Would a Star Trek centered game generate Interest?

[USS Cabaret]

In your opinion, would a star trek centered game get any interest or is the franchise dead due to the idiotic moves of the owners of the IP?

I've played around with the idea of making a Star Trek game but I really feel like the interest in Star Trek has died.

Any thoughts? I'm interested in what others think about the idea.

 

[Hagatagar]

Sure, why not.
Precisely because of the changes in the IP, you could get people who long for the old version.

I don't know what your story would be, but as you are showing an OC character, I assume it will play in the same universe, but without the OG cast?
And, to be honest, personaly I think that's the right move. Without using the original cast (or at least have them only appear as short cameos), it might even work better for everybody.
There are two reasons for this.
Rarely do fanfic writers get the characters right, and the OG fans notice that, and it feels... wrong. Especially because it's often extremly memefied (one thing I disliked about Lower Decks).
And people who are unfamiliar with the IP might feel excluded because everything might feel full of insider knowledge.


There are currently at least 3 Star Trek games on F95zone and one parody.
https://f95zone.to/threads/x-trek-a-night-with-troi-final-xia-liu-bei.68659/
https://f95zone.to/threads/x-trek-ii-a-night-with-crusher-v1-0-xia-liu-bei.75917/
https://f95zone.to/threads/x-trek-iii-menage-a-troi-v1-0-xia-liu-bei.212786/
https://f95zone.to/threads/3001-a-milf-odyssey-s2-v0-1-3-xcentric-labs.67553/

But I haven't played either of those, even through I am a huge Old Trek fan.

 

[USS Cabaret]

Sure, why not.
Precisely because of the changes in the IP, you could get people who long for the old version.

I don't know what your story would be, but as you are showing an OC character, I assume it will play in the same universe, but without the OG cast?
And, to be honest, personaly I think that's the right move. Without using the original cast (or at least have them only appear as short cameos), it might even work better for everybody.

But I haven't played either of those, even through I am a huge Old Trek fan.

Here's my premise. Be extremely lore accurate, especially to the TNG timeline.

Post Dominion War, set on a Galaxy class starship which was commissioned during the Dominion war but received a new crew and upgrades following the end of the war. Use Lower decks uniforms because they are canonical during this time period, but none of the lower decks stupid humor.

Every member of the crew is competent just like TNG. Every member is intelligent and know their job like a professional. The crew does missions which are standard fare of a competent star fleet ship.

Here's the crew.
Captain: an Andorian Female: Motherly figure, a little thick and aged, but still cute if you are into motherly figure milfs.

First Officer: Vulcan male: (Antagonist) He and the captain don't get along on a personal level because Andorians and Vulcans usually don't, but they are still very professional and act accordingly on the job.

Second Officer: (Protagonist)The MC. Human male. He likes to chase members of the crew, but if he's caught by the first officer he will get in trouble and possibly demoted or kicked out of star fleet.

Chief Engineer: Alien female (I haven't decided the race yet) She's extremely intelligent and very nerdy. She's usually reading or tinkering and doesn't like to be bothered, but she'll happily chat with anyone as long as it's related to engineering or math topics. Small breasts, big brain.

Chief Security Officer: Your bro! I'm leaning Bajoran but not decided yet. He is married but loves hearing about your exploits. He keeps an eye out for the First Officer and lets you know when to be careful. He's the guy you hang out with on a regular basis.

Doctor: Tiny girl, not sure what race, but I want her to be short and cute. loli proportions but older than 25. Have to find a race that fits the criteria but she'll be sharp witted and quick to make a snappy remark.

Counselor: full Betazoid: Big tits, will clearly read your mind, so you have to stay guarded. She's very flirty but a huge tease because she knows it drives you nuts. Have to really work to get in bed with her or the captain.

Ensign Ashley: She's my avatar. She's young, cute, and full of energy. She really wants to do well in star fleet and she looks up to the MC.

Nurse (working on a name): She's Orion, green skin, down to get wild. The game will open with you two already being friends with benefits. She thinks it's funny that you are out to get other girls because she is too. MC and her have a bet to see who can get the most girls on the new crew first. At some point, you two will have threesomes with the girls after you beat her in the bet.

Other characters would be added over time as well as characters that make appearances for an episode only.

That's the basic outline. However, it's a lot of time and effort to create a game! I don't want to go through all that work if everyone hates Star Trek these days.

 

[USS Cabaret]

Attached is the MC I mocked up. I haven't retouched the photo so it's still a little rough. I want him to be young for a second officer and extremely competent at his job.

