dont know the full details of the game yet so Im sure there will be plenty of opportunity to avoid combat and only go for diplomacy and exploration (hence the science ships).
Another thing that springs to mind is that if the Federation is at war with the Klingons, doesnt that mean that the Federation is no longer bound by the restriction of cloaking technology? Im not that sure about the lore but I thought it was part of the peace treaty? I havent seen the video yet but if it isn't included here, maybe cloaked Federation ships in a future expansion :)
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