Today we invite you to take a look at this exclusive interview to Steve Ricossa, the Lead Producer for Star Trek Online in which we asked him about the game's upcoming season, the new features of the update, and how is going to change the game.

Below you can read the answers that he gave to us.

Thank you for allowing us to interview you about Star Trek Online. Can you introduce yourself to our readers?

My name is Steve Ricossa and I’m the Lead Producer for Star Trek Online. I’ve been at Cryptic for 5 years and I’ve been on Star Trek Online the entire time.

Which are the most important innovations of Star Trek Online's upcoming Season?

Season 8 is packed with exciting new content and rewards that the entire team here can’t wait for everyone to play! Our featured content takes place in a Dyson Sphere brimming with enemy Voth and dangerous Omega particles. Players will form a joint task force with their opposing factions in order to explore the sphere’s advanced technology and to keep the Voth from collecting Omega particles. The content varies from general exploration, to assaulting the largest ship in Star Trek history, to combating over Dyson Sphere locations, to engaging in an all-out ground war with the Voth! All of this content is great, but what really makes this season sing are the rewards. We have a brand new reputation with an all new, friendlier way to progress. This Dyson Reputation is full of top-tier ground and space sets that will really allow players to up their game against the Voth. Players in fleets can control and improve a Dyson Spire Fleet Holding that unlocks whole suites of gear, ships, and cosmetic upgrades.

How is this new season going to expand the game's storyline?

The storyline is definitely progressing in Season 8. With the featured episode “Sphere of Influence,” we continued the story introduced in the TNG episode “Schisms.” The Solanogens seen in that episode are working with the Iconians, and thousands of years ago they built an immense Dyson Sphere for unknown but potentially dangerous purposes. The Federation, Klingon Defense Force, and Romulan Republic forces are in the sphere to discover its secrets and find out why this location actually exists. The player will unravel this mystery through the adventure zone, queued events, and the cutscenes featured in the Dyson Reputation. The story has been well planned in advance and will continue from this point in future episodes and seasonal updates.

Tell us something of the new faction, the Voth, and what are their objectives

The Voth forces discovered the Dyson’s Sphere in previously unexplored space on the edge of the Delta Quadrant and have been working since then to uncover its secrets. The Voth were introduced in Star Trek: Voyager, and there we mostly saw their scientists and administrators. Now players are getting to see their soldiers and battle troops, which include massive mechs and genetically-engineered creatures. The Voth want to use the sphere as a means to control parts of the Delta Quadrant, and they’re confident that they can safely harness the power of the Omega particles found there. Joint Allied Command, however, sees the Omega particles as one of the greatest threats to the galaxy. If unleashed, these particles could render vast areas of subspace impassible, effectively destroying space-faring civilizations like the Federation or the Klingon Empire. The only way to safely use the power of Omega is not to use it at all.

Will there be new ships available this season?

The release of the Voth Lock Box gives players access to a Voth Flight Deck Cruiser and a Voth Science Vessel. Both of these ships provide a unique and powerful experience for players that fly them, and will definitely be an excellent addition to your personal fleet of ships.

We know that this season will be end-game focused. What can we expect to see, end-game wise?

Our focus on end game involves content that feeds a brand new reputation with new rewards for high level players. We have new normal and elite queued events that show off never before seen environments and team oriented gameplay. The new reputation this content supports is full of top tier space and ground gear that will help players succeed in this new content, as well as any other content they’re used to running. On top of the reputation, we have a new fleet holding that unlocks a wide variety of exciting end game gear and the often-requested fleet versions of the Atrox Carrier, Kar’fi Battle Carrier, and Veteran ships. The breadth of content and rewards will give our end game players a brand new set of goals to achieve and content to play.

Thank you very much for answering our questions. Would like to add something more?

I’m really excited at the new content and reward possibilities Season 8 has brought to the players. I hope everyone has as much fun playing it as I do.

If you are a fan of the game, we have HERE an exclusive promotion for you, which will give you an exclusive uniform for the game.

This entry was posted on Tuesday, November 26th, 2013 at 2:29 pm and is filed under MMO News. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.