Cryptic Studios Unveils Exploration Trailer & Fees for Star Trek Online MMO

It’s really no secret that Griz and I are major Star Wars fans. What you might not know is that I’m also a pretty big Star Trek: The Next Generation fan (and of the new movie!). Not quite a Trekker, but close. I’ve been hearing rumblings about Star Trek Online for months now and have been getting some screenshots here and there. From what I’ve seen so far, I’m was getting excited to try this game out. Taking place many years after our last encounter with the ST:TNG timeline, the Klingon Empire has become more aggressive – conquering the Gorn and Orion homeworlds. Turning their sights to formerly ceded territories now occupied by the Romulans and Federation, the Empire has declared war. Pretty cool so far. Ship-to-ship space battles, away missions, class choices, allegiances and massive character customizations made me think this might be a serious challenger to Warcraft and the upcoming Star Wars: The Old Republic (hey, it’s Star Trek - they have a few fans…). There is also a “Genesis System” that creates new planets and alien races to explore and make contact with to ensure there is always something to do within the game. Developer Cryptic Studios has begun releasing video diaries and story updates in the past month and now comes word of the real issue: how much will this cost a month to play?

$5.99? $9.99? Nope.

For a month-by-month membership, you’ll be shelling out a whopping $14.99 a month. If you preorder the game, you can pay for a one year membership for only $119.99 or a lifetime membership for $239.99. These two option will only be availabe during the preorder period, leading me to believe if you show up late to the party that you’ll be paying through the nose. Still, I’m at least intrigued by the story and being able to captain my own starship and not be the red shirt on away missions. Now I just have to see if I can form my own crew before I shell out the dough…

Check out the exploration trailer below…