We've been phasering and photon torpedoing our way through the various quadrants of space on Star Trek Online.  Heck, we've hung out on Vulcan, rescued a few stranded cargo haulers, and decimated a few Klingons and Orions to boot.  The whole time we've been counting down til' the end of the open beta hoping it could last just a little bit longer.

I guess the prophets (or wormhole aliens, depending on your beliefs) heard our prayers.  Due to an "incredible response" and as a "thank you to our fans", Cryptic studios just announced that the ST:O open beta will be extended until tomorrow (January 26th) at 6:00 pm PST.

Cryptic Studios just announced 12 month and lifetime subscriptions for it's forthcoming MMO Star Trek Online.  Ranging from $119.99 to $239.99 these subscriptions will be available for a limited time and only to those who pre-order the title.  The lifetime subscription has pretty interesting perk, your own playable, liberated borg drone.  Hugh, as we like to call him, includes a self regenerating shield and kung-fu grippe (kung-fu grippe sold separately).  Check out the subscription details below.

Lifetime Subscription: $239.99

Includes:
- Lifetime Access to Star Trek Online (duh)
- Playable Borg
- 2 Additional Character Slots

I have been a long time fan of Star Trek, watching old reruns on Saturday afternoons back in the mid-1970s. I was at the Las Vegas Star Trek Convention when Cryptic Studios made their announcement about the creation of Star Trek Online. In fact, I was in line to ask a question during the webcast but it ended 2 people before I got to the microphone.

I was at last August’s Star Trek Convention, and was 15th in line to see the preview of the game. I was extremely excited about it, and eventually even hooked up with Sata Alvarez and the STO Radio/MMOJunkies bunch.

With the closed beta coming to an end and the open beta starting tomorrow, Star Trek Online is finally getting into the hands of Trek fans everywhere.  In anticipation of the launch, ZAM has just released a preview of ST:O's away mission mode.  We'll be participating in the open beta and look forward to seeing our faithful readers in the world of 2409!

As reported by IGN, both Zachary Quinto and Leonard Nimoy will lend their voices to the forthcoming MMO Star Trek Online. "I'm happy to be involved with Star Trek Online. In this game, the essence of Star Trek -- exploration and adventure -- lives long and prospers. I'm pleased that a whole new generation of fans will be able to discover new frontiers in the Star Trek universe." Says Leonard Nimoy. Check out the article excerpt below, as-well-as studio footage of Spock Prime recording in-game narrative.

In less than two months we all be able to get our Vulcan hands on of the most anticipated MMOs of all time, Star Trek Online.  Until then, the folks at Rock, Paper Shotgun have given us a little preview of the Star Trek Online character creation process.  Among other things, you can make a hideous looking Bolian, check out the article excerpt below.

We learned a bit of interesting info, apparently Star Trek Online's Klingon faction will be Player-vs-Player only when the game launches in February.  Klingons also have their own special rank progression with different ship types available to different ranks.  Check out the info below.

Klingon gameplay is one of Star Trek Online’s most unique features. It exists as an additional advancement path for players, and offers different gameplay options to players more interested in player-vs.-player combat.

In closed beta now and slowly approaching open beta, Star Trek Online is closer than we think.  From a fans perspective, the bridge has been one of the most talked about features of ST:O.  So much so, that the fan outcry made Cryptic Studios re-think the improtance of bridge access on game launch.  Now Executive Producer Craig Zinkievich talk with MMORPG.com about bridges and exactly how they're going to work in-game on release day.

Earlier this week we posted a few Star Trek Online videos in our Star Trek Online Videos and Updates A'Plenty article. Cryptic has released the second half of their Star Ship Tactics video and we've embedded it below for your viewing pleasure.

Michael Farley of Kotaku posted an interesting comment about the vid and it's mention of boarding parties.