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Star Trek Online : Playable Borg Under Consideration
Posted Nov 02, 2009 by Michael Bitton
In a recent interview with IncGamers, Star Trek Online Lead Designer Al Rivera revealed that the Borg (among other races) are being considered as playable races for the game.
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When asked what other factions (besides Federation and Klingon) players could expect in the future, Rivera answered, "There is no shortage of ideas from the IP. Certainly, we have considered Romulan, Star Trek Online Borg, Dominion, and more." Not willing to offer any concrete confirmation, however, Rivera cautions, "We are not committed to anything specific at this time - we're just focusing on Federation and Klingons right now."
I imagine anything is better than a flat out "No" for eager Borg fans out there.
For the full interview with Al Rivera, head over to IncGamers.
Well after playing this game at the Eurogamer expo in london for a good 2-30 mins, All i can say is that they need to add eevrything they can, because the playable game at the expo was bloody awful. I personally think eevryone at Crytpic has lost their marbles, their last chance now is to get Star trek right. With the failure of CO, star trek is their last salvation, this is a huge IP and shouldnt be confined to mediocrity which Crytpic seems very good at. This game should be bloody massive on sacle, did you read that Crytpic, MASSIVE. From speaking with the crytpic guys at the eurogamer expo, i personally think they are all livijng on cloud coocky land. They were tlaking about loading screes, zone capacities, and instances of zones with channels etc.
I have feared this about this game and developer. This is a big IP, maybe bigger then some may think. I am not at all happy with the ground combat I've seen, it looks like CO. Space looks fun, but not a monthly fee fun. I hope they have some stuff hidden to release before this game opens up.
Oh, i dont' know. Sure I suppose the game is theirs to make a failure but that's like saying Turbine had to make LOTRO epic or they would fail.
Well, some people think they did fail. But in the end it's a pretty successful game even if it didn't live up to some people's expectations.
Also, there really is only so much a developer can do. Just like in the LOTRO, giving the entire world and then populating it would just be a herculean task. I imagine that STO will be the same, it will expand over time. I think as long as what they give is good and enjoyable and immerses players in the Star Trek Universe then they should be ok.
Remember, trekkies will probably be horrifed.
As long as a MMO has enough content and activities to keep me busy while the developers work on new content, then I don't see a problem. The worst thing for me is to hit a level cap or a similar junction in a game only to find that there's nothing else to do, or forthcoming..
If the game is good, I'm rooting for the Ferenghi. Screw democracy, I have money. =P
the rules of aqusition would mandate a Ferengi servies fee for using their likness
Sovrath wrote:
"Remember, trekkies will probably be horrifed."
Yah, who needs them. Bunch of whiney loosers who just don't understand gaming. This game is going to be the "Cure for Cancer" of all MMO's. Why cater to a infinitly small group instead of breaking this thing out to all potential gamers. Its a winning formula thats gonna "Kill WOW."
If you didn't read the sarcasm, there is no helping you. Its a blunder to build a game for all gamers at the sacrifies of its IP fans. Lack of focus on those that love the IP will ultimately build a mediocre experiance. Thus is the trend of the IP MMO.
I would suggest you all try it for yourselves when you get the chance. I for one can say that I'm a star trek fan, and I also like to believe I'm a gamer (eventhough it has been on the side of eve online and ArmA). I have a feeling that, based on cryptics earlier games (CoX, CO), they could, present it as flashy as the latest star trek movie. If they do that, they could cater to both sides, although admittedly losing a few inches on the canon side.
Oh, i dont' know. Sure I suppose the game is theirs to make a failure but that's like saying Turbine had to make LOTRO epic or they would fail.
Well, some people think they did fail. But in the end it's a pretty successful game even if it didn't live up to some people's expectations.
Also, there really is only so much a developer can do. Just like in the LOTRO, giving the entire world and then populating it would just be a herculean task. I imagine that STO will be the same, it will expand over time. I think as long as what they give is good and enjoyable and immerses players in the Star Trek Universe then they should be ok.
Remember, trekkies will probably be horrifed.
I think they shouldn't half ass the features they ''are'' coming out with. And that is the problem with this game. Trek is more like Even in space where in stead of you being on the Enterprise, you ARE the Enterprise.
Also promising to go back and add ship interiors to space later suggests either it will be a complete over hall of space which I doubt, or some lame instance tossed in to shut everyone that wants the feature up.
