The free-to-play browser based game, Star Trek: Infinite Space, is getting closer to beta and final release. We've been patiently waiting to get our hands on Infinite Space since the first announcement back in summer 2010. In the meantime, the game's publisher Gameforge has just released a series of Q&A videos that feature Trek consultants Mike & Denise Okuda answering questions from the Infinite Space community. Mike & Denise answer a slew of general questions about Star Trek and the game, but one that caught our attention focused on Mike's LCARS contribution to the Trek universe. 

Check out the full press release below, including both Q&A videos featuring the Okudas.

Star Trek Visionaries, Michael and Denise Okuda, Answer Fan-Related Questions and Shed Light on the Upcoming Free-to-play Casual Browser Game, Star Trek - Infinite Space

Karlsruhe, Germany - August 23, 2011 - Gameforge, Europe's largest publisher of free-to-play online games, today released an all-new community-based Q&A video featuring Star Trek expert consultants, Michael and Denise Okuda. In the video, they outline details regarding the upcoming Star Trek - Infinite Space free-to-play casual browser game and dive deep into the Star Trek universe.

With a release date set for "Summer 2011" and a fast approaching beta, Star Trek: Infinite Space is preparing to launch Trek fans into the Deep Space Nine era universe with a bang. We've been covering "Infinite" since it was announced last year, but for those who don't know; it will be free-to-play browser based game set in the Deep Space Nine timeline and has Trek alumni Mike & Denise Okuda on board to keep an eye on canon and consistency. Much like many browser games, "Infinite" will be free-to-play and casual, meaning you can pick up and play for short periods of time.

German game company Gameforge is slowly approaching it's summer 2011 release date for the upcoming Trek title Star Trek: Infinite Space. Like we reported last year, the browser based free-to-play game will be set in the Deep Space Nine timeline and already has Trek alumni Mike & Denise Okuda on board. The latest news to come out of Karlsruhe is that composer Chris Hülsbeck is set to create the score.  Hülsbeck is best know for his work on Turrican 2 and The Great Giana Sisters.

“This commission is a great honor, to work on a Star Trek product was a dream that has now come true,” Hülsbeck explains.

Ralf Adam, Gameforge’s Executive Producer, adds: “We are all very proud of being able to enlist such an outstanding artist. Chris Hülsbeck has decisively influenced a whole generation of computer games.”

We reported back in June that Gameforge, the largest independent global provider of online games, had signed a worldwide licensing deal with CBS Studios to publish free-to-play casual browser games based on the Star Trek franchise. It looks like we're one step closer to getting our Trek gaming on in Google Chrome (yeah, that's how we roll).

DS9 will be the setting for the first browser-based free-to-play game called Star Trek: Infinite Space, with two other games in the works slated for 2011. One of the games will be a facebook exclusive, untitled as of yet, and will focus on the original series.

Gameforge has enlisted award-winning developer Keen Games to lead development on Star Trek: Infinite Space.

“Bringing Keen Games on board to develop Star Trek – Infinite Space was an easy decision to make as Keen has a strong history of producing outstanding titles,” said Ralf Adam, VP of Publishing at Gameforge. “Our production team will work closely with Keen Games to bring the vision we have for Star Trek – Infinite Space to fruition.”

Gameforge, the largest independent global provider of online games, has just signed a worldwide licensing deal with CBS Studios to publish free-to-play casual browser games based on the Star Trek franchise. Based in Karlsruhe, Germany, Gameforge offers 20 games in more than 50 languages and more than 100 million registered users.

“We are proud that the quality of our games and publishing services enabled us to acquire this license,” said Christoph Jennen, CFO of Gameforge. “Our upcoming Star Trek browser games will further expand our consumer base and market share on an international scale.”

Although Gameforge hasn't released which series the games will be based on, they do claim that the new relationship will bring the storied franchise to the fastest growing sector of the games market, and to players across the globe.