News

Janurary 1st, 2007
Franz Games, LLC aquires Star Fleet Battles Onlinee!!!

Franz Games, LLC is the new owner of Star Fleet Battles Online.

June 27, 2006
Federation Command Online is Here!!!

The latest in the SFU family of products is now available. (Note: For a limited time if you are a current user of SFB Online you will be able to play FC)

June 24, 2006
Federation Command Online is Coming

The latest in the SFU family of products will be available to play online by the end of June 2006

June 27, 2005
New Version of the Client is Released

The latest and greatest version of the client Version 4.0 is finally released with better support for fighters, PFs and ships. Features like Tracking weapons, H&R Raids, directed reveal, Orion/WYN option mounts and fighter expendables to name a few. The library is also being completely re-done with the help and direction of Aaron Staley.

May 15, 2005
RA04Q4 Rated Ace Tournament Over

Congradulate Jude Hornburg in becoming the winner for the RA04Q4 Rated Ace Tournament. Flying his ever so famous Lyran against Scott Moellmer's Orion in the final.

March 1, 2005
New President

Congradulate Paul Franz for being promoted to president of Symbiotic Games, LLC. He has been the Director of Operations for many years working hard to keep everything running as smoothly as possible.

December 4, 2003
Improved Integration with PayPal

In an effort to improve customer service we are integrating automatic notification of PayPal payments directly into our registration system. This will allow Symbiotic Games, LLC to ensure receipt of payment, while eliminating the need to block registrations coming from popular internet mail sites such as Yahoo and HotMail.

Additionally, renewals initiated through the new system and paid via PayPal will extend your subscription within moments. No more waiting for someone at Symbiotic Games to manually process the renewal. PayPal payments can be sent without additional charge in 38 countries (including the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, and Australia).

Those who choose not to use PayPal can still subscribe and renew via check and money order.

We will also continue to accept payments from DigiBuy though their greater processing fees require that we pass along a $5.00 charge per payment made using their service. Those living outside the area serviced by PayPal will need to use DigiBuy to pay with a credit card and if you contact us via the Contact Us link we will add an additional month to your subscription to help compensate for the inconvenience.

November 15, 2003
De-support for 2.x client

As of the ending of the RA03Q4 Tournament the 2.x client will no longer be supported. Due to it becoming clear that supporting two vastily different program to do the same thing in no longer feasible for a company of our size.

November 15, 2003
Free Email Service Available

As of November 15th, 2003 anyone who has a non-expired will be get a free Email forwarder. For example, if our callsign Cool, now you can get Email sent to Cool@sfbonline.com and it will go to the Email address for Cool account. So instead of trying to look up somebody's Email address. Just send it to their <callsign>@sfbonline.com .

November 15, 2003
2.x style Impulse Activity illegal for Tournament play

After the RA03Q4 Tournament you will be required to use the "Activity Decision Window" for announcing any Impulse Activity.

October 16, 2003
New Communications Director

David Beeson has accepted the position on the SFB Online Staff as the new Communications Director. Please welcome him.

October 7, 2003
Communications officer retires

Communications Director, Kevin Block-Schwenk has decided to retire from his position at Star Fleet Battles Online. He wants to concentrate on other opportunities. We will miss Kevin and hope him the best of luck in his future endeavors.We are currently looking for a replacement. If you are interested please contact sfbol or webtech at sfbonline.com

September 29th, 2003
Tournament Email Address changed

Due to problems with spam. The tourneydesk@sfbonline.com email address has been de-commissioned. It will be changed to tournaments (at sign) sfbonline.com.

June 24th, 2003
New Star Fleet Battles Online Client Released

Symbiotic Games is proud to announce the releasing of a new version Java-based client called SFB Online XP. The following features have been added since 3.2.6:

Ability to use a 2.x like UI.
Tracking of Expendables.
Using Expendable to automatically add counters.
Easier to use launching (like launching multiple shuttles/fighters/drones/plasmas)
Decreased bandwidth requirement
New SFB Campain Room to help in the running of Campaign using the client.
Map Overlay to allow people to add colors and images to the board that are not-interactive.
Clean up of the menues.
Reveal Info is more intuitive.
Save Board as a Image file (so that you look at later or post it on your website)
Better Performance and Stability (might require a full download w/VM).
Speed Plot Calculator. (including calculating the cost of a change of the speed plot)
Ability to Tractor other ships and have the client calculate the new pseudo speeds.
Sort by Column in the Game Control by clicking on the column heading.
Fix many, many bugs.

New Updated User Reference by Kenneth Jones including a PDF version.

November 25, 2002
Star Fleet Battles Online has moved

The previous IRC and web server host for SFB Online was not meeting expectations for server availability. So improve the service to our customers we have moved to a dedicated server. To use SFBOL on the new IRC server everyone must download and install the User-Defined Ship Version (v2.5.3) or the latest Java-based v3.2 (Release) which was made available on November 25, 2002. If you have any questions about the move go to SFB On-Line Questions & Answers topic of the Star Fleet Universe Discussion Board.

