Star Trek Online and it's canon status

[paul 11,988]

In the past, there has been a lot of debate (internally not directly on asvs) about if STO is canon or not canon in the ST world. I was at first told it's soft canon with really no explination involved beyond that point. Recently, I was given a chance to get further information then had to wait for it to be publically released before I could comment on what I knew (due to NDA's and such).

 

 

 

Basically it comes down to this - Star Trek Online had the opportunity to be full out canon. However, out of their own choice, they went with the "soft canon" label with CBS approval over majority of their work due to the simple fact they wanted to be able to provide a story without having to really STRICTLY adhere to canon (not to mention it'd be 100% boring as shit to play ^^). All storyline ideas must be approved by CBS. The Path to 2409 was approved by CBS. Ships are, for the most part, approved by CBS. So in most ways, STO is more canon than most books, games etc out there (as they are keeping CBS in the loop and asking "Daddy can I?" on almost every step where as books and other games really don't at all).

 

 

 

So after some discussions with Tyralak, we have decided that the STORYLINE OF EVENTS can be used as a source in debates. What is not considered allowed to be added is any actions done by a player. The reason for this is even CBS wouldn't allow a players action to become anywhere near canon or else.. well lets just say there would be a lot of sexual actions going on ^^. Also, if a series/movie overwrites the 2409 timeline (from STO), that then becomes canon STO becomes non canon. Therefor, as of this point STO is considered "canon" for debate purposes, until a new series takes place after the events of nemesis (STX) which would then change the timeline as written by STO.

 

 

 

So yes, if jason ever popped back up I guess he could have his damn personal shields now lol. As such I should mention that the power levels are designed for a game, not for canon so those will not be allowed to be added into debate as a source.

[paul 11,988]

The Path to 2409 Forum has all the information you'd need to get caught up to speed on the happenings.

[Jason 27]

In partice CBS doing bad job keep Star Terk. We saw One Nove class starship 2404 form three Negh'Var warship give that shuttlecaft cover fire. That Nova class starships set three Negh,Var warships in flames. According to Star Terk online the Negh'var starship secound most powerful ship. Nova Class starship science research ship according star Terk online. That means UFP cursh Klingon Empire like bug if start a war in 2404. The Klingon Empire warship be target pratice for Federation more powerful battleships.

[Questor 501]

Care to put that in english?

[Tyralak 12,068]

We need some sort of universal translator for him.

[enigma 521]

No, we need a sledgehammer to smash some coherent English into him.

[Praeothmin 532]

No, we need a sledgehammer to smash some coherent English into him.

 

 

 

You'd be wasting a perfectly good sledgehammer...

[Jason 27]

Does that mean that book Star Terk online The Needs of The Many is soft cannon?

[Praeothmin 532]

Does that mean that book Star Terk online The Needs of The Many is soft cannon?

 

 

 

Well, it's certainly not Soft Porn...

 

 

 

 

 

Although that would explain the soft cannon...

[enigma 521]

Well, it's certainly not Soft Porn...

 

 

 

 

 

Although that would explain the soft cannon...

 

 

 

And it involves Terks... How this fits in soft porn I do not know.

[Tyralak 12,068]

Does that mean that book Star Terk online The Needs of The Many is soft cannon?

 

 

 

Well, this is kind of sketchy territory. The episode in STO is, but the book based on it, I don't believe so. With only 2 exceptions, books are never canon.

[Questor 501]

Has anyone other than Cryptic (or Cryptic quoting people) made these assertions, becuase this would be a huge reversal on CBS's part. If they aren't even willing to consider the DS9 novels - which were excelent - as soft-canon, I have a hard time beleving a brand new licensee would be given that much freedom.

 

 

 

Unless this is simply CBS saying "We don't give a fuck about the old universe any more." But then that would imply that the novels would be granted soft-canon status as well (a far beter idea IMNSHO).

 

 

 

Always remember the hierarchy of Sales/Profit > Game Mechanics > Fun > Canon that is always present in any game.

 

 

 

Are we really going to believe that the Federation in 2409 is still using original Connies, even though we've never seen one once in the intervening years?

[paul 11,988]

Well, this is kind of sketchy territory. The episode in STO is, but the book based on it, I don't believe so. With only 2 exceptions, books are never canon.

 

As I stated, the path to 2409 is considered soft-canon which is from the book the needs of the many, which fills in the gap between Nemesis and 2409. So, technically, the book would be considered soft-canon (not hard canon as like ty said books are never canon hehe)

 

 

 

Has anyone other than Cryptic (or Cryptic quoting people) made these assertions, becuase this would be a huge reversal on CBS's part. If they aren't even willing to consider the DS9 novels - which were excelent - as soft-canon, I have a hard time beleving a brand new licensee would be given that much freedom.

