The time for Star Trek cinema should come to an end. Abruptly if possible.
Star Trek Nemesis is proof positive that Paramount and much of the Star Trek alumni (Shatner, Spinner, Frakes, etc.) have run out of new ideas that are worthy of the money and time it takes to produce a good film.
Fortunately this does not signal, nor do I suggest, that the franchise is dead. Paramount is missing the boat by not moving away from film and in the direction of selling the opportunity to live in the Star Trek Universe.
The trademark should run, not walk, towards inhabiting the virtual realm where Joe Fanboy can work and play. And for this privilege he will pay $9.95 a month to explore strange new worlds, to boldly go where no man has gone before.
Most of the work has already been completed. The franchise has over forty years of universe development already completed. This includes entire languages, star charts, ship schematics, etc. The hardest part would be where to start the game and how people would be selected to serve on the Enterprise (highest bidder).
Who needs the expensive, political, knife-in-back movie industry when a massive multiplayer online role playing game will provide a monthly revenue stream for the corporation while giving the fans what they have always wanted, the chance to really become the Klingon they dress up as for the Star Trek Con ever year.
Join the fray by reading through and commenting at the end.
how much to sign on as a tribble?
Depends on how amorous you're feeling. With EQ and Ultima it would be so simple for Paramount to make BANK with a MMPOG (Massive mulit-player online game) for the non geeks - are there any? Just let me know Greg when you are ready to sluff off this world go virtual :-)
I'd go virtual now if it ment never having to see Data on the silver screen.
Star Trek movies suck because they can. They're cheap to make and they always bring in big dollar. Why go crazy with spending money on the film, most Trek fanboys would sit in line for opening night tickets so they can sit in their borg costumes and watch Frakes and Spiner sit in beach chairs reading the dictionary. I can't find it now, but I know I read an article recently that listed the amount of money that these movies make, versus cost. It was staggering.
Yeah, Nemesis bites the wax tadpole. And the idea of an MMPRPG is excellent. But I think, "Enterprise" aside, the franchise could still be an inventive TV show. It probably won't be with the current band of thumb-sitters holding the keys to the kingdom, but it could be.