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<generator>Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/</generator><item><title><![CDATA[Cryptic explains Star Trek Online's quick turnaround time]]></title><link>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/04/cryptic-explains-star-trek-onlines-quick-turnaround-time/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/04/cryptic-explains-star-trek-onlines-quick-turnaround-time/</guid><comments>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/04/cryptic-explains-star-trek-onlines-quick-turnaround-time/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/sci-fi/" rel="tag">Sci-fi</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/video/" rel="tag">Video</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/interviews/" rel="tag">Interviews</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/mmo-industry/" rel="tag">MMO industry</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/news-items/" rel="tag">News items</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/star-trek-online/" rel="tag">Star Trek Online</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/free-to-play/" rel="tag">Free-to-play</a></p><div style="text-align: center;">
	<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/04/cryptic-explains-star-trek-onlines-quick-turnaround-time/"><img alt="Star Trek Online - Stephen D'Angelo being interviewed" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/massively.joystiq.com/media/2011/10/stodangelo.jpg" /></a></div>
<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/star-trek-online"><em>Star Trek Online</em></a> fans have occasionally wondered whether <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/tag/cryptic-studios">Cryptic Studios</a> felt pressured to rush the game toward its February 2010 launch date. Recent comments by new executive producer <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/tag/stephen-dangelo">Stephen D'Angelo</a> indicate that the company was under the gun due to a pre-existing licensing agreement between the Star Trek IP owners (CBS) and <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/tag/perpetual-entertainment">Perpetual Entertainment</a> (<em>STO's</em> original developer).<br />
<br />
D'Angelo states that Cryptic acquired the license from Perpetual and had to abide by the original agreement in order to keep it. That meant that the new dev team had approximately two years to crank out an ambitious sci-fi MMO based on one of world's most beloved IPs (and featuring one of the world's most notoriously obsessive fan bases).<br />
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The comments come during the course of a video interview on the STOked podcast, which you can watch after the break.<br />
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[Thanks to The Grand Nagus for the tip!]<p><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/04/cryptic-explains-star-trek-onlines-quick-turnaround-time/" rel="bookmark">Continue reading <em>Cryptic explains Star Trek Online's quick turnaround time</em></a></p><p style="padding:5px;background:#ffffcc;border:1px solid #ffff99;clear:both;"><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com"><img src="http://massively.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif" alt="Massively" style="float:left;padding:0 5px 5px 0;" /></a><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/04/cryptic-explains-star-trek-onlines-quick-turnaround-time/">Cryptic explains Star Trek Online's quick turnaround time</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com">Massively</a> on Tue, 04 Oct 2011 13:30:00 EST.  Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.<br style="clear:both;"></p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/04/cryptic-explains-star-trek-onlines-quick-turnaround-time/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/forward/20073509/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/04/cryptic-explains-star-trek-onlines-quick-turnaround-time/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>]]></description><category>cryptic</category><category>cryptic-studios</category><category>f2p</category><category>free-to-play</category><category>interviews</category><category>perfect-world-entertainment</category><category>perpetual</category><category>perpetual-entertainment</category><category>pwe</category><category>sci-fi</category><category>scifi</category><category>star-trek-online</category><category>stephen-dangelo</category><category>sto</category><category>video</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Jef Reahard]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Tue, 04 Oct 2011 13:30:00 EST</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[Heatwave shows off new Gods &amp; Heroes screenshots]]></title><link>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/10/20/heatwave-shows-off-new-gods-and-heroes-screenshots/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/10/20/heatwave-shows-off-new-gods-and-heroes-screenshots/</guid><comments>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/10/20/heatwave-shows-off-new-gods-and-heroes-screenshots/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/fantasy/" rel="tag">Fantasy</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/galleries/" rel="tag">Galleries</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/screenshots/" rel="tag">Screenshots</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/new-titles/" rel="tag">New titles</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/news-items/" rel="tag">News items</a></p><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/tag/gods-and-heroes"><em><img hspace="4" vspace="4" border="1" alt="" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/massively.joystiq.com/media/2010/10/ghheader.jpg" /><br />
</em></a></div>
<a href="http://www.godsandheroes.com/"><em>Gods &amp; Heroes</em></a> is one of those rare MMORPGs that get a second chance. The game hasn't suffered through a disastrous launch like <a href="http://www.ageofconan.com"><em>Age of Conan</em></a> or been shuttered like <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tabula_rasa"><em>Tabula Rasa</em></a>, but development on <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Perpetual_Entertainment">Perpetual's</a> mythology-inspired title was shut down in November of 2008. Earlier this year, <a href="http://www.heatwave.com/">Heatwave Interactive</a> announced the project's resurrection, and along with a bit of discussion at the recent <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/tag/gods-and-heroes">GDCO</a> convention, has released some new screenshots.<br />
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Check out our gallery below, where you can view all manner of classical mythology mobs including a minotaur, cyclops, and various and sundry other creatures doing battle with player characters.<br />
 <p style="padding:5px;background:#ffffcc;border:1px solid #ffff99;clear:both;"><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com"><img src="http://massively.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif" alt="Massively" style="float:left;padding:0 5px 5px 0;" /></a><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/10/20/heatwave-shows-off-new-gods-and-heroes-screenshots/">Heatwave shows off new Gods &amp; Heroes screenshots</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com">Massively</a> on Wed, 20 Oct 2010 10:00:00 EST.  Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.<br style="clear:both;"></p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/10/20/heatwave-shows-off-new-gods-and-heroes-screenshots/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/forward/19681604/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/10/20/heatwave-shows-off-new-gods-and-heroes-screenshots/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>]]></description><category>gallery</category><category>gods-and-heroes</category><category>heatwave</category><category>heatwave-interactive</category><category>minions</category><category>mythology</category><category>perpetual</category><category>perpetual-entertainment</category><category>screenshot</category><category>screenshots</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Jef Reahard]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Wed, 20 Oct 2010 10:00:00 EST</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[GDCO 2010: Heatwave talks Gods and Heroes]]></title><link>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/10/13/gdco-2010-heatwave-talks-gods-and-heroes/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/10/13/gdco-2010-heatwave-talks-gods-and-heroes/</guid><comments>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/10/13/gdco-2010-heatwave-talks-gods-and-heroes/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/fantasy/" rel="tag">Fantasy</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/events-real-world/" rel="tag">Events, real-world</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/new-titles/" rel="tag">New titles</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/news-items/" rel="tag">News items</a></p><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.mmocrunch.com/2010/10/12/gdco-2010-gods-heroes/"><img vspace="4" hspace="4" border="1" alt="" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/massively.joystiq.com/media/2010/10/gods-heroesaction01.jpg" /><br />
</a></div>
<a href="http://www.mmocrunch.com/2010/10/12/gdco-2010-gods-heroes/">MMOCrunch</a> has checked in with an interesting bit of news from <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/tag/gdco-2010">GDCO</a>. The off-again on-again saga of the <a href="http://www.godsandheroes.com/"><em>Gods and Heroes</em></a> IP was the subject of a bit of show-and-tell at the recently concluded convention, courtesy of <a href="http://www.heatwave.com/">Heatwave Interactive</a>. Development on the classical mythology MMO stagnated following the demise of project originator <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Perpetual_Entertainment">Perpetual Entertainment</a> in early 2008 before <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/tag/heatwave-interactive">Heatwave</a> resuscitated the game.<br />
<br />
Heatwave confirmed that players will still take on the role of a demi-god, pledging their loyalty to the Roman deity of their choice and following a class-based progression paradigm that includes control over various types of pets known as minions. While <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/tag/perpetual-entertainment">Perpetual</a> had initially planned on each player's being able to control up to 24 minions, Heatwave hinted at the fact that the team has scaled this number down considerably to a more manageable four minions per player.<br />
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Read all about the resurrection of <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/tag/gods-and-heroes"><em>Gods and Heroes</em></a> over at <a href="http://www.mmocrunch.com/2010/10/12/gdco-2010-gods-heroes/">MMOCrunch</a>, and keep your eyes on Massively for more news about the title as it happens.<p style="padding:5px;background:#ffffcc;border:1px solid #ffff99;clear:both;"><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com"><img src="http://massively.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif" alt="Massively" style="float:left;padding:0 5px 5px 0;" /></a><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/10/13/gdco-2010-heatwave-talks-gods-and-heroes/">GDCO 2010: Heatwave talks Gods and Heroes</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com">Massively</a> on Wed, 13 Oct 2010 11:00:00 EST.  Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.<br style="clear:both;"></p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href=http://www.mmocrunch.com/2010/10/12/gdco-2010-gods-heroes/>Read</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/10/13/gdco-2010-heatwave-talks-gods-and-heroes/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/forward/19671520/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/10/13/gdco-2010-heatwave-talks-gods-and-heroes/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>]]></description><category>gdc-online-2010</category><category>gods-and-heroes</category><category>heatwave</category><category>heatwave-interactive</category><category>minions</category><category>mmocrunch</category><category>mythology</category><category>perpetual</category><category>perpetual-entertainment</category><category>pets</category><category>resurrection</category><category>roman-mythology</category><category>Roman-myths</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Jef Reahard]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Wed, 13 Oct 2010 11:00:00 EST</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[What if...?  Ten canceled MMOs that could've changed history]]></title><link>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/06/10/what-if-ten-canceled-mmos-that-couldve-changed-history/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/06/10/what-if-ten-canceled-mmos-that-couldve-changed-history/</guid><comments>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/06/10/what-if-ten-canceled-mmos-that-couldve-changed-history/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/fantasy/" rel="tag">Fantasy</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/sci-fi/" rel="tag">Sci-fi</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/super-hero/" rel="tag">Super-hero</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/mmo-industry/" rel="tag">MMO industry</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/browser/" rel="tag">Browser</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/mmofps/" rel="tag">MMOFPS</a></p><div style="text-align: center;"><img vspace="4" hspace="4" border="1" alt="" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/massively.joystiq.com/media/2010/06/whatif.jpg" /></div>
What if...? Some of the most intriguing questions known to mankind start with those two words, as well as the most maddening. What if...? An entire genre known as <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alternate_history">"alternate history"</a> is derived from these questions, with scholars and average blokes alike speculating on what might have happened if things went just a little differently. What if Hitler got the bomb first? What if Microsoft developed the iPod instead of Apple? What if Abraham Lincoln decided to see a different play that night?<br />
<br />
When it comes to MMORPGs, what if's can drive one up the wall. In this volatile genre, more projects have started, canceled, launched, struggled, faded and morphed into new creations than most of us know. Today, we want to look at 10 MMOs that were axed before their launch, 10 MMOs that could've changed gaming history as we know it... if only they got the chance to prove themselves.<br />
