Release date?

Since the second Cryptic officially launched StarTrekOnline.com, everyone has wanted to know one thing:

image by Cyjack

When is the game coming out?

Well, speculation is a dangerous thing (just look at gas prices), so let’s look at the info we know and see what we can come up with.

Jack Emmert said in the Q&A at the Star Trek Online gameplay trailer reveal that we’d see the game “in less than 3 years”.  That was shortly after saying it would be less than 4 years…

The “Win a Lifetime Subscription” (and the game) sweepstakes also mentions a possible release date.  It is said that if you win the contest, you will receive the boxed game soon after it releases.  It then states that would be “at least one year from the end of the contest”.  The contest ended August 17th, and the reveal of who wins will be around the 28th.  That might hint at a Fall to Winter 2009 release.

Then, there’s the interview with Jerry Whitehead of Reverb.  If you don’t know what Reverb is, it’s the company that Cryptic hired to handle their marketing and public relations.  Jerry was interviewed by Hailing Frequency just minutes before Leonard Nimoy came on stage to begin the “Star Trek Online Revealed” event in Las Vegas on August 10th.

He didn’t say much until the end when he was asked if there was anything he wanted to say to the community.  He said, “Enjoy the game when it comes out [BLEEP].”  Many members of the StarTrekOnline.com forums claim to have seen the clip BEFORE it got censored, and he supposedly says “next fall” or “Fall 2009″, something directed at late next year. Here is the clip:

Just for the record, there are two different versions of the video on YouTube.  The one above with the [BLEEP], and one without.  However, the one without it has been flagged as “Private” and only available to those on the user’s friends list.  This is the link to the “Private” video if you want to torture yourself, but you won’t be able to watch it:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BEwfhQEqd7k

There’s also the astute observation of a StarTrekOnline.com forum member, staticblue:

1. MMOs on average take about 3 years to be completed.
2. Every interview the statement of “We will be finished a lot sooner than you think” is said.
3. “We only have to build content” Jacks words. The engine and network are already there and, very polished.
4. Reverb guy saying the released date and, it getting bleeped out. (read the lips)
5. Star Trek Movie (09) will be released on DVD during the 09 holiday season.

and finally my own little conspiracy theory….

Why does the game start in 2409? Why not 2410, 2405, or 2400? It’s in the math.

12/12/09 There, mystery solved.

Makes sense to me.

So, what does this all add up to?  Well, you can quote me on this, I’m gonna be bold enough to say that this means a holiday 2009 release.  That means beta will probably start a bit before the next Trek movie hits theaters (5/8/09), giving the devs a good 7-8 months to test it (and for me to play it ) before releasing it.  What do you guys think?  Opinions wanted, leave a comment!