STAR TREK ONLINE FREE-TO-PLAY IN 2011
Contents
- Press Release
- Main
- Features Matrix
- FAQ
- Q & A Forum (statrekonline.com)
1. Press Release
STAR TREK ONLINE FREE-TO-PLAY IN 2011
Star Trek Online to Accommodate All Players. Closed Beta Begins Soon.
Los Gatos, CA (September 6, 2011) – Star Trek Online, the acclaimed sci-fi MMORPG, developed by Cryptic Studios, Inc. (“Cryptic Studios”), will be free-to-play in 2011. Players will be able to download and enjoy the game as they like at no cost.
A features matrix, FAQ, overview and various forums can be found on the official Star Trek Online website to better explain the nature of free-to-play to new and existing users.
To learn more about Star Trek Online free-to-play, please visit: http://www.startrekonline.com/f2p
“In addition to seeking out new life and exploring strange new civilizations, part of our continuing mission for Star Trek Online is to expand and improve,” said Jack Emmert, CEO, Cryptic Studios. “Transitioning to a free-to-play model is a natural way to share all we’ve built with a broader community of players and we couldn’t be more excited.”
Later this year, when Star Trek Online free-to-play launches, anyone can download and play the game for free without purchasing a retail copy or subscription. All players will be able to take advantage of Star Trek Online’s many features for free, from customizing avatars, crews and the very ships they command, to exploring a galaxy filled with intrigue and danger.
Players will also be able to access additional features a la carte through a virtual goods store. Current players can become Gold Members by continuing to subscribe to the game for $14.99 a month. New players can also upgrade to Gold status for a set price of $14.99 per month. The differences between paying Gold Members and free Silver Players can be found at: http://www.startrekonline.com/f2p
Star Trek Online free-to-play allows players to get into the game and engage the Star Trek universe in a number of ways:
The Universe is Your Only Limit – Play as much as you like for as long as you like at no cost. No subscription is required, nor is payment of any kind required.
Episodic Gameplay – Experience new weekly episodes that feature story-based gameplay and put your captain’s ability to command to the ultimate test.
Your Captain, Your Crew, Your Destiny – Become a captain, seek out new life and new civilizations and encounter hostile beings as you advance to maximum level for free.
Familiar Places, New Experiences – Travel to Starfleet Academy, Deep Space Nine, The First City of Qo’noS and many other iconic locations and notable worlds from the beloved Star Trek universe.
Engage and Explore Your Way – A web and in-game virtual goods store provides players the option of purchasing gameplay upgrades or additional premium content as they like, when they like.
Taking place in the year 2409, Star Trek Online boasts extraordinary features and lets fans both new and old experience unparalleled adventures within the Star Trek universe. Players have the opportunity to become high-ranking Starfleet officers and participate in missions structured like episodes that take them into the depths of space, across exotic planets and inside other starships. All players are invited to explore strange new worlds and encounter new life in a vast, ever expanding universe!
Star Trek Online is a licensed product from CBS Consumer Products and developed by Cryptic Studios, Inc. For more information, please visit: www.startrekonline.com
TM & © 2011 CBS Studios Inc. All Rights Reserved. STAR TREK and related marks are trademarks of CBS Studios Inc.
2. Main
Welcome to the Star Trek Online free-to-play information center! Here you will find all you need to know about the options available to subscribers and non-subscribing players. Please use the tabs above to check out our detailed features matrix for a breakdown of what subscribing Gold Members and free Silver Players receive. There’s also a FAQ and a Q&A board.
Here’s an overview of Star Trek Online’s free-to-play features and how you can engage in a number of different ways:
- The Universe is Your Only Limit – Play as much as you like for as long as you like at no cost. No subscription is necessary, nor is payment of any kind required.
- Episodic Gameplay – Experience new weekly episodes that feature story-based gameplay and put your captain’s ability to command to the ultimate test.
- Your Captain, Your Crew, Your Destiny – Become a captain, seek out new life and new civilizations and encounter hostile beings as you advance to maximum level for free.
