ST0 Update: System Requirements + ‘Episode’ Details + New Screenshots & more November 12, 2009
by Joseph Gunnell , Filed under: Star Trek Online , trackback
Earlier this week Cryptic announced an official release date for Star Trek Online (February 2, 2010), and now Cryptic has announced the computer system requirements. We have that below, along with more info on STO "episodes", new screenshots, new interviews and more.
Computer Requirements
Cryptic has finally released the system requirements for Star Trek Online. The first set of ‘minimum’ system requirements are the bare bones just to run the game, but you are probably best shooting for the ‘recommended’ requirements if you want to get the most of Star Trek Online. The differences between the two, are focused on the processor, memory and video capabilities.
Minimum System Requirements
OS: Windows XP SP2 / Windows Vista / Windows 7 (32 or 64-bit)
CPU: Intel Core 2 Duo 1.8 Ghz or AMD Athlon X2 3800+
Memory: 1GB RAM
Video: NVIDIA GeForce 7950 / ATI Radeon X1800 / Intel HD Graphics
Sound: DirectX 9.0c Compatible Soundcard
DirectX: Version 9.0c or Higher
HDD: 8GB Free Disk Space
Network: Internet Broadband Connection Required
Disc: 6X DVD-ROM
Recommended System Configuration
OS: Windows XP SP2 / Windows Vista / Windows 7 (32 or 64-bit)
CPU: Intel E8400 Core 2 Duo or AMD Athlon X2 5600+
Memory: 2GB RAM+
Video: NVIDIA GeForce 8800 / ATI Radeon HD 3850+
Sound: DirectX 9.0c Compatible Soundcard
DirectX: Version 9.0c or Higher
HDD: 8GB Free Disk Space
Network: Internet Broadband Connection Required
Disc: 6X DVD-ROM
More details on ‘episodes’
There was a recent update to the “Ask Cryptic” which covers some of the frequently asked questions. In this update Cryptic decided to discuss how episodes (the STO term for quests) work and how they are designed. Some interesting things to point out are:
- Each episode will build up to the story in Star Trek Online
- Allies and Adversaries will return in later missions just like in any episode of Star Trek.
- At launch there will be 3 ‘seasons’ with fourteen episodes per season worth of content. More content will be released after launch.
- Each episode will take approximately 45 to 90 minutes to complete.
Something to remember is that this is just the missions at launch. This doesn’t include exploring space, engaging in PVP combat, crafting and other anything else that has been unannounced. Cryptic also stated it plans on releasing more content after launch.
For further reading here is a link to the FAQ featuring episodes.
New Interviews
There are a two new interviews with STO Producer Craig Zinkievich; one was with NowGamer and the other was with G4. The NowGamer interview with Craig mostly recaps some of the information that we’ve already known about Star Trek Online. G4 has put up an article which was more of a overview about STO’s features, along with a video interview with Craig answering some questions as well as including some new video of Star Trek Online game play (see below).
Pre-order Star Trek Online
Amazon is currently taking pre-orders on Star Trek Online for $46.99, with an exclusive Borg Bridge officer. GameStop (list price of $49.99) is offering an a bonus Starfleet Constitution Class Starship
.
Cryptic have yet to confirm a release date for Star Trek Online, however (unofficially) February 2, 2010 may be the day, if you believe the retailers who are currently selling pre-orders, like Amazon, GoGamer.com and GameStop. However, Newegg is lists the release date as January 1, 2010 (likely just a placeholder for ‘2010′), but demonstrating that this is still not set in stone.
New screens
Finally we have 10 brand new screenshots from STO, four ground based and six space based, including a ship very close to the NCC-1701-A.
Space based
Land based
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Comments»
Soooo… nothing for Mac users? :’-(
Just another game…it seems.
AWESOME!!! First
2) Nor another game, Star Trek MMO Dude.
@1
It would appear so. Was it not the Mac that helped Scotty present the transparent aluminum that enabled him to make a deal that saved the Earth?
If they supported consoles or macs, I’d be all over this.
Can’t wait, it will finally get me into playing my first MMORPG. It should be good, they have been working on it long enough.
I am not sure why every one of these turns into a mac pc agrument, but lets nip it in the bud. If you are part of the 5% of the market that has a mac, use boot camp, or wait for the console version. Sorry.
Mac haters!!
“wait for the console version.” Does that mean it’s coming out on a console? that would be great!
just suck it up and get a real computer. Its hard to find a desktop that doesn’t meet these requirements. I would be suprised if the new dell zino couldn’t handle it, and thats like $300
I just checked the zino HD (with dual core upgrade) should support it. Its about $300 unless you can’t stand 7 basic, then its more like $330.
get it on ps3!!!!
This game is not worth investing our time in if they didnt take any time or effort to make it MAC compatible. I personaly dont know any PC users where I live in Toronto as everyone has done the intelegent thing and converted to MAC. Given Apples market pentration over the past 5 years its pretty clear that the days of leaving MAC out of a buisness model are over.
Re: Allen thanks for the info! Nice to know that even cheapy computers will handle it.
The ships are crap. Cheap kitbashes… and who the hell set up that story?
Klingons and Federation at war… again???
Come on, if TUC had one message, it was that even two enemies could overcome their problems and work together. Do they really need to spoil the superb sendoff the TOS crew got?
I cannot believe what happened to the awesome game that was announced in 2006 (with the superb screenshots of Galaxy-Class interiors).