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Let's take a journey, you and I, through history itself, and ponder the greatest of questions: How would the MMO industry be different if these titles had made it to release? Click the first picture on the gallery below to start.<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><div class="postgallery"><p><strong>Gallery: <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/photos/what-if-10-canceled-mmos-that-couldve-changed-history/">What if...?  Ten canceled MMOs that could've changed history</a></strong></p><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/photos/what-if-10-canceled-mmos-that-couldve-changed-history/#3056224"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.massively.com/media/2010/06/10mmo_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/photos/what-if-10-canceled-mmos-that-couldve-changed-history/#3060406"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.massively.com/media/2010/06/10mmo1-1276099930_thumbnail.jpg" alt="1. True Fantasy Live Online" title="1. True Fantasy Live Online" /></a><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/photos/what-if-10-canceled-mmos-that-couldve-changed-history/#3060457"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.massively.com/media/2010/06/10mmo2-1276100502_thumbnail.jpg" alt="2. Ultima Worlds Online: Origin" title="2. Ultima Worlds Online: Origin" /></a><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/photos/what-if-10-canceled-mmos-that-couldve-changed-history/#3060459"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.massively.com/media/2010/06/10mmo3_thumbnail.jpg" alt="3. Halo Online" title="3. Halo Online" /></a><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/photos/what-if-10-canceled-mmos-that-couldve-changed-history/#3060461"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.massively.com/media/2010/06/10mmo4_thumbnail.jpg" alt="4. Imperator Online" title="4. Imperator Online" /></a></div></div><p style="padding:5px;background:#ffffcc;border:1px solid #ffff99;clear:both;"><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com"><img src="http://massively.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif" alt="Massively" style="float:left;padding:0 5px 5px 0;" /></a><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/06/10/what-if-ten-canceled-mmos-that-couldve-changed-history/">What if...?  Ten canceled MMOs that could've changed history</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com">Massively</a> on Thu, 10 Jun 2010 10:00:00 EST.  Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.<br style="clear:both;"></p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/06/10/what-if-ten-canceled-mmos-that-couldve-changed-history/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/forward/19507627/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/06/10/what-if-ten-canceled-mmos-that-couldve-changed-history/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>]]></description><category>alternate-history</category><category>cancelled</category><category>climax</category><category>cryptic</category><category>ea</category><category>featured</category><category>gods-and-heroes</category><category>halo</category><category>imperator</category><category>jagex</category><category>level-5</category><category>marvel-universe-online</category><category>mechscape</category><category>microsoft</category><category>Microsoft-Game-Studios</category><category>middle-earth-online</category><category>mythic</category><category>Mythic-Entertainment</category><category>mythica</category><category>origin</category><category>perpetual-entertainment</category><category>Richard-Garriott</category><category>runescape</category><category>star-trek-online</category><category>super-hero-squad-online</category><category>true-fantasy-live-online</category><category>ultima-online</category><category>ultima-online-worlds-origins</category><category>warhammer-online</category><category>what-if</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Justin Olivetti]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Thu, 10 Jun 2010 10:00:00 EST</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[Gods &amp; Heroes returns from the dead]]></title><link>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/02/22/gods-and-heroes-returns-from-the-dead/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/02/22/gods-and-heroes-returns-from-the-dead/</guid><comments>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/02/22/gods-and-heroes-returns-from-the-dead/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/fantasy/" rel="tag">Fantasy</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/historical/" rel="tag">Historical</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/gods-and-heroes/" rel="tag">Gods and Heroes</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/interviews/" rel="tag">Interviews</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/mmo-industry/" rel="tag">MMO industry</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/new-titles/" rel="tag">New titles</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/news-items/" rel="tag">News items</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/massively-interviews/" rel="tag">Massively Interviews</a></p><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gods_%26_Heroes:_Rome_Rising"><img hspace="4" border="1" vspace="4" alt="" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/massively.joystiq.com/media/2010/02/godsheroescentaurs-sms-0210.jpg" /></a></div>
How many here remember <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gods_%26_Heroes:_Rome_Rising"><em>Gods &amp; Heroes: Rome Rising</em></a>? We're hoping most of you, as the highly-anticipated MMO was near completion before it was scrapped in 2007. <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Perpetual_Entertainment">Perpetual Entertainment</a>, who was also developing the first incarnation of <a href="http://www.startrekonline.com"><em>Star Trek Online</em></a> at the time, officially shut its doors in 2008, presumably killing any chance that <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/gods-and-heroes"><em>Gods &amp; Heroes</em></a> would see the light of day. Until today.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.heatwave.com/#home">Heatwave Interactive</a> has announced today that it has acquired the intellectual property rights and all assets for <em>Gods &amp; Heroes: Rome Rising</em> to further production and pick up where Perpetual left off. We were able to sit down for a brief interview with Heatwave co-founder and CEO, <a href="http://www.anthonycastoro.com/">Anthony Castoro</a>, on this acquisition news. Keep reading after the jump for more information on Heatwave's plans for the game and more like it in the near future.<p><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/02/22/gods-and-heroes-returns-from-the-dead/" rel="bookmark">Continue reading <em>Gods &amp; Heroes returns from the dead</em></a></p><p style="padding:5px;background:#ffffcc;border:1px solid #ffff99;clear:both;"><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com"><img src="http://massively.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif" alt="Massively" style="float:left;padding:0 5px 5px 0;" /></a><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/02/22/gods-and-heroes-returns-from-the-dead/">Gods &amp; Heroes returns from the dead</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com">Massively</a> on Mon, 22 Feb 2010 07:00:00 EST.  Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.<br style="clear:both;"></p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/02/22/gods-and-heroes-returns-from-the-dead/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/forward/19367006/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/02/22/gods-and-heroes-returns-from-the-dead/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>]]></description><category>Breaking</category><category>BreakingNews</category><category>gods-and-heroes</category><category>heatwave</category><category>heatwave-interactive</category><category>perpetual</category><category>perpetual-entertainment</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Shawn Schuster]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Mon, 22 Feb 2010 07:00:00 EST</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[Some fresh Star Trek Online customization info (for humanoids only)]]></title><link>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/08/23/some-fresh-star-trek-online-customization-info-for-humanoids-on/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/08/23/some-fresh-star-trek-online-customization-info-for-humanoids-on/</guid><comments>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/08/23/some-fresh-star-trek-online-customization-info-for-humanoids-on/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/sci-fi/" rel="tag">Sci-fi</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/video/" rel="tag">Video</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/game-mechanics/" rel="tag">Game mechanics</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/interviews/" rel="tag">Interviews</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/star-trek-online/" rel="tag">Star Trek Online</a></p><div align="center"><a href="http://molotok1975.blogspot.com/2007/11/top-10-cheesiest-classic-star-trek.html"><img hspace="4" border="1" vspace="4" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/massively.joystiq.com/media/2008/08/tos_salt_425.jpg"  alt="" /></a></div>
<a href="http://www.crypticstudios.com">Cryptic Studios</a> made clear the basic framework of its vision for <a href="http://www.startrekonline.com"><em>Star Trek Online</em></a> immediately after <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/08/11/liveblog-info-videos-and-more-from-the-star-trek-online-liveca/">announcing</a> the game, but the occasional <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/08/12/podcast-interviews-two-star-trek-online-guys-gets-lots-of-new-i/">interview</a> or <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/08/12/star-trek-online-faq-describes-pvp-rules-and-other-stuff/">FAQ</a> has revealed greater detail over the past few days. The latest example is a <a href="http://www.mmorpg.com/gamelist.cfm?PLAY=1267&amp;GAME=352&amp;VIEW=videos&amp;bhcp=1">video interview at MMORPG with Cryptic's Jack Emmert</a>, who in the interview reveals specifics about character, race, and starship customization. He also talks about Cryptic's relationship with the previous holders of the <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/star-trek-online"><em>Star Trek Online</em></a> mantle, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/tag/perpetual-entertainment">Perpetual Entertainment.</a><br /><br />As far as the customization goes, you'll be able to customize the "skin, eyebrows, antennae, and hair" of your characters and races. At launch, it's likely that all players will be humanoids. Ship geometry, colors, decals, names, and even serial numbers can all be set by players. It sounds like they'll use basic "kits" of tools based on which faction (Federation or Klingon) they choose.<br /><br />Emmert also says that "war games" within factions would be possible, allowing players to engage in PvP with members of their own factions in a limited way. He doesn't sound at all certain that it will be possible at launch, though.<p style="padding:5px;background:#ffffcc;border:1px solid #ffff99;clear:both;"><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com"><img src="http://massively.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif" alt="Massively" style="float:left;padding:0 5px 5px 0;" /></a><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/08/23/some-fresh-star-trek-online-customization-info-for-humanoids-on/">Some fresh Star Trek Online customization info (for humanoids only)</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com">Massively</a> on Sat, 23 Aug 2008 19:00:00 EST.  Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.<br style="clear:both;"></p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href=http://www.mmorpg.com/gamelist.cfm?PLAY=1267&amp;GAME=352&amp;VIEW=videos&amp;bhcp=1>Read</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/08/23/some-fresh-star-trek-online-customization-info-for-humanoids-on/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/forward/1293063/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/08/23/some-fresh-star-trek-online-customization-info-for-humanoids-on/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>]]></description><category>cryptic-studios</category><category>customization</category><category>factions</category><category>federation</category><category>humanoid</category><category>interview</category><category>jack-emmert</category><category>kits</category><category>klingon-empire</category><category>klingons</category><category>perpetual-entertainment</category><category>races</category><category>ships</category><category>star-trek</category><category>star-trek-online</category><category>starfleet</category><category>sto</category><category>united-federation-of-planets</category><category>video</category><category>war-games</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Samuel Axon]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Sat, 23 Aug 2008 19:00:00 EST</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[Star Trek Online fans look back at the Perpetual game-that-wasn't]]></title><link>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/07/04/star-trek-online-fans-look-back-at-the-perpetual-game-that-wasn/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/07/04/star-trek-online-fans-look-back-at-the-perpetual-game-that-wasn/</guid><comments>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/07/04/star-trek-online-fans-look-back-at-the-perpetual-game-that-wasn/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/sci-fi/" rel="tag">Sci-fi</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/forums/" rel="tag">Forums</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/star-trek-online/" rel="tag">Star Trek Online</a></p><a href="http://www.hailingfrequency.co.uk/boards/index.php?topic=786.0"><img hspace="4" border="1" align="right" vspace="4" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/massively.joystiq.com/media/2008/07/stoleaksidebar.jpg" alt="" /></a>The Hailing Frequency forum is a self-styled fallout shelter for fans of the <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/01/14/star-trek-online-is-under-new-management/">now-canceled</a> <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/tag/perpetual-entertainment">Perpetual Entertainment</a> game <em><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/star-trek-online">Star Trek Online</a></em>. Interestingly, the forum has begun a several-part series <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/06/13/is-cryptic-hinting-at-star-trek-online/">unveiling never-before-seen screenshots of the game</a>. With Perpetual's demise one would have thought these images would remain locked into fan hard drives forever. Instead, the forum moderators have been given leave by <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/06/13/is-cryptic-hinting-at-star-trek-online/">the new owners of the project</a> to <em>"start generating some significant hype for Star Trek Online."</em> Poster Zach Nicodemous offers not only a series of (admittedly fuzzy) images of the project, but offers a great deal of hope to Trek fans everywhere.<br /><br />According to Nicodemous, in the second post of the series, the new developer of STO has yet to make a Sci-Fi game. Just the same, they're <a href="http://www.hailingfrequency.co.uk/boards/index.php?topic=800.0">looking to aggressively enter the marketplace</a>, exceeding the game Perpetual was looking to make in numerous ways. Be sure to check out the screenshots, which includes hints that the game may have actually included ship interiors - a possibilty the developer initially ruled out.<p style="padding:5px;background:#ffffcc;border:1px solid #ffff99;clear:both;"><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com"><img src="http://massively.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif" alt="Massively" style="float:left;padding:0 5px 5px 0;" /></a><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/07/04/star-trek-online-fans-look-back-at-the-perpetual-game-that-wasn/">Star Trek Online fans look back at the Perpetual game-that-wasn't</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com">Massively</a> on Fri, 04 Jul 2008 16:00:00 EST.  Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.<br style="clear:both;"></p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href=http://www.hailingfrequency.co.uk/boards/index.php?topic=786.0>Read</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/07/04/star-trek-online-fans-look-back-at-the-perpetual-game-that-wasn/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/forward/1244884/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/07/04/star-trek-online-fans-look-back-at-the-perpetual-game-that-wasn/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>]]></description><category>forums</category><category>perpetual</category><category>perpetual-entertainment</category><category>star-trek-online</category><category>sto</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Michael Zenke]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Fri, 04 Jul 2008 16:00:00 EST</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[The twisting tale of Champions Online's Dennis Adams]]></title><link>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/05/28/the-twisting-tale-of-champions-onlines-dennis-adams/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/05/28/the-twisting-tale-of-champions-onlines-dennis-adams/</guid><comments>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/05/28/the-twisting-tale-of-champions-onlines-dennis-adams/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/interviews/" rel="tag">Interviews</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/new-titles/" rel="tag">New titles</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/news-items/" rel="tag">News items</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/champions-online/" rel="tag">Champions Online</a></p><a href="http://www.champions-online.com/articles/meet_dennis_associate_producer_of_champions_online"><img vspace="4" hspace="4" border="1" align="right" alt="" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/massively.joystiq.com/media/2008/05/234dennis_assoc_producer.jpg" /></a>This week we get to meet an ex-<em><a href="http://www.startrekonline.com/">Star Trek Online</a></em> team member <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/01/16/rumor-cryptic-only-wants-talent-from-perpetual-not-a-license/">who made the move</a> to <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/tag/cryptic">Cryptic Studios</a> last February, becoming <em><a href="http://www.champions-online.com">Champions Online's</a></em> associate producer. Who is this man? It's <a href="http://www.champions-online.com/articles/meet_dennis_associate_producer_of_champions_online">Dennis Adams</a> and we have to say he seems like a very cool-headed cat.