The past several months have seen Perpetual Entertainment plummet into nothing short of an accelerating nosedive. In October, the San Francisco-based developer placed on indefinite hold its Sony Online Entertainment-backed MMOG Gods and Heroes: Rome Rising to redeploy efforts to its higher-profile Star Trek Online game.

Shortly thereafter, a Securities and Exchange Commission filing revealed the developer had liquidated its assets, and that it had been purchased by an unnamed media company. Few details on the transaction surfaced, but conflicting reports indicated that Perpetual would be turning the Star Trek MMOG into a more casual-friendly title. While the news could have signaled a turnaround for the ailing developer, Perpetual's problems proved to be ongoing, as the developer was sued in December by its public relations firm Kohnke Communications for, among other charges, breach of contract, fraudulent transfer, and fraud.

Perpetual's string of ill fortune may now be extending into 2008. Citing "multiple sources at the San Francisco-based developer," WarCry is reporting today that the Perpetual is no longer developing Star Trek Online. While the report again raises doubts over the future of a Star Trek-themed MMOG, WarCry notes that the license and content of the game have passed to "another Bay Area development studio," though Perpetual's code has not.

The report goes on to say that Perpetual will continue to operate under its P2 Entertainment label, bolstered most notably the Perpetual Platform. In July, Mass Effect creators BioWare said that it would be using the Perpetual Platform in its first yet-to-be-named sci-fi MMOG. Plotting a course similar to Majesco, P2 Entertainment will reportedly refocus its efforts on the casual market and maintaining its middleware technology.

The official story: Perpetual had not responded to request for comment as of press time. Quite understandably, Kohnke also had nothing to say on the issue.

Bogus or not bogus?: Judging from Perpetual's current freefall, it's looking not bogus that the developer has beamed off the Star Trek MMOG. Star Trek fans need not worry, though, because a property as coveted and open-ended as Gene Roddenberry's classic will undoubtedly receive the MMOG treatment. The question now, as it has always been, is when.

Bioware = EA