Cryptic’s Craig Zinkievich has told the Associated Press that Star Trek Online will feature 20 ship bridges when the game launches February 2, 2010.

That’s a lot better than none, which was the original launch plan.

“We didn’t want to have interiors at launch,” said Zinkievich. “We thought it was just a little bit too much. We really wanted to make sure we delivered a really deep experience, but your bridge not being in the game, it really felt like a hole in the game, and it was just something that we had to put in.”

The bridges will mostly function as social hubs where bridge captains and officers can hang out, and it turns out that the game is set 22 years after the events in the movie by J.J. Abrams.

“It’s familiar, but it’s new,” said Zinkievich. “We’ve changed a few things and added a few things to the universe. I think that’s what keeps us from stepping on the hardcore Trekkies’ toes.

“The team is made up of ‘Star Trek’ fans and avid MMO fans, so if we can make a game that doesn’t churn our stomach, then I think we can definitely satisfy the fans.”

Full thing through the link.