<br /><br />With a mind for art, Dennis got his start as an animation production supervisor for Walt Disney Studios. He spent five years there before getting a gig on <em>The Simpsons Movie</em>. Dennis finally made his dream-breakthrough into the videogame industry with <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/tag/perpetual-entertainment/">Perpetual Entertainment</a>, the then-developer of <em><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/star-trek-online/">Star Trek Online</a></em>. Of course, we all know <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/11/26/perpetual-disbanding-sto-in-jeopardy/">how that unfortunate ship sailed.</a> Not all was lost, however, as Dennis found a home at Cryptic Studios and is working diligently to bring all of our super-powered dreams to life. When asked to give his advice for anyone wanting to break into the industry his response was, <em>"Love the craft -- you owe it to the gaming community."</em> We always appreciate <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/05/24/rethinking-archetypes-in-champions-online/">an impassioned videogame developer</a>. So hats off to you, Dennis.<p style="padding:5px;background:#ffffcc;border:1px solid #ffff99;clear:both;"><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com"><img src="http://massively.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif" alt="Massively" style="float:left;padding:0 5px 5px 0;" /></a><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/05/28/the-twisting-tale-of-champions-onlines-dennis-adams/">The twisting tale of Champions Online's Dennis Adams</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com">Massively</a> on Wed, 28 May 2008 17:30:00 EST.  Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.<br style="clear:both;"></p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href=http://www.champions-online.com/articles/meet_dennis_associate_producer_of_champions_online>Read</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/05/28/the-twisting-tale-of-champions-onlines-dennis-adams/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/forward/1208401/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/05/28/the-twisting-tale-of-champions-onlines-dennis-adams/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>]]></description><category>associate-producer</category><category>champions</category><category>champions-onlinte</category><category>cryptic</category><category>cryptic-studios</category><category>dennis-adams</category><category>perpetual-entertainment</category><category>star-trek-online</category><category>the-simpsons-movie</category><category>walt-disney-studios</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Kyle Horner]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Wed, 28 May 2008 17:30:00 EST</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[GDC08: Cryptic's secret project]]></title><link>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/02/21/gdc08-cryptics-secret-project/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/02/21/gdc08-cryptics-secret-project/</guid><comments>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/02/21/gdc08-cryptics-secret-project/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/sci-fi/" rel="tag">Sci-fi</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/events-real-world/" rel="tag">Events, real-world</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/new-titles/" rel="tag">New titles</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/star-trek-online/" rel="tag">Star Trek Online</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/rumors/" rel="tag">Rumors</a></p><div align="center"><a href="http://www.startrekonline.com/gallery/viewimage.php?STOAD407.jpg"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/massively.joystiq.com/media/2008/01/startrekonline.jpg" alt="" /></a><br /></div>
Jack Emmert, Chief Creative Officer at <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/tag/cryptic-studios">Cryptic Studios</a>, gave an interesting talk about using episodic content (read: patches) in the morning's (yes, it's still morning in California!) first round of <a href="http://gdc08.joystiq.com">GDC</a> sessions. While we'll be posting a detailed write-up of the session later today, Emmert dropped a tidbit that, like any good piece of gossip, we simply <em>must</em> share. Talking about what Cryptic was working on, Emmert mentioned the recently announced <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/champions-online/"><em>Champions Online</em></a> as well as what he called "a secret sci-fi project." <br /><br />We could hardly resist squeaking with glee as this bit of information might lend some credence to rumors that <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/01/14/rumor-new-sto-developers-being-cryptic/">Cryptic might be acquiring the <em>Star Trek Online</em> license</a>. Of course, this is all speculation -- it's entirely possible Cryptic is working on an original IP or other sci-fi license. Right now we know:<br />
<ol>
    <li><em>STO</em> developer Perpetual closed up shop and announces the Trek license had been given to <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/01/14/rumor-new-sto-developers-being-cryptic/">an unnamed developer in the Bay area</a>.</li>
    <li><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/01/16/rumor-cryptic-only-wants-talent-from-perpetual-not-a-license/">Cryptic was in talks with Perpetual for... something</a>. We presume they were after some of Perpetual's development team, but no one would confirm or deny whether the <em>STO</em> license was involved.<br /></li>
    <li>Cryptic is now working on a sci-fi project.</li>
</ol>
This may not be proof, but if you put these pieces of news together it seems highly likely that they've become involved in <em>STO</em>'s development in some way.<br /><p style="padding:5px;background:#ffffcc;border:1px solid #ffff99;clear:both;"><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com"><img src="http://massively.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif" alt="Massively" style="float:left;padding:0 5px 5px 0;" /></a><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/02/21/gdc08-cryptics-secret-project/">GDC08: Cryptic's secret project</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com">Massively</a> on Thu, 21 Feb 2008 14:30:00 EST.  Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.<br style="clear:both;"></p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/02/21/gdc08-cryptics-secret-project/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/forward/1121138/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/02/21/gdc08-cryptics-secret-project/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>]]></description><category>breaking</category><category>cryptic</category><category>cryptic-studios</category><category>gdc</category><category>gdc08</category><category>gdc08fanboy</category><category>perpetual</category><category>perpetual-entertainment</category><category>scifi</category><category>sto</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Elizabeth Harper]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Thu, 21 Feb 2008 14:30:00 EST</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[Kohnke drops its lawsuit against Perpetual]]></title><link>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/01/24/kohnke-drops-its-lawsuit-against-perpetual/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/01/24/kohnke-drops-its-lawsuit-against-perpetual/</guid><comments>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/01/24/kohnke-drops-its-lawsuit-against-perpetual/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/gods-and-heroes/" rel="tag">Gods and Heroes</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/culture/" rel="tag">Culture</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/economy/" rel="tag">Economy</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/events-real-world/" rel="tag">Events, real-world</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/mmo-industry/" rel="tag">MMO industry</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/news-items/" rel="tag">News items</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/star-trek-online/" rel="tag">Star Trek Online</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/legal/" rel="tag">Legal</a></p><img vspace="4" hspace="4" border="1" align="right" alt="" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/massively.joystiq.com/media/2008/01/lawsuit.jpg" />The breakup of <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/tag/Perpetual/">Perpetual</a> Entertainment has been a messy, messy affair. The <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/10/10/gods-and-heroes-development-set-aside-for-star-trek-online/">death of </a><em><a href="javascript:void(0);/*1201185793354*/">Gods and Heroe</a>s</em>, the <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/11/26/perpetual-disbanding-sto-in-jeopardy/">uncertainty over <em>Star Trek Online</em></a>, and former Perpetual PR representatives <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/12/12/perpetual-plot-thickens-lawsuit-filed/">Kohnke's lawsuit</a> were all signs of MMO development gone horribly wrong. Thankfully, it seems as though these threads are <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/01/16/rumor-cryptic-only-wants-talent-from-perpetual-not-a-license/">quickly sorting themselves out</a>. <br /><br />After Perpetual made <a href="http://www.shacknews.com/onearticle.x/50922">some cranky throat-clearing noises</a> early yesterday, saying the whole thing was "ambiguous and unintelligible", they must have decided it wasn't quite that ambiguous after all. Shacknews is reporting that <a href="http://www.shacknews.com/laryn.x?story=50924">Kohnke has dropped its suit</a> after the two parties found some sort of mutual resolution. <br /><br />As might be expected, the particulars of the agreement are not forthcoming. The initial suit was for some $300,000, and with its conclusion that sounds like it may be some of the last news we'll hear about Perpetual for the time being.<p style="padding:5px;background:#ffffcc;border:1px solid #ffff99;clear:both;"><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com"><img src="http://massively.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif" alt="Massively" style="float:left;padding:0 5px 5px 0;" /></a><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/01/24/kohnke-drops-its-lawsuit-against-perpetual/">Kohnke drops its lawsuit against Perpetual</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com">Massively</a> on Thu, 24 Jan 2008 10:30:00 EST.  Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.<br style="clear:both;"></p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href=http://www.shacknews.com/laryn.x?story=50924>Read</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/01/24/kohnke-drops-its-lawsuit-against-perpetual/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/forward/1095545/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/01/24/kohnke-drops-its-lawsuit-against-perpetual/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>]]></description><category>breaking</category><category>gnh</category><category>gods-and-heroes</category><category>kohnke</category><category>lawsuit</category><category>perpetual</category><category>perpetual-entertainment</category><category>star-trek-online</category><category>sto</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Michael Zenke]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Thu, 24 Jan 2008 10:30:00 EST</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[The Digital Continuum: A Cryptic future]]></title><link>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/01/19/the-digital-continuum-a-cryptic-future/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/01/19/the-digital-continuum-a-cryptic-future/</guid><comments>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/01/19/the-digital-continuum-a-cryptic-future/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/super-hero/" rel="tag">Super-hero</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/city-of-heroes/" rel="tag">City of Heroes</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/opinion/" rel="tag">Opinion</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/star-trek-online/" rel="tag">Star Trek Online</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/the-digital-continuum/" rel="tag">The Digital Continuum</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/marvel-heroes/" rel="tag">Marvel Heroes</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/rumors/" rel="tag">Rumors</a></p><div align="center"><a href="http://www.crypticstudios.com"><img vspace="4" hspace="4" border="1" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/massively.joystiq.com/media/2008/01/02.jpg" alt="" /></a><br /></div>
These days, if you don't keep your head down, a rumor about <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/tag/cryptic">Cryptic Studios</a> is bound to hit you in the face. In fact, quite a few of them probably already have at this point. It all started with a <a href="http://forums.crypticstudios.com/showthread.php?t=340">letter</a> to the community. After that plural hit, it wasn't just <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/marvel-universe-online"><em>Marvel Universe Online</em></a> that people were chattering about, but upcoming "projects" from Cryptic Studios as well. Ever since they managed to take one of my favorite things in the world -- superheroes -- and turn that world into a fun and successful massively game, I've loved the people at Cryptic.<br /><br />So it was with plenty of excitement that I discovered Cryptic would be handling the <a href="http://marvel.com/">Marvel Comics</a> license for their next massively game. Unfortunately for all of us excited fans -- of Cryptic, Marvel or both -- the entire operation went into super-secret-silent mode. Aside from <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/city-of-heroes"><em>CoX</em></a> news, (which came from a different team at Cryptic, now NCsoft NorCal) we haven't heard even a faint murmur of information. After a while, this leads to lots of speculation about whether or not <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/12/08/top-10-mia-mmos-of-2007-part-1/"><em>Marvel Universe Online</em></a> is <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/11/14/rumormill-marvel-universe-online-canceled/">canceled</a>. So far, there still hasn't been any additional official information on the game and all we are left to is pure speculation.<br /><br />What could be in the future for Cryptic Studios? Nobody knows except them, but that shouldn't stop anyone from guessing.<p><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/01/19/the-digital-continuum-a-cryptic-future/" rel="bookmark">Continue reading <em>The Digital Continuum: A Cryptic future</em></a></p><p style="padding:5px;background:#ffffcc;border:1px solid #ffff99;clear:both;"><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com"><img src="http://massively.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif" alt="Massively" style="float:left;padding:0 5px 5px 0;" /></a><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/01/19/the-digital-continuum-a-cryptic-future/">The Digital Continuum: A Cryptic future</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com">Massively</a> on Sat, 19 Jan 2008 11:00:00 EST.  Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.