Just this month, GameSamba — publisher of the Star Trek game Alien Domain — launched a new expansion, taking players into the home of the Dominion, the distant Gamma Quadrant!
In this new addition to the free-to-play strategy game, launched under the title Star Trek Alien Domain: Incursion, players travel through the Bajoran Wormhole in a way that features both Federation and Dominion gameplay elements.
We had an opportunity to speak with one of Alien Domain’s product managers, Kim Zheng, this week.
TREKCORE: Do you consider Star Trek Alien Domain and the new expansion, Incursion, simulation or strategy games?
KIM ZHENG: You can refer to them as a combination of a simulation and strategy game. In fact, as an IP game developer, we at GameSamba aim to create our games according to each franchise’s distinct qualities, throwing features of various genres in the mix. Especially Star Trek with its multiplex facets was a welcomed challenge for our developers.
Their main focus was on integrating the core IP elements and balancing them in a playful manner. In short, the in-game battle features resemble a strategy game, whereas the officer and base development come closer to a simulation game.
TREKCORE: What was the beta testing timeline for the new Incursion expansion?
ZHENG: Star Trek Alien Domain: Incursion was first released on August 26th, 2018 for closed beta testing. The open beta started on November 12th, 2018, while the game was officially released on January 3rd of this year. For webgames, continuing to operate in open beta can be considered an industry norm.
TREKCORE: Given the Species 8472 threat in the Alien Domain game, are Federation and Dominion players likely to form alliances?
ZHENG: As of now, it is not possible to form faction-crossing alliances. However, we already talked this over internally, and consider it to be a good idea. Further additions and adjustments of any kind will be submitted for approval to CBS. Our team of writers will get this prepared.
TREKCORE: Are the Klingons going to join in the fight against the Species 8472 threat?
ZHENG: The same applies here. We consider it to be a good idea and will work out a proposal. In general, we are very open to community suggestions and would love to hear more. As Star Trek fans ourselves, we welcome the dialog.
TREKCORE: Do you have plans to make the game available on Steam, Xbox, or PlayStation?
ZHENG: Yes, but not immediately. We will consider making it available on Steam after further improvements have been made. As for the other platforms, not yet — there are some challenges in porting a webgame to Xbox or Play Station. Having only launched two weeks prior to this interview, our initial focus is on further improving the game for PC, mobile and tablet devices.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jplW5fexwSY
We’ll continue to keep an eye on this game as it grows in the future — in the meantime, you can check out all of our Star Trek Alien Domain: Incursion coverage in TrekCore’s gaming section.