Massively http://massively.joystiq.com Massively http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/http://massively.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif Massively http://massively.joystiq.com en-us Copyright 2012 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[Star Trek Online posts Ask Cryptic answers for each day of May]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/04/star-trek-online-posts-ask-cryptic-answers-for-each-day-of-may/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/04/star-trek-online-posts-ask-cryptic-answers-for-each-day-of-may/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/04/star-trek-online-posts-ask-cryptic-answers-for-each-day-of-may/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Attacking DS9 is always something like content.
Converting a game from a subscription model is hard work. That's the theme throughout the latest installment of Star Trek Online's regular Ask Cryptic feature: The reason that the game has gone for so long without major batches of new content is that the team has been wholly focused on switching models. But there's more coming to the game in the near future, starting with the major Season 6 patch hitting the test server soon.

The coming patch will feature new ground and space missions similar to STFs without being quite the same sort of content. The update will also feature a new Fleet Advancement system, which will give player groups a chance to improve themselves and acquire new bonuses. Star Trek Online players will be well-served by taking a look at the full list of answers, which go into further detail about upcoming systems and planned additions for the next patch and beyond.

MassivelyStar Trek Online posts Ask Cryptic answers for each day of May originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 04 May 2012 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ask-crypticcrypticcryptic-studiosdevelopmentf2pfleet-advancementfree-to-playgame-mechanicsmajor-patchmajor-patchesnew-contentpatchpatchesperfect-worldperfect-world-entertainmentpwesci-fistar-trekstar-trek-mmostar-trek-onlinestosto-season-6Fri, 04 May 2012 16:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Newest Ask Cryptic for Star Trek Online takes a look at the road ahead]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/05/newest-ask-cryptic-for-star-trek-online-takes-a-look-at-the-road/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/05/newest-ask-cryptic-for-star-trek-online-takes-a-look-at-the-road/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/05/newest-ask-cryptic-for-star-trek-online-takes-a-look-at-the-road/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

It should be more like classic Trek, where you have to jettison the warp core every three episodes and the holodeck regularly tries to kill everyone on board.
There's a great big galaxy out there in Star Trek Online, so much so that some things occasionally fall through the cracks. The latest installment of Ask Cryptic focuses on a few of these elements, like the Andorian ship and the addition of a playable Romulan faction. Neither of these elements is on the table for immediate inclusion, but both are in the pipe for future updates; the former is planned for sometime the next year, while the Romulans are on the more distant horizon.

Not everything comes down to a simple "not right now," however. The KDF, for instance, is slated to continue receiving new updates and additional features to bring the faction more in line with the Federation's content level. The development team is also hard at work trying to allow older ships to be retrofitted into higher-level content, letting players take classic designs into modern engagements. It's certainly not a question of whether the development team has a plan or not, just a matter of how soon all of these fabled upgrades will be implemented.

MassivelyNewest Ask Cryptic for Star Trek Online takes a look at the road ahead originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 05 Apr 2012 23:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ask-crypticcrypticcryptic-studiosf2pfactionsfree-to-playnew-shipsperfect-worldperfect-world-entertainmentpreviewspwesci-fishipsstar-trekstar-trek-mmostar-trek-onlinestoupcoming-contentupdatesThu, 05 Apr 2012 23:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Producer Dan Stahl answers the newest round of Star Trek Online community questions]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/01/producer-dan-stahl-answers-the-newest-round-of-star-trek-online/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/01/producer-dan-stahl-answers-the-newest-round-of-star-trek-online/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/01/producer-dan-stahl-answers-the-newest-round-of-star-trek-online/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

If we're really going to get every ship playable, we should arguably also be able to get ships that are clearly repainted models from other episodes.
Dan Stahl is back in the hot seat at Star Trek Online, and that means it's time for him to tackle another round of questions for the regular Ask Cryptic feature. This month's questions have quite a lot to do with forecasting future updates to the game, ranging from questions about new playable species to questions on revising crafting and PvP. And while these questions always involve a fair amount of ambiguity for far-off plans, there's plenty for players to chew on.

One of the obvious questions relates to the game's planned release of only two Featured Episode series. Stahl explains that the real issue isn't how many series are released; it's the fact that the game needs a steady pipeline of content, something that the team is examining closely. He also discusses future goals for Fleets and the possibility of voiceover for dedicated bridge officers. As with previous installments, there's no shortage of questions, so fans are likely to find something to get excited about within the answers.

MassivelyProducer Dan Stahl answers the newest round of Star Trek Online community questions originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 01 Mar 2012 18:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ask-crypticcrypticcryptic-studiosdan-stahlf2pfree-to-playperfect-worldperfect-world-entertainmentpwesci-fistar-trekstar-trek-mmostar-trek-onlinestoThu, 01 Mar 2012 18:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Newest Ask Cryptic for Champions Online covers the flames of fashion]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/06/newest-ask-cryptic-for-champions-online-covers-the-flames-of-fash/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/06/newest-ask-cryptic-for-champions-online-covers-the-flames-of-fash/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/06/newest-ask-cryptic-for-champions-online-covers-the-flames-of-fash/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Love is a burning thing, and it makes a fiery ring. Bound by wild desire, I fell into a ring of fire.
There are many components to making a great superhero game, but one of the key elements is ensuring that players can be astonishingly good-looking. So it's no surprise that the latest installment of Ask Cryptic sees several questions from Champions Online players about current, upcoming, and conceptual costume sets. That includes promises of more beast-oriented sets and a hard look at any powersets with major clipping issues (although minor clipping issues for certain poses are to be expected).

Equally interesting to players will be the promise that the staff is hard at work trying to give players more options for power emanation points, such as staves or wands for magical characters. While some of the answers given will be seen as a bit disappointing, such as the fact that tattoos and scars will not be usable outside of the chest pieces already featuring them, overall the answers promise all sorts of ways for players to look as good as possible while fighting crime.

MassivelyNewest Ask Cryptic for Champions Online covers the flames of fashion originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 06 Dec 2011 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>appearanceask-crypticchampions-onlinecocommunitycostume-piecescostumescrypticcryptic-champions-onlinecryptic-cocryptic-studiosf2pfree-to-playperfect-world-entertainmentpwevisualsTue, 06 Dec 2011 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Champions Online's September Ask Cryptic: Introducing the UNTIL Field Report]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/23/champions-onlines-september-ask-cryptic-introducing-the-until/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/23/champions-onlines-september-ask-cryptic-introducing-the-until/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/23/champions-onlines-september-ask-cryptic-introducing-the-until/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Screenshot -- Champions Online
It's time for Champions Online's September edition of Ask Cryptic, and as always, it's packed with delicious Q&A goodness. Many questions are related to new content, new powersets, and when players can expect either. The answers vary but for the most part seem to be variations of "we're working on it, but we can't give you a date yet." The same goes for the Nemesis system, though players who were hoping for theme-specific story arcs seem to be out of luck. Costume change animations are also requested, and the team says that such animations are in the works but will likely not see the light of day until further down the line.

If you're more interested in what's coming to the game in the immediate future, though, Cryptic has you covered there as well. The team has introduced a forum feature known as the UNTIL Field Report. These Field Reports will be posted every other month alongside the State of the Game letter and will provide players with a status report on many fixes and upcoming features. It's important to note that the Field Reports are not intended to be comprehensive, but rather are meant to give players an idea of what they can expect to see in the near future and to give them a single place they can go to voice comments or concerns.

For the full, meaty Ask Cryptic article as well as the premiere UNTIL Field Report, head on over to the official forums and take a look.