<br style="clear:both;"></p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/01/19/the-digital-continuum-a-cryptic-future/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/forward/1091083/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/01/19/the-digital-continuum-a-cryptic-future/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>]]></description><category>city-of-heroes</category><category>city-of-villains</category><category>cox</category><category>cryptic</category><category>cryptic-studios</category><category>featured</category><category>marvel</category><category>marvel-comics</category><category>marvel-universe-online</category><category>microsoft-games-studios</category><category>muo</category><category>ncsoft</category><category>perpetual-entertainment</category><category>star-trek-online</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Kyle Horner]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Sat, 19 Jan 2008 11:00:00 EST</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[Star Trek Online dev team laid off yesterday]]></title><link>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/01/18/star-trek-online-dev-team-laid-off/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/01/18/star-trek-online-dev-team-laid-off/</guid><comments>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/01/18/star-trek-online-dev-team-laid-off/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/sci-fi/" rel="tag">Sci-fi</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/mmo-industry/" rel="tag">MMO industry</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/new-titles/" rel="tag">New titles</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/news-items/" rel="tag">News items</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/star-trek-online/" rel="tag">Star Trek Online</a></p><a href="http://startrekonline.com"><img vspace="4" hspace="4" border="1" align="right" alt="" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/massively.joystiq.com/media/2008/01/commbadge.jpg" /></a>According to <a href="http://www.warcry.com">WarCry's</a> sources at <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/tag/perpetual-entertainment">P2 Entertainment,</a> yesterday <a href="http://www.warcry.com/news/view/80708-P2-Entertainment-Lays-Off-Star-Trek-Online-Dev-Team">was the last day at work</a> for the members of the <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/star-trek-online"><em>Star Trek Online</em></a> development team. We already heard that some of the team <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/01/16/rumor-cryptic-only-wants-talent-from-perpetual-not-a-license/">went over to Cryptic Studios</a> for job interviews, but we didn't hear what they might be working on. It might be <em>STO</em> if <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/tag/cryptic-studios">Cryptic</a> are the ones who <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/01/14/rumor-new-sto-developers-being-cryptic/">purchased the license and content</a> from P2.<br /><br />Everyone at <a href="http://www.massively.com">Massively</a> is anticipating specifics about the fate of <em>STO</em>, but the internet community is sitting in the dark for the time being. While we wait for the lights to come back on, we want to wish all the <em>STO</em> refugees the best of luck as they boldly go to whatever strange new worlds await them.<p style="padding:5px;background:#ffffcc;border:1px solid #ffff99;clear:both;"><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com"><img src="http://massively.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif" alt="Massively" style="float:left;padding:0 5px 5px 0;" /></a><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/01/18/star-trek-online-dev-team-laid-off/">Star Trek Online dev team laid off yesterday</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com">Massively</a> on Fri, 18 Jan 2008 09:00:00 EST.  Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.<br style="clear:both;"></p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href=http://www.warcry.com/news/view/80708-P2-Entertainment-Lays-Off-Star-Trek-Online-Dev-Team>Read</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/01/18/star-trek-online-dev-team-laid-off/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/forward/1089910/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/01/18/star-trek-online-dev-team-laid-off/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>]]></description><category>cryptic-studios</category><category>layoffs</category><category>p2-entertainment</category><category>perpetual-entertainment</category><category>star-trek</category><category>star-trek-online</category><category>sto</category><category>warcry</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Samuel Axon]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Fri, 18 Jan 2008 09:00:00 EST</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[Star Trek Online is under new management]]></title><link>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/01/14/star-trek-online-is-under-new-management/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/01/14/star-trek-online-is-under-new-management/</guid><comments>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/01/14/star-trek-online-is-under-new-management/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/sci-fi/" rel="tag">Sci-fi</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/mmo-industry/" rel="tag">MMO industry</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/new-titles/" rel="tag">New titles</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/news-items/" rel="tag">News items</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/star-trek-online/" rel="tag">Star Trek Online</a></p><div align="center"><a href="http://www.startrekonline.com/gallery/viewimage.php?STOAD407.jpg"><img vspace="4" hspace="4" border="1" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/massively.joystiq.com/media/2008/01/startrekonline.jpg" alt="" /></a></div>
<a href="http://www.warcry.com/articles/view/breakingnews/2802-Breaking-News-P2-Out-As-Star-Trek-Online-Developer">According to WarCry,</a> The Studio Formerly Known as <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/tag/perpetual-entertainment">Perpetual Entertainment</a> -- or just "P2 Entertainment" if you want to be less facetious -- has passed or sold ownership of the <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/star-trek-online"><em>Star Trek Online</em></a> project to a new studio headquartered in (<a href="http://memory-alpha.org/en/wiki/San_Francisco">fittingly</a>) the Bay Area. This comes after a rocky history for the title, starting with the <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/10/10/gods-and-heroes-development-set-aside-for-star-trek-online/">cancellation</a> of Perpetual's other title <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/gods-and-heroes"><em>Gods &amp; Heroes</em>,</a> all sorts of <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/11/26/perpetual-disbanding-sto-in-jeopardy/">corporate maneuvering,</a> and a <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/12/12/perpetual-plot-thickens-lawsuit-filed/">lawsuit.</a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.warcry.com">WarCry</a> did not reveal the name of the new steward, but it did learn that while the game's license and content (such as <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/10/31/star-trek-online-devlogs-explore-strange-new-world-building-techniques/">artwork,</a> one presumes) were transferred, the code wasn't. So the new <em>STO</em> team is starting from pretty close to scratch. If you were hoping for a 2008 release, it's time to be disappointed; though at this point none of this is a huge surprise.<br /><br />We don't know if the new owners are related to P2, if any of the old team will be moving with the project, or anything else, really. More info and some clarifications are sure to come eventually, though, so sit tight.<p style="padding:5px;background:#ffffcc;border:1px solid #ffff99;clear:both;"><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com"><img src="http://massively.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif" alt="Massively" style="float:left;padding:0 5px 5px 0;" /></a><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/01/14/star-trek-online-is-under-new-management/">Star Trek Online is under new management</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com">Massively</a> on Mon, 14 Jan 2008 15:45:00 EST.  Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.<br style="clear:both;"></p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href=http://www.warcry.com/articles/view/breakingnews/2802-Breaking-News-P2-Out-As-Star-Trek-Online-Developer>Read</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/01/14/star-trek-online-is-under-new-management/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/forward/1086618/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/01/14/star-trek-online-is-under-new-management/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>]]></description><category>breaking</category><category>business</category><category>p2</category><category>perpetual-entertainment</category><category>star-trek</category><category>star-trek-online</category><category>sto</category><category>warcry</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Samuel Axon]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Mon, 14 Jan 2008 15:45:00 EST</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[As the Worlds Turn: Learning from the past]]></title><link>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/01/02/as-the-worlds-turn-learning-from-the-past/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/01/02/as-the-worlds-turn-learning-from-the-past/</guid><comments>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/01/02/as-the-worlds-turn-learning-from-the-past/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/game-mechanics/" rel="tag">Game mechanics</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/as-the-worlds-turn/" rel="tag">As the Worlds Turn</a></p><p align="center"><img vspace="4" hspace="4" border="1" alt="" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/massively.joystiq.com/media/2008/01/learnfromthepast.jpg" /></p>
<p>2007, by some accounts, has been one of the best years for video games ever. While most would think of the tremendous console releases, MMOs have also seen their fair share of greatness. However, as the saying goes, you can't win them all.</p>
<p>We're going to take a look back at 2007 at some of the higher, and lower, points in MMOs and game development. New Year's is over, so take some aspirin, get yourself a stiff cup of coffee and take a brief stroll through MMO memory lane.</p><p><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/01/02/as-the-worlds-turn-learning-from-the-past/" rel="bookmark">Continue reading <em>As the Worlds Turn: Learning from the past</em></a></p><p style="padding:5px;background:#ffffcc;border:1px solid #ffff99;clear:both;"><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com"><img src="http://massively.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif" alt="Massively" style="float:left;padding:0 5px 5px 0;" /></a><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/01/02/as-the-worlds-turn-learning-from-the-past/">As the Worlds Turn: Learning from the past</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com">Massively</a> on Wed, 02 Jan 2008 09:50:00 EST.  Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.<br style="clear:both;"></p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/01/02/as-the-worlds-turn-learning-from-the-past/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/forward/1074913/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/01/02/as-the-worlds-turn-learning-from-the-past/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>]]></description><category>as-the-worlds-turn</category><category>featured</category><category>game-development</category><category>lord-of-the-rings-online</category><category>perpetual-entertainment</category><category>richard-garriot</category><category>tabula-rasa</category><category>world-of-warcraft</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Adam Schumacher]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Wed, 02 Jan 2008 09:50:00 EST</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[Former STO designer: Star Trek might be "hardest MMO IP ever"]]></title><link>http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/12/17/former-sto-designer-star-trek-might-be-hardest-mmo-ip-ever/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/12/17/former-sto-designer-star-trek-might-be-hardest-mmo-ip-ever/</guid><comments>http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/12/17/former-sto-designer-star-trek-might-be-hardest-mmo-ip-ever/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/sci-fi/" rel="tag">Sci-fi</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/new-titles/" rel="tag">New titles</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/news-items/" rel="tag">News items</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/star-trek-online/" rel="tag">Star Trek Online</a></p><em><a href="http://www.eldergame.com/2007/12/13/star-trek-the-hardest-mmo-ip-ever/"><img vspace="4" hspace="4" border="1" align="right" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/massively.joystiq.com/media/2007/12/stobadge.jpg" alt="" /></a><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/star-trek-online">Star Trek Online</a></em> is one of the most anticipated MMOs on the horizon, but it's no secret that <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/tag/perpetual-entertainment">Perpetual Entertainment</a> has had a rough couple of months. There's an ever-present air of uncertainty around <em>STO</em>'s future.<br /><br />Most of that uncertainty stems from Perpetual's <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/12/12/perpetual-plot-thickens-lawsuit-filed/">legal</a> and <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/10/10/gods-and-heroes-development-set-aside-for-star-trek-online/">financial</a> troubles, but one former <em>STO</em> team member has <a href="http://www.eldergame.com/2007/12/13/star-trek-the-hardest-mmo-ip-ever/">written up a blog post</a> suggesting that making a <em>Star Trek</em> MMO might be a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kobayashi_Maru">Kobyashi Maru</a> scenario to begin with. "At first glance, <em>Star Trek</em> seems like the perfect setting for an MMO," said former systems designer Eric Heimburg, "but appearances can be deceiving. It's actually a huge landmine of problems."<br /><br />Heimburg wrote that it's an expensive and difficult task to produce both a <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/12/04/first-sto-in-game-screenshot-released/">space game</a> and a <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/12/13/sto-interview-comes-with-first-non-space-screenshot/">land game,</a> that making space interesting is challenging, and that it's impossible to please all <em>Star Trek</em> fans because everyone has a different opinion about what makes the franchise great. All good points; we'll see if Perpetual has what it takes to make it all come together ... if it can even survive its financial and legal woes.<br /><br />[Via <a href="http://tentonhammer.com/node/15741">TTH</a>]<p style="padding:5px;background:#ffffcc;border:1px solid #ffff99;clear:both;"><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com"><img src="http://massively.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif" alt="Massively" style="float:left;padding:0 5px 5px 0;" /></a><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/12/17/former-sto-designer-star-trek-might-be-hardest-mmo-ip-ever/">Former STO designer: Star Trek might be "hardest MMO IP ever"</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com">Massively</a> on Mon, 17 Dec 2007 19:00:00 EST.  Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.<br style="clear:both;"></p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href=http://www.eldergame.com/2007/12/13/star-trek-the-hardest-mmo-ip-ever/>Read</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/12/17/former-sto-designer-star-trek-might-be-hardest-mmo-ip-ever/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/forward/1062292/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/12/17/former-sto-designer-star-trek-might-be-hardest-mmo-ip-ever/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>]]></description><category>blog</category><category>elder-game</category><category>eric-heimburg</category><category>financial</category><category>franchise</category><category>kobyashi-maru</category><category>land</category><category>legal</category><category>perpetual-entertainment</category><category>space</category><category>star-trek</category><category>star-trek-online</category><category>sto</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Samuel Axon]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Mon, 17 Dec 2007 19:00:00 EST</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[STO interview comes with first non-space screenshot]]></title><link>http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/12/13/sto-interview-comes-with-first-non-space-screenshot/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/12/13/sto-interview-comes-with-first-non-space-screenshot/</guid><comments>http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/12/13/sto-interview-comes-with-first-non-space-screenshot/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/sci-fi/" rel="tag">Sci-fi</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/screenshots/" rel="tag">Screenshots</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/interviews/" rel="tag">Interviews</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/new-titles/" rel="tag">New titles</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/news-items/" rel="tag">News items</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/star-trek-online/" rel="tag">Star Trek Online</a></p><div align="center"><a href="http://www.warcry.com/articles/view/interviews/2717-Star-Trek-Online-Exclusive-Interview-and-First-Avatar-Screenshot"><img vspace="4" hspace="4" border="1" alt="" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/massively.joystiq.com/media/2007/12/stogroundcombat.jpg" /></a><br />
