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2 CommentsPublisher Perfect World and Cryptic Studios create new MMO development studio
By Jenna Pitcher on Jun 06, 2013 06.06.13
Publisher Perfect World Entertainment Inc. and Cryptic Studios have formed a new development division called Cryptic North, to assist Cryptic Studios in the ongoing growth of free-to-play superhero massively multiplayer online role-playing game, Champions Online, and provide support for other MMO titles. The Seattle-based studio is also working with Cryptic Studios to provide development support with sci-fi MMO Star Trek Online and free-to-play fantasy MMO Neverwinter. Cryptic North is headed by 15-year industry veteran and Flying Lab Software co-founder, Russell Williams. Flying Lab Software created pirate-themed MMO Pirates of the Burning Sea and railroad sim Rails Across America. "I look forward to working closely with Perfect World and the talented developers at Cryptic...
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0 CommentsStar Trek Online dev blog details Romulan Republic personnel, expansion beta opens May 10
By Jenna Pitcher on May 09, 2013 05.09.13
Perfect World Entertainment detailed the Romulan Republic personnel in Star Trek Online's upcoming expansion, Legacy of Romulus, in a recent dev blog on the game's official site. In the new expansion, players can chose to be a Federation, Klingon Empire, or Romulan Republic captain. Romulan Republic faction players have access to faction-specific Bridge and Duty Officers, that can only be used by Romulan Captains. Romulan players can get access to Duty Officers by conducting recruitment assignments offered by the Duty Officer Recruitment contact located at New Romulus Command. Bridge Officers are recruited a number of ways, such as through New Romulus Command when players level up. You can check out the dev blog for the full details. Beginning May 10, the expansion will be available...
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1 CommentStar Trek Online dev blog introduces the Reman species
By Megan Farokhmanesh on May 04, 2013 05.04.13
Star Trek Online's upcoming expansion, Legacy of Romulus, will feature a new playable species called the Reman, according to a recent dev blog on the game's official site. Players will be able to pick up the Reman species by purchasing it through the site store or Legacy Pack. The species can also be earned by achieving Tier 5 in New Romulus Reputation. The Reman will come with several special features, including exclusive trait options, ship materials and a new psychic attack called Mind Drain. You can check out the dev blog here for the full details. Legacy of Romulus is currently slated for launch May 21. Perfect World Entertainment recently outlined its tier of special player rewards for those with gold, silver or lifetime subscriptions.
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0 CommentsStar Trek Online dev blog outlines tiered player rewards
By Jenna Pitcher on Apr 30, 2013 04.30.13
Star Trek Online publisher Perfect World Entertainment will offer a slew of tiered special items to players when the Legacy of Romulus expansion goes live, according to a blog post by senior producer Steve "Salamilnferno" Ricossa, Jr.. Gold, silver and lifetime players will receive a playable Alien-Gen Hybrid Romulan species. Gold subscribers of more than 600 days, veteran players and lifetime subscribers will receive a Vice Admiral Ship Token to unlock a unlock Vice Admiral character or a Rear Admiral Romulan Retrofit ship for free. Lifetime subscribers will have access to playable Liberated Human and Klingon Borg species, and will be eligible for all veteran rewards outlined on the blog. Veteran rewards include several items per reward tier and range from a full respec for 100...
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1 CommentJohn Needham appointed studio head of Fable developer Lionhead
By Dave Tach on Apr 23, 2013 04.23.13
John Needham, former CEO of Cryptic Studios and Gazillion Entertainment, has been appointed studio head of Fable developer Lionhead Studios, according to a recent posting on the developer's website. As CEO, Needham oversaw development studios that have created games like City of Heroes and Star Trek Online (Cryptic) and Marvel Heroes (Gazillion). Lionhead's post touts his experience with massively multiplayer online role-playing games, free-to-play titles as well as PC and mobile games. "This is a historic time in our industry and I'm excited, and honored, to be joining Lionhead and Microsoft Studios," Needham said. "Our vision is focused on building innovative gaming services and AAA experiences at Lionhead, and the rest of Microsoft Studios, which take advantage of Microsoft's...