MassivelyChampions Online's September Ask Cryptic: Introducing the UNTIL Field Report originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 23 Sep 2011 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ask-crypticchampions-onlinecocrypticcryptic-studiosf2pfree-to-playperfect-world-entertainmentpweUNTIL-field-reportUNTIL-field-reportsFri, 23 Sep 2011 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[September's Ask Cryptic details STO's F2P transition, new content, and more]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/09/septembers-ask-cryptic-details-stos-f2p-transition-new-conten/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/09/septembers-ask-cryptic-details-stos-f2p-transition-new-conten/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/09/septembers-ask-cryptic-details-stos-f2p-transition-new-conten/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Screenshot -- Star Trek Online (Resistance is futile)
In the midst of the recent hullabaloo over Star Trek Online's free-to-play transition, September's Ask Cryptic focuses on what players can expect from the change. Executive Producer Dan Stahl touches on the subject of skilltree revamps, server availability, and much, much more.

Space skills are getting a few sweeping changes in order to make them more applicable to players of all builds. As such, skills that "apply only to a specific ship class or energy type" are being replaced with more general skills, such as increased damage, increased turn rate, and so forth. Stahl also reveals that the team has ordered new hardware and made perfomance tweaks to the game in order to allow for a potential influx of new players once the game goes F2P.

Players also ask about new content, noting that talked-about post-Season 4 content has not materialized as players expected. Stahl notes that Borg Red Alerts were just released, and work on the Deep Space Nine Feature Episode Series is progressing steadily. The Q&A also details the upcoming Borg Ground Invasion, which assigns players the difficult task of removing a Borg infestation before the Collective can successfully assimilate an entire planet.

The Q&A goes on to touch on new social zones, a great deal of "nice to have but low-priority" additions, and oodles more. For the full Q&A, hop your way on over to the full Ask Cryptic post.

MassivelySeptember's Ask Cryptic details STO's F2P transition, new content, and more originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 09 Sep 2011 20:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ask-crypticcrypticcryptic-studiosdan-stahldeep-space-9deep-space-nineds9f2pfree-to-playperfect-world-entertainmentpweskill-revampskill-tree-revampstar-trek-onlinestoFri, 09 Sep 2011 20:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Star Trek Online's Ask Cryptic featurette hints at new content]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/12/star-trek-onlines-ask-cryptic-featurette-hints-at-new-content/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/12/star-trek-onlines-ask-cryptic-featurette-hints-at-new-content/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/12/star-trek-onlines-ask-cryptic-featurette-hints-at-new-content/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Star Trek Online - Borg cube
It's time for the Star Trek Online edition of this month's Ask Cryptic, and executive producer Dan Stahl has stepped up to the plate with a whopping 5,000-word community-powered monster of a post.

Stahl delivers some good news right off the bat, as STO is scheduled to receive several new content additions between now and the end of October. Chief among these are various Borg-related invasion events, new lore quests, the Klingon Academy zone, the duty officer system and assignments, and Feature Episode Series 4.

The vast majority of the rest of the post is devoted to very specific gameplay questions and requests from STO players, and there's even a mention of the fact that Cryptic is hiring. Warp to the official STO website for all the details.

MassivelyStar Trek Online's Ask Cryptic featurette hints at new content originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 12 Aug 2011 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ask-crypticborgcontentcrypticcryptic-studiosdan-stahleventsfeature-episode-series-4feature-episodesjob-openingsjobsklingon-academy-zonenew-contentnow-hiringperfect-world-entertainmentpwesci-fistar-trekstar-trek-onlinestoFri, 12 Aug 2011 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Newest Ask Cryptic for Star Trek Online available]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/07/05/newest-ask-cryptic-for-star-trek-online-available/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/07/05/newest-ask-cryptic-for-star-trek-online-available/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/07/05/newest-ask-cryptic-for-star-trek-online-available/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

The upcoming launch of Season 4 brings with it a host of changes for Star Trek Online, but as always seems to be the case, players have more features still that they'd like to see in place. The newest Ask Cryptic has just recently been posted, and it answers the many requests for new features that players have clamored for. Better yet, many of those changes are incoming, albeit not quite as soon as players would hope.

Improvements to melee combat, for example, are not in Season 4 right out of the gate. However, the revisions to ground combat make for a perfect time to start implementing more and better melee weapons, with the development team starting in on the process of addressing the core melee issues. Similarly, new hairstyles are being tested with costumes, with the team still working on new arrangements that are visually pleasing for players -- but the new styles are in the works. Star Trek Online players are encouraged to look at the full post and start looking forward to both Season 4 and what's coming after. (And checking out this week's Captain's Log on the topic might not be remiss, either.)

MassivelyNewest Ask Cryptic for Star Trek Online available originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 05 Jul 2011 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ask-crypticcrypticcryptic-star-trekcryptic-studiosfuture-patchesfuture-updatesnewspatchesq-and-aquestions-and-answersseason-4st-onlinestar-trek-mmostar-trek-onlinestosto-season-4trek-onlineupdatesTue, 05 Jul 2011 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Captain's Log: Missed dev transmissions]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/09/captains-log-missed-dev-transmissions/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/09/captains-log-missed-dev-transmissions/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/09/captains-log-missed-dev-transmissions/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Captain's Log, Stardate 64940.2...

Hello, computer (and players)! As we have explored in past logs, the developers working on Star Trek Online are extremely transparent with the community, and this, surprising to some, is actually by design. Since Dan Stahl took over as Executive Producer a year ago come July, he made it his personal mission to make sure that fans of the game knew where the game was heading at all times and what was currently being developed. Due to the success of this open communication, Cryptic as a whole has made a shift to this philosophy for its other announced projects. New details often emerge through several different official sources: the monthly Ask Cryptic and Engineering Report as well as a plethora of interviews.

While the previously listed outlets are often marketed and widely known about, there are several channels that I would like to bring to light, ones that seem to fall under the radar. As Twitter is one of the biggest social media crazes, developers are using it to get information and work-in-progress screenshots out to the public. Also, some devs seem to be sacrificing sleep, as we will often wake up to posts in the STO forums that were posted near the midnight hour of Cryptic's time zone. Many feel that the most interesting and drool-worthy information is found in these "leaks," so I would like to share some of them with you.

Ensign, warp 10! You might want to grab a towel to wipe up your mouth...

Continue reading Captain's Log: Missed dev transmissions

MassivelyCaptain's Log: Missed dev transmissions originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 09 Jun 2011 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ask-crypticcaptains-logcraig zincCraigZinccrypticcryptic-star-trekcryptic-studiosdan griffisdan stahlDanGriffisdaniel stahlDanielStahlDanStahldstahlduty officerduty officer systemDutyOfficerDutyOfficerSystemfawfeaturedfire at willFireAtWillforum-postsforumsgozerground combatGroundCombathereticinterviewjheiniglivestreammatt highisonMattHighisonmhighisonmidnightocdpriority onePriorityOnestostormshadethomasthecattwilighttwitteruniformswipwishstonework-in-progresszincThu, 09 Jun 2011 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Ask Cryptic hints at shared Foundry functionality for Star Trek Online, Neverwinter]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/08/ask-cryptic-hints-at-shared-foundry-functionality-for-star-trek/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/08/ask-cryptic-hints-at-shared-foundry-functionality-for-star-trek/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/08/ask-cryptic-hints-at-shared-foundry-functionality-for-star-trek/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

There's a new Ask Cryptic in town, and this month's Star Trek Online update finds producer Dan Stahl fielding a plethora of community questions that cover a wide range of topics.

While many of the questions (and answers) are straightforward one-liners, Stahl does go into a bit of detail about STO's Foundry functionality. He mentions that the content creation tool will be getting a round of bug fixes as well as new map hookups (including Star Fleet Academy) for the library. Stahl also says that Cryptic's Foundry team is currently hard at work on Neverwinter's player-generated content toolset, and the fruits of its labor will eventually be seen in STO as well.

"One thing I continue to stress is adding the ability for more acting and blocking features so that players can create their own dramatic scenes," Stahl explains. Head to the official STO website for the full text.

