Star Trek Online to take customization where no MMO has gone before

February 20, 10:43 AMGames ExaminerDaniel Nations

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It's a wonder that it has taken so long for a Star Trek MMORPG to appear. Right now, the game isn't even in alpha or beta testing, so it might be deep into 2010 or even 2011 before we see the game. That means it is possible that two -- yes, count them, two -- Star Wars MMOs will have made it out the door before a major Star Trek title hit the massively online game space.

Considering how nuts Star Trek fans are for that universe, my question is: What's taken so long?

But in the long run, it may be a good thing that we haven't seen one emerging until now, because if early signs are any indication, Cryptic Studios is working on a real treat for Star Trek fans.

Star Trek fans will love the level of customization in the game.

In City of Heroes, Cryptic Studios put a level of avatar customization into the game that was well beyond other MMOs. And they are taking that to a much higher level with Star Trek Online. Not only will you be able to fully customize your starship captain, you will also have a great deal of control over the look of your ship.

This works by picking a particular configuration and then customizing the various parts, like the saucer, hull, nacelles, etc. At first, you might be limited to a light cruiser configurations, so you can have ships that look like a Miranda class or Centaur class. But, through customization, you can really create a unique look for the ship. And, as you progress, new ship configurations will open up for you.

Because the game will be split between time in space, where you'll engage in ship battles and explore new regions of space, and time on land, where you will go on various ground missions, the ability to customize both your captain and your ship will really allow you to cruise around with a unique look.

So, what about cruising at warp speed and redirecting power to main life support? If you are interested in more details about the game, check out the latest Q&A with the developers.

• Screenshots released in January and at the NYCC
• Gameplay Trailer