<div align="left"><a href="http://www.warcry.com">WarCry</a> interviewed <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/tag/perpetual-entertainment">Perpetual Entertainment's</a> Daron Stinnett, the head honcho on the <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/star-trek-online"><em>Star Trek Online</em></a> project. </div>
<div align="left"><br />The <a href="http://www.warcry.com/articles/view/interviews/2717-Star-Trek-Online-Exclusive-Interview-and-First-Avatar-Screenshot">interview</a> itself contains very little new information; it covers the reasoning behind the new art style, the interaction system <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/12/04/first-sto-in-game-screenshot-released/">described in the most recent devlog,</a> and the balance between space and land combat. Stinnett also squashes (again) the <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/11/26/star-trek-online-goes-casual/">rumor</a> that <em>STO</em> is going casual and tries to alleviate <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/12/12/perpetual-plot-thickens-lawsuit-filed/">concerns</a> that <em>STO</em>'s future might be in jeopardy. He doesn't convince us that Perpetual is totally out of the woods just yet, but there's no way to know for sure.<br /><br />Really, the best part about the interview is the <a href="http://sto.warcry.com/images/view/46403">new screenshot,</a> and the best thing about the new screenshot is the revelation of how dead-on that old tongue-in-cheek <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/11/05/sto-fan-video-depicts-the-way-of-the-warrior/">fan video</a> was.</div>
<div align="left"> </div>
</div><p style="padding:5px;background:#ffffcc;border:1px solid #ffff99;clear:both;"><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com"><img src="http://massively.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif" alt="Massively" style="float:left;padding:0 5px 5px 0;" /></a><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/12/13/sto-interview-comes-with-first-non-space-screenshot/">STO interview comes with first non-space screenshot</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com">Massively</a> on Thu, 13 Dec 2007 16:00:00 EST.  Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.<br style="clear:both;"></p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href=http://www.warcry.com/articles/view/interviews/2717-Star-Trek-Online-Exclusive-Interview-and-First-Avatar-Screenshot>Read</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/12/13/sto-interview-comes-with-first-non-space-screenshot/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/forward/1061498/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/12/13/sto-interview-comes-with-first-non-space-screenshot/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>]]></description><category>art</category><category>combat</category><category>daron-stinnett</category><category>interaction</category><category>interview</category><category>land-combat</category><category>perpetual-entertainment</category><category>rumors</category><category>screenshot</category><category>star-trek</category><category>star-trek-online</category><category>sto</category><category>warcry</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Samuel Axon]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Thu, 13 Dec 2007 16:00:00 EST</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[Perpetual plot thickens: lawsuit filed]]></title><link>http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/12/12/perpetual-plot-thickens-lawsuit-filed/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/12/12/perpetual-plot-thickens-lawsuit-filed/</guid><comments>http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/12/12/perpetual-plot-thickens-lawsuit-filed/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/sci-fi/" rel="tag">Sci-fi</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/gods-and-heroes/" rel="tag">Gods and Heroes</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/mmo-industry/" rel="tag">MMO industry</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/new-titles/" rel="tag">New titles</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/news-items/" rel="tag">News items</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/star-trek-online/" rel="tag">Star Trek Online</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/legal/" rel="tag">Legal</a></p><div align="center"><a href="http://www.tentonhammer.com/node/15616"><img vspace="4" hspace="4" border="1" alt="" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/massively.joystiq.com/media/2007/12/lawsuit.jpg" /></a></div>
For a <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/11/30/official-word-perpetual-lives-sto-still-a-triple-a-game/">minute</a> there, we thought <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/tag/perpetual-entertainment">Perpetual Entertainment</a> was clear of the post-<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/gods-and-heroes"><em>Gods &amp; Heroes</em></a>-cancellation <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/11/26/perpetual-disbanding-sto-in-jeopardy/">mess</a> and that <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/star-trek-online"><em>Star Trek Online</em></a> would enjoy (relatively) smooth sailing from here on out. It turns out that drama isn't over yet. There's been a new development that raises new concerns and sheds light on what's been going on over the past two months.<br /><br />A few days ago, <a href="http://kohnkecomm.com/about-us/">Kohnke,</a> the PR firm that promoted <em>Gods &amp; Heroes</em>, <a href="http://www.tentonhammer.com/node/15616">filed a lawsuit</a> against Perpetual. Kohnke believes Perpetual owes it up to $280,000. Just prior to the cancellation of <em>Gods &amp; Heroes</em>, the bigwigs at Perpetual sold <em>Star Trek Online</em> to another company they owned. So in other words, Perpetual sold <em>STO</em> to itself. Kohnke has accused Perpetual of doing this so as to avoid paying up -- which would be a violation of the law.<br /><br />We here at Massively are game journalists, not lawyers, so don't take this as an expert opinion, but it looks like the worst case scenario for Perpetual is that it'll have to sell <em>STO</em> in order to pay Kohnke. Alternatively, Kohnke could settle for a stake in <em>STO</em> as payment, or Perpetual could find another investor for <em>STO</em> to make paying Kohnke easier. All that assumes that Kohnke wins the case, though. If it doesn't, it'll be just another day for <em>Star Trek Online</em>.<br /><br />If only Perpetual existed in <a href="http://www.startrek.com/"><em>Star Trek</em>'s</a> 24th century, in which there is no such thing as money -- except for <a href="http://memory-alpha.org/en/wiki/Latinum">Latinum,</a> of course!<p style="padding:5px;background:#ffffcc;border:1px solid #ffff99;clear:both;"><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com"><img src="http://massively.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif" alt="Massively" style="float:left;padding:0 5px 5px 0;" /></a><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/12/12/perpetual-plot-thickens-lawsuit-filed/">Perpetual plot thickens: lawsuit filed</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com">Massively</a> on Wed, 12 Dec 2007 16:00:00 EST.  Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.<br style="clear:both;"></p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href=http://www.tentonhammer.com/node/15616>Read</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/12/12/perpetual-plot-thickens-lawsuit-filed/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/forward/1060314/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/12/12/perpetual-plot-thickens-lawsuit-filed/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>]]></description><category>breaking</category><category>gods-and-heroes</category><category>kohnke</category><category>lawsuit</category><category>legal</category><category>perpetual</category><category>perpetual-entertainment</category><category>star-trek</category><category>star-trek-online</category><category>sto</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Samuel Axon]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Wed, 12 Dec 2007 16:00:00 EST</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[First STO in-game screenshot released]]></title><link>http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/12/04/first-sto-in-game-screenshot-released/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/12/04/first-sto-in-game-screenshot-released/</guid><comments>http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/12/04/first-sto-in-game-screenshot-released/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/sci-fi/" rel="tag">Sci-fi</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/new-titles/" rel="tag">New titles</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/news-items/" rel="tag">News items</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/star-trek-online/" rel="tag">Star Trek Online</a></p><div align="center"><a href="http://www.startrekonline.com/devlog/viewimage.php?IntScreen.jpg"><img vspace="4" hspace="4" border="1" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/massively.joystiq.com/media/2007/12/intscreen.jpg" alt="" /></a></div>
In the past, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/star-trek-online"><em>Star Trek Online</em></a> devlogs have been light on gameplay information. <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/tag/perpetual-entertainment">Perpetual's</a> Mike Stemmle usually writes about the <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/11/13/sto-devlog-40-reveals-nothing-except-the-dev-teams-geekiness/">development team,</a> <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/10/31/star-trek-online-devlogs-explore-strange-new-world-building-techniques/">concept art,</a> and things of that nature. But this time it's different. Not only does Devlog #5 include juicy details about interacting with NPCs, but it also includes the <a href="http://www.startrekonline.com/devlog/viewimage.php?IntScreen.jpg">very first in-game screenshot.</a> Sweet!<br /><br />We can learn a couple of things from this screenshot. First of all, the graphics are neither cutting edge nor outdated; they're right in the middle. This is arguably a sweet spot for MMOs. Second, the <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/12/04/sto-ui-is-modernized-lcars-think-iphone/">LCARS influence</a> can be seen on the UI, but it's not overt. In fact, it's barely there. We do find it a bit alarming that the game features a standard MMO "1 through =" action bar -- a tired convention that's begging for innovation.<br /><br />As far as the <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/tag/npcs">NPC</a> interaction stuff goes, though, it all sounds good.<p style="padding:5px;background:#ffffcc;border:1px solid #ffff99;clear:both;"><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com"><img src="http://massively.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif" alt="Massively" style="float:left;padding:0 5px 5px 0;" /></a><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/12/04/first-sto-in-game-screenshot-released/">First STO in-game screenshot released</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com">Massively</a> on Tue, 04 Dec 2007 23:30:00 EST.  Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.<br style="clear:both;"></p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href=http://www.startrekonline.com/devlog/#entry5>Read</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/12/04/first-sto-in-game-screenshot-released/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/forward/1055014/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/12/04/first-sto-in-game-screenshot-released/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>]]></description><category>action-bar</category><category>developers</category><category>devlog</category><category>interaction</category><category>mike-stemmle</category><category>npcs</category><category>perpetual-entertainment</category><category>screenshot</category><category>star-trek</category><category>star-trek-online</category><category>sto</category><category>ui</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Samuel Axon]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Tue, 04 Dec 2007 23:30:00 EST</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[STO UI is modernized LCARS; "think iPhone"]]></title><link>http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/12/04/sto-ui-is-modernized-lcars-think-iphone/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/12/04/sto-ui-is-modernized-lcars-think-iphone/</guid><comments>http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/12/04/sto-ui-is-modernized-lcars-think-iphone/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/sci-fi/" rel="tag">Sci-fi</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/new-titles/" rel="tag">New titles</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/news-items/" rel="tag">News items</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/star-trek-online/" rel="tag">Star Trek Online</a></p><a href="http://memory-alpha.org/en/wiki/Lcars"><img vspace="4" hspace="4" border="1" align="right" alt="" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/massively.joystiq.com/media/2007/12/lcars.jpg" /></a>Now that the <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/star-trek-online"><em>Star Trek Online</em></a> nerf scare <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/11/30/official-word-perpetual-lives-sto-still-a-triple-a-game/">has passed,</a> it's time to take a few deep breaths of anticipation and soak in <em>STO</em>-related news again. The first news-worthy bit to pop up post-scare is a <a href="http://www.startrek-online.net/messageboard/showthread.php?t=11533">post by Steve Mason</a> (the lead UI designer) at the <a href="http://www.startrek-online.net">startrek-online.net</a> forums.<br /><br />Mason is dedicated to preserving the <a href="http://memory-alpha.org/en/wiki/LCARS">LCARS</a> look in <em>Star Trek Online</em>. For those who aren't total <em>Star Trek</em> nerds; LCARS is the graphical user interface used by Federation ships in the 24th Century-era <em>Star Trek</em> series (<a href="http://www.startrek.com/startrek/view/series/TNG/"><em>The Next Generation</em>,</a> <a href="http://www.startrek.com/startrek/view/series/DS9/"><em>Deep Space Nine</em>,</a> and <a href="http://www.startrek.com/startrek/view/series/VOY/"><em>Voyager</em></a>). It was designed by a TNG-staff artist who was trying to theorize what a high-tech GUI interface would be like when GUIs were still in their infancy in the real world.<br /><br />So, there are some challenges in making LCARS useful to modern users. Mason says that <em>STO</em> will use an updated version of the LCARS interface (which won't hurt canon, since the game takes place quite a few years after <em>Voyager</em> left off) that will include all the bells and whistles of modern, cutting-edge UIs. " Think iPhone," he said. There are more details in his <a href="http://www.startrek-online.net/messageboard/showthread.php?t=11533">post,</a> and he also opened up the thread to questions.<br /><br />[Via <a href="http://www.warcry.com/news/view/79502-Star-Trek-Online-Designer-Steve-Mason-Comments-on-User-Interface">WarCry</a>]<p style="padding:5px;background:#ffffcc;border:1px solid #ffff99;clear:both;"><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com"><img src="http://massively.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif" alt="Massively" style="float:left;padding:0 5px 5px 0;" /></a><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/12/04/sto-ui-is-modernized-lcars-think-iphone/">STO UI is modernized LCARS; "think iPhone"</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com">Massively</a> on Tue, 04 Dec 2007 21:00:00 EST.  Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.