TenTonHammer.com - Taking MMO Gamers to the Next Level!

by Garrett Fuller

There are only a few popular fantasy and science fiction properties out in the world that have not yet made it to the MMOG table or at least been kicked around the negotiation table. One of the in-development licenses, Star Trek Online, has been shown to a select group of industry press and professionals but very little has been seen by the general public.

With small news stories popping up here and there and chats at conventions which would end with the sentence “…when we’re ready to talk, we will,” the developers were holding off on giving the final word about this upcoming game. Now we know why.

Perpetual was poised to take the MMOG market by storm with Gods and Heroes and Star Trek Online.

As Perpetual slowly falls to the liquidation wayside, a huge license hangs in the balance. Star Trek has been one of the most popular science fiction properties for generations. All those Trekkies might have had the chance to play an online game with the depth of the Star Trek universe on their side. A place where they could interact, go to war, explore new worlds and team up with other players to command a starship.

At least that was my original impression of the game when it was first discussed back at GDC two years ago. Now with the stories and rumors surfacing on the game, that future looks to be in doubt. Word on the street says that the game may go casual and take the now popular MMOG approach of charging customers for in game items. Are you disappointed?

I am, and I’m not even a huge Star Trek fan.

You can read the article at Shacknews or Gamespot. My point is that Star Trek fans may now be sold short on an in-depth universe that they have come to respect and admire. I know one thing about Star Trek fans: They value depth. The depth of technology and science that is in the Star Trek universe is something that appeals to Trekkies. So why would the company who now owns Star Trek Online come out and say that they are taking a more casual approach? To bring in new fans? Are you kidding? There is a HUGE Star Trek fan base which is already established. Just because several crummy spin off series fail does not mean that the property is in trouble and we now have to dumb down an online game to bring in new fans.

From what I gleaned in the articles, it now looks like a random media company is stepping in and taking over the Star Trek MMOG. The source at Shacknews says it will be their entrance into video games. You have chosen quite a game to make an entrance with, my random media friends. Not only are you taking on a very well established science fiction property with a hardcore fan base, but you are also starting your video game crusade with an MMOG. Anyone in this business will tell you that MMOGs are not easy to make. Do you know how to build a development team that could bring this game to market? With the level of sophistication required in MMOGs, you have the almost no room for error. And if there’s anything Star Trek fans won’t tolerate, it is error. 

One of the scariest trends in video games recently is the entrance of big business. It’s great to see companies get funding and grow faster than the U.S. economy, but games are a tricky business. You have to get it right the first time. Players are growing more sophisticated and are looking for a more in-depth experience. The game industry has to keep looking for ways to provide that, and this level of entertainment is not simply two hours of your life that you use to sit down and relax. Games are not movies.

They're making STO a casual game?! KHAAAANNNN!!!

Today’s games are more in depth, cost more, and are supposed to offer the consumer an interactive experience. If that experience is bad, then you likely have fans who will never buy a game from you again. So now before the game is even launched you have reports that Star Trek Online will go casual. I can just imagine the executives who now own this game sitting there saying:

“We have Star Trek Online, what do we know about video games?”

“Who cares let’s just make some money.”

“Look at how much World of Warcraft makes and Star Trek is bigger than Warcraft.”

If any of these reports are true about the future of STO, then I would bet that a conversation like that has occurred. Maybe it wasn’t as cut throat, but we’re all intelligent gamers here. 

I am a casual Star Trek fan. I am not hardcore. I watch the movies and sometimes the shows. I really dig Picard, Spock and Data.  I was looking forward to this game because I knew hardcore Star Trek fans would get a great experience. They would play in an in-depth world.

I would play the game as a casual fan to see how the universe looked and felt. The future of the property was exciting. It looked like an MMOG should: in-depth, player driven, and most of all fun. Now it seems like players will be forced into a casual environment with no depth of story, science, or technology. If Star Trek Online remains a serious style game with in-depth content that continues to grow and was able to maintain a player base among its millions of fans, then it would have made very good money and fans would be happy. At this point, that does not seem to be the case. 

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