Jack Emmert Weighs In On Atari Announcement at Massively

[Quarion]

In an exclusive short QNA at Massively.com, Jack Emmert, Cryptic Studios’ Chief Creative Officer, weighs in on the Atari buyout announcement that hit the news yesterday. Get the scoop at Massively.com (http://www.massively.com/2008/12/09/jack-emmert-weighs-in-on-the-atari-buyout-announcement/).

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[Ensign.Ricky]

Atari has a great pool of resources – PR, marketing, distribution, etc. Atari also has a number of terrific IP's that would make great MMO's. Mostly, this acquisition allows Cryptic to focus solely on the business of making great MMO's.


I don't know what it is about Jack but whenever he talks about Star Trek it calms my nerves down. He's always got a positive upbeat outlook on things. I hope this means I'll be seeing plenty of STO advertising closer to launch.

[minago]

edited link was fixed

[Quin_Draco]

Did this new article indicate late 2009 as release date? Does anyone have the inside scoop? Thanks.

[Sorbek]

Did this new article indicate late 2009 as release date? Does anyone have the inside scoop? Thanks.


We will probably never know til it gets closer to the release. I sure hope we still get a 2009 release if the game is ready. If its not please don't release it!!

[CasiusOntius]

Sounds good...I certainly hope all goes according to Cryptic's plan!

[dinendae]

Did this new article indicate late 2009 as release date? Does anyone have the inside scoop? Thanks.

Jack has been quoted (along with other devs) as stating that they are still shooting for the late 2009 release. The 2010 date on some of the websites reporting about the Atari deal were apparently errors. Of course everything is subject to change but barring something official from Cryptic stating otherwise, I will stick with the 2009 date.

[darkwave2000]

i have seen both 2010 and 2009 release dates. i also hope it has an '09 release to i don't have to check the site every other day. i also hope i don't need a new graphics card. the video said they are trying to make it run on as many systems as possible.

[Avantos]

Did this new article indicate late 2009 as release date? Does anyone have the inside scoop? Thanks.

I hope, I hope, I hope... :D :D :D

[Elvyne]

[quote]Is this going to alter the beta and release schedules for any Cryptic projects?

Not at all. We're still moving ahead with Champions – Q2 next year, and STO later in the year. Development priorities are the only thing that can shift those dates.

[quote]

maybe making a sticky with this as a beta subject would stop upcoming sto fans from posting 50 million threads asking when the beta is going to be.

[ToadMonkey]

Jack looked tired in that photo. I think he needs a sedative and some sleep.

[Falcon4196]

Well here hoping Atari doesn't interfeere too much with the day to day stuff at Cryptic.

[Opus_Penguin]

I really hope this is good news. Some feeling of dread creeps in a bit as we heard about acquisitions at Perpetual before they went under. I am sure all is well and really hope so.

As for the release date, 2010 seems more realistic in order to get a well thought out and plotted game. Hopefully we will still see a late 2009 release. Considering this would coincide to the 30th anniversary of "Star Trek The Motion Picture" and the new Star Trek movie, it would be a good year to release it.

[Trekkie]

Again, this interview has me feeling very positive for the game's future, and anything negative that I may have thought about the acquisition has completely gone away now that I've read Jack Emmert's comments. Thank you for posting this!

[Cyberdurc22]

I really hope this is good news. Some feeling of dread creeps in a bit as we heard about acquisitions at Perpetual before they went under. I am sure all is well and really hope so.

As for the release date, 2010 seems more realistic in order to get a well thought out and plotted game. Hopefully we will still see a late 2009 release. Considering this would coincide to the 30th anniversary of "Star Trek The Motion Picture" and the new Star Trek movie, it would be a good year to release it.


I agree, I got a little nervous when I read about the buyout, but in the end they made the right move. They went with a company that could provide them with deep pockets and allow them to focus on making great games and not have to worry about the rest.