It's really sad, the few I've heard that actually played it haven't liked the core game. Hopefully they won't screw this IP up. I really want to play Trek.
thats just a bad move for the borg to be playble, star trek Lore the borg are just all one mind would be stupid in a RpG & lore to make them playble race. I realy think this game will stink be a city of heroes clone with a star trek skin , they Havent spent much time to make the game this game shouldnt come out for at lest another 4 years, could be a great game but they have been workin on this game what almost a year now? This game will be no diffrent than those stupid movie title console games , save your money, and this is coming from a HUGE Star trek fan and a big gammer. Very disapointed in this hope they go bankrupt or scrub this,
This garbage is just them Milking the franchise
More playable factions/races is a good thing, it brings more depth and much more content. However, that is along way off, perhaps a year or so after launch.
This pretty much shows that Cryptic really has no clue at all, don't care about the IP and star trek lore and going to mess it up big time! Well... they pretty much messed it up already seeing the design direction of this game.
The Borg CANNOT be a playable race. Period!
A Borg character has no freedom, no control over itself. It's just a mindless controlled drone by the hive.
Anyone want to play a character wich they have no control over? Gets constantly commanded by the Queen and the character doing stuff you don't want to do?
Because that's what the Borg is. The moment they allow you to have full control over a Borg drone, it's just pure Lore breaking and turning this whole game into a Big Joke (wich it already is).
But I guess that Cryptic already got the feeling they have another failure on their hands and won't be able to hold the Star Trek fans for long. So they going to toss in the Borg as playable race to lure in lots of kiddies that don't know about the Star Trek lore and just want to Pew Pew with a cool looking cyborg character. And so try to cash on them.
Cheers
I think I can say now that I am 100% sure I will not play this!
Hmm, i seem to remember the CEO of Perpetual Entertainment making a similar comment before there company crashed and he lost his job. Or maybe it was the other way around. Either way do not underestimate the power of Trekies.
the rules of aqusition would mandate a Ferengi servies fee for using their likness
That gave me a chuckle.
Well, I guess you'd have to play *the whole Borg* :)
hm, does that means that we will have multiple Borgs scattered trought multiple alternate realities? :D:D:D:D
I was worried about you for a minute there, but yeah.
There is no doubt in my mind that there are plenty of Trek fans to make a faithful MMORPG a winner.
Star trek fans will be a dying breed soon. As far as the borg are concerned, it would probably be a bad call. This coming from someone who sall the movie against his will.
There are three stations on my cable service showing the original series, which is 40 years old.
The more interesting view is the other angle: that democracy is usually requested by those without money (and thus without power) only. Which indeed... might be the case, if we follow Nietzsche. It's why I am for Democracy. Atm. XD
Maybe I should play Cardassian with such a view on life, lol. I always thought Garak was a cool char I favoured. teh
I agree. They have no clue what ST is about. *sigh*
What I would love to ask them is:
Will it be possible for players to affect how the conflict goes between the Klingon and Federation as a whole? I.e. will the actions of a player, or groups of players, affect the world (universe?) in any way?
Oh, i dont' know. Sure I suppose the game is theirs to make a failure but that's like saying Turbine had to make LOTRO epic or they would fail.
Well, some people think they did fail. But in the end it's a pretty successful game even if it didn't live up to some people's expectations.
Also, there really is only so much a developer can do. Just like in the LOTRO, giving the entire world and then populating it would just be a herculean task. I imagine that STO will be the same, it will expand over time. I think as long as what they give is good and enjoyable and immerses players in the Star Trek Universe then they should be ok.
Remember, trekkies will probably be horrifed.
Considering how huge Lord of the Rings is in fantasy (one of the most sold books, in all cathegories) Turbine did fail with LOTRO.
They took something as complex as Tolkiens world and the conflict of the ring and turned it into an instanced, casual, PvE game with zero depth. It is a disgrace to Lord of the Rings and I am pretty sure Tolkien would never approve it if he was around.
Star Trek is not as huge as LOTRO but I think is in the same league so if Cryptic turns it into a casual, easy crap like Champions Online then it will be a disgrace as well.
The problem is that the IP owners dont seem to give a shit. They want the licensing money and then they dont care much about the game itself it is not like they are the original creators of the IP, they are just in it for the money.
I suspect that that is one of those 'uncomfortable' questions which never get asked.
LOTRO is actually a really good game. Shadows of Angmar was excellent and pretty much true to the Lore.
The zone designs are amazing and it's pretty much an Open World! Not instanced/zoned. Only Moria and Ered Luin has a loading zone.