MassivelyAsk Cryptic hints at shared Foundry functionality for Star Trek Online, Neverwinter originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 08 Jun 2011 10:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ask-crypticcrypticcryptic-studiosdan-stahlfoundryneverwinterplayer-generated-contentplayer-generated-missionssci-fistar-trekstar-trek-onlinestothe-foundryWed, 08 Jun 2011 10:30:00 EST<![CDATA[When teddy bears attack: Champions Online suits up for another Ask Cryptic]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/05/27/when-teddy-bears-attack-champions-online-suits-up-for-another-a/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/05/27/when-teddy-bears-attack-champions-online-suits-up-for-another-a/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/05/27/when-teddy-bears-attack-champions-online-suits-up-for-another-a/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Cryptic's future may be in flux, but the show, as they say, must go on. And part of the great Cryptic show is the monthly Ask Cryptic feature, the latest of which has landed at Champions Online.

Champions Producer Rob Overmeyer tackles the smorgasbord of player-submitted queries, which range from vehicle transformation to shrinkage to shared banks. Overmeyer confirms that the team is working on revamping several additional lairs, including Dr. D's Robot Factory. The upcoming comic series, available for all types of players, looks to be promising:
"Our first Comic Series is called Aftershock. The first issue is scheduled to release Wednesday June 1, 2011 and each subsequent issue in the series will be released each Wednesday of the following weeks. Each issue will be available to play following its debut along with any previous issues. You will need to complete any previous issue in the series before you can play the latest in the series. Aftershock will wrap up the first week of July and once the entire series is out it will be playable as a complete adventure. Each issue targets about 30 minutes of gameplay, however, that time can be affected by a number of factors."
Overmeyer also said that while there are no set dates for porting Star Trek Online's Foundry system over to Champions Online, it's only a matter of time. "Getting The Foundry working in Champs is actually easier than getting Champs ready for The Foundry," he writes.

You can read the full Q&A over at Champions Online.

MassivelyWhen teddy bears attack: Champions Online suits up for another Ask Cryptic originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 27 May 2011 17:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>aftershockask-crypticchampionschampions-onlinecomic-seriescrypticcryptic-studiosdr-df2pfoundryfree-to-playlairrob-overmeyervehicleFri, 27 May 2011 17:15:00 EST<![CDATA[Another month, another round of answers for Star Trek Online]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/05/06/another-month-another-round-of-answers-for-star-trek-online/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/05/06/another-month-another-round-of-answers-for-star-trek-online/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/05/06/another-month-another-round-of-answers-for-star-trek-online/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

About once a month, Star Trek Online has producer Dan Stahl sit down and answer the newest round of player questions regarding the game's future additions. It's May, of course, which means that it's time for the newest Ask Cryptic, covering the recent additions to the game's microtransaction store as well as plans for Season 4 and beyond. And as always, while there are more features being asked about than are planned for the next major update, there are very few elements not planned for eventual inclusion.

Further ship customization is discussed, with the implementation of Duty Officers in Season 4 promised to help add more differentiation between individual ships. There's also mention of the debate about bringing lower-tier ships up to par for use in endgame activities, which is currently not on the table but is still under heavy debate in both development and on the forums. Players of Star Trek Online are encouraged to check out the latest round of answers for more info.

MassivelyAnother month, another round of answers for Star Trek Online originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 06 May 2011 22:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>answersask-crypticc-storecrypticcryptic-star-trekcryptic-studioscustomizationdan-stahlfuture-patchesfuture-updatesmicrotransactionsquestionsseason-4st-onlinestar-trek-mmostar-trek-onlinestosto-season-4trek-onlineFri, 06 May 2011 22:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Ask Cryptic: Champions Online gets an April encore]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/04/22/ask-cryptic-champions-online-gets-an-april-encore/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/04/22/ask-cryptic-champions-online-gets-an-april-encore/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/04/22/ask-cryptic-champions-online-gets-an-april-encore/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

The first round of Ask Cryptic: Champions Online for the month of April was a bit on the short side, at least compared to its Star Trek Online counterpart. Happily, Champions producer Rob Overmeyer is back with a second segment that is quite a bit longer than its predecessor.

The encore covers a wide range of superhero-related questions from the free-to-play title's fans including the next power set revamp (telekinesis), feedback acknowledgment and pricing adjustments regarding the controversial costume slots, and some interesting bits about the last 10 levels of the game (as well as future level cap increases).

"In order to increase the level cap we need to update how itemization and rewards work post-40. This is something that we are actively discussing now. Revamping rewards is a huge task and there are no quick solutions," Overmeyer explains. There's a lot more interesting Champions info to be found in part two of this month's Ask Cryptic, so head to the official website and see for yourself.

MassivelyAsk Cryptic: Champions Online gets an April encore originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 22 Apr 2011 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ask-crypticchampionschampions-onlinecostume-slot-pricingcostume-slotscrypticcryptic-studiosf2pfree-to-playlevel-capmillenium-cityqaquestion-and-answerrob-overmeyersuperheroestelekinesisFri, 22 Apr 2011 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Captain's Log: Incoming message... from the future]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/04/14/captains-log-incoming-message-from-the-future/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/04/14/captains-log-incoming-message-from-the-future/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/04/14/captains-log-incoming-message-from-the-future/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Captain's Log, Stardate 64787.3...

Hello, computer (and players)! Captain Brandon Felczer of the USS Radiance Vesta-class battleship reporting in. While en route to the Gamma Orionis sector block to investigate readings of potential Borg energy signatures, we encountered an unexplained anomaly unlike any we have ever encountered; the computer system could not provide any data to us. As we attempted to break away from its gravitational pull, we lost all control and systems -- the crew lost consciousness. Once we awoke several hours later, we discovered that we had been pulled into its void and somehow propelled 365 Earth days into the future.

While the Prime Directive has required us to stay out of affairs not in our timeline, we managed to record several pieces of data about developments that will happen in the future. There have been some gigantic leaps forward, and I can honestly say I cannot wait for a year from now. After I am finished recording this log, I will send it on subspace frequencies back to Starfleet Command. If you are reading this now, you have received my log one way or another. You must be now asking yourself, "What did we see?"

Ensign, warp 10! Let's report on our findings of what we will see in Star Trek Online soon[TM]...

Continue reading Captain's Log: Incoming message... from the future

MassivelyCaptain's Log: Incoming message... from the future originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 14 Apr 2011 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>academyask-crypticataricrypticcryptic-star-trekcryptic-studiosdan-stahlDaniel-stahlfeaturedfeatured-episodesfeatured-seriesklingonpvpshipsStst-onlineStar-Trekstar-trek-mmostar-trek-onlinestar-trek-online-gameplaystar-trek-online-newsstosto-academytrek-onlineThu, 14 Apr 2011 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Star Trek Online Ask Cryptic talks starbases, ground combat, and more]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/04/07/star-trek-online-ask-cryptic-talks-starbases-ground-combat-and/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/04/07/star-trek-online-ask-cryptic-talks-starbases-ground-combat-and/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/04/07/star-trek-online-ask-cryptic-talks-starbases-ground-combat-and/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

How would you feel about a cover system and/or first-person-shooter elements in your daily Star Trek Online diet? Producer Dan Stahl tackles the feasibility of both of those features -- and a host of others -- in the latest Ask Cryptic. The STO version of the community Q&A feature went live last night on the game's official website and boasts a large number of subscriber-generated queries ranging from integrated voice chat to a time table on the ground combat revamp to the addition of starbase functionality to the Foundry.

"We anticipate the next major feature to the Foundry being the ability for fleets to design and run their own starbases. This is a monumental addition to the Foundry, so don't expect it right away, but it is the next big thing for that feature," Stahl says.

Check out the full list of questions on the official STO website.