2010 does seem far, but if it means they're going to roll out a top notch game I can wait...it beats the alternative, all out cancellation. I also hope they can bring it out end of '09 at the same time as ST:TMP 30th Anniv. and ST:Reboot that would be cool:cool:

All we can do is hope for more screenshots, trailers and of course the Beta to come out:rolleyes:

[rikeromega]

I think we should all breathe a collective sigh of relief. Collective. Yes. Resistance is futile.

[Kosh28]

Having worked for a game company that was bought out by Atari(Infogrames) I'm kinda worried. I've heard it all before, then the games were shelved and studio was shut down. and it was a profitable studio.
I hope it doesn't happen again, I really want to see this game be made.

[KL0k]

i'm curious what other IP's jack is referring to?
maybe that will lead to a "subscribe to an atari-account and try all the games you want" situation *winkwink* :)

[Nelson]

I think that the news of atari getting cryptic is good it will give them greater resources to get our game out. Cant wait to hear more about the game.

[LordYaro]

From the information I am seeing they are looking for at least a Q3 2009 at the earliest to a Q1 2010 release at the latest. That is what I am getting. Don't quote me on it but that is a reasonable time to wait for STO. I am optimistic.

[KO_Gilligan]

From the information I am seeing they are looking for at least a Q3 2009 at the earliest to a Q1 2010 release at the latest. That is what I am getting. Don't quote me on it but that is a reasonable time to wait for STO. I am optimistic.

Basically what I was thinking... I'm sure they would like it to be on the shelves for Christmas, but by then even if it's not, we will be close and have a solid release date to keep the dogs at bay.

[Shakari]

Yea, looking like either 3rd or 4th Q release in 2009.

[qoreQ]

I think that was one of the most uninformative Q&A's I've ever read. I highly doubt they'll shelve any games from Cryptic. Lets just hope we get that STO release in '09

[Asylum_Swordsman]

Having worked for a game company that was bought out by Atari(Infogrames) I'm kinda worried. I've heard it all before, then the games were shelved and studio was shut down. and it was a profitable studio.
I hope it doesn't happen again, I really want to see this game be made.

GT or Bitmap Brothers I presume?

I'm really sorry to hear that, they were some of my favourite studios, and a massive part of the UK scene. The original Bitmap Brothers games on the Atari ST were awesome though. What was that on called that was a platformer with a kid who wore a black cap and sunglasses. Betty Boop was in it aswell for some reason. Awesome game that, I spent hours playing it, but its name escapes me at present.

[Raso719]

All I can say is thank good it was Atari and not EA.
If EA comes knocking at your door slam it in thier face, they will ruin your game and company.
Cheers, and hope to see you soon with my 3 free months at city of Heros!
RIP Tabula Rasa!

[Mr.Scott]

Oh no!

I can see it now, Godzilla flying through Federation space...

[callsign11b]

I don't know
if its good or bad. do know that q&a was just sugar coating no specifics.
just hope st online makes it to the shelves and not get shelved itself.

[Bad_Boy]

Once again i say... Cryptic has gone downhill and i am expecting a dishonorable star trek online death. Expec the worst and hope for the best. But between you and i the best seems lieka quite far challenge as of now with their focus on a numbr of different mmo ips they "WANT" to work with. I think ST:O has been delayed far enough! Years for fact. We as Trek Fans cant keep hoping for something by people who may just be lying to us just to soften the blow.

[qoreQ]

Besides D&D online, what MMO's have atari/infogrames successfully published? I'm hoping that they'll Cryptic to their thing and get this damn game out!!

[ToadMonkey]

Oh no!

I can see it now, Godzilla flying through Federation space...
With French pastries in his hand.

[spacecadet1138]

i dunno i highly doubt that STO will get put on the back burner, let alone shelved. think about it, infogrames just invested quite a bit of money in cryptic, and odds are, they're gonna be looking for a return on that investment. besides, sto is pretty far along in it's production, i'd imagine, if they plan on releasing it in around a year's time. why stop production on an ip so close to being released with such a large and dedicated fanbase to start up another project? it doesn't make sense. all you nay-sayers saying you never saw the sun will soon say you never saw the sun so bright. so in the meantime go get some shades.

