Decipher Question

[Liquidator Queeg]

... but that's the release date for Decipher's Lord of the Rings trading card game. I sincerely doubt any Trek books will be out in two weeks. If they are, though, great!

Just a heads up!

Steve

[Steve Long]

There are a couple of problems with relying on magazine articles for release dates.

First, to make magazine deadlines, any articles re: a game release have to be writting MONTHS in advance. In the interim, things can -- and usually do -- change.

Second, it's all too easy to get things confused. For example, the LOTR CCG has been scheduled for release for Nov. 6 for months. However, I don't think we (the RPG Studio) ever definitely stated that date for the release of the Trek RPG. In fact, we have studiously avoided ever stating a definite date. I suspect someone made a mistake somewhere along the line, or misinterpreted something. I haven't seen the article, so I can't say.

Anyhow, I can promise you the Trek RPG isn't going to be released on November 6. And no, I'm not stating a definite date of any kind either. It'll be out "real soon now."

Steve Long

[Capt Daniel Hunter]

"Real soon now"

Y'know, I'm beginning to really hate that phrase

I wish we could at least get a decent preview of the system. I want to try it out for size.

[Publius]

I for one appreciate the feedback that we have been getting from Steve and some of the others. I understand frustration because I share it as well, but I also understand that these fine folks are probably just as frustrated with not being able to put out their work. There are any number of things that can cause delay, from corporate hijinks to licensing concerns (I have noticed that 'licensed products' like Trek, Dune, Star Wars etc. tend to have the most hurdles to jump in order to get to the RPG market –how much of the delay has nothing to do with Decipher writ large? I don’t know myself and I would not expect that anyone damage their relationship with the licenser by saying so outright if it was the case).

Overall I'll take "real soon now" over silence any day. Thanks very much Steve for trying to keep us updated as much as you are able.

[Capt Daniel Hunter]

Originally posted by Publius

Overall I'll take "real soon now" over silence any day. Thanks very much Steve for trying to keep us updated as much as you are able.

In case you missed the point of the winky smilie , I was being tongue in cheek. No offense intended y'know. I appreciate these guys' efforts as much as the next guy.

[Publius]

Nope didn't miss it at all, I am a reasonably good judge of smileys and that did not seem to be an aggressive little bugger at all I don't think you meant it any other way either, and I certainly did not mean to imply anything towards you or anyone else here Cap'n Hunter. I just wanted to say what I said because it needed to be voiced (written? 'communicated openly' at least). I know many of us have said something similar to what I just posted in the past, but sometimes it bears repeating. As I mentioned I am sure that a lot of the people on the 'inside' like Steve Long are frustrated for the delays as much as we are. Moreso, it's their baby right? If my suspicions are right about the licensing (and I am not fishing for an answer to that trust me) I'd be climbing the walls now myself were I one of them. I kinda thought it was a good time to make my feelings real clear again is all.

BTW, I'm with you in spirit Cap'n. Does "real soon now" thrill me? Nope, but I appreciate it and the acknowledgement it entails more than silence. And from what I gather here and elsewhere, it appears that you and a lot of others on these boards seem to feel the exact same way or at least some reasonable facsimile thereof.

No offense intended.

[Modem]

Umm…guys I re-read the article, and it still says Nov. 6th of this year (along side the LOTR CCG). The majority of the info comes from a press conference by Decipher at this year’s Gen Con (conducted by Christian Moore and Steven Long…hmm; relative of yours Steve). The article did list the ‘Trek-Date’ to Decipher’s office, so the date from a ‘higher-up’ might be a misquote/cue, or something else altogether.

All I know is:
Diamond Distributing’s September Previews (for November) has both the Players and Narrators books listed, and now Games Unplugged (via differing sources) lists it to Nov. 6th. Putting these things together, one can say early to mid-November as the target time.

[Steve Long]

Having been the person at said press conference, I'm still not sure that the reporter isn't confusing things (or, as suggested, getting his info from someone at the Virginia Beach Decipher HQ who provided incorrect info). I know I did not give November 6 as the date for the game's release, and I'm pretty sure Christian didn't, either. If he did I am going to mock him mercilessly.

I can absolutely, positively promise you that the game's not going to be out by November 6 -- or mid-November either, for that matter. That would not be possible, logistically, at this point.

Beyond that, I'm sticking with my usual answer: it'll be out "real soon now."

Steve Long

[Capt Daniel Hunter]

Cheer's Publius Was just a bit worried you thought I was having a go. Ain't always easy to get your point across in text.

Anyway, I'm disappointed to hear it won't be out next month, but them's the breaks I guess. Wouldn't be some changes being made to work in minor snippets from Enterprise. I can see some possible changes to the Andorians, for instance.

Just a thought. Looking forward to darn thing anyway. A preview would be nice though, to keep us all warm and toasty in the rapidly encroaching cold Winter nights

Though my girlfriend might wonder why I'm snuggling my PC in bed

[dimeboy99]

If the game could be out before Christmas that would be fine with me. I've got a very short list of what I want this year and the Decipher RPG's are right on top of it. (after my X-Box, but I'll buy that for myself)

[Capt Daniel Hunter]

Well dunno when it'll be released, but Don just confirmed here http://forum.trekrpg.net/showthread....5522#post34533 that the preview is finished and awaiting approval.

So it won't be long before we know more about Decipher Trek. Probably enough to keep me happy until the books are released.

[Azar Kel]

Yeah, I think that arguing with Steve Long about the release date of the Dec-Trek is actually kinda funny, given his involvement and all. But it just goes to show that not publishing any sort of release date was a wise choice. Albeit it makes things for those of us at home waiting for the thing to be released a little frustrating. But anyways, my opinion is that it was probably the best possible move they could have made in not publishing a release date. Sure its frustrating but it is a thousand times less so than LUG's habitual inability to meet their own release dates. Honestly, for me there is nothing as frustrating as having your expectations shattered. So I applaud Decipher's orignal approach of actually treating their consumers like people.

As for the "team" of creators I say take your time. I am happy to continue to use LUG until the new game is released. But also know that we the gamers are expecting nothing less than perfection from you. But if the previously released material is any indication of the evolution of Trek-RPG then I think we shall not be disappointed.

[Sho-sa Kurita]

Raise your hand if you remember when there wasn't an Internet, and we often had no idea a new game was coming out until it was actually on the shelf? Or maybe an ad in Dragon or Polyhedron or some-such mag the month before? Ah, those were the days with a lot less gamer-angst.

-- Daniel

[Azar Kel]

OHHH I remember when I was too young to work and had to borrow old 1st ed. D&D core books from the library! does that count?

[OmegaOdd]

Hand raised right over here...

-Dan (OmegaOdd)

Originally posted by Sho-sa Kurita
Raise your hand if you remember when there wasn't an Internet, and we often had no idea a new game was coming out until it was actually on the shelf? Or maybe an ad in Dragon or Polyhedron or some-such mag the month before? Ah, those were the days with a lot less gamer-angst.

-- Daniel