The problem was, that the moment that Jeff Steefel came aboard and after that it went a bit downhill with his Goat mounts that can get outside Moria and the introduction of the Rune-Keeper class.
But still Mines of Moria was a great expansion and design wise Moria is very well done. It looks amazing.
The stories in the Epic Book quests have a lot of depth. In fact, most of LOTRO's quests are one of the best in any game, next to EverQuest 2.
When it comes to the upcoming SW:TOR. Then Lucas Arts is very on top of this game together with Bioware.
It's just with the Star Trek IP, that the original mastermind is no longer with us and that the current owners don't seem to give a damn about what Cryptic is actually doing.
Cheers
I suspect that that is one of those 'uncomfortable' questions which never get asked.
Yeah and I am pretty sure what the answer would be if they did answer it. Some PC garbage about it being possible but in effect not really.
Would be nice that for ONCE see an MMORPG that tries to break the WoW mold and do something daring and innovative...
Yeah and I am pretty sure what the answer would be if they did answer it. Some PC garbage about it being possible but in effect not really.
Would be nice that for ONCE see an MMORPG that tries to break the WoW mold and do something daring and innovative...
STO will have a lot less depth then WoW or EQ2 or any other decent MMO out there.
It's just pew pew pew in space. Pew pew pew some more on instanced ground missions in confined random generated maps.
Level up. Upgrade your NPC crew members. And then Pew Pew Pew some more. Upgrade your ship. Rince and repeat process.
Pretty much like all the already existing single player Star Trek games out there.
There is no real info on any non-combat social activities / interaction and all the other stuff that we take for granted in MMO's these days.
Just Pew Pew Pew in space and on ground. Pew Pew Pew.
HUH???
The game went beta a few weeks ago
It should release in Q1 of 2010
and NOW they are considering making borg a playable race???
So with a few months left they now gonna add a whole new playable race with ships, skills, abilities, lore etc etc
Not even started about balancing stuff with another race in pvp
I think it is only possible if they make mirror classes from klingon/federation but that would be REALLY lame
Anyway, I smell a big pile of marketing bullcrap
For everyone saying you can't have the Borg as a playable race because the Borg act as a single collective, you might want to look at the article again. The question to be asking is what is the freaking difference between the Borg and the "Star Trek Online Borg"?
That is a very good point.
Like the rest of this mess, the Borg will likely resemble the IP in appearance, only.
I think people are reading too much into the statement (no doubt becuase of the inappropriate news headline). All they said was they had considered several races, including Borg. They did not say that it will be implemented, just that they had considered it.
Hopefully they had considered it and rejected it because it would be a terrible idea. But again, I think people are reading too much into this.
So they are considering the Borg as playable race along with all the rest for a future expansion, sounds like a good plan to me. Considering all options doesn't mean they are going to pick the Borg! Personally I agree with most that the Borg wouldn't make a very enjoyable race to play, but who knows maybe a NPC Queen ordering the sheep around is what some would consider fun...lol. Anyways I'm more optimistic that the good in this game will outway the missing. They started off in the right direction with Klingon verus the Federation, and I like that leveling up a Klingon will be very different than leveling up a Federation weakling. The exploration sounds rather interesting finding things on planets others may have missed. I do hope they include plenty of non-combat stuff to do such as visiting Starbases, intrique and shops run by real people.
I have followed this game (since Perpetual) for some time now with a great deal of interest. I personally want to see a successful MMO based around this IP.
I have slowly come to the conclusion that this is going to be nothing more than CoV, CoX, and CO with a Star Trek theme.
I am intrigued with the BO aspect of their design, but that won't be enough to save the game. And if the recent Euro Con footage that has shown up on youtube.com is any indication of what this game is going to be about, it will be an Epic Failure.
It seems to be totally lost on Cryptic that core base is coming from other games (WoW, Eve, SW;G, etc) that have one running theme going for them ... "involvement beyond pew-pew".
I am starting to wonder if it is even within Cryptic's abilities to create an "involving" game. The CoX series is tired, CO was a poor attempt to revive a tired series ... and STO seems to be an attempt to slap a poorly fitting dress on CO (the Spaceships are just avatars).
Where is the information on Klingons? Where is the information on their crafting system? Where is the information on their Fleet systems, goals, tools? Where is the information on exploration system? We have nothing.
All we hear about is combat and BOs, and frankly, while the space combat looks pretty ... its appearing to be a button masher, and the ground combat we've seen so far, should be an embarassment to them.