[callsign11b]

love to think happy happy thoughts.
but star trek online game has had some very difficult birthing.
and with infogames / atari being the big boss now. would really hate to see it die on the table again.
its a wait and see.

[Lizzio]

i have seen 09, 10 and 11 still not sure when its coming out..
i hope '09 afcourse the little things that arent fixed then yet..
can always be updated :)

[starbuck1771]

Wouldn't this be a conflict of interest since Atari who owns Bioware is also working with LucasArts on star wars games because ST & SW have always been competitive franchises.

[AaronH]

I would be more concerned with the game getting released, doing ok, Atari deciding that isn't good enough and forcing a drastic change in gameplay structure that basically makes the game worse, or shutting down the servers all together.

Hopefully that doesn't happen, and I don't know enough about Atari's history to say whether that is likely to happen.

[tombo5606]

Will atari interfere with how STO is going to be made?

I would hate it if they came into the cryptic office one day and said...


"Right we are now going to base the STO mmo on the new star trek film."

That would be sad as star trek is not doing too well with its film at the moment.

:(

[Trendkilla]

As I first saw the buy out headline. I was scared s***less about this. I like most in here have been waiting years for this game. But if this is about makeing Atari come back to life and makeing great games, im in for the win. As long as it stays for the player. I dont mind if the first prority is to move my dimes and dollars from my wallet to theres. As long as I get respectet and treatet like a sentient being. I got to be honest and CoX wasnt any fun, just another grind fest. Go kill xx of those and that. No real story, no real reason to do so unless your where aiming at getting Ûber. I spent more time creating characters than playing them. I hope this will get Cryptic and Atari back on the track of makeing games I cant resist poreing my hard earned $$ into... I applaud this, make me a broke but happy gamer...

[AaronH]

"Right we are now going to base the STO mmo on the new star trek film."


That would be sweet, driving classic cars off cliffs, halo drops, epic space battles with shuttles and space ships, pink space monsters in arctic enviornments.

I approve of this idea and am writing a letter to atari right now.

On a more serious note: I am happy with the direction of STO at the moment, and the previews for the new Star Trek film looked ok to me.

[blackfx]

Good news!

New Star Trek movie looked AMAZING!

[blackfx]

Wouldn't this be a conflict of interest since Atari who owns Bioware is also working with LucasArts on star wars games because ST & SW have always been competitive franchises.

EA owns Bioware.. not Atari.. you are a bit confused.

[Chillee]

Will atari interfere with how STO is going to be made?

I would hate it if they came into the cryptic office one day and said...


"Right we are now going to base the STO mmo on the new star trek film."

That would be sad as star trek is not doing too well with its film at the moment.

:(



Atari and Cryptic do not have the right or freedom to do that, as the intellectual property and approval for all those things must come from CBS/Viacom... and even bigger fish than Infrogames.

[starbuck1771]

EA owns Bioware.. not Atari.. you are a bit confused.Ah well they owned it for the first two kotor's and the never winter nights series. If atari cant hold onto a moneymaker like bioware whats the odds they can hold onto a lesser company like Cryptic?

[starbuck1771]

Atari and Cryptic do not have the right or freedom to do that, as the intellectual property and approval for all those things must come from CBS/Viacom... and even bigger fish than Infrogames.
Then we should be looking at something that looks like what perpetual had but we are not so you must be wrong.

[Sakharov]

Ah well they owned it for the first two kotor's and the never winter nights series. If atari cant hold onto a moneymaker like bioware whats the odds they can hold onto a lesser company like Cryptic?

Atari never owned Bioware. They simply published some of their games, and supplied Bioware with the Dungeons and Dragons license, which they in their turn had licensed from Wizards of The Coast. The previous holder of that license had been Interplay, which Bioware also had worked together with.

[LordDave]

Then we should be looking at something that looks like what perpetual had but we are not so you must be wrong.

Confused by your logic.

Perpetual had the same license as Cryptic (Cryptic actually bought it from PE). That license covers all of star trek history that has been released at the time of the license. This includes books, films, cartoons, games, ect... It does not include the unreleased movie.
The actually LOOK of the game is squarely on the developer and has little to do with the IP. All the IP does is allow you to use exact (or close approximations) of shapes, names, ideas, and images of the Star Trek Universe. Things like Warp Drive and The Borg and Transwarp and Phasers and Captain Kirk and Starfleet and The Federation.

