Creating and publishing your own star trek game

[Flinkman47]

Just wondered what the legality of creating your own star trek game and publishing it, although not for profit.

I'm currently learning XNA programming to make a good star trek game(because i'm tired of waiting for one) And I would have the option to publish the title through xbox live, which you are entitled to do if you are an XNA partner. Just wondered if anyone knows if this is possible.

I know lucasarts send out letters as soon as someone announces that they are making a star wars mod, are Paramount the same?

P.S. My game is a looong way off, i'm just starting out, but here's a sneaky screenshot of a shader is made for the ships yesterday:

 

[Igard]

I'm sure somebody will have a definitive answer for you, Flink, but I remember reading somewhere about some of the first Star Trek mods before I started working on my own.

Paramount tried many times to shut them down and they succeeded for some mods until a California lawyer stepped in and made a case for the users rights.

Basically, from what I remember (can't find a link for you, sorry) if you're not making a profit, it's perfectly legal.

This was solely for making mods though, I believe. I don't know if it applies to full games, but I can't see too much of a difference in terms of content ownership.

Someone will no doubt have a better and more definite answer for though.

Good luck with the game.

 

[Kaziarl]

This type of topic has been debated a lot. Someone even asked a few months ago about the legality of FanFic and I'm sure it's been asked about FanFilms too.

I think, for the most part, it boils down to profit. If you aren't making money, and Paramount isn't loosing money as a result of your project, then you should be in the green.

One thing I would suggest to you though, call Microsoft. If it's going to be put on XBox live, they may know something in the legal technicalities that us normal people don't.

 

[Flinkman47]

Thanks guys, some good points to look up there!

 

[CaptainStoner]

One thing I would suggest to you though, call Microsoft. If it's going to be put on XBox live, they may know something in the legal technicalities that us normal people don't.

Right and they may have a different policy than what you could get away with writing the game for PC.
In the back of my mind I've long thought that, given the enormous talent lurking about, a good game done as a charitable project could get an official ok, and maybe even some voice work from a few cast members.

 

[lurok]

The guys at ST:Excalibur game-in-development might be of help and have website with forum. From what I understand I think previous points about not-for-profit are correct but the Microsoft/Xbox partnership might change that.

 

[smiki]

Also Flinkman47, I'd like to point out, make sure you're using your own models for the game, the ones you've made, instead of using others’ work. I mean, you can use models other people have made, but make sure you get their permission first to use them in your game. That's how the fan made "Bridge Commander 2" got in trouble. Just pointing out.

As far as for the Paramount thing, well yeah, you don't have to be an expert to see, considering all the fan made Trek stuff that there is, if you, or anyone else for that matter, don't make any profit off of it, you're fine. I think Paramount even likes that sort of thing, it increases the fan base.

I can’t help you with the xbox stuff though. Will Microsoft be making any money (indirectly)?

 

[Lynx]

If you make a version for PC and includes Kes in the Voyager crew, then you've won a fan and a friend!

 

[exodus]

Is there such thing as a Star Trek RPG?

Do you guys think it would be a marketable idea?

 

[Kaziarl]

Is there such thing as a Star Trek RPG?

Do you guys think it would be a marketable idea?

Depends on what you mean by RPG, but the simple answer is Yes.

Their aren't any games like the Final Fantasy style RPGs for trek, but there are games that have you play a role (such as DS9-Harbinger I think might qualify)

There is a table top RPG game like D&D, only from what I remember infinitely more complicated.

There's debate about whether STO is an MMORPG or simply and MMO. Personally I like STO, but I seem to be a minority from most of the talk I hear.

But yeah, that's about it I think, unless someone else can come up with others.

 

[smiki]

Is there such thing as a Star Trek RPG?

Do you guys think it would be a marketable idea?

Sure it would be a marketable idea. Let me put it this way: Is Mass Effect an RPG? Is it marketable? Is Mass Effect pretty much a star-trekish thing in some aspects?
I rest my case.