MassivelyStar Trek Online Ask Cryptic talks starbases, ground combat, and more originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 07 Apr 2011 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The nemesis system has long been one of the coolest features of Champions Online -- on paper, at least. The reality of the implementation leaves something to be desired according to players, though, and Cryptic hasn't offered much in the way of concrete details on a possible revamp. Today's Ask Cryptic focuses exclusively on Champions and showcases a number of questions from players keen on divining the future for their favorite costumed alter-egos.

In addition to answering a query about nemesis, Champions devs are put to the test regarding a variety of issues including new heavy weapons skins, targeting concerns, lair updates, and the possibility of a player-content system like Star Trek Online's Foundry. "There is a bit of work to get it to fit Champs but we are checking it out. The Foundry is doing great in Star Trek and we have no doubt you can build stories in Champs that can blow theirs out of the stars," Cryptic says.

MassivelyApril Ask Cryptic talks nemesis, heavy weapons, and player-generated content originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 05 Apr 2011 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ask-crypticchampionschampions-onlinecrypticcryptic-studiosf2pfoundryfree-to-playheavy-weapon-skinsheavy-weaponsmen-in-tightsnemesisnemesis-systemplayer-contentplayer-generated-contentstar-trek-onlinestosuperherowomen-in-tightsTue, 05 Apr 2011 21:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Star Trek Online unveils plans for future improvements]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/04/star-trek-online-unveils-plans-for-future-improvements/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/04/star-trek-online-unveils-plans-for-future-improvements/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/04/star-trek-online-unveils-plans-for-future-improvements/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

The problem of dealing with a universe as expansive as the one in Star Trek Online is the simple reality of fitting more than 30 years of fiction into a single game. Still, as the latest Ask Cryptic demonstrates, the development team is trying to fit everything possible into the game, from a wider variety of pets to the whale probe from Star Trek IV. The latest batch of player-generated questions runs the gamut as usual, discussing everything from non-featured episode content to the possibility of expanded PvP arenas, and as usual Dan Stahl is on hand to give players some idea of what's coming.

Among the more interesting news is how close the Foundry system is to implementation, with the current plan to release it not too long after the current featured series wraps up next week. Revised ship interiors are also potentially on the to-do list, as well as the promise of "storing" unneeded officers on a fleet-run starbase. Star Trek Online players have a number of things to look forward to with the latest round of questions, even if the answers are admittedly vague about a precise timetable.

MassivelyStar Trek Online unveils plans for future improvements originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 04 Mar 2011 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ask-crypticcrypticcryptic-star-trekcryptic-studiosdan-stahlfeature-episodesfuture-patchesnewspatchesq-and-aquestions-and-answersseason-4season-5season-6st-onlinestar-trek-mmostar-trek-onlinestotrek-onlineupdatesFri, 04 Mar 2011 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Captain's Log: Setting a course for the future]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/02/24/captains-log-setting-a-course-for-the-future/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/02/24/captains-log-setting-a-course-for-the-future/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/02/24/captains-log-setting-a-course-for-the-future/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


Captain's Log, Stardate 64612.7...

Hello, computer (and players)! First things first: My name is Brandon, and I am your new columnist for Captain's Log! I am thrilled to join you each week with the latest Star Trek Online news, gossip, developer interview recaps, and much, much more! As some of you may know (or now know from clicking on my name above), I am a Trekker from mostly sunny Southern California who is actively involved in the STO universe.

Whether I'm doing my weekly podcast, Priority One, administrating our STO social-network site, The Quantum Café, or writing for you guys, I am having an absolute blast and am so proud of where the game has come one year since its launch. So, as a final piece of my "introduction," this column is dedicated to all the Captains out there -- may all your battles be glorious!

Ensign, warp 10! Let's catch these readers up on the latest STO news...

Continue reading Captain's Log: Setting a course for the future

MassivelyCaptain's Log: Setting a course for the future originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 24 Feb 2011 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ask-crypticataricrypticcryptic-star-trekcryptic-studiosdan-griffisdan-stahlDaniel-stahlFeaturedshaun-brodieStst-onlineStar-Trekstar-trek-mmostar-trek-onlinestar-trek-online-gameplaystar-trek-online-newsstar-trek-online-season-threestosto-ask-crypticsto-engineering-reportsto-feature-episodes-series-3trek-onlineThu, 24 Feb 2011 14:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Captain's Log: Newstime grab bag]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/01/20/captains-log-newstime-grab-bag/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/01/20/captains-log-newstime-grab-bag/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/01/20/captains-log-newstime-grab-bag/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Hey, everybody. I did four things this weekend: I saw True Grit, I saw The Green Hornet, I tried kumquats for the first time and I went on a blind date with a dyspeptic wendigo. I recommend doing only one of those things.

In other news, it's time for another edition of Captain's Log. We covered some helpful resources for creating missions with Star Trek Online's Foundry last week, even as the folks at Cryptic Studios tossed out a whole slew of new information. Dan Stahl and company meted out an update to the feature-episode calendar, a new Engineering Report and the latest Ask Cryptic. So, what'd we learn?

Continue reading Captain's Log: Newstime grab bag

MassivelyCaptain's Log: Newstime grab bag originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 20 Jan 2011 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ask-crypticcrypticcryptic-star-trekcryptic-studiosdaniel-stahlfeaturedst-onlineStar-TrekStar-Trek-MMOstar-trek-onlinestar-trek-online-season-threestosto-ask-crypticsto-engineering-reportsto-f2psto-feature-episodes-series-3sto-featuredsto-featured-episodessto-featured-series-3sto-featuressto-free-to-playsto-freemiumsto-pvpsto-romulanssto-season-3sto-season-4sto-series-3-cloaked-intentionssto-weekliessto-weekly-episodestrek-onlineThu, 20 Jan 2011 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Star Trek Online answers a fleet's worth of questions]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/01/10/star-trek-online-answers-a-fleets-worth-of-questions/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/01/10/star-trek-online-answers-a-fleets-worth-of-questions/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/01/10/star-trek-online-answers-a-fleets-worth-of-questions/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

The one-year anniversary for Star Trek Online is just around the corner, and the game has quite a number of irons in the fire to go along with that milestone. Player-generated content and weekly episodes are two of the game's big features on deck for the near future, and the latest installment of Ask Cryptic certainly addresses those, but that's only the tip of the iceberg. With nearly three dozen disparate questions answered, this month's offering covers everything from Vulcan ships to an open PvP environment.

Among the more interesting answers is the fact that the development team is looking into ways to model rather unique ship traits such as the multi-vector attack mode of the Prometheus class. The team is also hoping to give players the ability to fly shuttles and yachts, along with reasons to do so. The next minigame after dabo is still on the table, but at the moment the team is focused on more meaty content. Take a look at the full rundown for all of the Star Trek Online questions for this month -- there's plenty of information to be found within the lengthy answers.

MassivelyStar Trek Online answers a fleet's worth of questions originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 10 Jan 2011 19:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ask-crypticataricrypticcryptic-studiosdabofoundrymini-gameminigamenew-shipsplayer-generated-contentq-and-aquestions-and-answersship-classesship-designsshipsstar-trekstar-trek-mmostar-trek-onlinestothe-foundryMon, 10 Jan 2011 19:30:00 EST<![CDATA[The Perfect Ten: The movers and shakers of 2010]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/12/30/the-perfect-ten-the-movers-and-shakers-of-2010/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/12/30/the-perfect-ten-the-movers-and-shakers-of-2010/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/12/30/the-perfect-ten-the-movers-and-shakers-of-2010/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Even though MMOs are the products of great teams of talented workers -- from sound artists to writers -- it's inevitable that a few of the people behind the curtain step out into the limelight. It's a smart move, really; it provides a personal face for people to associate with the game, it keeps messages consistent, and it draws any potential hate onto one person instead of the team at large.

It stands to reason that these public figures end up being some of the major movers and shakers in the industry because of their high-profile positions. From CEOs to community managers, these are the people with power to make decisions, the voice to change opinions, and the personalities to inspire millions.

