Star Trek Online VFX Lead on updating visual style of the IP
by James Egan 
Nov 24th 2009 at 10:00AM
Filed under: Sci-fi, New titles, Star Trek Online
IGN recently posted a Star Trek Online dev diary written by the game's VFX Lead Michael Cavallaro. "Creating the visual style of Star Trek Online was no easy task," said Cavallaro. "You might think that everything we would be creating has already been done, but not only are references several years old but they vary across the board." If you factor in how the effects changed between the various series and movies, you can see how preserving the look of Star Trek as viewers know it posed a challenge for the Cryptic Studios devs.
The idea, Cavallaro related, was for the Cryptic devs to draw upon elements from the original Star Trek series and update that now-retro 60's sci-fi look for a contemporary audience. The trick was to do so while keeping said elements recognizable from the original IP.
For more insight into how Cryptic updated the sci-fi IP's visual style, check out Star Trek Online VFX Lead Michael Cavallaro's dev blog hosted on IGN.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Dab said on 10:08AM 11-24-2009
I really dislike the art style, from everything I have seen so far. As a matter of fact, it just sort of looks like the same exact style and character models as Champions, but with a Trek layer added to them. The ship models look good, albeit a little cartoony. As for space, it is WAY to busy - it just doesn't look like space at all. IMO, of course.
Granted, these are the choices they have made, and I realize you can't please everyone. But at least in my case, I won't be playing STO, based on what I have seen thus far - and it disappoints me to no end to say that, being a lifelong Trek fan. Yes, the art style and character models make THAT much of an impact on whether I enjoy a game. Shallow, maybe, but I just can't get into a game I hate to look at.
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Neurotic said on 10:33AM 11-24-2009
Ah, Dab, dab, wait until it's live and moving around on your screen before you say that. I'm not convinced by some of the stuff I've seen - uniforms and so on. But when it's all come together into one big cake, I have a feeling it'll be much better. You're right about it feeling like Trek-Champions Online though.
But faith my friend, faith! I swore I'd never watch Star Trek XI, but those first 12 minutes were brilliant...
pogger said on 11:14AM 11-24-2009
Yeah I had kind of hoped the space environment was like EVE and the planet environment was like LotRO or AoC but that'd probably be too tough on people's systems...
Still... check out this video of Lord of the Rings Online during beta. You can see it's come a loooooong way.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XC73PHdQX04
Dab said on 12:01PM 11-24-2009
Fair enough, Neurotic. Good points. And of course, I will give STO a chance - I mean I have been waiting years to see a MMO based on my fav franchise. But unless there is some radical change to the art style, I honestly can't see myself enjoying it much. I know, I know: never judge a book by its cover. But I'll tell ya, it is certainly going to be a challenge to look past it, at least for me.
Rambie said on 11:54AM 11-24-2009
Pogger, EVE has also come a long way since it's release in 2003, and continues to improve. The space environment in STO in the latest screen shots look good still a little over lit, but Trek has always been that way. I'll admit some of the early ones did not look too good: lighting (contrast/brightness), textures, no shadows, etc.
I'm with Neurotic, going to wait until release or if I get into Open Beta to see. Stills and Vids from EVE don't look as good as seeing it in-game.
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Neurotic said on 3:00PM 11-24-2009
We'll find out soon enough friends, and if she's good, the Romulan ale's on me! If not, well, it's back to the tech manuals and DVD box sets for me.
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Daedalus said on 2:23PM 11-25-2009
I agree, I was hoping more for an EVE look to the space elements of the game. This game has a lot to prove, like Star Wars Galaxies did. I will definitely play, but I hope it doesn't turn into another Age of Conan or Warhammer Online - and start 'consolidating' servers after a year due to lack of players.
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