April 18, 2002
Star Fleet Battles Online Releases Java-based Client

Symbiotic Games is proud to announce the releasing of a Java-based client called SFB Online 3.0. This will allow a greater amount of people to play. In addition to the cross-platform capabilities introduced with the version 3.0 of the client, the following features have been added:

	User-Defined Ships
	Multi-Ship/Multi-Player Battles
	Access to the ship repository
	Ability to group pieces
	Impulse Activity button (for announcing Impulse Activity)
	Click and drag interface for moving counters

August 25, 2001
Star Fleet Battles Online Organizational Changes

Symbiotic Games is proud to announce the following organizational changes to further enhance the SFB Online experience:

Frank Bradford has accepted the position of Chief Operating Officer reporting directly to Patrick Abram. He will directly manage the day to day operations of SFB Online and help resolve any issues that may arise as the development of SFBOL Version 3.0 moves forward. Frank will also assume Patrick’s answer role on the SFB BBS, and can now be reached through the Contact Us.

Joe Butler has accepted the position of Chief Tournament Officer reporting to Frank. He will perform his current duties as RAT coordinator and will pick up the NETKill tournaments. Events Director Sam Clark will report to Joe and is heartily thanked for his efforts to keep SFBOL interesting to those who don't like RATs and NK as much as others.

Paul Franz has accepted the position of Chief Information Officer reporting to Frank. He will perform his current duties as Web Technologist. Communications Director, Kevin Block-Schwenk will report to Paul and is also heartily thanked for his efforts to keep SFBOL customers involved and informed.

Jeff Qualls has accepted the position of Chief Financial Officer reporting to Frank. His duties include Registrations, Contracts, and Finances. Jeff will be responsible for ensuring that all subscriptions are acted upon in a timely manner with minimal interruptions or delays.

June 28, 2000
Star Fleet Battles Online has moved

The previous IRC and web server host for SFB Online decided to quit the IRC server business effective June 30, 2000.This means that SFBOL needed to change servers within 8 days.There was no disruption in the service of SFBOL itself, but these web pages may have disappeared for several days.To use SFBOL on the new IRC server everyone must download and install the Latest Patch which was made available on June 27, 2000.Given the nature of this event all further messages will be posted to the SFB On-Line Questions & Answers topic of the Star Fleet Universe Discussion Board.

February 21, 2000
Symbiotic Games, LLC acquires the license for Star Fleet Battles Online from Online Game Systems, Inc.

Statement from Symbiotic Games, LLC

What does this mean to you?

Let me first say that I believe this is a good thing for all Star Fleet Battles Online subscribers and SFBOL in general.It is my intention to continue the work of Online Game Systems, Inc. and improve SFBOL in the coming months and years.In the short term, the only changes you will see should be those that naturally come from a change in ownership.The web page is strikingly different.Someone new is going to be answering questions via e-mail and on the bulletin board.

Why did this occur?

Let me only say that this was no hostile takeover.I plan to continue working with OGS to make the transition as smooth as possible.Gregg Dieckhaus of OGS provides additional details in his statement below.

Thank you for your time and I look forward to continuing your relationship with SFBOL.


Patrick M. Abram
President, Symbiotic Games, LLC

Statement from Online Game Systems, Inc.

Why did we do this?

After showing Star Fleet Battles Online to ADB, and many emails and phone conversations,we came up with a deal that would allow me to acquire a license to provideonline tournament gaming to the SFB community. Online Game Systems, Inc.was born, and SFB Online became a reality. Even though we had hammered outa deal via email, we had not gotten an official contract done. But I knewthat it was crucial to the success of SFB Online that the product bereleased at Origins, so we went ahead and launched it operating under averbal agreement, with the understanding that we would get written contract done soon. But due to an inability to reach a mutually agreeable written contract to both parties, OGS was unable to acquire the Online Gaminglicense from Amarillo Design Bureau, Inc. In an effort to keep SFB Online alive, Symbiotic Gameshas worked with ADB Inc. to get the Online Gaming license, and acquired alicense for SFB Online

What effect will this have on the subscribers of SFB Online?

With Symbiotic Games acquiring the SFB Online License, the future of SFBOnline is in good hands. Let me reiterate what Patrick said, I believe this is a good thing for all Star Fleet Battles Online subscribers and SFBOL in general. Many of you may not know this, but Patrick is the person responsible for the graphic SSDs. Without his work and code expertise we wouldn't have them. Symbiotic Games will be able to bringmore resources to SFB Online and by doing so, provide new features at a faster pace than OGS could have. Online Game Systems, Inc. will betransferring the code base to Symbiotic Games, and they will be responsiblefor adding new features and enhancements. I will be available to work withthem on any technical issues that arise, and guide him through the quirks of the code. They will immediately take over providing official answers to questions on the Starfleet Battles discussion web page. The new SFB Online web page is a perfect example of the type of quality you can expect from Symbiotic games. It is also is an example of how the players will be better served by them. I had intended on changing the web page to a newdesign, but all my time was spent on running SFB Online and I could neverfind the time to fully develop it. I provided Symbiotic Games with my ideafor a new web page, they took this template and fully developed it into thenew page you now see.

Symbiotic Games will take over the daily administration of SFB Online.This means they will handle billing questions, and run the tournaments. The procedures for signing up for the Rated Ace Tournament, as well asreporting NETKKill results stay the same. The web page can be used to sign up for the Rated Acetournament, and any Rated Ace judging questions or results should be sent to tourneydesk@sfbonline.com

An additional bonus of the arrangement worked out between the parties is that I will now be able to play in the online tournaments. I plan to stayinvolved online, and look forward to actually being able to play all of you!

Gregg Dieckhaus
President, Online Game Systems Inc.