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Star Trek Online producer confirms familiar races and locales
Bet you'd just about forgotten about Star Trek Online by this point, hadn't you? There was a big explosion of information when Cryptic announced its iteration of the game in August, but since then, we've seen less and less information as time's gone by. But lo! There has been an update at the officlal site! Turns out the executive producer, Craig Zinkievich, did an interview with Skewed and Reviewed.It makes for a decent overview if you're new to Star Trek Online, but there isn't much in the way of new gameplay information except for some specific revelations about visitable locales and playable races. First of all, he confirmed that Deep Space Nine -- the setting of the TV series of the same name -- will be in the game. He also rattled off a few of the playable races (but not all, and remember you can create your own): "Human, Vulcan, Andorian, Klingon, Orion and several others." Trekkers / trekkies should be glad to hear that there will be no shortage of scantily clad green people or blue antennae.
The Digital Continuum: Pondering Star Trek Online
As a kid, I grew up on Star Trek: The Next Generation. Mostly because my parents watched it constantly, but also because I found that I enjoyed the show. Another staple of my nerd-influenced upbringing was a steady diet of Star Trek movies. Since those formative years I've also watched Deep Space Nine, Babylon 5, Voyager and more recently Battlestar Galactica. So it's safe to say I'm at least a casual sci-fi and space nerd. In fact, when I'm not entrenched in some form of entertainment, I tend to spend my extra time over at the official website of Astrophysicist Neil DeGrasse Tyson. Of course Star Trek has never been purely about Science. It's always been -- to me, at least -- a mixture of social-political issues, engaging drama and several degrees of actual science. Different writers and directors have, over several decades, writ large their envisioned versions of Star Trek, with varying amounts of the three critical factors that make up a Star Trek experience. So, obviously, I now find myself wondering what Cryptic Studio's massively multiplayer online version is going to be like.
Next-gen NASA spacesuit contract mothballed
It may be true that no one can hear you scream in space, but we'd be wagering that a whole lot of people can hear the yelling coming out of Houston-based Oceaneering International, Inc., who just lost their two month old $745 million NASA contract to build the next-gen space suit. Of course, the bid was not without its fair share of bitching and moaning by competing contractors (apparently long time space suit-makers Hamilton Sundstrand and ILC Dover made a big stink after the contract was awarded to their upstart competitor), but them's the breaks when your gear's headed to space. Too bad though, we were really looking forward to the gear -- especially since now we have absolutely nothing to wear to the astro-prom.
Official Asheron's Call blog is nostalgic
Asheron's Call's 100th update is imminent, and to celebrate, Turbine has started a "Nostalgia Blog" in which old designers of the game reminisce about their experiences of elation and tribulation. The first entry is now live. It was written by Allan "Orion" Maki, who worked as a designer on nearly half of AC's content updates. He also wrote a huge chunk of the game's ongoing storyline. That storyline has been an important reason for people to keep on playing the game after all these years.In the blog, he describes his first, disaster-laden attempt at design, names his favorite characters and quests, and gushes compliments at AC, saying "you never forget your first love." Now he's working on The Lord of the Rings Online, but one senses that he won't forget his roots.
NASA's new suits are one giant leap for space fashion
NASA just awarded its future spacesuit contract to Oceaneering International. The US firm must now design, test, and produce two suits -- the default suit (pictured after the break) worn on-board for launch and landing and a second, more versatile, cheese-proof suit worn during space walks and upon the surface of the moon. The suits must be ready for the first scheduled launch of the Orion Space Capsule in 2015. The contract is valued at the government special price of just $745 million. Hey, we have to keep up appearances at the International Space Station, you know.
TR patch 1.8 on test later today, get leveled to 30
We're excited to report that Tabula Rasa's patch 1.8 will be on test some time today. Among the changes, and this time it appears there's a real smattering of different stuff, is a new target lock-on system that allows you to set both friendly and and hostile target locks. Also, this blogger is excited about the changes to the Demolitionist class, which could finally prompt him to get that Sapper over the hump from level 28 to 30. We don't have full patch notes at the time of posting, because the patch isn't up yet, but we'll update with further details as they become available.And as an added bonus, Harley Quin will be hanging around Alia Das, just like with patch 1.7, to level players to 30 so they can test out the changes that are only available at a higher level. According to CuppaJo, they're looking to make this process automatic in the near-future, but for the time being this is how it'll work. This service is only available today and tomorrow, so make sure to get on sometime soon if you want to give the new patch a full look and you don't already have a character on Orion, which is the server being copied over this patch.
Come kick Bane butt, make some cash, in RGTR player event
A call to arms is going out on Tabula Rasa's Orion server for players willing to help engage a large concentration of Bane troops near Lower Eloh Creek. Field Sgt. Witherspoon and the clan "Panic" have been holding the line at the river, but are putting out an all points bulletin looking for reinforcements to help beat back the Thrax and recapture this strategically important objective. Players interested in throwing their weight into the counter-offensive should assemble at Lower Eloh Creek at 9PM CST (10PM EST) on Saturday the 17th. While this is part recruiting event for Panic, they're also encouraging other players to help out, and are offering a $200,000 credit bonus to the first player to complete a special operation.For our part, we're rather impressed that Destination Games is encouraging this level of community involvement through their official channels. Clan raids are hardly anything new, but it's still pretty rare that they get acknowledged enough to be featured on the game's website. So if you play on the Orion server and want the opportunity to make some cash or meet an established group of players, make sure to free up your Saturday night.
Orion's el cheap-o 32 and 37-inch HDTVs for Japan
More evidence to support the continued free-fall of flat panel prices in Japan and abroad: the ¥89,000 (about $768) 32-inch and ¥129,800 (about $1,110) 37-inch Orion LCD TVs. Both panels are available from Japan's Orion Direct and feature integrated digital/analog terrestrial tuners, a 1366x768 resolution, 1000:1 contrast, up to 500cd/m2 brightness, and 176-degree viewing angle with HDMI, D4, S-Video, and a couple of composite inputs. Ok, we're not talking cheap a la the similarly spec'd $500 32-inch KONKA our readers discovered yesterday, but hey, damn cheap for Japan.[Via Impress] Read -- 32-inch LD32V-TD1 Read -- 37-inch LD37V-TD1
