Perpetual Entertainment has announced that they've acquired the rights to make a Star Trek MMORPG, using the Paramount Pictures license.
The company also gained $6.5 million in financing, which should come in handy as they prepare to launch the game
sometime in early 2007, with public beta testing scheduled to begin in 2006. Specific platforms for Star Trek Online (tentative title) were not disclosed.
GameDAILY spoke with PC Gamer's Senior Editor of Features and Previews, Chuck Osborn, who is a self-professed Star Trek fanatic. We asked if he felt that Star Trek is still viable in today's market. Is the property too old, or the interest too low?
Osborn believes that the "Star Trek license would
have been much more viable a few years ago when the property was still somewhat hot." He continued, "With Star Trek sort of being at the low ebb of its popularity, it's a little surprising to see that this MMO has been announced now."
Why the fall of such a once-big franchise? "Unfortunately, when it comes to videogames Star Trek has always gotten a bad rap," Osborn says. Many of the earlier titles weren't that good and Star Trek didn't get much respect until Elite Force came out. Osborn says that the license eventually "bottomed out" and was no longer of much use to Activision Inc., the previous holder.
Interestingly, Osborn believes that a smaller developer like Perpetual may fare better with the license than a large company like Activision. "They may be even more hungry than Activision was in doing something great or innovative with the license," said Osborn. Because the game won't be due out until 2007, that time off may be just the "breather" the license needs before regaining some steam.
Despite the tarnished image the Star Trek license has had over the years, games like Star Wars Galaxies, Middle Earth Online,
and Matrix Online are proof that the MMO market is flourishing. Additionally, Osborn thinks that Star Trek Online will fare better because it's a departure for the license. Previous titles have been in the adventure, strategy and shooter genres, while Perpetual's game will be a full-blown RPG. Osborn's curiosity was definitely piqued, as he said he's looking forward to "making a mark on the Federation and the Star Trek world."
Article Source: www.gamedaily.com.
