Decipher loses Star Wars CCG licence

[Captain Zymmer]

OKay I have never read Spock Must Die, so I will ask...why would the Klingons be removed from the galactic stage as a result?

Anyone?

[ghosty]

I don't see how we went from discussing a transfer of licensing to talking about non-canon Trek.

For me, only the TV epsiodes and movies are canon (well except Enterprise which I still believe is a separate parallel universe) and the rest...well use what you like and discard what you don't. I was flipping through the hardcover Gateways finale novel and noticed a timeline where the fitted in all the pocket book novels into the greater scheme of the TV episodes and movies but some books seemed to have been removed like the Diane Carey duology of Captain Robert April's tenure of command of the first Enterprise.

On the issue of Star Wars...I just don't care anymore. I heard a rumour that Lucas is going to redo the first trilogy again, to eliminate the continuity errors he created when he made Phantom Menace...it just goes to show that Lucas didn't plan everything out properly and now has to retcon like some bad Marvel comics.

[Caretaker]

Originally posted by ghosty
I was flipping through the hardcover Gateways finale novel and noticed a timeline where the fitted in all the pocket book novels into the greater scheme of the TV episodes and movies but some books seemed to have been removed like the Diane Carey duology of Captain Robert April's tenure of command of the first Enterprise.

As one of the compilers of the Pocket Books Star Trek novel timeline, I must reply to this. We only place the books in where they occur chronologically. We leave it to the readers to try and fit everything in or explain continuity problems. :-)

As for the April duology, if you can get me some book names, I'll look into it. Be reminded that we only cover the Pocket Books stuff (Pocket Books novels, comics and audiobooks). We welcome suggestions, but as I stated, am limited to the Pocket stuff.

[ghosty]

The titles were:

The Final Frontier (it was a giant size TOS novel) and Best Destiny (it first appeared in hardcover) both were definitely published by Pocket Books, I'm looking at the little kangaroo now

[Capt Daniel Hunter]

Originally posted by REG

If possible, yes. Otherwise it is the editor or a continuity researcher to pore through the writer's draft material to ensure the details within the story maintain continuity.

Actually, back inthe days when Roddenberry was still alive, and TNG was still in its glory days, Richard Arnold used to do that for Gene. And funnily enough, people like Peter David and many of his contemporaries appear to have hated him for it. At least, that's the impression I get.

[Dan Stack]

Actually my comment wasn't with regard to the book writer's being kept consistent, I was more speculating that it would be problematic to have the shows be consistent with the books. Though it is way too late for any consistency in the book front.

Spoilers for "Spock Must Die"...






"Spock Must Die" had an all-out war between the Federation and Klingons, set shortly after the tv show (and written before TMP came out). The Klingons briefly took the Organians out of the picture. When Kirk and Spock brought them back the Organians banished them to their own planet and took away their ability to leave it.

[REG]

And funnily enough, people like Peter David and many of his contemporaries appear to have hated him for it.

I'm not surprised. These writers, talented as they are, don't like it when something like continuity put a crimp on their creative thinking.

But there is something to be said of consistency, especially when you have fans around the world looking at your stories in detail.

[Michael Barratt]

Originally posted by REG

I'm not surprised. These writers, talented as they are, don't like it when something like continuity put a crimp on their creative thinking.

But there is something to be said of consistency, especially when you have fans around the world looking at your stories in detail.

Hence the "Strange energy knocking out transporters" every week, and the other various technobabble ways they write out the obvious solutions to dilemmas in episodes and books. Typical Trek stuff, but you have to write around the stuff that's already there...

The Doc

[Captain Zymmer]

Originally posted by Dan Stack
Spoilers for "Spock Must Die"...

"Spock Must Die" had an all-out war between the Federation and Klingons, set shortly after the tv show (and written before TMP came out). The Klingons briefly took the Organians out of the picture. When Kirk and Spock brought them back the Organians banished them to their own planet and took away their ability to leave it.

You mean the Klingons?

Wow I have to get this book now

[Dan Stack]

www.starwars.com has the announcement the WotC is producing a new trading card game. They then seem to describe the game as being complete and ready for release.

Is it legal for WotC to have been working on the game even while Decipher held the license?

[Phantom]

I've heard that Lucas is a little edgey when it comes to licences. Perhaps, if this is indeed a new game, then he has pulled the old licence in lieu of a new one. Who knows...We sure won't until we see it on the shelves.

[REG]

Originally posted by Dan Stack
www.starwars.com has the announcement the WotC is producing a new trading card game. They then seem to describe the game as being complete and ready for release.

Is it legal for WotC to have been working on the game even while Decipher held the license?

It's legal until you Distribute or Market the thing. It's still in the planning stage, anyway. I'm sure that's what LUG used to do in order to give Paramount a good presentation about their RPG. (e.g., show them how the rules work, etc.)

They'll have to wait until Decipher's license is expired and their license to be in effect before they can start selling their Star Wars TCG. In the meantime, Decipher will have to get rid of their inventory of Star Wars card games and start planning for a new game to take its place.

** sighs ** It's a sad, sad reminder that SW is more popular than ST.

[Jabara Eris]

Wizards of the Coast put up a full press release about their new Star Wars TCG on their Website this morning.

Here's the link:
http://www.wizards.com/news/pressrelease.asp?20020102a

I thought this paragraph was particularly interesting:
"Trading card game players and Star Wars fans will be interested to learn that world-renowned game designer Richard Garfield created the Star Wars TCG. Garfield, who originated the trading card game concept when he developed Magic: The Gathering in 1993, has taken the TCG concept to a new level by developing a single game that will appeal to players of all experience levels. An easy-to-learn starter game is the perfect introduction for novice trading card game players, while a more complex version of the same game will challenge even the most seasoned trading card game players. Another unique feature of Garfield's game design is the use of dice for conflict resolution."

[Greg Smith]

Originally posted by Jabara Eris
Another unique feature of Garfield's game design is the use of dice for conflict resolution."

Unique ?! There are plenty of CCGs that use dice. Battletech and Tomb Raider spring immediately to mind.

However, it might be nice to see a new Garfield game. I loved Jyhad. Not that I will buy bucket loads, my current CCG cash is destined for Buffy.

[REG]

Originally posted by Greg Smith
Unique ?! There are plenty of CCGs that use dice. Battletech and Tomb Raider spring immediately to mind.

I don't know much about those TCG's. The only one that comes to mind recently is Warlords from AEG. And it uses the d20 die.

Personally, I think those management in Decipher should stop whining and wetting their pants about the loss of Star Wars and get back to business and promote Star Trek CCG in a competition with WotC.

Although I do not play CCG, I felt that Decipher didn't do much to promote Star Trek CCG, primarily focusing their attention on Star Wars, making Star Trek a second banana (third if you count LotR CCG).

If Decipher do not put Star Trek as #1 on their priority list, they will lose me as a potential customer.