[Traynor94]

I was a little worried about this the day it was posted, but gave myself a few days to think it over and watch the site and the news cycle for anything negative... and, low and behold, the world is still intact. Now I'm starting to like this whole thing... Jack is a smart guy, and I think he made some great points about the ability to use Atari's distribution and marketing stuff... it'll help at launch, and Cryptic will still have control (apparently) over the creative direction of their products. That sounds just fine to me.

Seeing the Atari deal also makes me believe that they really are planning on making this game cross-compatible to a couple platforms (obviously computer and maybe 360?). That's great too, because I'd rather game on my xbox...

Overall good news! Always nice to see a new story posted, thanks Devs! ^^

[callsign11b]

good news bad news who knows what news...lol
game comes out will be happy...

[AaronH]

Atari and Cryptic do not have the right or freedom to do that, as the intellectual property and approval for all those things must come from CBS/Viacom... and even bigger fish than Infrogames.

Actually, that depends on the nature of the contract I believe. In this case, If it is just generic rights to make an MMO out of the Star Trek IP CBS probably doesn't have any say.

[JerryC]

Did this new article indicate late 2009 as release date? Does anyone have the inside scoop? Thanks.

I don't know if its me, but I get bad vibs from this. Atari will have majority control and what they say goes. Which means that if they think the return on STO isn't likely to be big enough, they WILL pull the plug on it.

Atari has a horrible reputation for destroying good companies. They are almost as bad as EA in that department. I just hope I am completely wrong here, though I dont think I am.


R.I.P. - STO

2008 - 2009

[JerryC]

i dunno i highly doubt that STO will get put on the back burner, let alone shelved. think about it, infogrames just invested quite a bit of money in cryptic, and odds are, they're gonna be looking for a return on that investment. besides, sto is pretty far along in it's production, i'd imagine, if they plan on releasing it in around a year's time. why stop production on an ip so close to being released with such a large and dedicated fanbase to start up another project? it doesn't make sense. all you nay-sayers saying you never saw the sun will soon say you never saw the sun so bright. so in the meantime go get some shades.


LOL why did EA stop production of UO 2 when they were getting ready to beta the nearly finish product? Its upto the bean counters at atari from now on. If they don't think it will pay off, then its gone. Nothing you or I or Cryptic says will change that. :(

[callsign11b]

good news more money to put into development.
bad news STO life will hang on how well chapions online does.
if CO does well infogames / atari will let cryptic continue and pour more money at it.
if it does baddly who knows.
hope it works out.
can't wait to see the sto game come out.

[JerryC]

Atari never owned Bioware. They simply published some of their games, and supplied Bioware with the Dungeons and Dragons license, which they in their turn had licensed from Wizards of The Coast. The previous holder of that license had been Interplay, which Bioware also had worked together with.

True and D&D turned out to be a piece of crap.

[picardalpha2clearance]

What does all this have to do wirh STO? Is this going to speed up release date? These anouncements probably should be posted on another site, cause they have no bearing on what STO fans want to hear. That is my humble opinion....

[rikeromega]

What does all this have to do wirh STO? Is this going to speed up release date? These anouncements probably should be posted on another site, cause they have no bearing on what STO fans want to hear. That is my humble opinion....

I disagree. I think it is better to inform STO fans and future players alike so they don't fall into rumor and innuendo based on misinterpreted press releases and misinformation. I mean, it took less than an hour for people to begin panicking on the forums when the Atari purchase was mentioned without a follow-up interview from Jack. Imagine where we'd be if nothing new had EVER been said...

[LordDave]

What does all this have to do wirh STO? Is this going to speed up release date? These anouncements probably should be posted on another site, cause they have no bearing on what STO fans want to hear. That is my humble opinion....

Actually it's going to ensure that the release date goes smoother. Kinda like taking your car to a mechanic vs doing it yourself. Sure you'll spend more money, but the odds of anything being screwed up are significantly less with the mechanic.

