Just read this and didn't see it posted yet: www.videogamer.com/news/cryptic_confirms_sto_out_first_quarter_of_2010.html

Closed beta 'right around the corner'.

Star Trek Online, the upcoming MMORPG based on the popular science fiction universe, will be released during the first quarter of 2010, developer Cryptic has confirmed to VideoGamer.com.

That means it'll be out sometime between January and March next year.

Cryptic also teased the launch of a closed beta, saying it's "just around the corner".

The news comes from executive producer Craig Zinkievich, who was speaking to VideoGamer.com over the phone from Cryptic Studios' offices in California.

He said: "The closed beta is really just right around the corner. I think that there's a press release that's going to go out in just a couple of days."

And on the release date proper, Zinkievich confirmed: "Without giving you the date, which I'm not allowed to give out or else the marketing people will come and smack me in the back of the head, I can tell you that the game will be out the first quarter of 2010."
 

Will it be ready by then? Just how far along are they?

AmazingAvery this is the 1st thread that ive seen you on thats not an AOC one!!!!! LOL!!!!

(AAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHH raises plunger in salute to Amazing Avery! )

NICE, Avery!  Thanks for the post.

By the way, how you been bud?  Still hanging with the same guild or did you move on?

I really hope that STO will be great, I have my doubts, but still hope that it will not destroy star trek feeling.

Anyway, I am looking forward to trying this one!

Originally posted by AmazingAvery

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Will it be ready by then? Just how far along are they?

I really have to wonder that. They really are moving rather quickly with STO and from what I've been reading, they probably will release the game with the basic systems all in place and tested. After release they will implement some of those features that folks have been wanting (ex. ship interiors, etc...)

Originally posted by Shannia

NICE, Avery!  Thanks for the post.

By the way, how you been bud?  Still hanging with the same guild or did you move on?

 

Moved on a long time ago. Really looking forward to STO. Been in a ST clan since 2000 :) Hope your doing good too!

Beta announcement soon?
 

Interesting news, and Cryptic generally tends to come in pretty close to their published release dates.. Looks like we'll have something new to play next spring.

Originally posted by ABRaquel

Originally posted by AmazingAvery

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Will it be ready by then? Just how far along are they?

 

I really have to wonder that. They really are moving rather quickly with STO and from what I've been reading, they probably will release the game with the basic systems all in place and tested. After release they will implement some of those features that folks have been wanting (ex. ship interiors, etc...)

I have not played a Cryptic game before, is beta any different in their games? how is testing in their games, are things in good shape for launch? I read that Champions released ok.

I have a feeling that the basic systems will be well done and like you said things added in further down the line.

Originally posted by AmazingAvery

Originally posted by ABRaquel

Originally posted by AmazingAvery

---

Will it be ready by then? Just how far along are they?

 

I really have to wonder that. They really are moving rather quickly with STO and from what I've been reading, they probably will release the game with the basic systems all in place and tested. After release they will implement some of those features that folks have been wanting (ex. ship interiors, etc...)

 

I have not played a Cryptic game before, is beta any different in their games? how is testing in their games, are things in good shape for launch? I read that Champions released ok.

I have a feeling that the basic systems will be well done and like you said things added in further down the line.

Well Beta in CO was kinda strange, since the servers were only open at certain hours for a couple of days a week. Some of those opening hours were during the day on a week day which made it impossible for some people to test the game.

Hopefully they will implement what they learned with CO (since they are using the same engine and network architecture). Champions released fine for me, the only pet peeve was the major patch/nerf on launch day but besides that it was a fun game.

 In both their previous games there was a near game changing patch done in the final days of beta and pushed on to release without proper testing.  Happened in CoH and happened in CO.  Otherwise the betas were fine and they did seem to listen to feedback up until then.

Originally posted by kasta

 In both their previous games there was a near game changing patch done in the final days of beta and pushed on to release without proper testing.  Happened in CoH and happened in CO.  Otherwise the betas were fine and they did seem to listen to feedback up until then.

Agreed!  To me, Cryptic is releasing way too early.  Saying that, STO has been on the board since August 2004 so it's time.  The thing that is going to bum a lot of people out is everyone being captain of their own ship with the initial release.  To me, they should wait until they can actually let players be crew members if they want, just like in the series and movies.  Cryptic has already said that will be later in an expansion.  As such, the intial release is disappointing to me, but won't be a deal breaker.  I gave WoW plenty of time to get PvP decent so I guess I can give Cryptic time to get ships manned by players in game as well.

Originally posted by Shannia

Originally posted by kasta

 In both their previous games there was a near game changing patch done in the final days of beta and pushed on to release without proper testing.  Happened in CoH and happened in CO.  Otherwise the betas were fine and they did seem to listen to feedback up until then.

 

Agreed!  To me, Cryptic is releasing way too early.  Saying that, STO has been on the board since August 2004 so it's time.  The thing that is going to bum a lot of people out is everyone being captain of their own ship with the initial release.  To me, they should wait until they can actually let players be crew members if they want, just like in the series and movies.  Cryptic has already said that will be later in an expansion.  As such, the intial release is disappointing to me, but won't be a deal breaker.  I gave WoW plenty of time to get PvP decent so I guess I can give Cryptic time to get ships manned by players in game as well.

 

 

Probably trying to beat SW:TOR (it's a possible release for next year), and Cataclysm to grab as many box and months $$ before people leave.

More importantly, when will they launch the free trial?  Someone let me know when that happens.

Lol already?

Wow, this game is doomed.

Originally posted by Odela

Lol already?

Wow, this game is doomed.

See you say that, but have you played the game?

Sometimes a dev team gets lucky with gameplay mechanics, and doesn't really need that much time to produce a game.  I played the demo at PAX, and it is the most fun I've had in any MMO, heck any genre, ever. And I was just playing a starting mission.  Space combat could really be a stand alone game... If they put some PvP mechanics in and some decent Raid/event content, this game is really set up well IMO, the basic gameplay is just that fun.

The doomsaying regarding the late changes to CO is unjustified. There were some early balance issues. I don't know of ANY MMO that hasn't had them, pretty much all release before they are perfected. ST shares some of COs DNA its true. The engine it is built on is pretty much the same and consequently had a years worth of beta testing already.

The game is going to appeal to some and not others but to paraphrase tamgros, try the game then give it a critique. Blind uninformed naysaying does noone any good.

It's good to hear Q1 2010, I hope they're actually ready to release in that timeframe as well.