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1 CommentStar Trek Online dev blog details Romulan ship progression
By Megan Farokhmanesh on Apr 21, 2013 04.21.13
Star Trek Online publisher Perfect World Entertainment detailed several Romulan ships and their progression for upcoming Star Trek Online expansion Legacy of Romulus on a recent development blog. According to the post, all Romulan Warbirds will come with a cloaking device, subterfuge racial trait that makes detection difficult and warp cores that add singularity abilities. The game will also feature several smaller Romulan crafts, such as the Tiercel Shuttle, Kestrel Runabout and Scorpion Fighter, and several kinds of warships. The post also contains a progression chart for ship tiers, which details how higher quality ships can be obtained. You can read the full update here. Legacy of Romulus is currently slated for launch May 21. Previously, the publisher detailed the expansion's...
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0 CommentsStar Trek Online: Legacy of Romulus pre-order bonuses include ships, officers
By Samit Sarkar on Apr 18, 2013 04.18.13
Star Trek Online publisher Perfect World Entertainment will launch the game's first expansion, Legacy of Romulus, next month, and the company announced two paid pre-order packs for the expansion today. Cryptic Studios' space MMO went free-to-play in January 2012, and Legacy of Romulus will be free as well, but players can purchase the expansion's Starter Pack or Legacy Pack for additional content. The $19.99 Starter Pack comes with two ships, the T'Varo Warbird Retrofit and T'Varo Light Warbird, as well as a Liberated Borg Reman Bridge Officer and an exclusive "Survivor of Romulus" title. The Legacy Pack, which costs $124.99, boasts nine Romulan ships that unlock for all Romulan Republic characters on an account. It also includes a playable Romulan Faction species, the Reman, and...
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0 CommentsStar Trek Online celebrates three-year anniversary
By Tracey Lien on Feb 01, 2013 02.01.13
Cryptic Studios and Perfect World Entertainment are celebrating the third anniversary of Star Trek Online by hosting a series of in-game events to allow players to join in the festivities. As part of the celebration, Captains are being invited to experience "Temporal Ambassador," a special anniversary episode starring Denise Crosby, who will be reprising her role as Lieutenant Tasha Yar from Star Trek: The Next Generation. The omnipotent being, the notorious Q, will also be hosting a yet-to-be-detailed event where players will be able to earn in-game rewards. "We've come a long way since Star Trek Online first launched in February 2010," said Daniel Stahl, Executive Producer at Cryptic Studios. "Since then, I've had the pleasure to serve alongside one of the most talented development...
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3 CommentsStar Trek Online launches Season 7 update, plot focus on rebuilding Romulan homeworld
By Alexa Ray Corriea on Nov 13, 2012 11.13.12
Free-to-play MMORPG Star Trek Online launched its Season 7: New Romulus update today, turning the plot's focus to assisting the remains of the Romulan race in finding a new planet to call home, publisher Perfect World Entertainment announced today. Players will aid Romulan leader D'Tan as he and his people look for a new homeworld, following their first planet's destruction in the previous Season 6: Under Siege storyline. The update introduces new worlds and civilizations for players to explore, including locales and people familiar to the Star Trek television series. "This is the first time Star Trek fans will have a chance to participate in the story of rebuilding the Romulan Empire," STO executive producer Daniel Stahl said in a press release. "In Season 7: New Romulus, players...
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0 CommentsStar Trek Online launch veterans get free in-game swag
By Alexa Ray Corriea on Oct 10, 2012 10.10.12
Developer Cryptic Studios is rewarding Star Trek Online players who have been with the game since its launch with free in-game swag, publisher Perfect World Entertainment announced yesterday in a blog post. Today marks the 1000th day running for the Star Trek-themed massively multiplayer online game. Players who have stuck around since the beginning will receive a new in-game title, a protoype heavyweight Chimera Destroyer ship for players allied to Starfleet or a Peghq Destroyer for Klingon players, and an additional Starship slot. "Since Star Trek Online launched in February 2010, we have thanked our loyal subscribers and lifetime members through the Veteran's Rewards program," PWE_BranFlakes wrote on the company's blog. "We know you have many options in choosing where to spend your...
