‘Star Trek’ Writer Says Upcoming Video Game Will Be ‘Canon’
By Empress Eve
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Tuesday, July 5th, 2011 at 11:14 pm
Last month during the E3 convention, we reported that the upcoming Star Trek video game would bridge the gap between J.J. Abrams’ 2009 cinematic reboot and its planned sequel, scheduled for theatrical release in 2012.
Now, Star Trek screenwriter Roberto Orci, who’s been consulting on the game’s development, has stated that he feels the game’s storyline will be part of franchise canon.
True fans will tell you that canon is only what’s filmed. I’m not an authority on what is canon. However, I will tell you that this may be the first game that falls within the parameters of the people who are in charge of canon for now; the “supreme court,” as we call ourselves because we are the ones in charge of Star Trek for now. We won’t be in charge forever, but for right now we’re deciding what canon is, so I can tell you this is the first time where the game itself is generated by the people who are deciding canon and we generated the game to fit within canon.
I always loved that Star Trek had a very rich and continuous canon, that’s one of the reasons why Alex and I and Damon and J. J. even though it’s not our responsibility, and we don’t care what we get paid for it, we want to help make the games, the comics; we want consistency. We do it because we love Star Trek.
Unlike the Star Wars franchise where there’s one mastermind in [too much] control of canon (and changes it as he sees fit), the Star Trek universe has been in the hands of many creators over the years. As Orci states, he is part of the current team that’s deciding what is canon in the Star Trek universe for now, but I’m guessing if the fans aren’t pleased with the game’s storyline, there will be backlash. Just look at what happened to James T. Kirk in Generations — I don’t know anyone who feels that’s canon, even though technically it is.
Regarding the gap the game will bridge, Orci said we’ll see more of Kirk and Spock’s budding friendship.
What’s great about the game is that it gets to show that middle step. You get to see Kirk and Spock in a way you’re not going to in the movie. They’re becoming friends; they’re going on adventures you’re not going to see in the movies. The game is giving you new insight into who they are.
Along with the new video game, Orci also has creative control over the new universe Star Trek comics published by IDW, including Star Trek #1, the start of a new series beginning this September [read New “˜Star Trek’ Cast Gets A New Comic From IDW].
Be sure to head over to GamePro and read the entire interview with Orci, where he talks more about the game development, his ideas of canon, and his thoughts on Star Trek in general. It’s really great stuff, so check it out.
I must admit, while I’m no longer a gamer, I really want to play this game now, since I’m a Star Trek fanatic and the 2009 Star Trek movie was my favorite movie that year. And even if the storyline of the game wasn’t considered canon, I would still want to know the details — that’s part of the reason I enjoy reading the comic books and novels (it’s the same draw I have to the Star Wars Expanded Universe). So really, my only issue with this is that I’ll now feel like I’m missing something if I don’t play the game, which will be released in 2012.
What do you think about the video game being part of canon? Will this prompt you to play it now?
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Students of the Unusual™ comic cover used with permission of 3BoysProductions
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Dear Orci,
Try learning how to effin’ write before you go spouting off on what’s canon and what isn’t.
Comment by Matthew Weflen — July 8, 2011 @ 5:28 am