Oh, that last sentence is pure poetry. Let's re-read it again, shall we?

So in our last Perfect Ten of the year, I've asked the Massively team to compile a list of the 10 biggest MMO movers and shakers of this year. All of these people now owe us cupcakes of gratitude. (Legal Disclaimer: This does not signify a binding cupcake-blogger contract.)

Continue reading The Perfect Ten: The movers and shakers of 2010

MassivelyThe Perfect Ten: The movers and shakers of 2010 originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 30 Dec 2010 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>30-studiosage-of-conanaocarenanetask-crypticbiowarebioware-mythicbree-profred-this-tgachampionschampions-onlinechris-caocoocraig-morrisoncraig-zinkievichcrypticcryptic-studioscupcakecupcake-contractcurt-schillingdan-ericksondan-stahldaniel-ericksondaniel-stahldark-side-of-the-forcedc-universe-onlinedcuoddodungeon-fighter-onlinedungeons-and-dragons-onlineea-biowareend-of-the-yearend-of-the-year-2010engineering-reportseq2eqiieverquest-2everquest-iif2pfourth-pillarfree-to-playfuncomguild-warsguild-wars-2jack-emmertkate-paizlord-of-the-rings-onlinelotromabinogimaplestorymike-obrienmin-kimneverwinternexonnexon-nanexon-north-americapaizperfect-10perfect-tenrhode-islandriftrift-planes-of-telarascott-hartsmanstar-trek-onlinestar-wars-the-old-republicstoswtorthe-old-republicthe-perfect-tentortriontrion-worldsturbinevindictusworld-of-warcraftThu, 30 Dec 2010 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[STO's latest Ask Cryptic tackles War Targs, weekly episodes and free-to-play]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/11/02/stos-latest-ask-cryptic-tackles-war-targs-weekly-episodes-and/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/11/02/stos-latest-ask-cryptic-tackles-war-targs-weekly-episodes-and/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/11/02/stos-latest-ask-cryptic-tackles-war-targs-weekly-episodes-and/#commentsFiled under: , ,

It's the beginning of a new month, and that means another Q&A session between Cryptic and fans. Star Trek Online's Executive Producer Dan Stahl stepped up for a comprehensive Ask Cryptic that looked deep into the eyes of the void and came back all the wiser for it.

The questions run across the board, with a large chunk devoted to future content: More bridge officer features? (Season Four.) New weekly episodes? (January, with more to follow.) Better deep space encounters? (The team is overhauling these after Season Three.) The ability to join factions? (Possible, such as a Ferengi trader faction.)

Stahl also admits that there are "too many currencies" in the game at the moment, and the team will be paring those down. One of the most requested features by players is the addition of the classic Enterprise bridge layout from the 1960's series, and it looks as though Cryptic will be delivering: "I can see this getting done in the next several updates."

And if you are among the crowd predicting that STO will quickly follow in Champions Online's F2P footsteps, it doesn't appear to be in the works (at least, not yet): "We're very excited to see Champs go F2P but this has no direct impact on Star Trek Online. Our subscription and C-Store model will continue forward without changes."

MassivelySTO's latest Ask Cryptic tackles War Targs, weekly episodes and free-to-play originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 02 Nov 2010 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ask-crypticbridge-officersc-storechampionschampions-onlinecrypticdan-stahlenterprisef2pferengifree-to-playstar-trek-onlinestoweekly-episodesTue, 02 Nov 2010 11:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Captain's Log: Anticipating STO's future in user-generated content]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/10/14/captains-log-anticipating-stos-future-in-user-generated-conte/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/10/14/captains-log-anticipating-stos-future-in-user-generated-conte/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/10/14/captains-log-anticipating-stos-future-in-user-generated-conte/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Hey there, folks! Welcome back to another edition of Captain's Log, Massively's rarely-coherent-but-always-fun look at Star Trek Online. I have had just the busiest darn week, you betcha. I spent all weekend at New York Comic Con, where I saw more than a few folks dressed to the nines in Star Trek gear, and then I started a shiny new day job on Monday. Phew!

I've been thinking a lot about user-generated content lately. In a recent interview, STO Executive Producer Daniel Stahl offers a few details on the subject, in which we learn a bit about the forthcoming system's abilities and limitations. What do we know about STO's UGC tools? What do we still not know -- mainly, when can we get in there and start crafting our own missions? Why, follow me past the jump to find out.

Continue reading Captain's Log: Anticipating STO's future in user-generated content

MassivelyCaptain's Log: Anticipating STO's future in user-generated content originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 14 Oct 2010 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ask-crypticcaptains-logcataclysmcrypticcryptic-cbscryptic-star-trekcryptic-studiosdaniel-stahlfeaturedklingon-pveklingon-pvpklingonsplayer-createdplayer-created-contentst-onlineStar-TrekStar-Trek-MMOstar-trek-onlinestar-trek-online-gameplaystosto-cbssto-season-3sto-season-4sto-season-5sto-season-foursto-season-threesto-starship-interiorssto-state-of-the-gamesto-ugcsto-ugc-systemsto-ugc-toolssto-user-contentsto-user-generated-contenttrek-onlineuser-generated-contentuser-generated-missionsThu, 14 Oct 2010 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Captain's Log: Ask Cryptic raises questions about STO's future]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/10/07/captains-log-ask-cryptic-raises-questions-about-stos-future/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/10/07/captains-log-ask-cryptic-raises-questions-about-stos-future/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/10/07/captains-log-ask-cryptic-raises-questions-about-stos-future/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

The future of Star Trek Online comes up a lot in Captain's Log. Whether imagining cool new features or picking apart comments by Executive Producer Daniel Stahl, I ponder STO's tomorrows fairly frequently.

But, hey, it's not my fault the folks at Cryptic Studios talk about the game's near and far future so much, right? Especially with their monthly Ask Cryptic feature, the developers address the game's, er, development all the time. This month's extra-hefty Ask Cryptic offers players a lot of tasty food for thought -- but a forum post I missed last week has given me indigestion.

Continue reading Captain's Log: Ask Cryptic raises questions about STO's future

MassivelyCaptain's Log: Ask Cryptic raises questions about STO's future originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 07 Oct 2010 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ask-crypticcaptains-logcrypticcryptic-star-trekcryptic-studiosdaniel-stahlfeaturedspecial-task-forcespecial-task-force-missionsst-onlineStar-TrekStar-Trek-MMOstar-trek-onlinestosto-ask-crypticsto-breensto-craftingsto-deferisto-endgamesto-endgame-changessto-expansionsto-featured-episodessto-ground-combatsto-mac-editionsto-memory-alphasto-memory-alpha-changessto-memory-alpha-improvementssto-memory-alpha-overhaulsto-overhaulssto-player-housingsto-season-2sto-season-3sto-season-4sto-season-foursto-season-threesto-set-itemssto-state-of-the-gamesto-stfssto-tholianssto-weekly-episodestrek-onlineThu, 07 Oct 2010 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Cryptic answers the 29 most pressing STO questions]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/10/02/cryptic-answers-the-29-most-pressing-sto-questions/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/10/02/cryptic-answers-the-29-most-pressing-sto-questions/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/10/02/cryptic-answers-the-29-most-pressing-sto-questions/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Star Trek Online's monthly Ask Cryptic features are always something for fans to look forward to reading, but this month even more so as executive producer Dan Stahl goes well beyond the normal handful of queries to accumulate 29 questions and answers to some of the hottest topics among the community.

Included in this Q&A session is a sneak peek at the work-in-progress Tholian race (above left), the revelation that Season 4 will primarily focus on retooling repeatable end game content, fleet starbases, passive bridge officer abilities, Season 3 item sets, Memory Alpha improvements, sector space expansion and much, much more. Stahl even explains why he picks the questions he does to answer -- basically, he likes to get into topics that aren't repeatedly touched upon in interviews.