Too bad… I thought, this would become my first MMORPG.
The engine looks just like Elite Force 2, which is now 6 years old.
What a sad career for such a promissing game. How could they have messed this one up like that?
*sigh* Just ANOTHER TNG game. This should have been a TOS-era game, if they wanted to do something original, fresh, and different for a change.
I am looking forward to this, looks like fun.
(Am I about to be derided and mocked for my anticipation?)
Seems like people wanna crap all over everything nowadays, whether they have seen it or not. . .
The lighting looks impressive, but the model detail is disappointing for a game I’d have to upgrade my video card to play.
Theoretically, if it was available for Mac, wouldn’t the requirements be the same? You would still need a certain CPU speed, GPU speed, etc.
16.
Ok so everyone would have the SAME ship in your Star Trek Game? And MMO’s always have weak stories it really doesn’t matter.
In your game the Fed and Klingons fly around the galaxy delivering teddy bear gift baskets in a competition to see who is cool? (Even when you’re at peace with Klingons you are probably going to fight with them.)
I always though that having the ship interior to run around in sounded cool. But from a game play standpoint I could never see having to run to Engineering to fix a plasma converter, since I am the ships Captain. I cheered when the ship interiors were removed from the game.
19. My feelings exactly.
Is that a KLINGON / VULCAN hybrid?
Hmm. I want to want this game, but I waste enough time as it is. Sheesh…I’m still undecided. I agree with the nitpicking about the storyline, apparently we’re beating this dead targ but good!
That’s a nice shot of the Akira class….I’ll definitely be in an Akira if I do play. Looks like fun despite the problems.
crud…
all i need is the internet and i can play this game (i’nm using my work computer as a i type).
a huge part of me wants to pre-order from Gamestop, just to get the original Constitution-class…
I got so sick of trying to figure out if my computer had the right requirements to play a game. So often I wouldn’t have everything to make it work correctly.
That’s mostly why I switched to console gaming.
TO ALL THE HATERS….we should be so fortunate to EVEN get ANOTHER ST game. Everyone’s complaining about one thing or another, but have you even thought about the ratio of good games to bad games. I consider it a miracle that a company would still want to invest any time at all in making a ST themed game considering some of the poor games that followed it.
Being a pretty hardcore fan, ANY ST game, no matter what it is or how bad it is, is still worth checking out.
The only thing that would ever stop me from playing STO is a membership cost or the fact that my comp probably couldnt handle it. (Come out for 360 please!!!!)
In any case, I feel extremely fortunate that people are investing all this work to create ST games, even the movies too!
I feel the need to point out that fairly often PC games are ported to Mac, although it may be a while.
I for one am going to give this game the benefit of the doubt. There seems to be a real attempt to make create the Trek Universe as opposed to dropping Trek ships in an Asteroids clone.
The success or failure of the game will be determined very early on. The gameplay must be there, but the support must be there as well. Even a good game will fail if there are constant server problems that frustrate players.
I truly hope they have done enough stress testing and do not rush the game to market because frankly there is no need to do so. If they create compelling worlds the players will come, no matter when it is launched.
I own a MacBook Pro and fully plan on taking advantage of this game as soon as it launches!
That’s because any Intel Apple computer can boot naively to a Windows operating system using BootCamp.
Boot to Windows XP, load up Star Trek Online, and Trek out all night!
They are very silly for not launching with Mac support… Kind of ironic… the latest ads for the new iMac 27″ feature none other than the USS Enterprise! So sad…
I think this will be my first Trek game since Elite Force. I’m kinda stuck in 2D (Birth of the Federation, lol) but I can’t resist the look of this game. I hope its fun. Buying the fastest Dell I can get so the requirements should be fine.
WOW! There low requirements, I CAN RUN IT! =D
Also just because there is no OS X support at launch doesn’t mean it won’t come, Warhammer Online has it but didn’t at launch. Also very few MMO’s have console support and let’s be honest they are not best.
At least they can focus just on one thing atm making the game great during it’s first few months which is most important in deciding if the game makes it.
Also the game will be constantly updated, Cryptic Studios know how to make an MMO so stop the whining.
@23
I was thinking the same… LOL… yeah that shouldn’t work!!! Vulcanoids and Klingons can’t breed.
Again, Cryptic; a whole family of Mac users (and I mean family all over the country, not just one house) all wanting to play this. Lost of $$$ lost, so work up that OS X version.
man my pc is an antique. Ill need a new motherboard and processor to play this *sigh*
Damn there are never any fun games for Mac. there go the months of anticipation. come on guys why do we need bootcamp to play a game?!
it would be great if there was more of a focus on games which would run on Mac OSX.
the whole 5% of the market excuse is lame. Mac market share is slightly above 8% and quickly climbing. at one location alone i see at the least 6 people everyday leave the mall i work at with some apple computer (mac book, imac, ect.)
#36 – I feel your pain… I really wish they would create a PS3 version of this. :(
also just to add to what i recently posted. according to pcworld.com
“12 percent of U.S. computer-owning households now own a Mac”
You mean it won’t work on my TI-99/4A! Whaa!!!! ;)
These new Federation ships look absolutely terrible. This isn’t StarCraft.
# 41
The ships are completely customizable. GameStop even has a pre-order bonus Constitution Mk. 1 available. If you don like the way the ships look, redesign it until you do
SO CAN’T WAIT FOR THIS GAME!!!!!!!!!!!!