 

[Hagatagar]

Here's my premise.

Sounds fine so far, I mean, it's only the setting and a cast, so... can't really say anything else.

How would the game work?
I can imagine an episodic "sandbox", where you "travel" from episode to episode but are free to do things in the order you prefere during those episodes?

Here's the crew.

The cast is currently 9 characters and only 2 of them are human, usually the ratio is way higher. All in all this is okay, but be careful this doesn't reduce the characters to "the vulcan" or "the Betazoid", which can happen quickly if their species traits are treated as their entire personality.
For example the Chief Engineer could still be a normal human, but with some distinctive features that make her stand out visually from other humans. Maybe a hi-tech neck tattoo or a cybertronic limb (doesn't even have to be the stereotypical "Tool-hand").

Tiny girl, not sure what race

Not one canon race would come to mind, that would fit.
But you could of course always "invent" one.

Other characters would be added over time as well as characters that make appearances for an episode only.

If I may throw in an idea. I always thought it was interesting how in TNG 6X22 "Suspicions" the character Kurak is portrayed. She is a Klingon warp-field specialist and extremly defensive about her job. This is because scientists are often ridiculed by other Klingons, typical jock-nerd behaviour.
So a female Klingon scientist who has never received recognition from her people would certainly be very receptive to any form of praise regarding her work or intelligence. I can imagine a very tough shell, but she mellows with genuine praise to a point that she actually become kinda cute towards the MC, while of course still maintaining the typical klingon wildness.

That's the basic outline. However, it's a lot of time and effort to create a game! I don't want to go through all that work if everyone hates Star Trek these days.

If you make it clear that it plays in the Old Trek timeline, then this could work?
The hate for Nu-Trek is what keeps them going back to Old Trek after all.

And Nu-Trek is still popular enough that they might be interested in it too.

 

[USS Cabaret]

How would the game work?
I can imagine an episodic "sandbox", where you "travel" from episode to episode but are free to do things in the order you prefere during those episodes?

I want to do each part as a distinct episode. I think it starts as a simple VN with choices and expand with sandbox features as the game grows and my knowledge of RenPy gets better.

be careful this doesn't reduce the characters to "the vulcan" or "the Betazoid", which can happen quickly if their species traits are treated as their entire personality.

You are absolutely correct about this!
It's one of the main reasons I want to do a Star Trek game. I want the characters to grow in distinct ways as the game progresses. I want deep character development where you can see Vulcan characteristics but also distinctive being characteristics. Data is a great example of nuance I want to achieve. He starts out as a literal android but, as the show progresses, you see his distinct personality shine through. I want you to see a Betazoid and know she can read minds, but how she uses those abilities over time to be interesting and distinct. I don't just want her to be a Troi rip off.

I always thought it was interesting how in TNG 6X22 "Suspicions" the character Kurak is portrayed.

I liked that episode too. There was a DS9 episode where O'Brien works with a Cardissan woman and her attraction grows because of his engineering ability and his assertiveness. He rejects her advances, but in my game, the MC will go with it. That's kind of the aim I want with the chief engineer.

If you make it clear that it plays in the Old Trek timeline, then this could work?
The hate for Nu-Trek is what keeps them going back to Old Trek after all.

And Nu-Trek is still popular enough that they might be interested in it too.

It would definitely be old trek, very TNG based.
However, if I put in hundreds of hours of work and people hate it, I'd be heart broken.
Being successful on Patreon would be pretty sweet too, I guess. But, I have a decent job so I wouldn't make the game for money.
I'm much more worried that people don't care about Star Trek at all and my game wilts away, unseen. Or worse, people just hate it! That would really suck after all the time and love I put into it.

 

[Hagatagar]

However, if I put in hundreds of hours of work and people hate it, I'd be heart broken.

To be honest, that's a risk one has to take in such a case. Just don't let negativity discourage you too much, many devs have given up because of it. Focus on the good criticisms.
But, if you have trouble with that, then... this might be not the right job for you, because even the biggest and well liked games have tons of haters.

Being successful on Patreon would be pretty sweet too, I guess. But, I have a decent job so I wouldn't make the game for money.

I don't know for sure how Patreon and co stands on using existing IPs, but the dev who made the other Star Trek games does have a Patreon, SubscribeStar and all that. So I'd assume this should be okay to put in there.

I'm much more worried that people don't care about Star Trek at all and my game wilts away, unseen. Or worse, people just hate it! That would really suck after all the time and love I put into it.

