Cryptic Studios is recognizing the life of Leonard Nimoy – and other Star Trek greats – with new memorial statues placed across Star Trek Online.
Last week ended on an incredibly tragic note when Star Trek star Leonard Nimoy passed away at the age of 83. For many sci-fi fans it was a deeply-felt loss, even within the servers of Star Trek Online. Roughly 1000 players logged in and traveled to Vulcan to pay respects to the actor. Now Cryptic Studios is offering a memorial of its own – if you go to the fountain where players gathered, you’ll find a statue of Nimoy’s Spock emblazoned with the phrase: “Live Long and Prosper”.
Vulcan isn’t the only location with a memorial statue. In a nod to Star Trek canon, New Romulus has a statue with its own inscription: “The needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few.” Why New Romulus? Because in Star Trek: The Next Generation, Nimoy reprised his role as a peaceful ambassador uniting Vulcan and Romulan cultures. As the Star Trek reboot revealed, one of Spock’s final acts was to try and save Romulus from destruction, something Romulan society would absolutely memorialize.
Setting aside Star Trek lore, both statues feature a memorial plaque for Trek‘s cast and creators. Gene Roddenberry, DeForest Kelly, James Doohan, and Majel Barrett’s names are all featured alongside Nimoy’s. “People will be able to interact with this memorial and read the names, the dates of their birth and passing, and a personal quote where possible,” Star Trek Online producer Stephen Ricossa explained.
Star Trek Online may be a five-year old MMO, but that’s still a touching gesture that acknowledges Nimoy and his most famous role – something I suspect Nimoy himself would have appreciated.