But, seriously, there aren't any real Star Trek RPGs for some reason (you could count STO, but...). Considering there are Star Wars RPGs, and what not... and Trek doesn't have anything inheretly wrong with it being good material for an RPG, hell, it's even almost made for one (academy, going up ranks and what not), I think it's sad there isn't one...
There's plenty of browser based RPGs though....

 

[exodus]

Sounds like there's a nitch to be exploited.

 

[syberghost]

Keep in mind there's a different rules for "making a Star Trek game" and "putting a Star Trek actor's face in your Star Trek game". The latter can wind you up owing somebody (or their estate) big bucks even if the former wasn't pursuable by CBS.

 

[Distorted Humor]

I made a home-brew Star Trek pen and Paper RPG, if the folks are really curious about it, I Could type out the rules and let people have at it.

 

[Kaziarl]

I made a home-brew Star Trek pen and Paper RPG, if the folks are really curious about it, I Could type out the rules and let people have at it.

As I said earlier in the thread, there already is one. I used to have the core rule books. But I never found anyone interested in playing, so they became reference books for writing.

 

[Yosef Lindell]

I wrote a Star Trek game (Star Trek: the Continuing Voyage) and put it online. Haven't had any problems, although admittedly, not so many people have played it.

 

[syberghost]

I made a home-brew Star Trek pen and Paper RPG, if the folks are really curious about it, I Could type out the rules and let people have at it.

As I said earlier in the thread, there already is one. I used to have the core rule books. But I never found anyone interested in playing, so they became reference books for writing.

There's multiple ones. One of the great "purchase a company for the IP" screwups of all time happened over one of them: Wizards of the Coast bought Last Unicorn Games for no other reason than to get the Star Trek IP, and promptly found out the contract said if the company changed hands the IP reverted. CBS immediately gave the IP to Decipher.

The LUG employees mostly made out OK, though; Decipher hired them to write THEIR game.

Decipher, sadly, wasn't prepared for the expense and work required, and went back to just doing card games. Pity, it was a damn fine game, and it wasn't hard to port LUG's excellent work into it. It had the best production values of any Trek RPG yet.

Another was FASA's game, about which the less said the better.

The only currently-active one is Prime Directive, which is based on the Starfleet Battles universe. This is based on TOS only, via the license for Franz Joseph's Technical Manual. They can't use anything from TNG forward or the movies, so they extended things into their own future. It includes the Kzinti and several other non-canon races, but it's a very interesting universe if you like your Trek to involve phasering people in the face a lot.

 

[Vance]

One of the great "purchase a company for the IP" screwups of all time happened over one of them: Wizards of the Coast bought Last Unicorn Games for no other reason than to get the Star Trek IP,

More complicated than that. They bought, but there's no evidence that WotC ever had intention of publishing anything. Indeed, there's been some statements to the effect that LucasFilm absolutely forbade WotC from producing Star Trek games while they retained a Star Wars Game. Also, this was in WoTC's "buy everyone and kill competition" period.

Decipher, sadly, wasn't prepared for the expense and work required, and went back to just doing card games.

The work was fine, and Decipher was actually ahead of their targets. Sadly, the market just wasn't there for another Star Trek game right after LUG and sales weren't strong enough to justify the (at the time) extremely expensive Star Trek license.

Another was FASA's game, about which the less said the better.

FASA was excellent for its time, which was 1982-1989, which dates its mechanics. Despite the cumbersome system, the game had a LOT of backstory and a wealth of material that's easily culled today.

The only currently-active one is Prime Directive, which is based on the Starfleet Battles universe. This is based on TOS only, via the license for Franz Joseph's Technical Manual.

Correction, they're not TOS, they're their own universe with some TOS elements in it. It's extremely militant, being from Star Fleet Battles, and doesn't quite come across as Star Trek. You can adopt it as such (particularly if you're a GURPS fan), but it won't be the same out of the book.