<br style="clear:both;"></p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href=http://www.startrek-online.net/messageboard/showthread.php?t=11533>Read</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/12/04/sto-ui-is-modernized-lcars-think-iphone/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/forward/1053898/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/12/04/sto-ui-is-modernized-lcars-think-iphone/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>]]></description><category>24th-century</category><category>computers</category><category>ds9</category><category>forums</category><category>graphical-user-interface</category><category>gui</category><category>iphone</category><category>lcars</category><category>library-computer-access-and-retrieval-system</category><category>perpetual-entertainment</category><category>star-trek</category><category>star-trek-online</category><category>steve-mason</category><category>sto</category><category>tng</category><category>ui</category><category>user-interface</category><category>voyager</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Samuel Axon]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Tue, 04 Dec 2007 21:00:00 EST</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[Official word: Perpetual lives, STO "still a triple-A game"]]></title><link>http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/11/30/official-word-perpetual-lives-sto-still-a-triple-a-game/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/11/30/official-word-perpetual-lives-sto-still-a-triple-a-game/</guid><comments>http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/11/30/official-word-perpetual-lives-sto-still-a-triple-a-game/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/sci-fi/" rel="tag">Sci-fi</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/business-models/" rel="tag">Business models</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/mmo-industry/" rel="tag">MMO industry</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/new-titles/" rel="tag">New titles</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/news-items/" rel="tag">News items</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/star-trek-online/" rel="tag">Star Trek Online</a></p><a href="http://www.startrekonline.com"><img vspace="4" hspace="4" border="1" align="right" alt="" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/massively.joystiq.com/media/2007/11/stobadge1.jpg" /></a>There has been a lot of confusion with regards to the fate of <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/tag/perpetual-entertainment">Perpetual Entertainment </a>and <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/star-trek-online"><em>Star Trek Online</em></a> over the past few days. First, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/11/26/perpetual-disbanding-sto-in-jeopardy/">an SEC report was filed</a> by Gravity that appeared to say that Perpetual Entertainment was liquidating all assets and would cease to exist as a company. Then, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/11/26/star-trek-online-goes-casual/">Shacknews ran a story</a> claiming that <em>STO</em> had been bought and would be re-invented as a "more casual" experience.<br /><br /><em>Star Trek Online</em>'s Executive Producer Daron Stinett <a href="http://www.startrek-online.net/messageboard/showthread.php?t=11456">addressed panicked fans,</a> saying that not all is as it seems. We have the lowdown here for you. The heart of the matter: it appears that <em>STO</em> has not been canceled or nerfed after all --at least not to the degree that we feared. That said, here's the full story so far.<p><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/11/30/official-word-perpetual-lives-sto-still-a-triple-a-game/" rel="bookmark">Continue reading <em>Official word: Perpetual lives, STO "still a triple-A game"</em></a></p><p style="padding:5px;background:#ffffcc;border:1px solid #ffff99;clear:both;"><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com"><img src="http://massively.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif" alt="Massively" style="float:left;padding:0 5px 5px 0;" /></a><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/11/30/official-word-perpetual-lives-sto-still-a-triple-a-game/">Official word: Perpetual lives, STO "still a triple-A game"</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com">Massively</a> on Fri, 30 Nov 2007 07:30:00 EST.  Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.<br style="clear:both;"></p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href=http://sto.warcry.com/news/view/79440-Daron-Stinnett-Comments-on-Rumors>Read</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/11/30/official-word-perpetual-lives-sto-still-a-triple-a-game/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/forward/1051520/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/11/30/official-word-perpetual-lives-sto-still-a-triple-a-game/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>]]></description><category>breaking</category><category>business-models</category><category>casual</category><category>daron-stinett</category><category>gamestop</category><category>gods-and-heroes</category><category>gravity</category><category>perpetual-entertainment</category><category>publisher</category><category>razorwire</category><category>sec</category><category>shacknews</category><category>star-trek-online</category><category>sto</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Samuel Axon]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Fri, 30 Nov 2007 07:30:00 EST</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[The Digital Continuum: Don't drink the casual koolaid]]></title><link>http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/11/29/the-digital-continuum-dont-drink-the-casual-koolaid/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/11/29/the-digital-continuum-dont-drink-the-casual-koolaid/</guid><comments>http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/11/29/the-digital-continuum-dont-drink-the-casual-koolaid/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/opinion/" rel="tag">Opinion</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/star-trek-online/" rel="tag">Star Trek Online</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/the-digital-continuum/" rel="tag">The Digital Continuum</a></p><a href="http://flickr.com/people/tanais/" style="font-style: italic;"><img vspace="4" hspace="4" border="1" align="right" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/massively.joystiq.com/media/2007/11/sybok.jpg" alt="" /></a>The word casual gets thrown around a lot in gaming these days. In particular, Massively Multiplayer Online Games have become a steadily larger genre to pump full of squishy casual fluff. Just recently the development studio <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/tag/perpetual-entertainment">Perpetual Entertainment</a> was sold off to a company looking to insert said casual goo. The apparent <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/11/26/star-trek-online-goes-casual/">word</a> on the inter-street is that the new ownership is supposedly a media company that wants to use <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/tag/star-trek-online"><span style="font-style: italic;">Star Trek Online</span></a> as an entry point for the video game market. I believe the words "retargeting" and "more casual" were used to describe the change. The last piece of information given to us was that subscription fees could be dropped in favor of paying for optional in-game items.<br /><br /> The only way I can honestly see the more casual bent turning out well is if <span style="font-style: italic;">Star Trek Online</span> follows the <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/guild-wars"><span style="font-style: italic;">Guild Wars</span></a> model. Said model being; create a polished game for fifty bucks, and in a year or so people can buy the optional <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/11/28/eve-online-trinity-expansion-live-and-launching-on-december-5th/">expansion</a> for another fifty bucks if they're so inclined. Since STO will be following the "Korean" model, this boat is already starting to sink.<br /><br />Putting aside the fact that apparently many members of Perpetual have left the company in response; let's get a few things straight. The lifeblood of any of these games is grind. It makes the world go 'round and the sun go up and down. You can't have <span style="font-style: italic;">STO</span> without grind no matter what model it's developed under. So what they effectively mean by "casual" is that we suspect they don't really plan on putting the amount of effort or polish you would expect from any MMO with a subscription fee. Instead what we'll most likely see burst from the chest of whatever space beast has laid its vile eggs within Perpetual Entertainment's chest is a cross between <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/tag/maple-story"><span style="font-style: italic;">Maple Story</span></a> and <em>Star Trek Enterprise</em>. You'll still have plenty of grind, it'll just be even less fun!<br /><br />We're gonna get half-naked, green, super-deformed alien girls -- well, only if we're willing to spend ten bucks for ten thousand in-game "Perpetual Points." <span style="font-style: italic;"><br /></span><p><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/11/29/the-digital-continuum-dont-drink-the-casual-koolaid/" rel="bookmark">Continue reading <em>The Digital Continuum: Don't drink the casual koolaid</em></a></p><p style="padding:5px;background:#ffffcc;border:1px solid #ffff99;clear:both;"><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com"><img src="http://massively.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif" alt="Massively" style="float:left;padding:0 5px 5px 0;" /></a><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/11/29/the-digital-continuum-dont-drink-the-casual-koolaid/">The Digital Continuum: Don't drink the casual koolaid</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com">Massively</a> on Thu, 29 Nov 2007 08:30:00 EST.  Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.<br style="clear:both;"></p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/11/29/the-digital-continuum-dont-drink-the-casual-koolaid/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/forward/1050325/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/11/29/the-digital-continuum-dont-drink-the-casual-koolaid/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>]]></description><category>featured</category><category>free-to-play</category><category>guild-wars</category><category>maple-story</category><category>nexon</category><category>perpetual-entertainment</category><category>star-trek</category><category>star-trek-online</category><category>sto</category><category>the-digital-continuum</category><category>wizet</category><category>world-of-warcraft</category><category>wow</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Kyle Horner]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Thu, 29 Nov 2007 08:30:00 EST</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[Perpetual disbanding, STO in jeopardy [Updated]]]></title><link>http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/11/26/perpetual-disbanding-sto-in-jeopardy/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/11/26/perpetual-disbanding-sto-in-jeopardy/</guid><comments>http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/11/26/perpetual-disbanding-sto-in-jeopardy/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/sci-fi/" rel="tag">Sci-fi</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/mmo-industry/" rel="tag">MMO industry</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/new-titles/" rel="tag">New titles</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/news-items/" rel="tag">News items</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/star-trek-online/" rel="tag">Star Trek Online</a></p><a href="http://www.startrekonline.com"><img vspace="4" hspace="4" border="1" align="right" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/massively.joystiq.com/media/2007/11/stobadge1.jpg" alt="" /></a>South Korean company Gravity was forced in a <a href="http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1313310/000136231007003149/c71677e6vk.htm">mandatory SEC report</a> to spill the beans that <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/tag/perpetual-entertainment">Perpetual Entertainment</a> is seeking liquidation of all its assets and will soon cease to exist as a company. Gravity had to disclose this information in compliance with US law to inform its shareholders that it stands to lose $9 million in investments in Perpetual Entertainment due to the company's failure. <br /><br />Perpetual Entertainment filed for liquidation on the 10th of October, just a day after it announced the <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/10/10/gods-and-heroes-development-set-aside-for-star-trek-online/">cancellation of its <em>Gods &amp; Heroes</em> project.</a> While <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/11/13/sto-devlog-40-reveals-nothing-except-the-dev-teams-geekiness/">appearances</a> are that <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/star-trek-online"><em>Star Trek Online</em></a> has remained in some kind of development (however limited) in the short term, Perpetual will soon be forced to sell all its assets to pay off its debts.<br /><br />That means that either <em>Star Trek Online</em> is due for cancellation, or the project will be sold to a new development studio. Perpetual's continued work on <em>STO</em> is evidence that it at least hopes to keep the project alive by handing it off to another company. We don't know if Perpetual already has a buyer lined up or which company that buyer would be.<br /><br /><strong>[EDIT: WarCry's Razor <a href="http://razorwire.warcry.com/news/view/79286-Report-Gamasutra-Jumping-To-Conclusions-About-Perpetual-Entertainment">has suggested</a> that the SEC report is misleading and that this was just a part of the process of ending development of Gods &amp; Heroes. His suggestion might be worthy of consideration, but there is not yet enough evidence behind it for us to call this a false alarm. We've sent an e-mail to our press contacts at Perpetual Entertainment for clarification and when/if we get a statement, we'll let you know.]</strong><p style="padding:5px;background:#ffffcc;border:1px solid #ffff99;clear:both;"><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com"><img src="http://massively.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif" alt="Massively" style="float:left;padding:0 5px 5px 0;" /></a><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/11/26/perpetual-disbanding-sto-in-jeopardy/">Perpetual disbanding, STO in jeopardy [Updated]</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com">Massively</a> on Mon, 26 Nov 2007 15:30:00 EST.  Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.<br style="clear:both;"></p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href=http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1313310/000136231007003149/c71677e6vk.htm>Read</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/11/26/perpetual-disbanding-sto-in-jeopardy/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/forward/1048181/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/11/26/perpetual-disbanding-sto-in-jeopardy/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>]]></description><category>bankruptcy</category><category>breaking</category><category>business</category><category>cancellation</category><category>chapter-11</category><category>gods-and-heroes</category><category>gravity</category><category>industry</category><category>liquidation</category><category>perpetual</category><category>perpetual-entertainment</category><category>sec</category><category>star-trek</category><category>star-trek-online</category><category>sto</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Samuel Axon]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Mon, 26 Nov 2007 15:30:00 EST</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[The Digital Continuum: Sci-Fi, Looking Back]]></title><link>http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/11/14/the-digital-continuum-sci-fi-looking-back/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/11/14/the-digital-continuum-sci-fi-looking-back/</guid><comments>http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/11/14/the-digital-continuum-sci-fi-looking-back/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/opinion/" rel="tag">Opinion</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/the-digital-continuum/" rel="tag">The Digital Continuum</a></p><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://gamasutra.com/"><img vspace="4" hspace="4" border="1" alt="" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/massively.joystiq.com/media/2007/11/earthbeyond.jpg" /></a><br /></div>