It appears you are using AI images, that fact alone will cause hate. You can't avoid that. But as long as they aren't looking too generic and have their own style, people will play it. Sex has always been a drawing point.

You can also try to make it clear that no prior knowledge of Star Trek is required and that everything will stand on their own (well, as long as you explain things in an easy way inside the game and never assume players already know certain things).

What you could do is a "Proof of Concept" kind of test game. Have a few seperated sex and non-sex scenes (doesn't even have to be the ones that will be in the final game). If you are not sure if it's worth putting time into the sandbox part yet, maybe add a screenshot or two how you'd imagine the layout of the sandbox mode and how it will function.
And make very much clear that this isn't a full game or even a demo, but a Proof of Concept to show how you imagine things and add that everything might change. That way people will be see your vision and if this interests them (even outside of Trek fans).

 

[USS Cabaret]

What you could do is a "Proof of Concept" kind of test game.

And make very much clear that this isn't a full game or even a demo, but a Proof of Concept to show how you imagine things and add that everything might change.

You have over 1,300 comments on this website, so I'm going to label you an expert. Where would I post a proof of concept test, like you suggest? Which forum sub thread would be appropriate? Also, how long should a game be in play time minutes before it could reasonably be called a demo and posted as such in the games area?

 

[Hagatagar]

You have over 1,300 comments on this website, so I'm going to label you an expert. Where would I post a proof of concept test, like you suggest? Which forum sub thread would be appropriate?

I am far form being an expert.

Usually the Programming, Development & Art section is for that, but it's not that much visited, mostly by other devs. So sometimes their input is all what you will see.

Here in General Discussions could be fine too, but runs the risk of getting lost in all the other threads. On a busy day the thread will be on page 2 or 3 within a day and nobody will see it.

So releasing it like any other game could work. That way more people will see it, as most users only visit the Latest Updates anyway. Just make sure it's clear that it's not a real game.

Spoiler: Just a quick AI image

You don't have permission to view the spoiler content. Log in or register now.

Just be prepared that people will still be disappointed with the amount of content, because people just can't read.
You could name a game "Fetish the game" and people will ask if that fetish is in there or avoidable.

So you could handle it in 2 ways, either make Dev-Thread in the dev-section, posting some updates on how it's going. And when the PoC is ready, post it in the same thread. If no proper feedback comes in (like I said, it's the nature of that section), or even if some comes in, make a proper release in the Game Requests section.
Or you make the release directly and use the PoC Game-Thread as a Feedback and Dev-Thread until the real game is ready for it's first version. Then it gets it's own release with it's real name in it's own game thread.

But the best way is to ask an Uploader directly per DM how something like this could be handled. Just chose an active one and ask.

Also, how long should a game be in play time minutes before it could reasonably be called a demo and posted as such in the games area?

The length is not so easy to determine. It's a PoC-game, so it shouldn't matter too much, because it's about showing what this is about.
Overall I'd say a simple scene on the bridge, where the MC, Captain and First Officer have a short conversation, maybe about a mission. A typical flirting scene with one of the LIs (not the nurse). A short sex scene with the nurse. The MC with his best friend talking about his "conquests" while drinking. Another sexy scene with some random crewmember or one of the girls from a mission. And a very short scene showing one of the conflics during the episodes/missions.
Each of them won't need too much slides, because it would be in the gist of a Movie-Teaser/Trailer.
These 6 short scenes could show off what your intent is and how you imagine it too look like. The amount of sex scenes compared to the non-sex scenes should reflect how you imagine it to be in the proper game.

Depending on the file size 3-5 minutes play time should be fine, just have a few screens in there explaining the game too and what to expect.

Here too would be best to ask an Uploader about the playtime, they usually know better.

 

[bitriper]

I would rather it be set in TNG DS9 and Voyager. You can make it so your character is like a temporally unstable humanoid being that keeps hopping between timelines because of a warp engine incident. The MC could be an alien with the ability to secrete mind altering pheromones or some shit. It's just gonna be an excuse to fuck characters like Tasha or Dr. Crusher, etc.

 

[USS Cabaret]

I would rather it be set in TNG DS9 and Voyager. You can make it so your character is like a temporally unstable humanoid being that keeps hopping between timelines because of a warp engine incident. The MC could be an alien with the ability to secrete mind altering pheromones or some shit. It's just gonna be an excuse to fuck characters like Tasha or Dr. Crusher, etc.

I considered doing that, and it would help with some of the character generation. However, I don't want the characters to break lore just to make my game work. Plus, Hagatagar made a good point earlier when he said, "Rarely do fanfic writers get the characters right, and the OG fans notice that, and it feels... wrong."