- Familiar Places, New Experiences – Travel to Starfleet Academy, Deep Space Nine, The First City of Qo’noS and many other iconic locations and notable worlds from the beloved Star Trek universe.
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As Star Trek Online’s free-to-play effort is very much still in development, please be aware that the information provided here is subject to change pending user feedback and closed beta testing.
3. Features Matrix
Check out this handy free-to-play features matrix to see the different features available to Gold Members and Silver Players.
Please note: This features matrix, like the rest of Star Trek Online’s free-to-play effort is subject to change based on user feedback.
4. FAQ – Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What is Star Trek Online?
Star Trek Online is a massively multiplayer online roleplaying game (MMORPG) set in the Star Trek universe and includes customizable ships and characters from the Klingon Empire and United Federation of Planets, as well as ground and space gameplay. Players can also design and create their own content to share with their friends and the entire Star Trek Online community using The Foundry toolset.
Q: What is Free-to-Play?
Simply, anyone can play Star Trek Online at no cost. No subscription is required. You don’t even have to buy the game. You can download and play for free!
In the Free-to-Play model, players have the option to purchase services, items and content to customize their gameplay. These purchases expand upon an already complete experience and allow you to further customize your characters and enjoy the game in new ways. You can access this new material in the C-Store and use Cryptic Points to make your purchases.
Q: Will I need a credit card to play?
No. However, should you wish to purchase items from the C-Store, you’ll need a valid credit card, PayPal account, direct debit or other supported payment method.
Q: What is the C-Store?
The C-Store is an in-game and web-based virtual goods shop from which you can purchase items to enhance your Star Trek Online experience. For example, you can buy Retrain Tokens (which allow you to reorganize your character advancement choices), new costume pieces, Captain Rename tokens, premium ships, and much more! You can view a catalog of items currently available for purchase online here or inside the Star Trek Online game.
To access the C-Store in-game, simply click on the inverted triangle in the lower right-hand corner of your mini-map interface. Then select “Visit the C-Store” to begin browsing.
Q: What are Cryptic Points?
Cryptic Points are the currency you use to purchase goods and services from the C-Store. You can purchase Cryptic Points online via one of several payment methods. You do not need to purchase Cryptic Points to play Star Trek Online.
Q: What is Dilithium? How do I earn it?
Dilithium replaces the old “Marks” and “Emblems” of Star Trek Online. Your current Marks, Badges, and Emblems will be converted into this new single currency. All standard ships that previously cost energy credits will now cost Dilithium. In-game stores which currently take Marks and Emblems will now take Dilithium as well. Instead of receiving free ship tokens, players will now receive Dilithium through natural play which can be used to purchase ships and gear. Ships purchased with Dilithium will be character unlocks, while ships which are purchased using Cryptic Points will be account unlocks, similar to the way things unlock with energy credits, marks or emblems today.
Q: I would still like to subscribe. Can I?
Absolutely. We offer an entirely optional subscription for players who prefer it. Players who are currently subscribed will remain subscribed until they choose to unsubscribe. We call all subscribers Gold Members. All Gold Members receive special access to content and services that may not be freely available for Silver Players. Please see our Features Matrix for more details.
Q: What are the differences between Silver Players and Gold Members?
Silver Players are the Star Trek Online players who have opted to play the game without subscribing. They have full access to the game, but prefer the free-to-play model. Gold Members are players who have elected to subscribe or continue subscribing to Star Trek Online. The Features Matrix describes these differences in more detail.
Q: How do I become a Gold Member?
If you choose to subscribe or continue subscribing to Star Trek Online, you automatically become a Gold Member. If you’re a Lifetime Subscriber, you’re also considered a Gold Member. If you are not a Gold Member but would like to become one, you may subscribe via your account management pages on this official website.
Q: I’m currently a regular or Lifetime subscriber to Star Trek Online. Where do I fit in?