Where are my friggin' virtual hover craft? Where are the energy swords and teleportation devices? I'm not talking about botched attempts and broken promises. I know that <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/11/01/1up-weighs-evidence-for-and-against-the-kotor-mmo/">redemption</a> is a possibility and that my <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/11/02/making-things-massive-worlds-we-crave/">childhood dreams</a> could come to fruition. I'm also very sure that anyone who gives two tugs of a dead dog's -- well, anyone who cares about the sci-fi genre of MMOs knows a bit about most of the past attempts. <br /><br />If you're going to make an MMO that focuses on the freedom of combat, trade and exploration in space well that's just peachy! However what you still have to remember is that a lot of us sci-fi nuts (and there are a lot of us) want more than just warp, mine, trade, dog-fight and repeat. Now I'm not knocking the types of players in <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/eve-online"><span style="font-style: italic;">EVE Online</span></a> or the stick-jockeys playing <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/jumpgate-evolution/"><span style="font-style: italic;">Jumpgate</span></a> and looking forward to its upcoming sequel. You see it's also not enough for many of us (or perhaps this is just me) to just focus on a sci-fi version of what we basically have with any standard fantasy MMO game. You have to include both space and land at launch to entice and possibly please me. Am I asking a lot of developers? I don't think I'm asking very much by current industry standards. So where do we start to get to this nirvana of sci-fi MMOs? Well, there are some good lessons to learn from the past and one game comes to mind specifically.<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Earth and Beyond</span> launched on September 24, 2002 to average reviews. One of <span style="font-style: italic;">Earth and Beyond's</span> largest issues became content and its eventual updates. This was likely due to Westwood Studios being half the studio it was before the (first of many) <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/tag/electronic-arts">Electronic Arts</a> acquisition. Unfortunately for the die hard fans of <span style="font-style: italic;">E&amp;B</span>, the game servers were shutdown due to an ever-declining subscriber base. This was far before the time when <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/world-of-warcraft"><span style="font-style: italic;">WoW</span></a> roamed the land and MMOs were major-ultra cash cows in the eyes of industry moguls. This was the time of <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/everquest" style="font-style: italic;">EverQuest</a> and industry moguls who only desired to create a standard cash cow.<p><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/11/14/the-digital-continuum-sci-fi-looking-back/" rel="bookmark">Continue reading <em>The Digital Continuum: Sci-Fi, Looking Back</em></a></p><p style="padding:5px;background:#ffffcc;border:1px solid #ffff99;clear:both;"><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com"><img src="http://massively.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif" alt="Massively" style="float:left;padding:0 5px 5px 0;" /></a><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/11/14/the-digital-continuum-sci-fi-looking-back/">The Digital Continuum: Sci-Fi, Looking Back</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com">Massively</a> on Wed, 14 Nov 2007 09:30:00 EST.  Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.<br style="clear:both;"></p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/11/14/the-digital-continuum-sci-fi-looking-back/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/forward/1037023/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/11/14/the-digital-continuum-sci-fi-looking-back/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>]]></description><category>city-of-heroes</category><category>cox</category><category>Electronic-Arts</category><category>Eve-Online</category><category>EverQuest</category><category>featured</category><category>jumpgate-evolution</category><category>Perpetual-Entertainment</category><category>sci-fi</category><category>soe</category><category>sony-online-entertainment</category><category>space</category><category>star-wars-galaxies</category><category>world-of-warcraft</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Kyle Horner]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Wed, 14 Nov 2007 09:30:00 EST</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[STO devlog 4.0 reveals nothing except the dev team's geekiness]]></title><link>http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/11/13/sto-devlog-40-reveals-nothing-except-the-dev-teams-geekiness/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/11/13/sto-devlog-40-reveals-nothing-except-the-dev-teams-geekiness/</guid><comments>http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/11/13/sto-devlog-40-reveals-nothing-except-the-dev-teams-geekiness/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/sci-fi/" rel="tag">Sci-fi</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/new-titles/" rel="tag">New titles</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/star-trek-online/" rel="tag">Star Trek Online</a></p><a href="http://www.startrekonline.com/devlog/#entry4"><em><img vspace="4" hspace="4" border="1" align="right" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/massively.joystiq.com/media/2007/11/stodevidian.jpg" alt="" />Star Trek Online</em></a> news is still sparse. We've heard nothing <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/10/31/star-trek-online-devlogs-explore-strange-new-world-building-techniques/">since we read the third devlog</a> over a month ago. Now <a href="http://www.startrekonline.com/devlog/#entry4">the fourth devlog is out</a>, and it completely lacks new information about the game itself. However, it does eliminate any fears you might have had that the team at <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/tag/perpetual-entertainment">Perpetual Entertainment</a> were not true Star Trek fans. We already assumed they were. After all, they're computer programmers and/or sci-fi artists. Plus, they're making a Star Trek MMO.<br /><br />The individual members of the development team answered questions like, "What's your fondest Star Trek-related memory" and "If you could bring one character from the Star Trek universe into <em>Star Trek Online</em>, who would it be?" The latter of those was the most amusing question. "We got a lot of requests for Q, Data, and Khan," the devlogger writes. "That explosion you just heard was the design team's brains trying to figure out how to integrate two dead guys and an omnipotent space god into the game."<br /><br />Indeed. As for the omnipotent space god, though, we think <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lord_British">Richard Garriott</a> might have a big enough ego to roleplay the part. Just a thought!<p style="padding:5px;background:#ffffcc;border:1px solid #ffff99;clear:both;"><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com"><img src="http://massively.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif" alt="Massively" style="float:left;padding:0 5px 5px 0;" /></a><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/11/13/sto-devlog-40-reveals-nothing-except-the-dev-teams-geekiness/">STO devlog 4.0 reveals nothing except the dev team's geekiness</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com">Massively</a> on Tue, 13 Nov 2007 15:29:00 EST.  Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.<br style="clear:both;"></p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href=http://www.startrekonline.com/devlog/#entry4>Read</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/11/13/sto-devlog-40-reveals-nothing-except-the-dev-teams-geekiness/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/forward/1038742/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/11/13/sto-devlog-40-reveals-nothing-except-the-dev-teams-geekiness/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>]]></description><category>data</category><category>devlog</category><category>khan</category><category>perpetual-entertainment</category><category>q</category><category>star-trek</category><category>star-trek-online</category><category>sto</category><category>survey</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Samuel Axon]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Tue, 13 Nov 2007 15:29:00 EST</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[STO fan video depicts the way of the warrior]]></title><link>http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/11/05/sto-fan-video-depicts-the-way-of-the-warrior/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/11/05/sto-fan-video-depicts-the-way-of-the-warrior/</guid><comments>http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/11/05/sto-fan-video-depicts-the-way-of-the-warrior/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/sci-fi/" rel="tag">Sci-fi</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/video/" rel="tag">Video</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/new-titles/" rel="tag">New titles</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/star-trek-online/" rel="tag">Star Trek Online</a></p><center><embed width="425" height="355" src="http://www.youtube.com/v/HurskrKtEpY&amp;rel=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent"></embed></center><br /> We know almost nothing about <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/star-trek-online/"><em>Star Trek Online</em>'s</a> ground combat. We haven't even seen any screenshots of it yet. However, we do know that <a href="http://www.trekmovie.com">Star Trek</a> fans are a <a href="http://www.cnn.com/US/fringe/9603/03-14/trek.html">passionate bunch</a>. In this case, they were passionate enough to make their very own <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HurskrKtEpY&amp;eurl=http://www.startrek-online.net/messageboard/showthread.php?t=11152">concept video</a> of what <em>Star Trek Online</em>'s ground combat might look like.<br /><br />It's pretty amusing, and if you're a fan it will probably make you even more anxious to finally learn what the combat <em>really</em> looks like. It also ought to make you a bit nostalgic about how awesome <a href="http://imdb.com/title/tt0106145/"><em>Star Trek: Deep Space Nine</em>'s</a> "The Way of the Warrior" <a href="http://www.startrek.com/startrek/view/series/DS9/episode/68228.html">episode</a> was. Hardcore Trekkies (or Trekkers) will surely get a kick out of the fact that the combat text for Klingons is actually in <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Klingon-Dictionary-Star-Trade-hardcover/dp/067174559X/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1/002-8260495-0871255?ie=UTF8&amp;s=books&amp;qid=1194288422&amp;sr=8-1">Klingon</a>. To the zealous fan(s) who made this video, we say "<a href="http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=Qapla%27">qapla'</a>!"<p style="padding:5px;background:#ffffcc;border:1px solid #ffff99;clear:both;"><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com"><img src="http://massively.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif" alt="Massively" style="float:left;padding:0 5px 5px 0;" /></a><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/11/05/sto-fan-video-depicts-the-way-of-the-warrior/">STO fan video depicts the way of the warrior</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com">Massively</a> on Mon, 05 Nov 2007 17:55:00 EST.  Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.<br style="clear:both;"></p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/11/05/sto-fan-video-depicts-the-way-of-the-warrior/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/forward/1029651/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/11/05/sto-fan-video-depicts-the-way-of-the-warrior/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>]]></description><category>combat</category><category>fan-video</category><category>ground-combat</category><category>klingon</category><category>klingons</category><category>perpetual</category><category>perpetual-entertainment</category><category>star-trek</category><category>star-trek-deep-space-nine</category><category>star-trek-online</category><category>sto</category><category>trekker</category><category>trekkie</category><category>youtube</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Samuel Axon]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Mon, 05 Nov 2007 17:55:00 EST</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[Making things massive: worlds we crave]]></title><link>http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/11/02/making-things-massive-worlds-we-crave/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/11/02/making-things-massive-worlds-we-crave/</guid><comments>http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/11/02/making-things-massive-worlds-we-crave/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/new-titles/" rel="tag">New titles</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/opinion/" rel="tag">Opinion</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/star-trek-online/" rel="tag">Star Trek Online</a></p><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.startrekonline.com/gallery/viewimage.php?STOBadge.jpg"><img vspace="4" hspace="4" border="1" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/massively.joystiq.com/media/2007/11/stobadge.jpg" alt="" /></a><br /></div>
As the holiday season approaches and our favorite videogame genre bulges with <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/new-titles/">new titles</a>, it seems like many of them are intellectual properties (IP) that have been made massive: that is, an IP that somebody, somewhere thought would be cool (or profitable) to turn into an online experience. Past MMOGs based on well-known IPs have had mixed success. <span style="font-style: italic;"><a style="font-style: italic;" href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/star-wars-galaxies/">Star Wars Galaxies</a>,</span> for instance, converted arguably the world's best known IP into an MMOG but <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Star_Wars_Galaxies#Subscriber_numbers">fizzled</a><span style="font-style: italic;">. <a style="font-style: italic;" href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/the-matrix-online/">The Matrix Online</a> </span>tried to take advantage of a pop-culture phenomenon but that didn't work out either. <span style="font-style: italic;"><a style="font-style: italic;" href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/city-of-heroes/">City of Heroes</a><span style="font-style: italic;">/</span><a style="font-style: italic;" href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/city-of-villains/">Villains</a> </span>cashed in on our love of comic books - not an IP exactly, <a href="http://yro.slashdot.org/article.pl?sid=04/11/12/1515240">but close</a>. <span style="font-style: italic;"><a style="font-style: italic;" href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/lord-of-the-rings-online/">Lord of the Rings Online</a> </span>has had some success, as well, but not overwhelmingly so. In the near future, Games Workshop's <span style="font-style: italic;">Warhammer</span> IP will be making its MMO debut as <span style="font-style: italic;"></span><span style="text-decoration: underline;"></span><span style="font-style: italic;"><a style="font-style: italic;" href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/warhammer-online/">Warhammer Online</a> </span>(developed by <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/tags/ea-mythic/">EA-Mythic</a>), along with<span style="font-style: italic;"> <a style="font-style: italic;" href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/age-of-conan/">Age of Conan</a> (</span><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/tag/funcom/">Funcom</a>'s ambitious interpretation of Robert E. Howard's barbarous world). Even MMOGs based on other videogames could fit into this 'make-massive' trend: <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/tag/blizzard/">Blizzard Entertainment</a> turned its own real-time strategy <span style="font-style: italic;"><a style="font-style: italic;" href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/world-of-warcraft/">Warcraft </a></span>franchise into an online world, as did <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/tag/square-enix/">Square-Enix</a> with <span style="font-style: italic;"><a style="font-style: italic;" href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/final-fantasy-xi/">Final Fantasy</a>.<br /><br /></span>That got me thinking: if I had the power to make an MMOG, what would it be? A series of books, or a movie? Personally, I think that <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/tags/perpetual-entertainment/">Perpetual Entertainment</a>'s <span style="font-style: italic;"><a style="font-style: italic;" href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/star-trek-online/">Star Trek Online</a></span> has great potential, but that could be due to the fact that I always thought I would look really good in a red and black uniform commanding a starship. Maybe <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/tags/harry-potter/">Harry Potter</a>? Though who knows how that one would work. As <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/10/19/why-gods-and-heroes-rome-rising-and-not-star-trek-online/">Matt points out</a>, fans don't always make the best game developers, and it's certainly true that converting a big, complex IP into an MMOG can have its pitfalls. But <span style="font-style: italic;">ideally</span>, in your most secret heart of hearts, which world would you love to see be made massive? Where would your dream MMOG be set?