Slobodan Simic of Fudzilla has picked up on the fact that Amazon.com has attached a release date to their pre-order listing of Star Trek Online, which is being listed as releasing on February 2nd, 2010.

Generally, it's best to take retailer listed release dates (in the absence of an official announcement) with a grain of salt, but they are often pretty accurate when listed only a few months before a game's launch window. As it has been previously reported, Cryptic Studios and Atari have already confirmed the game will launch in early Q1 2010, and this date most certainly falls into the Q1 2010 timeframe.

Doing some digging around we discovered that GameStop is also listing their Star Trek Online release date at February 2nd, 2010, lending some credence to this rumor.

However, until Cryptic Studios either makes an official announcement or confirms this date to us we're cautioning that this story is still in the realm of speculation. We'll update this story if we receive any more information, so stay tuned!

UPDATE: Eurogamer has now confirmed with Atari and Cryptic Studios that Star Trek Online will indeed launch on February 2nd, 2009 in North America, and February 5th, 2009 in Europe.  Set your calendars!

This happens almost with every game ever made. Sometimes they are right, most often many website just state the wrong release date, as often these release date where in fact initial release dates the gamecompany hoped on releasing their game , often given to certain websites several months if not years before the game can actualy be released.

I highly doubt the game will be able to make a release the second month of next year, if it will release I doubt the state of the game will be good or might be very limited which would go against everything Star Trek  "can" be, just hope they will be able to proof me wrong.

Why is it studios in this genre are so optimistic when it comes to release dates?  Especially since almost all of them end up pushing the release date back several months.  More like a June or July time frame.  They have a lot to do in this game yet. 

I will be shocked if it releases in February and if it does you can expect an unfinished product.

If this game releases in February, Crytpic should close their doors now, and never make another mmo game again.  From what I saw at the Eurogamer expo, only last week, the game is bloody shockingly bad.  For such a huge IP, if this game even releases at February seriuos questions need to be asked how mediocre companies are allowed to get huge IP's such as this, along with the probably many millions of dollars of investment.

If February 2nd is indeed the release date, I'm simultaneously pleased and disappointed. I'm pleased because it will be a birthday present to myself and I'm disappointed because I know that there's no way it will be a solid product. I already have many misgivings about the game, and indeed I'm only going to try it because I'm a huge Trekkie, but launching just a few months after the start of closed beta doesn't sound promising.

Let's see, my post launch sub crash predictions for AoC and WAR were both about 100,000 players too high so taking that into account...Hm, I'm torn. This is a hard game for me to judge. I can't nail down my prediction. On one hand I see it having about 250,000, on the other hand I can see roughly 150,000 (keep in mind these are numbers for about 3-6 months after release). I guess I'll just have that window as my prediction: 150-250K.

 Cryptic doesn't exist anymore.  They were bought lock, stock and barrel by Atari and Atari will release on that date.  CO needed more time but once they announced the date, it released.  Look for STO to do the same and look for a major game changing patch either a week before release or on release day.

The February 2010 launch date has already entered the realms of worst-kept secret.

I would hope, bare minimum, they would spend six months in closed beta, with an additional two months or so of open beta (or focused test periods, or what-have-you). That puts it in the summer timeframe. I know they're all "Q1! Q1!" but unless the game is 90% or more done and pretty much perfect right now, there's no way they should ship it that early... unless they want it DOA.

They are not allowing much time for testing bugs.  The closed beta just started.  Didn't CO have over 6 months and it still had issues at launch  Hopefully,  that release date will get delayed.

Hmm  not long to go then....

* Goes to transporter room and waits * 

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Originally posted by BigIFFY
Hmm  not long to go then....
 
* Goes to transporter room and waits * 

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ME TOO!!!

Just as an aside, when is Cryptic's (or Atari's, rather) fiscal year Q1? The interview quote said, "Q1, but it it won't be in July", but I think their fiscal Q1 may be Apr-May-Jun... and well, June is still not July.

I think this date might be true.  STO cant afford to not release this game well before TOR hits the shelves. They want at least six months of not competing with Bioware.

Inside the Amazon.com offices:

*tosses a dart at a calender*....aaaaand the release date for Star Trek is the....2nd of February.  Ok whats next on the list.  Starcraft 2 eh

*tosses a dart*

Originally posted by junzo316

They are not allowing much time for testing bugs.  The closed beta just started.  Didn't CO have over 6 months and it still had issues at launch  Hopefully,  that release date will get delayed.

Engine bugs fixed in CO will automatically transferred to STO, as it uses the same MMO engine.

Most of the bugs you are referring to were content bugs, and will likely have little impact on STO :p

I really have a bad feeling about this game. What they've shown us so far just doesn't look all that fun or interesting. Does anyone know if they've talked in detail or shown videos of what traveling/exploring/finding new star systems and planets is like? I remember a while back they mentioned players could be the first to find and name planets/etc. THAT sounds interesting to me, atleast more than the generic war going involving the Klingons.