Regular subscribers become Gold Members automatically. Subscribers are charged a regular fee based on one of the several subscription options they have chosen. Lifetime subscribers, also Gold Members, are those players who have opted to pay a single one-time fee for Gold Membership.
If you stop subscribing, you become a Silver Player. If you have characters that use Gold features, you will be unable to play them as a Silver Player until they are converted.
Lifetime subscribers also become Gold Members automatically and will not be charged a continuing subscription fee. Basically, nothing changes for Lifetime subscribers: They continue to have complete access to the same content, items and episodes the way they always have.
Q: I’m a loyal subscriber. What will happen to my Veteran Rewards?
Veteran Rewards will remain in place for subscribers. Those who have earned these rewards will be able to keep them. These rewards are only available to players who choose to subscribe to Star Trek Online. For more information regarding Veteran Rewards, please see our Veteran Rewards page.
Q: I used to have an active subscription to Star Trek Online. Can I play my existing characters as a Silver Player?
Your characters are still available, but they may not use Gold features. To play them as a Silver Player, you will need to convert them before playing.
Q: I canceled my Star Trek Online subscription, but I’m interested in becoming a Silver Player. Will I have the same access to the game as I did previously?
Your characters are still available, but they may not use Gold features. To play them as a Silver Player, you will need to convert them before playing. Additionally, Gold Members and Silver Players differ in Star Trek Online. A player who previously subscribed to Star Trek Online and then returned to game as a Silver Player will not have the same exact features provided to Gold Members. The Features Matrix describes these differences in more detail.
Q: If I decide to downgrade from Gold to Silver, what happens to all my stuff?
Characters will remain when switching from Gold to Silver. However, players will not be able to play them until either they re-upgrade to Gold or convert them individually into Silver characters in-game. The exact conversion process is still being determined. Please note that we never delete character data. If a Gold Member cancels his or her subscription and decides to restart it at a later date, all of that Member’s characters and associated items will be intact.
Q: What type of in-game mail and chat restrictions do Silver Players have?
Silver Player chat and e-mail is rate-limited (though you would likely never see the limit if you chat or e-mail normally). They cannot use broadcast chat and may only send private messages (“tells”) to players who are their friends. These restrictions are in place to curtail spammers.
Q: Will there be any changes to the C-Store now that STO is going free-to-play?
Yes. We’ll be reviewing the content and prices of goods on offer in the C-store. This includes prices for ships at all tiers. There are currently no plans to increase the price of any premium ship. For now, we know that some previously purchasable playable species will soon be free (Ferengi, Rigelian, Pakled, Tellarite), and others (Liberated Borg, Joined Trill, Federation Klingons) will be earned through other means. If you have already unlocked access to any C-store items, including playable species, you will retain that access in the free-to-play transition.
Q: Why are Klingons not unlocked until level 25 now?
We understand that the Klingon Faction is currently under developed. Due to this, we’ve decided that beginning with the free-to-play conversion, Klingon play will be unlocked at level 25, rather than the low level it is now.
This allows us to provide a better experience for Klingon play while we continue to work on improving the faction. A more complete, full-fledged Klingon Faction that we’ve always wanted to be able to provide will be launched in a future update. Our new owners and publishers at Perfect World are just as committed to having a fully developed Klingon Faction as we are and as our players are. We’re incredibly excited about this opportunity!
Q: Will I lose access to my Klingon if I don’t have a level 25 Federation Character?
No, if you have already unlocked Klingon play, and created a Klingon Character, your character will still be available to you. If your Klingon character has not reached the new starting level for Klingons once the conversion is completed, we will adjust your Klingon character so that he is still viable in the new empire.
Q: What effect will the Klingon Changes have on PvP?
Low level Klingon vs. Federation PvP queues will be temporarily removed. However, Federation vs. Federation PvP will still be possible. Klingon vs. Federation PvP will become available at the same rank that Klingons begin.
PLEASE NOTE: Subject to change. We’re continually implementing improvements and changes and may alter the free-to-play experience significantly based on user feedback.
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