STGD re-launches & competition news

[Victor1st]

First of all if your a visitor from 3daction or strategyplanets news post (they will be up this weekend) i'd like to welcome you all to the site listed as "Star Trek Gamers" on both of the main hub sites (we're gonna contact RPGplanet soon as our ST:O site becomes active in a few weeks).

The site you are now looking at is Star Trek gaming's oldest site, it can trace it's history back further than almost any current trek gaming site to 1999 when trek gaming was still at it's highest peak and the clan, fleet and modding worlds of trek gaming was at it's most productive. Recently we closed our doors for a month mostly due to server moving and problems with Gamespy's dynamic server but most of these issues have been sorted out.

So...what does this site have to offer? Name it, we might just have it

The central core of the site is 2 sections, the clan directory, which was the basis of the original site, and the mod dowloads directory which currently holds over 1500 files for all major PC title games dating back to Interplays reign at the top right up to Activisions final game before the lawsuit...Star Trek: Elite Force II. The site itself looks small in comparison to the looks of other trek game sites, but trust me, they dont come close to us on content. 5 years on the block has gained the site a massive collection of downloads and info on trek gaming. With the 3 main staff having a combined knowledge of 30 years in trek gaming (10 years each) it puts the site in a different perspective from the rest of the trek game sites out there. We are not only here for news in the trek game world. The STGD is here for it's content. News sites are all over the place but whats news without good content for the casual browser looking for that hard to find patch for 25th Anniversary, and yeah, that patch is here

It's not just the site we have though, we also have the now infamous STGD forums which use the Fully Modded style of phpBB, all with our own trek based themses which the staff have created. You can visit the forum by clicking the image on the left or via the link on the main menu.

Basically, if you are trying to find a particular file, even really old ones, we usually have it listed. There is also a further 20gb of content still to add to the downloads directory but those will be added later on this month. Wether you are a clan looking for a bit of exposure, a modder looking for various files or just a casual trek gamer looking for the latest mods, news and game views...STGD has the lot.

This leads us onto the next topic. As part of the launch of the STGD we will be running a series of competitions every two to three weeks, the prizes will be various games and box set games from 25th anniversary to Starfleet Command 3. The first competition starts today! So...enough of the babbling...and onto:

STGD - The 4 Month Competition - Month 1 - The Interplay Years

Round 1 - The Banner War's

As part of the relaunch of the STGD and the announcement that the site is now hosted by Gamespy/Stratplanet we have decided to run a 4 month long competition with a new competition every 2 to 3 weeks. The first month will concentrate on the early days of Star Trek gaming when the franchise was at it's height and Interplay held all the cards...

The first prize for the first round of the competition will go to the one winner of this round. The winner will receive the last games pack ever to be released by Interplay before they fell into bankruptcy. Whats in the game pack? The first 2 games EVER released under the PC License and a 4 demo level of what would prove to be a costly and ultimately massive game for the 90's period of trek gaming.

The Federation Game Pack consists of 2 games and a demo release...

Game 1: Star Trek: 25th Anniversary - Original

Game 2: Star Trek: Judgement Rites

Game 3: Star Trek: Starfleet Academy - Cadet Briefing

------------------------------------

So, you all know the games pack to the 1st place winner and in this competition there is only 1 prize and 1st place, no second or third. What do ya need to do to hopefully get your hands on this game pack and own a little bit of trek gamings history?

Simple...

We need a banner, 468 x 60. The rules for the banner is simple, it must have the words "Star Trek Gamers Directory" somewhere on it, the background image must NOT be lcars based (we already have 2 lcars banners) and the banner must only be in JPEG format and you can only submit ONE banner. Competition starts on Saturday the 12th of March and will end on Wednesday 16th of march at 23:00 GMT. The winner will be announced on Thursday 17th and the game pack will be sent out the following day using the UK's Royal Mail standard or Royal Mail (airmail) for a winner outside the United Kingdom.

Please note that these games are essentially old DOS win95 based games. It is possible (but VERY hard) to have them run on Windows XP but you will have more luck running them on win 98 or 95. Competition is open to anyone apart from staff of the STGD. The winner will receive the following...

: Federation Compilation stack folder containing the 3 game CD's
: Federation Compilation instruction booklet which covers all 3 games
: Interplay support sheet (which is kinda pointless since Interplay are now gone)
: Huge massive over the top box which really has nothing but fresh air inside but looks good on your shelf

STGD will pay for the post and packing and we will use the winning banner for our own site and ONLY the 1st place winning banner, game pack is a set of brand NEW cd's (not used).

Send your banner entry and your gaming name to victor@strategyplanet.com

[BlackIce]

Victor1st @ Sat Mar 12, 2005 7:39 pm wrote:

First of all if your a visitor from 3daction or strategyplanets news post (they will be up this weekend) i'd like to welcome you all to the site listed as "Star Trek Gamers" on both of the main hub sites (we're gonna contact RPGplanet soon as our ST:O site becomes active in a few weeks).

