One of the first questions we pondered for Star Trek Online was the nature of our audience. We knew the design would vary based on the answer to that question. Would we design a detailed simulation for the hard core fan? Or create an open-ended world that allowed for individual freedom that would be more appealing to a wide audience? This is especially important issue given the structured quality of Starfleet. While the idea of serving aboard an authoritative starship might be appealing to some, we knew that some would find that experience too confining.