I can't write existing characters as good as the original creators. If I wanted to take an existing character and drop them into my story, I'd use the holodeck so any irregularities can be attributed to the holodeck programming instead of my failure as a creator.

I'm cool with having Kira be sexual on a holodeck. Imagine Quark finally getting a good holo image of Kira and selling it. The MC goes into the holodeck to start one program, ship malfunction, he's stuck in there with the new Kira program instead. That could be a plot of an episode.

I want to break each release into a self contained episode with between 30-50 minutes of play time. Each episode has a clear plot with a beginning, middle, and end.

Episode 1 is already pretty clear in my head. Meet the crew, board the ship, fly to Betazed to pick up the captain and counselor who are attending a Betazoid wedding, and then fly off to start your first real mission.

During the first "season" I'd like to have episodes involving Q, Ferengi women flying a stolen ship, and a weather control problem on Risa.

 

[Hagatagar]

and a weather control problem on Risa.

"I have never seen Risa so wet before!"

 

[USS Cabaret]

"I have never seen Risa so wet before!"

This guy gets it!

It's a perfectly plausible thing to happen in the established Star Trek universe. It's just our MC is more willing to go with the flow.

Imagine Riker but with less morals.

 

[Hagatagar]

Imagine Riker but with less morals.

You mean like in TNG 5X21 "The perfect mate", the episode with the woman who adjust her personality to the man she is with and because Riker gets all frisky around her, but isn't allowed to, he goes to the holodeck to relieve himself?

 

[Lerd0]

..yes...

 

[USS Cabaret]

You mean like in TNG 5X21 "The perfect mate", the episode with the woman who adjust her personality to the man she is with and because Riker gets all frisky around her, but isn't allowed to, he goes to the holodeck to relieve himself?

See, it's episodes like that which made me think of creating a Star Trek game. I remember watching those episodes and being angry that nudity wasn't allowed on TV! It was a tease! Like, hey, where's my sex crazed alien girlfriend? I want one!

Star Trek created all kinds of plausible scenarios where sex was implied, but never shown.

However, the entire IP has been run into the ground by stupid decisions. I'm scared people won't have any interest in Star Trek or Star Wars based games because of the decisions of their respective owners. I'd hate to create a game if I'm the only one who enjoys it.

 

[The_Man_With_No_Name]

Star Harem is another game that is styled like an episodic TNG and pokes fun at it's source a bit while still having decently(though revealingly dressed) competent characters. Development stalled pretty hardcore on it, so it would be cool to see more Star Trek stuff. Underused IP I say but then, I'm a Sci-fi junky so I'm a bit biased.
Sadly Star Trek's popularity has been wrecked by the nonsense. At least compared to times past. It still is remembered fondly though. DS9 has gotten a big following of fans among scifi fans.

Chief Engineer: Alien female (I haven't decided the race yet) She's extremely intelligent and very nerdy. She's usually reading or tinkering and doesn't like to be bothered, but she'll happily chat with anyone as long as it's related to engineering or math topics. Small breasts, big brain.

Trill would work pretty well here. Unless you wanted something more "alien" looking.

 

[USS Cabaret]

it would be cool to see more Star Trek stuff. Underused IP I say but then, I'm a Sci-fi junky so I'm a bit biased.
Sadly Star Trek's popularity has been wrecked by the nonsense. At least compared to times past. It still is remembered fondly though. DS9 has gotten a big following of fans among scifi fans.


Trill would work pretty well here. Unless you wanted something more "alien" looking.

I might start a fight with this comment but I thought DS9 was 99% as good as TNG. I thought Voyager was like 40% as good as TNG.
All of NU-Trek is trash, in my opinion.

I want a return to competent, nuanced characters. That would be one of the biggest purposes of a game if I decide to do one.

I guess I'm just trying to gauge interest because I don't want to waste my time if everyone has given up on the universe.

 

[The_Man_With_No_Name]

I might start a fight with this comment but I thought DS9 was 99% as good as TNG. I thought Voyager was like 40% as good as TNG.
All of NU-Trek is trash, in my opinion.

Pretty standard view that most agree with. People are more split on how exactly they think about Enterprise.

I guess I'm just trying to gauge interest because I don't want to waste my time if everyone has given up on the universe.

Yeah It's hard to gauge interest in general these days. Outside of Star Trek, space sci-fi in general seems to be a little harder sell to people right now. I think "Tales from the Unending Void" and "Projekt: Passion" seem to be the most popular ones here.