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Atari has released yet another new trailer for Cryptic's upcoming MMO, Star Trek Online. The trailer features a particularly grim entry in a Starfleet admiral's log. Long story short, the battle between the Klingons and the Federation in the space surrounding starbase 24 isn't going too well. On the plus side, it makes for some great viewing, with lots of phasers, disruptors, torpedos and, most importantly, explosions.

Alas, it looks like the ol' "STO Assets" folder is still slated for quite a beating before the game finally releases in February.

Atari has just basically announced ahead of time who the most annoying Star Trek Online players will be -- those who buy the Digital Deluxe Edition. This special edition of the game, available for $59.99 at launch from both Direct2Drive and Steam (the retail Collector's Edition is $80 and includes different stuff -- see an image here), gives players the ability to "relive Kirk's unforgettable moment of fury, with the timeless cry... 'KHAAAN!'" And just like that, the game is ruined. You will never hear another sound in Star Trek Online. It will be one continuous refrain of "KHAAAN" on every starship, every planet, every Starbase in the galaxy.

The Digital Deluxe Edition also includes Original Series-style uniforms, a Klingon Blood Wine Toast emote, the NX- registry prefix for your ships, an "Automated Defense Battery" tactical module and the exclusive "Joined Trill" species (like Dax on Deep Space Nine).

[Via Big Download, image: I Can Haz Cheezburger]

Atari's ongoing corporate shuffle is still, well, going on. The company formerly known as Infogrames has just named a new CEO. Current COO Jeff Lapin is to replace David Gardner as CEO and has executive experience with Take-Two and THQ, as well. It's unknown whether the move is Gardner's decision or Atari's, but he will stay with the company as a "director."

Lapin doesn't appear to be getting a raise with this new position, but don't weep for him too much: his current compensation package includes "an annual fixed gross compensation of €400,000 [or nearly $585,000] and an annual variable compensation, subject to the achievement of performance criteria, up to €200,000," as well as 900,000 stock options.

"We will launch our second MMO game - Star Trek Online -- in February 2010," Lapin said in the announcement. "I am excited to take on these new responsibilities at this important time and look forward to developing Atari's strategy to bring the company back to profitability."

[Via IndustryGamers]

Seriously, Cryptic Studios and Atari -- you are drowning us in screenshots for Star Trek Online. We had to go out and purchase another external hard drive just so we could keep tabs on our ever-burgeoning "STO Assets" folder. We feel like, if scanned through quickly enough, we could accurately recreate gameplay segments from the title. Really, really disjointed gameplay segments.

Check out the latest batch in the gallery below, then check out all 104 images we've received to date and dropped in this gallery. Then, try to approximate how many more we'll receive before the game's February 2 release date. We're guessing somewhere within the vicinity of 3,000, but that's a fairly conservative estimate.

Come to think of it, this game sounds an awful lot like a hybrid of Project Runway and America's Next Top Model. Seriously, how are we supposed to learn to walk properly on a Wii Balance Board without Ms. J telling us that we're plodding along like a drunken elephant or a tweaked out drag queen with a case of the twirls. Anyway, good luck, designers. Make it work!

Much like the dreaded Kobayashi Maru, there really is no right answer to the question, "Where should I pre-order Star Trek Online?" In its ongoing mission to make games as hard to purchase as possible, Starfleet has issued different pre-order bonuses to each major American retailer. Want to pilot the Enterprise? You'll have to order from GameStop. Need a pet Tribble? Best Buy. How about a gun that beams projectiles directly to their intended target? Target. That "Liberated Borg" bridge officer you always wanted? Amazon.

And here we thought all we had to do to get the full enjoyment out of our games was buy them. Those days are over, friend. Check out the full list of pre-order bonuses -- and where to find them -- after the break.

Klingons aren't the only thing in the galaxy you should fear, as your inner desire for paraphernalia and in-game items could push you over the edge to purchase the Star Trek Online Collector's Edition from GameStop. The online retailer details the $80 package as including a small, metal Communicator Badge, an in-game Red Matter Capacitor that gives all of your ships a little extra energy and exclusive Next Generation and Deep Space Nine uniforms for your crew. You'll also score some guest passes for a few friends and a deluxe, hardcover manual and requisite special packaging.