 

 

 

Unless this is simply CBS saying "We don't give a fuck about the old universe any more." But then that would imply that the novels would be granted soft-canon status as well (a far beter idea IMNSHO).

 

 

 

Always remember the hierarchy of Sales/Profit > Game Mechanics > Fun > Canon that is always present in any game.

 

 

 

Are we really going to believe that the Federation in 2409 is still using original Connies, even though we've never seen one once in the intervening years?

 

Only cryptic studios has made the claim, however if you wish to contact CBS for more information by all means feel free . Cryptic basically has to get approval from CBS to do ANYTHING massive to the game. Small story arcs that don't screw with too much can be added here and there but any major episodic content has to be run down, approved and polished before CBS will consider approval on it. Hell, CBS wouldn't approve the use of the Enterprise J due to the fact there is no way they could add a 2 mile long ship into the game without it looking like crap

 

 

 

Like I said, story arcs that are used in game etc are canon - player actions and situations are not. The connie was added as a player request thing thus not considered apart of any "canon" type status.

[paul 11,988]

ya know i have a busted ankle so i've been in bed for the past few weeks.. I come back and.. yeah I start to question my own logic about allowing STO to be debated on here ^^

[Praeothmin 532]

ya know i have a busted ankle so i've been in bed for the past few weeks.. I come back and.. yeah I start to question my own logic about allowing STO to be debated on here ^^

 

 

 

There was logic involved?

[Jason 27]

Admiral Paul Is the equipment and weapons that MACO using in Star Trek online Star Trek book needs of the many soft cannon?

[paul 11,988]

Technically, yes they would be considered soft canon. HOWEVER, please note as stated before, the actual power numbers to the weapons in game are not considered canon in any way, shape or form due to they are for game balancing purposes only.

[Jason 27]

Technically, yes they would be considered soft canon. HOWEVER, please note as stated before, the actual power numbers to the weapons in game are not considered canon in any way, shape or form due to they are for game balancing purposes only.

 

So in Star Terk online needs of the many that book. What MACO is armed with is soft cannon Admiral Paul.

[Questor 501]

Only according to Cryptic.

 

 

 

And since cryptic has a financial stake in convincing the hordes of unwashed trektards that their plotline is part of "canon," then I'm going to wait for word directly from CBS.

[Tyralak 12,068]

OK. Well, let's see what kind of information we can get from CBS.

[Mith 0]

Care to put that in english?

 

 

 

He's bitching that the game mechanics don't properly represent the actual combat capabilities of the ships they represent.

[T'lonak 500]

Despite what some people think, Star Trek online is set in the normal, original, Trek-verse on an official timeline. It references many hard canon incidents, from "Reunification parts 1 and 2" to "Star Trek: The Undiscovered Country" and wraps it together nicely. The only thing overtly "non-canon" about it is definitely the game's combat balance. (A Defiant class can CRUSH a Klingon Heavy Dreadnaught with minimal effort... ) Other than that, it fits canon well enough to be used, and it follows CBS's policies at every turn.

 

I would suggest it being allowed as soft-canon.

[Sean Robertson 11]

Despite what some people think' date=' Star Trek online is set in the normal, original, Trek-verse on an official timeline. It references many hard canon incidents, from "Reunification parts 1 and 2" to "Star Trek: The Undiscovered Country" and wraps it together nicely. The only thing overtly "non-canon" about it is definitely the game's combat balance. (A Defiant class can CRUSH a Klingon Heavy Dreadnaught with minimal effort... ) Other than that, it fits canon well enough to be used, and it follows CBS's policies at every turn.

 

I would suggest it being allowed as soft-canon.[/quote']

 

I also saw someone with a Federation-operated Jem'Hadar attack ship lay quick waste to a Borg cube in STO (?!?!?!?!).

 

I might offer that the timeline itself be accepted, as you note, kind of as a soft canon; but the gameplay mechanics? LOL. I've also seen a lone, if beefy, Klingon BoP-type take on a small Romulan fleet, destroying several Valdore-types and at least as many B-Type Warbirds at the same time! (?!?!?!?!?!? In canon, a single cruiser-sized BoP would be very lucky to defeat a D'Derdidex-class Warbird. Said Klingon cruiser would, IMO, more than likely need some unspoken advantage to defeat the Warbird, especially since I figure a GCS is at a disadvantage vs. a TNG Warbird.)

 

-Sean

[Khas 12,158]

Storyline and technologies are canon, game mechanics aren't.

[Tyralak 12,068]

Exactly. The story lines and tech are approved by CBS, and CBS views it is soft canon. Its the only game with that distinction as well. Game mechanics and player interactions, however obviously not included.