Those hoping for a full-fledged STO expansion shouldn't start holding their breath, however: "It is unclear if we will ever produce a paid expansion as the market is leaning away from expansions and more towards smaller microtransactions. However, if we ever did release a paid expansion, it would be a significant update and add some new functionality to the game that would be deemed worth the price of the release."

MassivelyCryptic answers the 29 most pressing STO questions originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 02 Oct 2010 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Hi, everybody! (Hi, Dr. Nick!) Thanks for tuning in to another edition of Captain's Log, where we laud and lament the finer points of Star Trek Online each and every Thursday. Last week sure was fun, wasn't it? Nothing gets the comments pumping like defending the work of Cryptic Studios, amirite?

This week, I feel like having a little more fun. These are exciting times for MMO-lovers, and I admit my eye -- and my playing time -- have gone a-wanderin' of late. So I got to thinking this week about which features from other MMOs I would most like to see implemented in STO. Keep reading, because I'm going to tell them to you! And then I'm going to demand that you suggest your own features in the comments!

Continue reading Captain's Log: Five features STO should "borrow" from other MMOs

MassivelyCaptain's Log: Five features STO should "borrow" from other MMOs originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 16 Sep 2010 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ask-crypticcity-of-heroesCOHcrypticcryptic-star-trekcryptic-studiosdaniel-stahldc-universe-onlinedcuoeve-onlineeverquestfeaturedffxivfinal-fantasy-xivfun-with-imaginationlord-of-the-rings-onlinelotromind-grapesmission-architectmonster-playPokemonromrunes-of-magicsehlatst-onlineStar-Trekstar-trek-gaghStar-Trek-MMOstar-trek-onlinestar-wars-galaxiesstar-wars-the-old-republicstosto-craftingsto-diplomacysto-featuressto-future-featuressto-non-combatsto-qsto-tribblesstupid-stupid-dinosaur-planetswgswtortargtrek-onlineunbridled-speculationWorld-of-WarcraftwowThu, 16 Sep 2010 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Newest Ask Cryptic focuses on Star Trek Online's weekly episodes]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/09/08/newest-ask-cryptic-focuses-on-star-trek-onlines-weekly-episodes/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/09/08/newest-ask-cryptic-focuses-on-star-trek-onlines-weekly-episodes/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/09/08/newest-ask-cryptic-focuses-on-star-trek-onlines-weekly-episodes/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

The Breen might be backstabbing frozen monsters, but they've been a part of something wonderful in Star Trek Online. Not in the sense that they've stopped being backstabbing frozen monsters, but in the sense that you'd be hard-pressed to find a player unhappy with the new featured episodes. And with the ongoing plan to add a new episode every week, there's going to be a lot more content to enjoy in short order. The most recent Ask Cryptic feature, unsurprisingly, has focused on this new aspect of the game, with Dan Stahl fielding player questions on the weekly feature.

Perhaps most interesting for players will be the fact that Stahl talks about using the prototype version of user-generated content tools to develop some of the patrol missions seen in-game, reminding players that the option to make your own episodes is coming with time. There's also re-affirmation of the episodes becoming permanent features of the game and scaling to all levels, allowing players to take off the rails of the previous leveling structure and chart their own course. View the full article for a deeper look inside the newest part of Star Trek Online, and really, don't turn your back on a Breen.

MassivelyNewest Ask Cryptic focuses on Star Trek Online's weekly episodes originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 08 Sep 2010 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ask-crypticbreencrypticcryptic-star-trekcryptic-studiosdan-stahlepisodic-contentfeatured-episodesq-and-ast-onlinestar-trek-mmostar-trek-onlinestotrek-onlineuser-generated-contentweekly-episodesWed, 08 Sep 2010 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Captain's Log: Starship interiors and hints of the future]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/08/19/captains-log-starship-interiors-and-hints-of-the-future/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/08/19/captains-log-starship-interiors-and-hints-of-the-future/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/08/19/captains-log-starship-interiors-and-hints-of-the-future/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Oh, hi there, readers! You'll have to excuse me; I was just enjoying a little quiet time in my quarters. My starship quarters. Inside my starship. Because I have those now.

Yes, among many other features, Season 2: Ancient Enemies introduced starship interiors to Star Trek Online. Continuing from last week's discussion of diplomacy, one of Season 2's other big additions, I thought we'd spend this edition of Captain's Log examining ship interiors. Plus, we'll take a special side trip into the future to consider what else STO fans can look forward to -- in the future!

Continue reading Captain's Log: Starship interiors and hints of the future

MassivelyCaptain's Log: Starship interiors and hints of the future originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 19 Aug 2010 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ask-crypticcraig-Zinkievichcrypticcryptic-star-trekcryptic-studiosdaniel-stahlengineeringfeaturedfederationklingonklingon-empirelisbeth-salander-pwns-facemain-engineeringst-onlineStar-TrekStar-Trek-MMOstar-trek-onlinestar-trek-online-season-twostar-trek-online-ship-interiorsstarship-interiorsstosto-bridgesto-crew-decksto-customizable-interiorssto-futuresto-improvementssto-season-2sto-season-2-patchsto-season-twosto-seasone-two-patchsto-ship-interiorssto-shipssto-starship-interiorssto-user-contentsto-user-generated-contenttrek-onlineunbridled-speculationThu, 19 Aug 2010 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Cryptic discusses user-generated content and future improvements for STO]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/08/10/cryptic-discusses-user-generated-content-and-future-improvements/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/08/10/cryptic-discusses-user-generated-content-and-future-improvements/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/08/10/cryptic-discusses-user-generated-content-and-future-improvements/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

As Star Trek Online concludes its shakedown cruise of the recent Season 2.0 update, players have turned their eyes to the future and pondered, "What's next?" Coming to their aid is STO's executive producer Dan Stahl, who fields a large number of questions about upcoming features and works in progress in the latest Ask Cryptic article.

One of the inquiries covered was user-generated content, which Stahl confirmed would be coming -- at least in beta form -- with Season 3. "We aren't discussing our specific plans just yet, but we do want the tools to be easy to use so that players can begin to create their own missions and episodes," he said. "This may or may not be the big secret project we are working on."

Other questions into the future development of Star Trek Online included customizable ship interiors, the PvP system, bridge officer promotions, expanding the Sol System, the ability to play as a holographic character, and bridge officer voices. And for those standing at the edge of their captain's chairs, eager to sit down, don't fret: Cryptic is hard at work on the long-awaited "sit in chairs" feature. You can read the full Ask Cryptic over at STO's website.

MassivelyCryptic discusses user-generated content and future improvements for STO originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 10 Aug 2010 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ask-crypticbetabig-secret-projectbridge-officerscrypticcryptic-studiosdan-stahldaniel-stahlholographic-charactermeet-interesting-new-races-and-shoot-to-killpvpseason-2season-2.0season-3ship-interiorssit-in-chairssol-systemstar-trek-onlinestouser-generated-contentTue, 10 Aug 2010 12:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Captain's Log: The C-Store and the perils of going freemium]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/07/15/captains-log-the-c-store-and-the-perils-of-going-freemium/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/07/15/captains-log-the-c-store-and-the-perils-of-going-freemium/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/07/15/captains-log-the-c-store-and-the-perils-of-going-freemium/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Welcome to another installment of Captain's Log, in which we explore -- and sometimes complain about -- the uncharted depths of Star Trek Online. This is your captain speaking from behind a rickety card table in a basement somewhere in the murky New Jersey Nebula. Isn't moving the worst?

Last week, we learned a little bit about Daniel Stahl, the brand new executive producer on STO. But not enough to prepare us for the crazy truth bomb with which he torpedoed the official forums. On Sunday, Stahl suggested that he could see STO going free-to-play. Seriously. I had planned to discuss the Cryptic Store this week anyway, and this fits in nicely, given micro-transactions' importance to the free-to-play model.

