Whether or not playable/BO androids are actually Soong-type, I think it would be nice to see a few key figures acknowledged as part of their creation.
http://memory-alpha.org/wiki/Timothy_(Vico)
Timothy from this episode would be around fifty in the timeframe of the game. He was clearly very influenced by Data (to the point where he pretended to be an android to cope with the deaths of his parents). Given that we've seen other children from the shows, I think he'd be a logical addition to the game as an expert on androids. (He had no last name but if you wanted to be coy -- as TNG writers frequently were -- I'd suggest something like "Isaacson" as a nod to Roddenberry's friend and Data-inspiration Isaac Asimov.)
http://memory-alpha.org/wiki/Bruce_Maddox
Bruce Maddox being somehow involved seems like a foregone conclusion since he's involved in the backstory, although he resigned, I believe, over objections to killing B4 to resurrect Data.
http://memory-alpha.org/wiki/Terence_Epstein
Terence Epstein was a prodigious young cyberneticist who never appeared onscreen but who was a lecturer that Crusher was fascinated with. (An unfilmed scene revealed he was 26 in 2364. He was a lecturer in Crusher's academy days, meaning he was intended to be a gifted genius in the field at age 12.)
Comments
On another note, could one infer from ST-Nemesis, that the Remans and Romulans also had working data from thier manipulation of B4??
Lal would seem to imply that Androids would be looking more humanoid by the time of 2409 for sure, but I'm not sure if I like that idea. There's an issue right now in robotics (real life I'm talking here) where a lot of people are profoundly against designing Androids that look human because its deceptive -- you ought to design something that looks like what it is, not what it isn't. It'd be interesting if most of the Androids by 2409 followed this aesthetic philosophy and looked distinctly mechanical in comparison to a normal human. And also, just for practical reasons, it would give players a reason to WANT to play as an Android that was different from a human in more than just stats.
I'm holding out for humanoid looks with battle damaged and skinless variants, hopefully based on the shots we saw of Data with missing skin or panels.
So you could go for a humanoid, a humanoid with circuits showing, or a completely skinless, robotic look.
I'd just call the new ones Maddox-type and suggest they're similar but about as different from Soong-types and Romulans are from Vulcans. More advanced in some ways and buggier in others. Keeps Data unique but allows people to play a "close cousin" that looks similar.
Yeah that would work quite well. Though to be fair, the EMH's seem much more advanced than Data/Lore/B-4 ever did. If you think how human "The Doctor" seemed and his abilities. Hey why not make a Holodroid!
I've never roleplayed in STO but I'm looking forward to playable holograms from a roleplay POV... and planning on dusting off some of my stranger accumulated costumes for a holo-Captain or BO. Like an EMH in Enterprise-clothes or formal wear or something, based on a "historical" figure.