Ten Ton Hammer - Taking MMO Gamers to the Next Level!

Get ready to launch into unknown sectors of space in 2009.

For the past few years, many MMOG players have stated that fantasy settings are beginning to grow stale in their sameness. Indeed, one of the hallmarks of fantasy is a certain degree of conformity to unwritten rules that define the genre. Names and locations may vary from one setting to the next, but on the whole we know what to expect the moment we hear a newly announced game will be fantasy-based. For some, this is also the same moment they begin to tune out. The spark of interest to see which shade of green the orcs will be fades even before the first screenshots appear.

Science fiction, on the other hand, has continually evolved over time. While some clearly defined sub-genres have emerged, the very basis of sci-fi is that anything is possible; the only limits imposed being that of the imagination. Yet apart from a few notable exceptions, sci-fi has remained relatively untapped as far as MMOGs are concerned. The good news for players suffering from orc-itis is that in 2009, the online gaming universe as we know it is about to expand upward, outward and beyond the stars.

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Star Trek Online and Jumpgate Evolution – Light Years Apart

With such a dominant presence in the MMOG market and beyond thanks to an aggressive advertising campaign that even brought EVE Online into the living rooms of Battlestar Galactica fans, its hard to avoid using CCP’s galactic champ as a point of reference. Much like the tired cliché of WoW-clone syndrome though, fans of upcoming games Star Trek Online and Jumpgate Evolution will be the first to point out that beyond the obvious sci-fi setting, EVE shares little in common with either title if you choose to look beneath the surface.

Yet there are certain comparisons that can be made, as EVE draws a strange parallel between Star Trek Online (STO) and Jumpgate Evolution (JG:E). For anyone unfamiliar with the mechanics of either upcoming title, or have no other point of reference, EVE provides a handy benchmark. Any such comparisons will be kept to a minimum though, so for now you can keep your nerd rage phasers set to stun.

Accessing database entry: Star Trek Online:

The Star Trek IP is one of the most recognized in all of sci-fi, with fans of the series and films spanning generations. This has the potential to be both a blessing and a curse for Cryptic Studios, which needs to work twice as hard to please existing fans of the IP while still creating an MMOG that appeals to a broader audience. In what could very well be the first successful blend of space, shipboard and ground combat, Cryptic’s plans for STO are certainly ambitious. Whether or not this ultimately resonates with a larger audience remains to be seen.

Discover strange new worlds in Star Trek Online.

The central conflict in STO will see players siding with either the Federation or Klingon Empire, both of which stand at the brink of all out war. As a new chapter in Star Trek lore, this not only provides an excellent jumping point for existing fans, but should also help anyone less familiar with the IP to start the game on somewhat equal footing in terms of knowledge of current events.

While not a singular focus, ship-to-ship combat will certainly play a large role in gameplay. This is also where any comparisons to EVE begin and end. Both games feature a more tactical approach to combat, as players need to remain constantly aware of positioning, shielding and available power among other things. That’s not to say combat in STO will be any less engaging, and thanks to the ability to board enemy ships and beam down to the surface of planets, it will offer a high degree of variety as well.

Accessing database entry: Jumpgate Evolution:

While STO will attempt to bring a sense of familiarity to players with more structured gameplay and brand name IP, JGE aims at captivating the imaginations of those players who thrive on heading bravely into the unknown. But to say the Jumpgate universe is any less rich in lore would be folly, as the original Jumpgate Classic dates back to 2001 and remains in operation to this day.

Much to the chagrin of diehard fans, JGE has been unjustly compared to EVE on a regular basis ever since first being announced by NetDevil. On the surface there are certain similarities – in both games players assume the role of pilot, their ship serving as their main avatar as they engage in activities such as combat, mining and hauling. As fans will quickly point out though, the two games are otherwise worlds apart.

Combat in JGE will be fast paced, focusing on player skill and twitch-based gameplay more commonly associated with the FPS genre. Tactical awareness will still be paramount, though expect something similar to dogfights in the recent Battlestar Galactica series rather than the slow-turning, naval approach of either STO or EVE.

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Captain’s Log: Stardate 1120.9

Combat in Jumpgate Evolution will be fast and furious.

I can see Star Trek Online and Jumpgate Evolution co-existing quite easily, as the experience offered will appeal to potentially different segments of the same overarching sci-fi market.

The Cryptic developers certainly have their work cut out for them, as STO could quite easily live or die by the acceptance of existing Star Trek fans. That in mind, Jumpgate has the potential to appeal to a much broader audience. A lower barrier for entry and Jumpgate Classic to draw experience from are only some of the reasons I recently predicted mass market appeal for the newest NetDevil MMOG.

Then again, as Manfred Steiner from Philip K Dick’s Martian Time-Slip might say, either game could be deemed total gubbish. But of all possible scenarios, I see that as the least likely outcome.

Still, I can’t help but wonder what new galaxies are out there, waiting to be discovered.  And once they are, will we be met with hostility, or with open arms? Though I can not see directly into future events, intuition tells me it will be the latter.