<p style="padding:5px;background:#ffffcc;border:1px solid #ffff99;clear:both;"><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com"><img src="http://massively.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif" alt="Massively" style="float:left;padding:0 5px 5px 0;" /></a><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/11/02/making-things-massive-worlds-we-crave/">Making things massive: worlds we crave</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com">Massively</a> on Fri, 02 Nov 2007 15:30:00 EST.  Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.<br style="clear:both;"></p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/11/02/making-things-massive-worlds-we-crave/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/forward/1027482/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/11/02/making-things-massive-worlds-we-crave/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>]]></description><category>age-of-reckoning</category><category>blizzard</category><category>cox</category><category>ea-mythic</category><category>final-fantasy-xi</category><category>funcom</category><category>harry-potter</category><category>lotro</category><category>perpetual</category><category>perpetual-entertainment</category><category>square-enix</category><category>star-trek-online</category><category>star-wars-galaxies</category><category>STO</category><category>swg</category><category>the-matrix-online</category><category>warhammer</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Mark Sarrazin]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Fri, 02 Nov 2007 15:30:00 EST</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[Star Trek Online devlogs explore strange new world-building techniques]]></title><link>http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/10/31/star-trek-online-devlogs-explore-strange-new-world-building-techniques/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/10/31/star-trek-online-devlogs-explore-strange-new-world-building-techniques/</guid><comments>http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/10/31/star-trek-online-devlogs-explore-strange-new-world-building-techniques/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/sci-fi/" rel="tag">Sci-fi</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/new-titles/" rel="tag">New titles</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/star-trek-online/" rel="tag">Star Trek Online</a></p><div align="center"><a href="http://www.startrekonline.com/devlog/"><img vspace="4" hspace="4" border="1" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/massively.joystiq.com/media/2007/10/stodoomsdaymachine_med.jpg" alt="" /><br /></a></div>
If you've been following <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/star-trek-online/"><em>Star Trek Online</em></a>, then you know we get the sweetest little tastes of information in <a href="http://massively.com/tag/perpetual-entertainment">Perpetual's</a> monthly <a href="http://www.startrekonline.com/devlog/">devlogs</a>. <a href="http://www.startrekonline.com/devlog/#entry3">This month's devlog</a> is about game art -- specifically, putting together different building-block pieces of it to form a variety of <a href="http://www.startrek-online.net/vgallery/showimage.php?i=38&amp;c=2">locales</a>. This is appropriately demonstrated with pieces of a <a href="http://www.startrekonline.com/devlog/viewimage.php?STOVulcanVillage.jpg">Vulcan town</a> -- "<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IDIC">Infinite Diversity in Infinite Combinations</a>," get it?<br /><br />While that's (<a href="http://massively.com/tag/vulcan">Vulcan</a> voice) <em>fascinating</em>, the highlights of the devlog are arguably the <a href="http://www.startrekonline.com/images/STOVulcanInterior_04.jpg">little</a> <a href="http://www.startrekonline.com/images/STOVulcanInterior_01.jpg">bits</a> of concept art. Most if it is Vulcan stuff, but devlogger <a href="http://massively.com/tag/mike-stemmle">Mike Stemmle</a> did toss in the above-pictured <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TsQ3mm0Tm08">TOS Doomsday Machine</a>. If you're a <a href="http://www.24thcid.com/">real Trekkie</a>, that bit alone should make the wait unbearable. We're trying our best to be patient and to not let Perpetual's <a href="http://massively.com/tag/gods-and-heroes"><em>Gods &amp; Heroes</em></a> <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/10/10/gods-and-heroes-development-set-aside-for-star-trek-online/">self-destruction</a> get to us. To <a href="http://imdb.com/title/tt0102975/">quote Spock</a>, "you must have faith that the universe will unfold as it should."<br /><br />[Via <a href="http://sto.warcry.com/news/view/77502">Warcry</a>]<p style="padding:5px;background:#ffffcc;border:1px solid #ffff99;clear:both;"><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com"><img src="http://massively.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif" alt="Massively" style="float:left;padding:0 5px 5px 0;" /></a><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/10/31/star-trek-online-devlogs-explore-strange-new-world-building-techniques/">Star Trek Online devlogs explore strange new world-building techniques</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com">Massively</a> on Wed, 31 Oct 2007 21:24:00 EST.  Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.<br style="clear:both;"></p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href=http://www.startrekonline.com/devlog/#entry3>Read</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/10/31/star-trek-online-devlogs-explore-strange-new-world-building-techniques/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/forward/1026778/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/10/31/star-trek-online-devlogs-explore-strange-new-world-building-techniques/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>]]></description><category>concept-art</category><category>devlog</category><category>mike-stemmle</category><category>perpetual</category><category>perpetual-entertainment</category><category>star-trek</category><category>star-trek-online</category><category>sto</category><category>vulcan</category><category>world-building</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Samuel Axon]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Wed, 31 Oct 2007 21:24:00 EST</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[Why Gods &amp; Heroes: Rome Rising and not Star Trek Online?]]></title><link>http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/10/19/why-gods-and-heroes-rome-rising-and-not-star-trek-online/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/10/19/why-gods-and-heroes-rome-rising-and-not-star-trek-online/</guid><comments>http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/10/19/why-gods-and-heroes-rome-rising-and-not-star-trek-online/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/fantasy/" rel="tag">Fantasy</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/sci-fi/" rel="tag">Sci-fi</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/gods-and-heroes/" rel="tag">Gods and Heroes</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/mmo-industry/" rel="tag">MMO industry</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/new-titles/" rel="tag">New titles</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/star-trek-online/" rel="tag">Star Trek Online</a></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal"><img vspace="4" hspace="4" border="1" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/massively.joystiq.com/media/2007/10/gnhhydrabluespock1.jpg" alt="" /><br /></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">I'm still lamenting a loss, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/10/10/gods-and-heroes-development-set-aside-for-star-trek-online/"><em>Gods &amp; Heroes: Rome Rising</em> sacked in the Forum</a>. It was right there, so close to the finish line, it wasn't perfect but it could've shipped. Other MMOGS have shipped in such states to go on and perhaps perform well enough to linger around and improve down the line. Perpetual Entertainment weighed the costs and decided that all their resources would be better spent on <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/star-trek-online/"><em>Stark Trek Online</em></a> and their <em>Publishing Platform</em>, one of them had to go, there was no way around it unless there was a hidden cache of Roman gold buried outside their offices and a super secret development team stashed away. I admire the decision, when it was all said and done <em>Gods &amp; Heroes</em> wasn't up to Perpetual's standards and they had the moxie to cancel it -- a project years in the making halted. That takes guts, but why not place <em>Star Trek Online</em> on indefinite hold and delay its development for a year or two instead and finish <em>Gods &amp; Heroes?</em> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p>Before the Trekkies bust out their homemade laser-pointer phasers, let me tip you all off on a little something. MMOGS based off a movie, book, music video, cereal box, or whatever fancy pants intellectual property are extremely difficult to pull-off. The past has already proven that these superstar franchises when converted into a MMOG don't perform as expected and usually disappoint the majority fanbase. The only exception to this rule is <em>Lord of the Rings Online</em>, but even so the subscriptions speak for themselves -- it's doing alright, but is <em>Lord of the Rings Online</em> a runaway success? I don't think so, otherwise the server crews would rapidly deploy brand spankin' new servers because they can't keep the players off them ala <em>WoW's</em> first year. I like the content in <em>Lord of the Rings Online</em>, and if you love it that's great, because in the grand scheme of things that's all that matters. </p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p>The main reason why developing a MMOG based off a license as prominent and detailed as Star Trek is that it's impossible to meet all the diehard fanbois and fangrrls expectations. If it doesn't live up to the hype they will revolt on a whim if the transition to the online world doesn't match up to the original canon, stories, novels, what makes up the wondrous Star Trek Universe. When you add in all the other factors that make a MMOG world and mix it up sometimes it just doesn't work. Well, here's to hoping they can pull it off or the loss of <em>Gods &amp; Heroes: Rome Rising</em> will be all for naught and that would be the true shame. It's going to be a long wait to find out. <br /> </p><p style="padding:5px;background:#ffffcc;border:1px solid #ffff99;clear:both;"><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com"><img src="http://massively.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif" alt="Massively" style="float:left;padding:0 5px 5px 0;" /></a><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/10/19/why-gods-and-heroes-rome-rising-and-not-star-trek-online/">Why Gods &amp; Heroes: Rome Rising and not Star Trek Online?</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com">Massively</a> on Fri, 19 Oct 2007 13:42:00 EST.  Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.<br style="clear:both;"></p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/10/19/why-gods-and-heroes-rome-rising-and-not-star-trek-online/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/forward/1017417/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/10/19/why-gods-and-heroes-rome-rising-and-not-star-trek-online/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>]]></description><category>gods-and-heroes</category><category>MMOG-Industry</category><category>Perpetual-Entertainment</category><category>Star-Trek</category><category>Star-Trek-MMO</category><category>Star-Trek-MMOG</category><category>Star-Trek-MMORPG</category><category>Star-Trek-Online</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Matt Warner]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Fri, 19 Oct 2007 13:42:00 EST</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[Gods &amp; Heroes development set aside for Star Trek Online]]></title><link>http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/10/10/gods-and-heroes-development-set-aside-for-star-trek-online/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/10/10/gods-and-heroes-development-set-aside-for-star-trek-online/</guid><comments>http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/10/10/gods-and-heroes-development-set-aside-for-star-trek-online/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/betas/" rel="tag">Betas</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/gods-and-heroes/" rel="tag">Gods and Heroes</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/mmo-industry/" rel="tag">MMO industry</a></p><a href="http://community.godsandheroes.com/"><img vspace="4" hspace="4" border="1" align="right" alt="" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/massively.joystiq.com/media/2007/10/godsandheroes.jpg" /></a>Perpetual Entertainment <a href="http://community.godsandheroes.com/">officially announced</a> that they were putting <span style="font-style: italic;">Gods &amp; Heroes: Rome Rising</span> on "indefinite hold" in order to pool all of their resources into developing <span style="font-style: italic;">Star Trek Online</span>.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.perpetual.com/company/management/chris_mckibbin">Chris McKibbin</a>, Co-Chairman and President of Perpetual Entertainment posted a good bye letter/thank you note to the <span style="font-style: italic;">Gods &amp; Heroes</span> Community main page stating that the investment involved in developing two quality games plus their online platform would be "significant". So all resources will shift over to <span style="font-style: italic;">Star Trek Online</span> and their Platform Services division.<br /><br />Binky, the Community Relations Manager, posted a <a href="http://community.godsandheroes.com/jive/thread.jspa?threadID=11828&amp;tstart=0">eulogy on the forums</a>. Before an excerpt from <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mark_antony">Mark Antony</a>, Binky stated:<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Even though we are stepping back from Gods &amp; Heroes for the time being, it does not mean that it is over. We always have the opportunity to revisit G&amp;H and build the game we had envisioned from the beginning. <br /><br /></span>I can only imagine how frustrated and disappointed the beta community is over the loss of this game. Though <span style="font-style: italic;">G&amp;H</span> is only on hold, by the time <span style="font-style: italic;">Star Trek Online</span> is released, the technology and concepts of <span style="font-style: italic;">G&amp;H</span> will probably be outdated. The Roman world view is different from the other MMOs in the making and I would have liked to see it come to life. But, then again, I was President of the Latin Club in highschool. &lt;Insert geek noise here.&gt;<br /><br />Do you think <span style="font-style: italic;">Gods &amp; Heroes</span> will ever rise again?<br /><br />[via <a href="http://www.mmorpg.com/gamelist.cfm?GAMEID=187&amp;SETVIEW=news&amp;SHOWARTICLE=8931&amp;bhcp=1">MMORPG</a>]<p style="padding:5px;background:#ffffcc;border:1px solid #ffff99;clear:both;"><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com"><img src="http://massively.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif" alt="Massively" style="float:left;padding:0 5px 5px 0;" /></a><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/10/10/gods-and-heroes-development-set-aside-for-star-trek-online/">Gods &amp; Heroes development set aside for Star Trek Online</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com">Massively</a> on Wed, 10 Oct 2007 02:20:00 EST.  Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.<br style="clear:both;"></p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href=http://community.godsandheroes.com/>Read</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/10/10/gods-and-heroes-development-set-aside-for-star-trek-online/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/forward/1009557/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/10/10/gods-and-heroes-development-set-aside-for-star-trek-online/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>]]></description><category>perpetual-entertainment</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Robin Torres]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Wed, 10 Oct 2007 02:20:00 EST</pubDate></item></channel></rss>
