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Cryptic’s Upcoming Star Trek Online Expansion Features LeVar Burton

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In general, fans of Star Trek Online and Star Trek will be pleased to hear that famed Star Trek actor LeVar Burton will reprise his role of Geordi La Forge in the upcoming expansion for Star Trek Online. However, that isn’t the only major feature of this expansion, known as Season 14. It will (obviously) continue the story from the previous Star Trek Online expansion (Season 13) and introduce several new pilotable ships and a strange, new world for players to explore; sorry, but there won’t be any new life or new civilizations to seek out…that we currently know of. Furthermore, the expansion will include plenty of new missions and even new levels of character progression.

For those of you who aren’t Star Trek fans, you might wonder what’s the big deal of one Star Trek alum starring in a Star Trek Online expansion. Well, to understand the importance, we need to back up a bit and talk about the game’s developers, Cryptic Studios. The company started off strong with the fantastic City of Heroes/Villains, a unique superhero-themed MMO many fans want to resurrect. However, the company had a falling-out with publisher NCSoft and was picked up by Perfect World Entertainment, a company that had varying degrees of success publishing Chinese MMOs but has become one of the bigger names in MMOs thanks in no small part to its acquisition of Cryptic. The company’s most recent titles, Neverwinter and Star Trek Online, are hailed as excellent celebrations of their respective properties. Both games were successful upon release, and their successes have attracted numerous famous names associated with Dungeons and Dragons and Star Trek to work on various collaborative efforts, which leads to even more success. Unlike other licensed games, the people who made those properties great are helping make Neverwinter and Star Trek Online stand out and feel like genuine Dungeons & Dragons/Star Trek experiences.

Unlike Neverwinter, which tends to stick with whatever expansions and modules Wizards of the Coast develops for the pen-and-paper version of Dungeons and Dragons (even though Neverwinter has attracted famous D&D names such as Christopher Perkins and R. A. Salvatore), Cryptic is free to do whatever it wants with Star Trek Online, and the company tends to create some crazy and brilliant stuff. Not only does the game use old, one-off species from throughout Star Trek history, including the Bluegill parasites from the Star Trek: The Next Generation episode “Conspiracy,” Species M-113/Salt Vampires from the Star Trek episode “The Man Trap,” and the Voth from the Star Trek: Voyager episode “Distant Origin.” In fact, a lot of what the developers at Cryptic Studios make is considered canon, such as the Solanae (a previously unnamed species featured in the Star Trek: The Next Generation episode “Schisms,”) creating the Bluegill and serving the Iconians, an ancient race that has only ever been mentioned in Star Trek and never seen. But that’s not where the influence of Cryptic Studios ends, as LeVar Burton is not the first Star Trek alum to act in Star Trek Online. Leonard Nimoy (Spock), Denise Crosby (Tasha Yar and Sela), Michael Dorn (Worf), Tim Russ (Tuvok), Robert Picardo (The EMH Doctor), and Walter Koenig (Pavel Chekov), just to name a few, have all reprised their roles in the game. In other words, LeVar Burton is the latest in a long line of famous actors who help make Star Trek Online the de facto Star Trek experience, regardless of players’ opinions on the inclusion of lockboxes in the game.

While I haven’t played Star Trek Online in a long time, writing about how the game’s devs creatively use alien species that were once merely throwaways makes me want to revisit the game. Well, that, and playing ingame quests that feature my favorite Star Trek actors who reprise their roles; I just love actors who are dedicated to continually portraying a particular character, regardless of the medium.

All you have to do to get my attention is talk about video games, technology, anime, and/or Dungeons & Dragons - also people in spandex fighting rubber suited monsters.

Gaming

Gran Turismo 7 Update 1.46 introduces an exciting addition to the roster of exclusive cars available in the PS5 and PS4 racing game

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Gran Turismo 7 has just received an exciting update to version 1.46 on both PS5 and PS4. This latest update introduces a unique addition to the game: the Škoda Vision Gran Turismo, a car that you won’t come across in any other game. Škoda makes its debut in the franchise with a visionary study of a single-seater, all-electric racing concept car, designed exclusively for the Polyphony Digital racer.

Once you’ve downloaded update 1.46, you’ll have the opportunity to test drive not one but two additional cars: the AFEELA Prototype 2024 and the iconic Chevrolet Chevelle SS 454 Sport Coupe ’70. Get ready for an exhilarating ride! Watch as they take to the track in the video above.

Additionally, the update introduces a new menu for players to tackle in the GT Café. At Collector Level 38, players have the opportunity to delve into the fascinating world of Ferrari 12-cylinder engines, gaining knowledge and expanding their collection. In World Circuits, players can look forward to exciting new events such as the Japanese Clubman Cup 550, the American FR Challenge 550, and the Vision Gran Turismo Trophy. For all the avid fans of Photo Mode, there’s an exciting opportunity to explore the captivating city of San Diego in a brand new Scape.

What are your thoughts on the latest update for Gran Turismo 7? Feel free to leave your thoughts in the comments section.

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ReFantazio Takes a Different Approach to Romance, Setting Itself Apart from the Persona Games

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Atlus’ highly anticipated RPG, Metaphor: ReFantazio, appears to incorporate familiar systems reminiscent of the developer’s acclaimed Persona series. The game features turn-based battles that heavily rely on exploiting enemy weaknesses. Additionally, players have the ability to summon warrior spirits during combat. However, the most significant aspect of this game, which will be discussed in this article, is the bonding system. Through this system, players can spend time with important characters and gain deeper insights into their personalities and stories.

In contrast to the Persona games, the bonding system ends at that point. Unfortunately, players will be unable to pursue romantic relationships with their beloved waifus, which may come as a disappointment to those who have developed strong feelings for Hulkenberg, the party’s charismatic red-haired elven knight.

According to Siliconera, the absence of romance came up during a recent question and answer session. Atlus emphasized the continued opportunity to develop meaningful relationships with your allies while also introducing additional narratives through substories. In addition, familiarizing yourself with the supporting characters will grant you access to new archetypes, which serve as the game’s character classes.

In the Persona games, romance is not obligatory; rather, it serves as a means to customize your playthrough. However, it is quite unexpected that Metaphor has chosen not to pursue such a venture, considering the significant amount of discussion it typically generates!

Were you anticipating any romantic elements in Metaphor? If you’re not satisfied with your pre-order, feel free to share your thoughts in the comments section below.

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Shift Up unveils the intriguing details behind the physical packaging of Stellar Blade for the PS5

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It appears that many

are eagerly anticipating the launch of the highly anticipated PS5 exclusive, Stellar Blade. Shift Up, the developer, has shared a lengthy video showcasing the “secrets” found in the physical box of the game for PS5. From what we can gather, these secrets include a reversible cover/dust jacket and a download code for cosmetic items.

We must clarify that while we do appreciate the variant cover, it may be more appealing than the game’s standard art. However, it is not something we would typically classify as a “secret.”. However, what’s interesting is that Shift Up has confirmed through the comments section that this will be the case in all regions. Additionally, the visually striking action RPG will remain uncensored worldwide.

It’s refreshing to witness a developer going the extra mile for physical collectors, and it’s evident that the developer is determined to leave a favorable mark in the console realm. Stellar Blade is set to make its highly anticipated debut this Friday, April 26th, exclusively on the PS5.

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