Just as a matter of interest, why the sudden interest in a game you seem to think little of? You don't post news on it, why the sudden break to make your own site? Also just to clarify, the GameSpy network already has a STO site, STOU, the first fansite dedicated to it. STOU was also submitted to rpgplanet and we got the response it would be added.

[Victor1st]

STOU wasnt the first fansite dedicated to Star Trek: Online, http://www.startrek-online.net/about/site.html seems you are stealing the thunder from one of STGU's own partner sites.

[Chris Jones]

WELCOME BACK GUYS AND GALS!!  

http://www.universeatwar.org/cjones

:bounce  :bounce

[BlackIce]

Victor1st @ Sat Mar 12, 2005 10:43 pm wrote:

STOU wasnt the first fansite dedicated to Star Trek: Online, http://www.startrek-online.net/about/site.html seems you are stealing the thunder from one of STGU's own partner sites.

STO.net was the first site entirely dedicated to it, but STOU was the first fan site, the url was taken the day after the leak about it, I am not attacking STO.net, they work very hard and did what I tried to do but failed to do, create a full guide to everything we know, including but not limited to the FAQ, the FAQ update is now even out of date according to what the devs are saying. Not exactly a response to my statement more a distortion, but I'll take what I can get really at this stage.
STO.net was founded on the 8th of September, STOU was on the 4th of September and STO.net only launched on the 15th of October. They were the first fully dedicated site to STO. However STOU was the very first fan site and is not holding the title because it is a page that is connected to our main site.
http://dynamic5.gamespy.com/~starmada/sites/online/?about
http://www.startrek-online.net/about/site.html
You may have a look above, all in black and white, and no I did not change it last night. Anyway I would never attack STO.net, they are the very best site for discussion and features for STO and they do their features and articles with amazing skill.

[Katherine]

Your splitting hairs BlackIce, your trying to redefine what a fan site is so STGU's STO site claims first place, just like they are saying they are the oldest fansite around on several webpages cause of the technical issue of STGD closing it's doors for a month.

Taken from the STO site:

Quote:

When we opened the doors of our community to the public in October 2004, StarTrek-Online.net became the first fully dedicated fan site for the upcoming MMORPG 'Star Trek: Online'

You might need to have a word with STO about there "about us" page.

[BlackIce]

You still haven't responded to my questions or statement. STOU was the first fan site, I said fully dedicated and I suppose I was wrong, but it doesn't change the context in which I made the comment, to make the statement that the GameSpy network already has a site for STO. I suppose you could call it an exaggeration or slip of the tongue, or finger in typing's case, like you saying that Wildcard's immature and stupid statement was either a rape threat or contained any notion of such, I'm not saying it was a very tactful statement, but it was a long way of ever being a rape threat. I know I'll be flamed for this, but I am stubborn, I can't promise I'll respond to any replies either, to avoid getting involved in yet another one of our little arguement threads that go nowhere.

[Stylsy]

I'd like to know how one can make a 'fan' site for a game you are not 'fans' of.

[Katherine]

Ya know, for all of STGU's bitching and moaning about us posting negative posts in your forum and then banning all of the STGD staff (including nikki who aint even posted) you guys are sure acting like the site you hate, us.

[Stylsy]

It's exactly why I posted my question.

[IKS-TranceEmotion]

peeps you are lookin at it all wrong, a fan site can be crtisism AS MUCH as it can be encouragement, u alll need (keyword "ALL") need to pull your heads out of your asses and look at "ALL" the sides

the same bs just keeps happening, use pm's, cause franckly were all F-in tired of it

[Katherine]

IKS-TranceEmotion @ Sun Mar 13, 2005 9:20 pm wrote:

peeps you are lookin at it all wrong, a fan site can be crtisism AS MUCH as it can be encouragement, u alll need (keyword "ALL") need to pull your heads out of your asses and look at "ALL" the sides

the same bs just keeps happening, use pm's, cause franckly were all F-in tired of it

Exactly.  STGD just isnt about the rose tinted glasses news, its also about the bad news that people dont want to hear in the franchise mixed in with good news, interviews and downloads.  This place is not a platform for Paramount to come and preach on, its a platform for the old time, and new gamers of trek to come in and voice there opinions about what they think of the franchise without having to deal with being banned, edited or screamed at by a bunch of fan boys.  This is the only site left out there like that.  If GameSpy didnt agree with the views about this site regarding the franchise and wanted STGU alone to represent trek gaming on the GSI network then they would have never agreed to host us on the same platform as STGU which is strategyplanet.com the fact that we also got listed on 3dactionplanet is just a bonus.

