New Beta Info + Character Creation | Star Trek Online Podcast

New Beta Info + Character Creation | STOked S1 E13

STOked S1 E13: Our beta tip inbox is packed full of great info, and we give you the best of the best! Then we go over everything we’ve been able to learn about STO’s Character Creation process.
We also talk about just what sets Star Trek Online’s tutorial apart from other MMOs (HINT: It’s got a key role in the game’s primary plot line).

Plus we answer some of the audiences most frequently asked questions, reveal the details of the Collector’s Edition, and drop another healthy dose of news, reviews and screenshots in your lap.

This Week’s Links & Notes:

THANKS:

Thanks to Aaron over at consoleclassix.com for the account hook ups, great place to get some RETRO Star Trek games!
Thanks to imaximus for a very awesome fleet logo!

NEWS:

New Collector’s Edition bonuses added @ Gamestop.com

https://www.gamestop.com/Catalog/ProductDetails.aspx?product_id=75981

Red Matter Capacitor (triggered effect = extra energy capacity)
Uniform options from DS9 and TNG-Movies
Over 40 pages of glossy concept art

Open Beta confirmation – Stormshade

https://forums.startrekonline.com/showthread.php?p=1005927#post1005927

"People in Closed Beta should automatically roll into Open Beta" – StormShade

BETA LEAKS:

No penalty for being Human?
BOFFs can not change race, but can be customized from within that race.

ARTICLES:

Ten Ton Hammer – UI Review

https://www.tentonhammer.com/node/77082

No custom UI mods: "Our UI scripting language is proprietary and internal. It is really powerful and eventually we may release it to the players to allow them to play around with it but not at launch." (Zinc)
"You can define the Fleet Logo that ends up displayed on your ship." (Zinc)
Open Instancing: Auto-Group functions. Can be toggled on/off.
1024×768 recommended, minimum.

Massively.com: The Digital Continuum – Federation Stands For Fighting

https://www.massively.com/2009/11/23/the-digital-continuum-federation-stands-for-fighting/

A brief combat-oriented overview of the Trek universe, to help explain the combat-centric STO gameplay
"… combat is the elephant and all of these people claiming it’s something else are blind men holding onto different parts of the same creature."

IGN.com – Dev Diary: Visual Effects (by Michael Cavallaro)

https://pc.ign.com/articles/104/1047832p1.html

"Our job is to modernize the look but still keep the original feel so fans will immediately recognize the IP and be impressed by the updated look. "
They talk about receiving stats on an item/ability, and going over TV/Movie footage to find something similar, before implementing the final look & effect.

GameSpy’s Hands-On Preview

https://pc.gamespy.com/pc/star-trek-online/1049400p1.html

"I worry for this game."
Skepticism tends to stem from Ground Combat, and a perceived lack of innovation in Space (Pirates of the Burning Sea "ripoff")

VIDEOS:

New Space Exploration "Trailer"