 Atari is no doubt pushing it for release.  They are one of those companies that have very little pride in putting out  a quality product, they just want the money.  If this game releases in February, it won't be ready.  I've seen the demos, while it isn't't as bad as some people might make it sound, it isn't exactly thrilling either.  There is definitely a lack of depth to the game combat, which just isn't justifiable because the combat isn't particularly exciting.  Anyway, February would give it less time in beta than Champions Online had... and CO could have used a few more months to clean up issues and add content.  You might be able to get away with something like that in a cape and spandex game with a no-name IP... but trying to do the same thing with an IP like Star Trek is going to make a lot of fans very mad.

Seems to me like they are relying on the IP alone to sell boxes.  Which I have no doubts it will... but there are going to be a lot of upset people if the game isn't done justice.

I dont think this game will be any good til at lest 2012, they havent been workin on it that long , don't care if there using another games engine  only a year or so workin on it means very little fetures. i can see it now ship combat will only be using 2 buttons and ground combat to=/

Febuary could be a realistic month.

Sure, the game might not have EVERYTHING in it by launch, but it's a MMO.
Just because the content is not complete dosn't mean that the engine is non-functional.
MMO's by default should grow with time, like a fine whiskey or wine.

But from experience from other companies that have created their own MMO engine (re-invented the wheel so to speak) it is always a shaky start.
STO uses the CO engine, CO have gotten all the "shaky start" bugs, STO will be perrrfect at launch ;) (I am hoping).

And please people, don't be so negative. But if you must be negative, please explain your reason. Saying "it's going to be bad" is no reason and no facts to base that statement on.

Live long and prosper. \\//,

Originally posted by kasta

 Cryptic doesn't exist anymore.  They were bought lock, stock and barrel by Atari and Atari will release on that date.  CO needed more time but once they announced the date, it released.  Look for STO to do the same and look for a major game changing patch either a week before release or on release day.

Atari and Cryptic just don't care for longterm goals anymore.

CO was developed in less then 3 years.  STO is developed in less then 3 years.

Just cheap, rushed development with minimal staff. Spend most on Marketing and hyping the shit out of their games.

Lure people into 6-month and Lifetime offers and then combined with as much possible box sales. It's all they go for and trying to make enough profit already with that alone.

Then they just bleed the people dry who sub, to cash further on it. Till everyone is left. Close up. Move on to next game.

So STO won't be any different in that regard. It's a huge IP and with that alone they gonna try cash in loads of box sales, lifetime and 6-month subs.

And that is the whole shame in all this. The Star Trek IP deserves so much better than this. /Facepalm

Cheers

I can't say that I trust this but I see why this is happening. For those people who claim the gameplay is pretty bad from playing the eurogamer demo; I think basing your opinions on that demo is not exactly right and I'm almost pretty sure the people in closed beta would agree considering they said the eurogamer demo was an earlier version of the combat. I don't believe they would show off the combat and keep talking about it if they didnt think it was good enough. I am skeptical but I am hopeful.

Come 1 Dec 2009,  Atari and Cryptic may have no other legal choice but to ship it out the door to you on 2 Feb 2010.  Because of the new FTC rules that go into effect on that date.

Cryptic apparently has no idea what they are doing when it comes to making MMOs. If they are releasing this game ALREADY after only picking up the IP from Perpetual LAST YEAR, the game could not possibly be anywhere near ready...

Why do so many developers seem to think it is okay to rush unfinished garbage MMOs to release!?!? Why can't they seem to learn from the mistakes of so many others?? One need only look to the most successful and popular MMORPG in history to see that you should never rush out a game before it is ready. WoW released with more than enough content to keep most players occupied and happy. I don't see how Cryptic could POSSIBLY have enough content prepared for a Feb. 2010 release... 

Unless of course everything in the game is procedurally generated crap with no soul.

Geez you lot a negative bunch!!! Why????

You haven't even played it yet... you've only seen screenies and demo vids.  All the Trekkies I've spoken with are so excited and can't wait to play.  I even have several guildies in the closed beta, and tho they can't say anything, they can say it rocks!

I'm pretty certain that you lot of grumpy downers are in the minority. So, please get a life of your own and stop dragging others down with your negative posts.

As the old saying goes... "if you can't say anything nice, don't say anything at all"...

 *edited for proper grammar*

Originally posted by Misscreant

Geez you lot a negative bunch!!! Why????

You haven't even played it yet... you've only seen screenies and demo vids.  All the Trekkies I've spoken with are so excited and can't wait to play.  I even have several guildies in the closed beta, and tho they can't say anything, they can say it rocks!

I'm pretty certain that you lot of grumpy downers are in the minority. So, please get a life of your own and stop dragging others down with your negative posts.

As the old saying goes... "if you can't say anything nice, don't say anything at all"...

 

 *edited for proper grammar*

Or we could show our displeasure and hopefully make them think twice about shipping out an undeveloped product.

Your way ends up with flowers and rainbows and happy times here on the forums... and a trash game.

The other way is more realistic and possibly gets  us a good game.  Unfortunately, all is not sunshine, happiness, and love in the gumdrop forums... oh poo.

You can keep your flowers and rainbows.  This is a consumer driven market, the only way to improve things is to bitch about them.  It sucks but that's the reality of it.