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Star Trek Online: Character Customization Preview
Stradden
Managing EditorMember CommonPosts: 6,696
MMORPG.com has been given early access into the Star Trek Online beta, and so will be bringing you reports from inside the game. Today, we kick off our series with Dana Massey's preview of the game's character customization system.
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Cryptic found itself in an awkward position when they acquired the Star Trek Online license in the summer of 2008. They are a company built around the idea of customization, specifically character customization. City of Heroes, Villains and later Champions Online would all redefine how much control players expect to have over their characters. With Star Trek came a huge challenge: How do you create top notch character customization in an IP where everyone basically dresses the same? After some exclusive hands-on time with the game, I'm happy to report that they have met that challenge. When Star Trek Online launches in February it will come with some of the best character customization ever seen in a video game.
The initial customization is the usual Cryptic funhouse. There are only a few choices that affect the under-the-hood mechanics of your character, which to me is how it should be. No one knows when they first install a game what they want to be precisely, so why make them pick right away?
Read the Character Customization Preview.
Cheers,
Jon Wood
Managing Editor
MMORPG.com
Comments
This character customization although not new is welcomed information - Thanks!
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I love choices and Cryptic looks like they nailed it, can't wait to try it out!
I like the customization ideas that they have here, and it really does sound like the crew members used will have a big impact on how the ship will perform. This at least makes sense when it comes to the series, because a ship with a better captain and tactical officer would do better than one with a less experienced crew.
I guess someone will be kicked out of beta soon for breaking the NDA. It suppose to be illegal to even meention your in beta.
We have special permission for this series of articles we're running this week.
Dana Massey
Formerly of MMORPG.com
Currently Lead Designer for Bit Trap Studios
We have special permission for this series of articles we're running this week.
Oh i'm sorry i guess i should of figured. How about getting me early access lol j/k I'll get in an honest way.
One aspect Cryptic always nails is customization. From what I've seen, they're going to stick to their good record on that one.
Character creation looks really good. I can't wait to try it myself.
Good article, I am looking forward for this game.
Looks like winner to me
We have special permission for this series of articles we're running this week
That leaves me to wonder if your special permission is in exchange for positive coverage?
We have special permission for this series of articles we're running this week
That leaves me to wonder if your special permission is in exchange for positive coverage?
Come on now, that's a pretty low thing to say.
Here's why: You have no grounds for it, and there's no way to disprove it - the only way the writer can prove what you're saying is not true would be by giving negative coverage... but wait, what if they actually think the game is good? By the logic of your slander, there can never be a positive exclusive coverage that is not suspicious.
slander would be "zomg you clearly got paid to lie!!!one! You have no credibility anymore!!!"
Respectfully asking a question is not slander. It was the first question in my head after I read that post, and I'm not going to appologise for asking it. I wasn't accusing anyone of anything.
We have special permission for this series of articles we're running this week.
That sounds good to me. I hope they will be similar to this one and actually show screenshots of whatever they are about. I knew that the game was going to have extensive character customisation but I really like seeing the screenshots of it 'in action'.
Will Feburary ever come? This looks terrific, although with the customization options I figured they would have more canon races available. Maybe they will at launch. Anyway, good to see and hear some positive news. I know the character customization isn't new, but I haven't seen how the abilities work. Thanks for the info!
OK, if you say so... I guess it just did not occur to me that that question could be considered respectful. It's just that, that kind of question is called a "loaded question" in that it accuses by implication rather than outright claim, that's why it's considered even worse form than straight accusation.
I don't see whats so inappropriate about asking how one received special permission and if there were any terms. The mere question itself is not an accusation. That's problem with media these days no one wants to hold them accountable. I don't think its an insult or slander or anything else to ask a single question, that may or may not even be answered.
I care about this game and I'm very unsure about whether the information is hype or substance, all thats really been shown is space combat so far, so im naturally curious.
What's with the little green bug icon in the lower right-hand corner of the creation screens? Does that mean that character is playing as a joined Trill?
I don't know if anyone is allowed to answer this, but seeing as the only races that were shown were from the Federation 'faction' would it be safe to assume that, when creating a character, the first choice/option screen is Federation or Klingon?
Also would it be possible, since you have been given permission by cryptic to talk about and show pictures of the character creation process, to show or talk some more about the Klingon side of the game, since there is currently very little information at all available on this?
Journalistic integrity is tricky in situations like these, where you're being granted your material by the very subject of your writing.
Of course, it's possible (not very likely, but possible all the same), that he's being given access and clearance to break the NDA in exchange for positive coverage. It's also possible that he's very excited about the game and is showing that through his writing.
Here's something else to think about though: what if he didn't like it? And, more importantly, what if it showed? I'd wager that had he written this with an overly negative tone, he'd have someone at Cryptic contacting him about the article, and could possibly lose the both access he's been given and the clearance to write about it.
It's a fine line, and I'm sure he's writing this series of articles as neutral as possible, with more of an informative tone than an opinionated one.
I would imagine like most online games most people play the "goods guys" and since the majority of the player base will probably be federation they are keeping the info about it, don't wanna scare of the people with looking like ugly aliens I guess:P Everyone wants pretty people or elves, aka vulcans this time around.
To put your mind at ease, there is no deal in place to give positive coverage for early coverage. That really wouldn't serve us very well in the long run, would it. If we said great and glowing things about the game now, and in February it turned out to be terrible and proved that we were lying, I'm pretty sure we'd get called on it... and that's assuming that we're the kind of people who would do that in the first place, which I'm happy to say we're not.
Hope that clears things up for you.
Cheers,
Jon Wood
Managing Editor
MMORPG.com
I'm curious what it is that those of you who are suggesting this article may be biased are taking issue with? I personally do not like several of the decisions cryptic have made, but in this particular instance I am quite happy with the character creation process. There seem to be enough sliders for all the necessary customisation options, so I'm not sure what there would be to write negatively about.
Well, considering that the site has put out articles that could be viewed as negative about Champions Online (Cyrptic's other game), I don't think there's any sort of foul-play involved. Also, while I have to admit I think Dana's articles that he comes up with himself (ie, the Why Not series) are cruddy (sorry Dana, just personal opinion, lol), I also have to admit that when Dana is given a solid topic to write about, such as a game for preview or the like, he does some quite good writing indeed.
"Because it's easier to nitpick something than to be constructive." -roach5000
It wasn't. Cryptic was allowed to look at the articles first and request feedback (normally, we don't let anyone see the article first, but unfortunately, that's the price you pay for early coverage), but had they asked me to change anything of import, I would not have let this article see the light of day.
The only thing they asked we change was a reminder that the UI is work in progress (a point I intended to have in there anyway) and they disallowed one of our screenshots.
And as others said... it's character creation and awesome like Cryptic character creation always is
Really, there was nothing to complain about. A few of the later articles are likely to have a bit more critique in there.
Dana Massey
Formerly of MMORPG.com
Currently Lead Designer for Bit Trap Studios
We have special permission for this series of articles we're running this week.
Oh i'm sorry i guess i should of figured. How about getting me early access lol j/k I'll get in an honest way.
beishang is a troll! Let me help you troll . . . what does "I should of figured" mean? Maybe you "should HAVE figured."
Learn some grammar.