Bethesda Softworks have not dropped the Star Trek Gaming License

[Zach]

[img align=right]http://hailingfrequency.co.uk/images/news/gaming-news.png[/img]Rumors have been circulating lately regarding Bethesda Softworks and their hold over the Star Trek Gaming license.   Several popular websites and even the highly reliable PC Gamers podcast have been stating that Bethesda Softworks had officially dropped the Star Trek Gaming License.

Such a drop would be highly unusual as Bethesda Softworks are meant to hold the Star Trek Gaming License until at least January 2011.

We were able to speak, albeit briefly, with Bethesda Softworks Vice President of Public Relations, Pete Hines today and when we confronted him with the rumour, he stated simply:

"At this time, we currently have no plans to create another Star Trek game. That’s all we’re saying at this point."

So while we have yet more confirmation that Bethesda Softworks do not intend to produce any more Star Trek Titles, it does not seem that they are going so far as to completely drop their license, so one can only assume that they are, perhaps, waiting to see how successful or unsuccessful the upcoming Star Trek movie and MMO are.

This rumor has been stopped in its tracks, but one has to wonder just what Bethesda Softworks are thinking..........and are forced to also wonder what it is they arnt telling us at this stage.

[amb]

Interesting. They better sell it. They don't respect the franchise at all and better stick to what they are good in. Developing Top Titles like The Elder Scrolls IV, Fallout 3 and the like. It's a shame they obviously don't want to invest money in a franchise like Star Trek and instead feed the console market with low budged titles developed by lower secondary companies.

[Random Redshirt]

...and instead feed the console market with low budged titles developed by lower secondary companies.

Hate to tell you this, but consoles are where it's at.

Take a look around your big box stores, your electronics stores, your gaming stores. PC Gaming has dwindled. Granted, MMOs have exploded, but because MMOs have exploded, single player PC gaming is drying up. There are far more console gamers in the world then there are PC gamers.

So pandering to the console, while annoying to a PC gamer, is figuratively a very good business strategy, and a strategy you'll see applied more liberally in this economic downturn.

[amb]

I agree. But take the sentence as a whole. the other key word was "low budged".

[Acidrain]

...and instead feed the console market with low budged titles developed by lower secondary companies.

Hate to tell you this, but consoles are where it's at.

Take a look around your big box stores, your electronics stores, your gaming stores. PC Gaming has dwindled. Granted, MMOs have exploded, but because MMOs have exploded, single player PC gaming is drying up. There are far more console gamers in the world then there are PC gamers.

So pandering to the console, while annoying to a PC gamer, is figuratively a very good business strategy, and a strategy you'll see applied more liberally in this economic downturn.

I completely disagree, PC sales were still up last year and the Console is about to become cross platform on many of the current games and PC specs have stayed steady instead of having to upgrade.

The problem with bethsoft is that they don't know or release the potential they could have with the ST license to be honest. They showed how that went down with Legacy, they might have made a profit yet they didn't put in allot of backing behind the game that frankly was single player disaster that the modding community took and reformed it. The list is so long i could go on and on, i simply don't think bethsoft realizes what they have and i don't see another title coming from bethsoft. To be frank i don't think anyone should expect anything out of bethsoft, they are arrogant and don't realize nor should they have the license to be honest.

[JeanNYGUARD]

[img align=right]http://hailingfrequency.co.uk/images/news/gaming-news.png[/img]Rumors have been circulating lately regarding Bethesda Softworks and their hold over the Star Trek Gaming license.   Several popular websites and even the highly reliable PC Gamers podcast have been stating that Bethesda Softworks had officially dropped the Star Trek Gaming License.

Such a drop would be highly unusual as Bethesda Softworks are meant to hold the Star Trek Gaming License until at least January 2011.

We were able to speak, albeit briefly, with Bethesda Softworks Vice President of Public Relations, Pete Hines today and when we confronted him with the rumour, he stated simply:

"At this time, we currently have no plans to create another Star Trek game. That’s all we’re saying at this point."

So while we have yet more confirmation that Bethesda Softworks do not intend to produce any more Star Trek Titles, it does not seem that they are going so far as to completely drop their license, so one can only assume that they are, perhaps, waiting to see how successful or unsuccessful the upcoming Star Trek movie and MMO are.

This rumor has been stopped in its tracks, but one has to wonder just what Bethesda Softworks are thinking..........and are forced to also wonder what it is they arnt telling us at this stage.

Zach

I personally heard from the Legal department of Bethesda... They told me they no longer hold the license. 

Also it doesnt look like The VP said he holds the Star Trek gaming license... he just said their not making any Star Trek games... it could be due to them not holding the license.

But whatever it is... it seems like the left hand is not working with the right hand.

If they do have the license... their really un intelligent.  How do you pass up the chance to have a PC / Console game release with The new Star Trek movie.  Every other company... from toy companies like playmates to clothing companies.... all are making Star Trek shirts, toys, board games, etc.

http://trekmovie.com/2009/01/28/cbs-announces-new-star-trek-licenses-including-monopoly-uno-apparel-fragrences-more/

The way Bethesda thinks... they'll be out of business soon enough.

[Lt. Katten]

Ok wait...so they are speculated to be waiting to see how successful the upcoming movie and MMO are...but they hold the ST Gaming License?  So MMO's don't legally fall under said gaming license?  If not, then what DO they fall under, and who currently holds "it" (hopefully Cryptic does)?

[Acidrain]

Look at Bethsofts track record when it comes to the last titles? Bethsoft don't seem to be a very smart forward thinking company anyhow.

[Zach]

Ok wait...so they are speculated to be waiting to see how successful the upcoming movie and MMO are...but they hold the ST Gaming License?  So MMO's don't legally fall under said gaming license?  If not, then what DO they fall under, and who currently holds "it" (hopefully Cryptic does)?

The MMO license has apparently always been separate from the "main" star trek gaming license.

Also it doesn't look like The VP said he holds the Star Trek gaming license... he just said their not making any Star Trek games... it could be due to them not holding the license.

Why wouldn't he say outright that they don't have it?  They either still have it, or the companies left hand doesn't know what its right hand is doing so to speak

[Acidrain]

Why wouldn't he say outright that they don't have it?  They either still have it, or the companies left hand doesn't know what its right hand is doing so to speak

Come on, we have seen weird stuff when it comes to Bethsoft and this is no different. I think that they aren't going to make another game with an ST title, the reason look at what they had and they put the last and final nail in St Gaming. What Cryptic is doing is great, i hope they can truly redeem the curse of ST gaming. Bethsoft, shouldn't be allowed to create another game with an ST title.