[Cpt.Medo]

Here is a gift to all the star trek fans out there that did not know about this new project. www.startrekofgodsandmen.com This is a low budget movie directed by Tim Russ who also played Tuvok. Considering that it is a low budget movie I found it very good. I don't want to spoil anything but you are going to find a lot of familiar characters in this movie. It is about one hour a thirty minutes long. Like I said, it is a low budget movie but it was done nicely. I am a big Star Trek fan and I have to be honest that I loved it.

Again the website is www.startrekofgodsandmen.com

[DanielLutrin]

We will probably never know til it gets closer to the release. I sure hope we still get a 2009 release if the game is ready. If its not please don't release it!!
It should be released ASAP:)

[Kinneas]

DUGG

TY!

Sorry so late.

[rikeromega]

...2011! :cool:

[RealRom]

...2011! :cool:

Meh...Rumors are exactly that. RUMORS!!

We have all seen too many MMO's that launched prior to thier readiness, right? So much pressure by company execs and shareholders to get things going that our chars basicly turn into nothing but beta-testing fodder?? No, I hope that Cryptic takes its sweet-arse time with this one in developing not only the graphics, but the storyline, economy, combat, and all other aspects.

I've waited for 40 years for this, having caught the third season of StarTrek in its original run and dreaming of being "Scotty" - even smuggling tribbles and a makeshift wooden "phaser" to kindergarten, LOL.

Take your time Cryptic, do it right, make us Trekkers proud! Us die-hards will still be here (even if it takes past 2015 :o )

[rikeromega]

Meh...Rumors are exactly that. RUMORS!!

We have all seen too many MMO's that launched prior to thier readiness, right? So much pressure by company execs and shareholders to get things going that our chars basicly turn into nothing but beta-testing fodder?? No, I hope that Cryptic takes its sweet-arse time with this one in developing not only the graphics, but the storyline, economy, combat, and all other aspects.

I've waited for 40 years for this, having caught the third season of StarTrek in its original run and dreaming of being "Scotty" - even smuggling tribbles and a makeshift wooden "phaser" to kindergarten, LOL.

Take your time Cryptic, do it right, make us Trekkers proud! Us die-hards will still be here (even if it takes past 2015 :o )


I'd rather see the game delayed repeatedly then see them come up short on storyline and create a disjointed, poorly plotted Legacy.

[PaperBackHero]

If the MMO comes out later than sooner it will be all the more time to acquire better parts for the new system build.

[xxxinfamyxxx]

I have Heard and Seen a Fall 09 Release date i am gonna have to find where i saw that.

[THORN74]

I have Heard and Seen a Fall 09 Release date i am gonna have to find where i saw that.

fall 2009 release date was from GameInformer article back in october issue. It still remains to be seen if that will be accurate

[chrisdanger]

With anything in game development, its always fluid. If it is released this fall, Cryptic will more than likely make sure the game is launching with every bolt tightened and screw in place. Seeing the game has already been in dev for awhile before they made the announcement last summer, I have a serious feeling its going to be out in Q4 2009

[RealRom]

With anything in game development, its always fluid. If it is released this fall, Cryptic will more than likely make sure the game is launching with every bolt tightened and screw in place. Seeing the game has already been in dev for awhile before they made the announcement last summer, I have a serious feeling its going to be out in Q4 2009

Well, I reckon it's OK, to disagree with a fellow Texan at times ;) Frankly, neighbor, having watched the launch of numerous MMO's over the years, I've come to the opinion that companies are more anxious to "grab the buck" with the advertising momentum flowing fresh, then launch something that is solid and sound.

Granted, there will ALWAYS be "problems" and "perceived problems" with any game at inception. But, the speed with which these issues are handled says alot about not only their customer support and dev team, but the company as a whole (on that I am sure we can agree).

Realistically, we can't hold Cryptic to any level higher than that of any other gaming company- so we can expect "issues" (probably a ton of them considering the potential depth of STO) whether its a 2009 or 2019 (heaven forbid) launch...