Above, you can check out a new trailer showing off some of the ship-based combat and, should you desire a look at the full Collector's Edition packaging, you can make it so by engaging past the break.

[Via Big Download]

You know, the United Kingdom isn't a great place to go if you enjoy drinking. The folks there, they just aren't big drinkers. It's difficult for them to find reasons to partake in the time-traveling powers of alcohol. Enter: Allotment, a new bar in the Glasgow area that offers thirsty patrons live performance art, music and a bit of the in-between.

Right about now, you're probably wondering what this has to do with games. Well, this Saturday, the bar will be transformed into a living dedication to retro gaming, with a central theme of "gaming and morality." There'll be roulette and karaoke, some arcade gaming. But, more importantly, coordinators will envision a real-life Pong tribute in the space, allowing attendees to participate at any time in the recreation by simply walking up and changing it.

If you're looking for more information on Allotment, or tickets to attend, then head on over to the National Theatre of Scotland. If after reading this, you're in the mood to watch that awesome video of Japanese Matrix ping-pong, well ... you aren't the only one.

[Via GamePolitics]

Star Trek Online may launch on Stardate 63554.5 (February 2, 2010), but beginning January 12, fans can beam into the open beta. The intergalactic guinea pig session will take place from January 12 until January 26. Players interested in kicking the warp nacelles should head on over to startrekonline.com to enroll.

If you're also interested in learning more about life in the 25th century, check out some of Star Trek Online's videos and developer interviews.

Once again, Cryptic Studios is giving you a great excuse not to spend time with friends and family over a holiday weekend. The developer's superheroic MMO, Champions Online, will be free-to-play from November 26–30 as a promotion for the game's second free content expansion since its launch in September.

The free update, which is titled Nemesis Confrontation and launches November 24, will include new costumes and perks, and tasks players with escaping from a hostile intergalactic prison -- a mission made much more difficult by the facility's unfriendly inhabitants, seen above. You'll also face off against the Shadow Destroyer (the party responsible for your hero's unrequested detention) and even your user-generated Nemesis. Sounds like a pretty dangerous calling -- but nowhere near as perilous as the crushing throng of Black Friday shoppers that awaits you at your local mall.

[Via Big Download]

Atari has released some new videos of Star Trek Online. The first, embedded above, is a detailed look at the game's space combat. In it, the developers at Cryptic discuss the overall thrust of combat and also the many things that players can do to customize their ships. Everything from ship type to different equipment to a player's choice of bridge officers has an impact on combat effectiveness. Oh, and once again, there's a Borg cube. Only this time ... it explodes.

After the break, find a quick trailer showcasing the ability for players to visit their ship's bridge. Thrill as you watch your avatar stand up and point at the view screen! Just try to keep it quiet when muttering the words, "Make it so." The video also touches on ground combat, visits alien landscapes and throws in some phasers and explosions for good measure. Enjoy.

Cryptic understands that you have questions about Star Trek Online, and now, thanks to Massively, you've got answers. The Joystiq sister site got hold of the folks at Cryptic and got some answers to burning questions about the ships featured in the game. Want to know the gameplay difference between a Klingon Bird of Prey and a Carrier? Does the custom look of your ship affect its performance? Can you visit the inside of your ship? Head over to Massively for answers to all these questions, and be sure to keep an eye out for more Star Trek Online Q&A sessions soon.

We've got a double dose of Star Trek Online video goodness for you today, as Cryptic has seen fit to not only release part two of the "Future Past" series, but also a new gameplay trailer. The trailer -- handily embedded above -- is comprised mostly of pitched space battles and ground encounters. It's also packed with more phaser and disruptor beams than you can shake a tribble at. One more thing: Borg cube.

After the break, see part two of "The Future Past," which details the outcome of the Klingon / Nausicaan / Gorn war. In short, the Klingons are pretty much bad guys again by 2409, the year in which Star Trek Online begins.

We know you guys have the memory of a ... well, whatever the polar opposite of an elephant is in regards to memory. (A fruit fly?) So, we thought we'd remind you that Cryptic's made its superheroic MMO Champions Online free to play this Halloween weekend in an attempt to promote the game's spooky pseudo-expansion, Blood Moon.

You can download it for free at 1PM EST today, then play it to your heart's content -- or November 2. You know, whichever comes first.

[Via Big Download]