Bethesda Wanted to Develop Star Trek RPG

[Tom Goldman]

Bethesda Wanted to Develop Star Trek RPG

Imagine if you will, an RPG in the same vein as Bethesda's Star Trek [http://www.amazon.com/Fallout-3-Xbox-360/dp/B000UU3SVI/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=videogames&qid=1279568021&sr=1-2] universe. We could have had this.

In the brief period that developer/publisher Bethesda Softworks had the rights to Star Trek, the possibility was there for the company to develop a Star Trek RPG according to in-house studio head Todd Howard. He made the revelation on a Kotaku [http://kotaku.com/5442140/bethesda-once-pitched-singleplayer-star-trek-rpg] podcast yesterday.

Unfortunately, nothing was created internally and the game remained in a pitch phase. The reason it wasn't developed was due to other projects already underway, including the massive Fallout 3. Howard said Bethesda just "can't do everything," even though he wants a "big Star Trek RPG [where] you go out and explore the universe."

Forget Picard, Bethesda's pitch put the Star Trek RPG back in the classic era. I guess this confirms Howard's favorite captain, though I am partial to Picard myself. After all, he never broke when that Cardassian told him there were five lights.

Bethesda published multiple Star Trek games, but the in-house studio never made one of their own. It's a pity, because now that the rights have traveled elsewhere we won't see what could have been a really cool game. Bethesda's Fallout 3 proved that the company can take a classic series and properly reinvent it in the company's own image. We do have Star Trek Online coming soon from Cryptic, which by appearances seems to be doing the franchise right. I would have liked to see how "Oblivion with phasers" turned out though.

Source: Kotaku [http://kotaku.com/5442140/bethesda-once-pitched-singleplayer-star-trek-rpg]


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[Katherine Kerensky]

Awww, it would have been so sweet if it had been made...
Now we will never get it
*goes to cry in the corner*

 

[EMFCRACKSHOT]

That would have been so awesome. Now i'm sad.

 

[Jared]

That would have been so awesome if they did that! Imagine the possibilities ; ; Its all we can do now!

 

[Punisher A.J.]

I Think we can respond to all bethesda ideas with a desperate position with our jazz hands out screaming NOOOOOOOOOOOOO! you know that is unless its oblivion or fallout.... But hey why not.

So the job fall under lucasarts.... ooooooooooooh that would be a mess.

 

[Anachronism]

Interesting, although in a way I'm a little glad that Bethesda didn't make it. I'm still not convinced that they'd be able to do it justice: they can create a very good world, but their writing still isn't that great. Now, a BioWare-developed Star Trek RPG... that would be no end of awesome.

I am partial to Picard myself. After all, he never broke when that Cardassian told him there were five lights.

There Are Four Lights!

 

[BillyShakes]

There is a Lord.
I was terribly afraid that a Star Trek RPG was actually in development by Bethesda.
I am so very glad we don't live in such an unjust world.

 

[Tom Goldman]

There Are Four Lights!

Yes!!!!!!

 

[Earthmonger]

I have to echo the thoughts of the grateful few here; I'm glad Bethsoft didn't get their hands on Star Trek.

(insert rants about Morrowind, Oblivion, and Fallout 3 here)

It would've been tragic to lose another franchise.

 

[Nightkind]

I have to echo the thoughts of the grateful few here; I'm glad Bethsoft didn't get their hands on Star Trek.

Bethesda did actually get their hands on Star Trek. It's called Star Trek: Tactical Assault released on PSP and DS. Not a terrible game, but not great either.

EDIT: Just did a quick search to verify my information (I should've done that first) and Bethesda was only the publisher, not the developer. Not sure if that counts or not.

 

[Ekonk]

I will now travel to the parallel universe where this actually happened. Don't expect me back before dinner. Or ever, actually.

 

[GonzoGamer]

Yes Imagine if you will: a good Star Trek game.

 

[camazotz]

Yeah; I've gotten as much or more mileage out of Fallout 3 and Oblivion as I have Dragon Age and Mass Effect. I find nothing about Bethesda (or Bioware, obviously) to hate, and have never properly grokked the anti-Bethesdaite attitudes. A Star Trek game from Bethesda (or Bioware) would have been great; after Champions I have very low expectations for Star Trek Online...I'm much more concerned about Cryptic mucking it up, unfortunately.

 

[Greg Tito]

There Are Four Lights!

Yes!!!!!!

Oh man, that was the exact reaction that I had. THERE ARE FOUR LIGHTS!

 

[Echolocating]

I didn't like Oblivion for a multitude of reasons, but Fallout 3 was pretty satisfying. I'd like to see more exploration games built on that engine.

I like Star Trek, but if Bioware proves anything it's that you can create your own universe and characters with just as much punch. There's nothing stopping Bethesda from making their own sci-fi galactic exploration game.

 

[Kuliani]

There Are Four Lights!

Yes!!!!!!

Oh man, that was the exact reaction that I had. THERE ARE FOUR LIGHTS!

http://www.escapistmagazine.com/videos/view/the-escapist-presents/903-Escapist-On-Star-Trek

 

[Hurr Durr Derp]

Forget Picard, Bethesda's pitch put the Star Trek RPG back in the classic era. I guess this confirms Howard's favorite captain, though I am partial to Picard myself.

There's never any love for Sisko, is there?

 

[Captain Pancake]

well, shit. This may have made me joygasm from every orifice, had it just been given a chance.

 

[BigT65]

I never had the thought of Bethesda making a Star Trek RPG, it would be sweet!

 

[Kuliani]

Forget Picard, Bethesda's pitch put the Star Trek RPG back in the classic era. I guess this confirms Howard's favorite captain, though I am partial to Picard myself.

There's never any love for Sisko, is there?

In our special Escapist On series, I said that Sisko was my favorite captain!