You dont see any of the STGD regulars going over to the STGU boards and hounding every single news post ChessMess makes about trek gaming, for a start he banned all the staff and anyone who does show a little support for STGD gets bushwhacked by the STGU faithfull, or banned, that wont happen here anymore.

Ya dont like what we post on the site?  Don't visit us, dont mention us, dont come crawling to us in a few weeks time when the real presence of the new site is felt and dont moan at us when STGU itself starts to collaspe at the end of summer cause you are all putting your effort into a game that is 2 years away and turning your back on the rest of the community, it's as simple as that.

Thread locked...

[Victor1st]

Unlocked...Stylsy, you wanna open a can of worms again between STGD and STGU by this post? http://dynamic.gamespy.com/~starmada/forum/showthread.php?t=6282

Quote:

However, there are a lot of people who use the Internet in some attempt to personally attack and/or abuse others they have never met and I've recently become so aware about how idiotic these people really are.

Yes this is going on to STGD, I'm not using the post to flame them, but their recent actions have really made me think how many people are here to enjoy the games and how many people are here to see some pathetic conflict of words. STGD every other day state they are the oldest running Star Trek Gaming site, which to my knowledge is absolutely true. I remember way back to my primitive site for BC and DW, The Prime Directive, their clan directory and site was used by many members of the community and was a great resource. Even when TUN opened and we were settling down we had joint features with STGD and both provided resources for the community. Unfortunately they now feel the need to continually attack other sites that either are similar or do not agree with them, and attack Star Trek gaming and the people behind them (i.e. Harry Lang) in an inappropriate way.

You don't have to run a website to voice concerns about a game, or show you want an answer from Paramount in regards to their being no Trek games. But if your site starts to bash Trek games and claim there is no hope for the future and Paramount are doing nothing - well, frankly you stop being a fan site anymore. Do you really need site to post that for you to get the idea that no new Trek games are announced, do you need gamers who have a website to spread their voice to pick apart every post by a publisher or developer? When Harry Lang posted that the situation with STGD had persuaded him to stop being as active in the community (which he wasn't as active as we would have all hoped for anyway due to certain circumstances) it really crossed the line for me. STGD, a site which had supported the community and Trek Gaming with such a great reputation for so long had pissed off the guy who had the real voice on the future of the community.

I've also recently become very annoyed with GameSpy, not because they have allowed STGD hosting - but because they have smacked us and our efforts in the face. We have continually worked hard to bring new resources and features for the community, some which I'll readily admit didn't work, but we have always had little support from GameSpy. In a recent state of the franchise article, GameSpy finally gave us recognition by linking to our Game Library, but now they are content just to allow another Star Trek gaming site to come in which is a violation of their own hosting rules. I do not like the thought of putting in efforts here on GameSpy which are obviously not appreciated by them.

Ya see Trance? This is what we are up against. I bet if anyone goes over there and offers support for the STGD they get banned or they will be lynched. I've held back this far but you folks in STGU are seriously testing my patience, you are PURPOSEFULLY degrading STGD knowing full well you are getting more and more new people in and now you are even attacking your own hosts.

[IKS-TranceEmotion]

again ill reiterate the word "ALL"

[Stylsy]

I have e-mailed Gamespy directly a fair few times over the last sixth months about how unhappy I am with them. Not as a representative as STGU, but as someone who has worked on th network on various site for quite some time. Anything I posted about GameSpy there is nothing I have not said to them before.

Also you say I personally attack anyone who does not agree with the STGU vision. Yet the site which so willingly will attack and/or criticise site like STGU on their front page for everyone to see gets upset when I post my own personal thoughts in a personal thread. I don't work for Chess, I don't work for STGU, what I do is give some of my free time creating resources for the community, so if I feel like posting my thoughts in a thread I'll do it. If I can't, its just as bad as you saying I would automatically ban anyone who wanted to talk about STGD.

Again, its another case of 'it's so bad unless we want to do it'. I didn't make one long flame post there, as a matter of fact I praised your efforts with this site over the years, it has been around a long time and a lot of people support it because of that, but your stupid 'owned' campaign of last year was the start of a series of troubling moves on your part, most of which I didn't care to get involved with, until you constantly singled me out because I would actually do my job as a moderator and stop spam posts and posts which post 'STGD rules' 100x on the forum.

My problem is not this site, its your place and your work and its up to you how you run it. Its that you expect every other site to do things exactly the same way you do because you have been around the longest, and you will post some pretty damn nasty comments on your front page if they don't.

I've been there and done it with Trek gaming websites as I've stated in the post, but there are going to be growing amounts of STO sites by new people just doing what they like to do, they don't need your constant criticisms cause you think the game is going to be crap or you disagree with their views or who they allow to post on their forums.