Would Cryptic Studios' switching STO from subscriptions to an F2P model be a godsend or a hellish nightmare? (Hint: It would wind up somewhere in the middle.)

Continue reading Captain's Log: The C-Store and the perils of going freemium

MassivelyCaptain's Log: The C-Store and the perils of going freemium originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 15 Jul 2010 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>allods-cash-shopallods-onlineask-crypticcaptains-logchampions-onlinecryptic-star-trekcryptic-studiosdaniel-stahlddoddo-storeddo-unlimiteddungeons-and-dragons-onlinef2pfeaturedfree-to-playfreemiumkhaaaaanlord-of-the-rings-onlinelotroobscure-manfred-mann-referencesrmtst-onlineStar-TrekStar-Trek-MMOstar-trek-onlinestosto-c-storesto-f2psto-freemiumsto-microtransactionstrek-onlineunbridled-speculationThu, 15 Jul 2010 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Champions Online tells players what not to expect]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/07/12/champions-online-tells-players-what-not-to-expect/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/07/12/champions-online-tells-players-what-not-to-expect/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/07/12/champions-online-tells-players-what-not-to-expect/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Sometimes it's very helpful to hear what you're not getting. It's never particularly pleasant, of course -- we usually like to hear about the cool things coming right around the bend -- but it's also useful to be told what isn't coming for your favorite game. The most recent installment of Ask Cryptic for Champions Online falls under that category, with several questions about upcoming features given a straight denial. There are no plans for four-armed characters, rotating and scaling tattoos, and a current push for more persistent content as opposed to zone-wide attack events.

On the flip side, the answers do paint a few interesting pictures, such as talk about potentially adding a villainous counterpart to the game in the vein of City of Villains. The idea is discussed as something not in the immediate future, but on the list for future inclusion -- albeit with a much more sandbox style of gameplay, keeping in the vein of a supervillain romp. Champions Online is currently pretty well dedicated to getting its existing systems shored up and working well, however -- and while that might mean a few rejected ideas, it means that the team wants to build a solid foundation.

MassivelyChampions Online tells players what not to expect originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 12 Jul 2010 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ask-crypticchampions-onlinecity-of-villainscocovcrypticcryptic-champions-onlinecryptic-cocryptic-studioscustomizationdenailfuturefuture-featuresmultiple-armsnegativesrejectedsupervillainsupcomingvillainszone-eventsMon, 12 Jul 2010 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Star Trek Online bringing in old favorites and old unknowns]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/07/11/star-trek-online-bringing-in-old-favorites-and-old-unknowns/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/07/11/star-trek-online-bringing-in-old-favorites-and-old-unknowns/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/07/11/star-trek-online-bringing-in-old-favorites-and-old-unknowns/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

The Star Trek Online team has gone through some shakeups recently, not to mention a touch of controversy regarding the most recent addition to the game's microtransaction store. But the newest Ask Cryptic should buy them a little bit of good will, considering that they've announced the upgraded ships for Vice Admirals -- specifically, a Galaxy-class that can separate, an Intrepid-class with ablative armor, and a Defiant-class with a cloaking device. It's the sort of stuff that any fan of the series would be hard-pressed not to grin about.

Most of the other questions are equally concerned with the upcoming Season 2, which promises to bring in the Federation Diplomatic Corps as well as the ancient enemies of the klingons, the fek'ihri. The latter hasn't been seen or mentioned prior, which suggests that there might be some very interesting story explanation for why the race has been absent if they share an old rivalry. Take a look at the full list of questions for more bits and pieces on Star Trek Online's future, up to and including Facebook integration. (Optional integration, that is. No one's about to start up the mess of the week again.)

MassivelyStar Trek Online bringing in old favorites and old unknowns originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 11 Jul 2010 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ask-crypticcrypticcryptic-star-trekcryptic-studioslevel-caplevelspatchesseason-2st-onlinestar-trek-mmostar-trek-onlinestosto-season-2trek-onlineupdatesupgradesSun, 11 Jul 2010 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Newest Ask Cryptic for Star Trek Online highlights gaps between series and game]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/06/09/newest-ask-cryptic-for-star-trek-online-highlights-gaps-between/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/06/09/newest-ask-cryptic-for-star-trek-online-highlights-gaps-between/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/06/09/newest-ask-cryptic-for-star-trek-online-highlights-gaps-between/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

The trouble with making Star Trek Online is that there are a lot of parts that work great in a dramatic television series that don't necessarily work as well in a game. As much fun as it might be to have your bridge officers get together for a poker game, there's a dearth of useful ways to integrate it into gameplay in a meaningful sense. That having been said, the team at Cryptic is clearly interested in trying to add as many iconic elements from the series as possible, as spotlighted in the most recent set of Ask Cryptic answers on the official site.

A prime example are individual bridge officer stories -- they want to add them, but there are so many variables that the effort winds up feeling more generic instead of more personal. However, there are ideas and hopeful plans for adding more personalities to bridge officers, as well as the potential to respec your officers (although that also runs into minor problems). There's also some information about the upcoming Diplomatic missions to help spice up exploring the nebulae around the galaxy. Star Trek Online players are encouraged to take a look at the full list of answers, which covers quite a bit of space in both design and lore.

MassivelyNewest Ask Cryptic for Star Trek Online highlights gaps between series and game originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 09 Jun 2010 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>answersask-crypticcrypticcryptic-star-trekcryptic-studiosdiplomacydiplomaticgameplayplanned-updatesseason-2st-onlinestar-trek-mmostar-trek-onlinestotrek-onlineupdatesWed, 09 Jun 2010 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Illuminating answers about the upcoming patch for Champions Online]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/06/06/illuminating-answers-about-the-upcoming-patch-for-champions-onli/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/06/06/illuminating-answers-about-the-upcoming-patch-for-champions-onli/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/06/06/illuminating-answers-about-the-upcoming-patch-for-champions-onli/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

The first adventure pack for Champions Online is due out this month, although we don't know quite when just yet. But there are a lot of things coming along with the new pack, such as the promised return of Blood Moon and the addition of a difficulty slider. If you're curious about what all of this means from a gameplay perspective, you're coming to it at the right time, as the most recent Ask Cryptic has just been released, covering most of what players might be wondering about.

The difficulty slider will be responsible for improved drops, but costume pieces are likely to remain just as frequent (or infrequent) as they currently are. Players who have watched the development of Star Trek Online might be saddened to know that the resistance bonuses and such coming with the Accolade system in that game will not be copied for Champions Online's Perks system. But there's also the prospect of expanding smaller regions into full-sized explorable zones, and some details on the next few adventure packs heading down the pipeline. It should be good news for the game's players, and it certainly helps keep the interest stoked for the coming release of Serpent Lantern.

MassivelyIlluminating answers about the upcoming patch for Champions Online originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 06 Jun 2010 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>adventure-packareasask-crypticbalanceblood-moonchampions-onlinecocoming-patchescoming-sooncrypticcryptic-champions-onlinecryptic-cocryptic-studiosexpandingpatchesperkspreviewsserpent-lanternzonesSun, 06 Jun 2010 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Difficulty sliders and grind reduction due for Champions Online]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/05/17/difficulty-sliders-and-grind-reduction-due-for-champions-online/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/05/17/difficulty-sliders-and-grind-reduction-due-for-champions-online/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/05/17/difficulty-sliders-and-grind-reduction-due-for-champions-online/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

With additions like the melee review patch and the first adventure pack either out or coming on fast, the obvious question about Champions Online is also the simplest to ask: what now? The latest installment of Ask Cryptic certainly does answer the question; unfortunately, said response includes saying "no" to some things that players want. The addition of a base construction feature is a prime example and the biggest negative -- while it's acknowledged to be frequently requested, the development team apparently lacks the time to add it in a fashion that they find interesting.

