Star Trek Online Game Footage Unveiled

Online games developer Cryptic Studios offered a sneak peak at its forthcoming Star Trek Online multiplayer game on Sunday, with a little help from Mr. Spock.

The footage, introduced at a Star Trek convention in Las Vegas by actor Leonard Nimoy, who played the highly logical Vulcan in the original television series, showed Federation Starships battling Borg vessels and other hostile races. It also showed scenes on planet surfaces that revealed lush vegetation, mountainous terrain, and vibrant skies.

Flashing the familiar live-long-and-prosper V symbol, Nimoy joked that, "My people on Vulcan have been playing this game for ages."

Cryptic announced last month that it had licensed the right to develop a massively multi-player game set in the Star Trek universe. The company, developer of the highly acclaimed game City of Heroes, said it obtained the rights from CBS Consumer Products. Financial details were not disclosed.

Cryptic has also posted several Star Trek Online screenshots to the game's Web site. Some depict shots of various types of vessels in outer space, while others show planets that will presumably used in gameplay.

According to the Web site, the game will feature, "Everything from the elegant domes of Starfleet Academy to the ancient temples of Vulcan," home planet of Nimoy's legendary character.

Players will also be able to choose from multiple races for their character. "Command your own starship as a Federation Captain or a Klingon Warrior," the site teases. Mission will take place in deep space or on planet surfaces.

Cryptic said the game will use the same graphics and gameplay engine that powered its previous titles. The game will be available in both console and PC formats. Cryptic did not announce a ship date.