On the other hand, there are features which almost any player can welcome, such as the difficulty slider seen in Star Trek Online, currently slated for release along with the first adventure pack. There's also a promise that the development team will look into grinding as being the most "rewarding" activity in the game via adjusting drop rates and overall rewards. In the somewhat more mixed news category, the team plans to do another review of powers after the adventure pack goes live, although they're not yet certain which sets and mechanics will be undergoing examination. Read the full list of questions and answers at the official Champions Online site.

MassivelyDifficulty sliders and grind reduction due for Champions Online originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 17 May 2010 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>adventure-packask-crypticchampions-onlinecocrypticcryptic-champions-onlinecryptic-cocryptic-studiosdifficulty-sliderfuture-patchesgrindingpower-reviewpowerspowers-patchq-and-aquestion-and-answerrevisionsserpents-lanternupcomingMon, 17 May 2010 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[PvP questions answered for Star Trek Online]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/04/12/pvp-questions-answered-for-star-trek-online/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/04/12/pvp-questions-answered-for-star-trek-online/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/04/12/pvp-questions-answered-for-star-trek-online/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

One of the oft-raised issues that Star Trek Online has faced has been PvP and its implementation. With a faction almost wholly devoted to PvP, some iffy use of maps and missions, balance problems and other concerns... people might argue it's not the biggest issue, but it's certainly a sizable one. So the most recent installment of Ask Cryptic for the game has centered around the time-honored art of facing down your virtual opponents. It starts off with a couple of small disappointments for some: open PvP regions and one-on-one combat are something the development team would like to implement, but it's not as high on their priority list at the moment.

Good news is included, however. There are plans for better rewards for PvP, both including a wider variety of weapons and improvements to earning consumables in both space and ground combat. There are plans to try and expand team sizes for PvP maps as well as helping to distinguish between allied and enemy ships. Most importantly, there are balance changes coming to fix certain ships (such as Science Vessels) that are holding up a little too well in PvP. Take a look at the full list of questions, which should be of interest to any Star Trek Online player that enjoys mixing it up with other players.

MassivelyPvP questions answered for Star Trek Online originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 12 Apr 2010 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ask-crypticbalancebalance-issuescrypticcryptic-star-trekcryptic-studiospvprewardsst-onlinestar-trek-mmostar-trek-onlinestotrek-onlineMon, 12 Apr 2010 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Newest Ask Cryptic on Champions Online]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/04/04/newest-ask-cryptic-on-champions-online/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/04/04/newest-ask-cryptic-on-champions-online/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/04/04/newest-ask-cryptic-on-champions-online/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

For whatever people may fault them on, Cryptic Studios has an excellent track record for trying to keep communications open between the company and the fans. Champions Online regularly allows players to ask any number and breadth of questions in the Ask Cryptic feature, and hot on the heels of the melee powerset developer diary comes the latest batch of questions. While the focus tends toward the Supernatural power set, a wide variety of topics are included, as well as a bit more talk about the issues of melee characters versus ranged ones.

Players excited by the new changes can take heart in the news that the entire Super Powers Patch (of which both the upcoming Supernatural changes and the melee changes are a part) should be hitting the test server soon. There's a fairly detailed breakdown of many affected Supernatural powers, as well as more abstract issues like why there aren't more cosmetic variants to power effects. The answers also discuss briefly how melee damage had already been tuned higher than ranged damage in hopes of balancing the two. Any Champions Online player should take a look at the answers, as they cover a variety of topics -- and may well give you ideas for when the next edition of Ask Cryptic rolls around.

MassivelyNewest Ask Cryptic on Champions Online originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 04 Apr 2010 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ask-crypticbalancechampions-onlinecocrypticcryptic-champions-onlinecryptic-cocryptic-studiosmeleepower-balancingpower-setsrangedsupernaturalSun, 04 Apr 2010 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Newest responses to Ask Cryptic for Star Trek Online talks Klingons]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/03/07/newest-responses-to-ask-cryptic-for-star-trek-online-talks-kling/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/03/07/newest-responses-to-ask-cryptic-for-star-trek-online-talks-kling/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/03/07/newest-responses-to-ask-cryptic-for-star-trek-online-talks-kling/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

There's a certain mystique that Klingons hold for Star Trek fans, having shown up for many different stories in every show and even several movies. That's not even counting the fact that they have an entire language to back them up. So it's probably not a huge surprise that the most recent Ask Cryptic has been dedicated to questions about the Klingon Empire in Star Trek Online. Players have enjoyed the concept, but there have been more than a few expressions of disappointment at the lack of non-PvP options for the faction and the customization available (or not available) to the participants.

The short version is that many of the things being asked for by Klingon players are coming -- more customization, more ship types, and more options to advance oneself without blasting honorless Federation ships out of the sky. There's even a promise of opportunities for the two factions to interact outside of combat, although the question of capturing landmarks via PvP is met with a negative. One of the responses also hints that there may be yet more factions in the game. All of the questions may be found here, which promise an interesting future for Klingons and Federation players alike in Star Trek Online.

MassivelyNewest responses to Ask Cryptic for Star Trek Online talks Klingons originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 07 Mar 2010 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ask-crypticcharacter-creationcontentcrypticcryptic-star-trekcryptic-studioscustomizationklingonklingon-empireklingonslanguagepvpship-tiersst-onlinestar-trekstar-trek-mmostar-trek-onlinestotrek-onlineSun, 07 Mar 2010 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Latest Ask Cryptic explores Star Trek Online skills]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/02/22/latest-ask-cryptic-explores-star-trek-online-skills/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/02/22/latest-ask-cryptic-explores-star-trek-online-skills/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/02/22/latest-ask-cryptic-explores-star-trek-online-skills/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Cryptic continues making new efforts to reach out to fans, but Ask Cryptic is a feature that does this and has been around for quite a while. This week brings the 20th installment, addressing player concerns and questions regarding skills in Star Trek Online.

Since Star Trek Online is still a new game, many of the intricacies of skills, skill point caps, weapons, and so on are still new. Players have lots of questions regarding how things work or what the point of certain items or restrictions are. Ask Cryptic answered questions from five different players this week, and explained how many different factors affect the way these mechanics work -- with most factors coming directly from the player.

Playstyle, game goals, even what kind of weapon skin or style you like -- all of these factors serve to give a different definition of "useful" to every player. Check out the latest Ask Cryptic here for some hints on getting more out of the skill setup.

MassivelyLatest Ask Cryptic explores Star Trek Online skills originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 22 Feb 2010 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ask-crypticcrypticcryptic-studiosskillsstar-trek-onlineSTOMon, 22 Feb 2010 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Fans express concerns in newest Ask Cryptic]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/02/09/fans-express-concerns-in-newest-ask-cryptic/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/02/09/fans-express-concerns-in-newest-ask-cryptic/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/02/09/fans-express-concerns-in-newest-ask-cryptic/#commentsFiled under: , ,

The folks at Cryptic wanted to hear from you, and hear from you they did. Last week, the call went out for fan questions for the next installment of Ask Cryptic, and the current round of questions was posted last night.

It's no secret that concern has been growing in the player community for a while now regarding all things Cryptic. While a bit of Star Trek Online made its way into the Q&A, things primarily focused on Champions Online and the company as a whole.

Fans asked questions regarding the future of Champions Online and Cryptic's commitment to the game, what they plan to do in order to rebuild faith in the company, and what they've learned from the rocky ride they have had so far. A few questions made it in that were less "big picture" as well, regarding themed characters and the upcoming melee rebalance.

The latest Ask Cryptic can be found on the official site, so take a look and see what you think.

MassivelyFans express concerns in newest Ask Cryptic originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 09 Feb 2010 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ask-crypticchampions-onlinecrypticcryptic-studiosstar-trek-onlineTue, 09 Feb 2010 13:00:00 EST