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The Future?
Cary L. Brown
Earthforce Officer
in Babylon 5
Hi guys, been a while huh?
I've been watching... silently for the most part... to see how this grand experiment turned out. The odds were ALWAYS long, and while I'm quite disappointed in the end (end?) result here, I'm far from shocked.
B5-ITF is dead. And it's probably going to stay dead for a little while longer... the main problem is that it never REALLY died, so it never REALLY got the chance to be reborn.
I have no doubt that ITF is no longer "cutting edge" and by the time it could be released it would be "old." That does not mean that there's nothing there of value, however.
Here's what I expect to see to "keep the dream alive" for now...
(1) A JMS-authorized novel of the storyline of ITF. We all know that JMS is not prone to leaving loose ends, though you sometimes have to dig a bit to find them (for instance, how many people know about the revival of Marcus and his.. unique... solution to his loss of Susan Ivanova, several hundred years after the end of the series?)
(2) A mod for INDEPENDENCE WAR 2 to use Babylon 5 ships. As you are probably aware, I-War2 has a spectacular engine, inertia-based rather than "air travel" based, and is ideally suited for B5's real-physics flight model, including capital ships and fighters. You can get the demo of I-war2 now, and if you have a GeForce3 card, it's absolutely friggin' unbelievable... even though the storyline (IMHO) sucks.
What is Firstones going to become? It's not dedicated to ITF anymore, obviously... but it should become a site for ALL Babylon 5 gaming as well as renderings and fan-fiction. MODs, the tabletop game, the card game (I've never quite gotten those, but who am I to judge???), etc.
How does ITF stay afloat? Well, banner ads are annoying as hell but they're necessary. Sales of B5 merchandise (licensed or "garage-type") are suitable as well... unlike Paramount, JMS and the studio both recognize that a little fan-involvement goes a LONG way towards keeping THEIR interests protected!
Sales can and should include the various books, novels, magazines, etc, as well as clothing (probably most all licensed stuff but some site-specific stuff would be fine, I'm sure). Models... both the official ones and the "garage kit" ones. Toys, etc, etc... basically, there is NO "central clearing house" for Babylon 5 materials. There is a precedent for this sort of thing... look at "Star Tech" or "New Eye Studio" as examples... they principally focused on Trek, however... and they did very well until they tried to grow past their roots and become full-fledged REAL businesses instead of side-business/hobby issues. Both are still around, and I've done business with both over the years.
You can find just about anything B5-related if you dig hard enough, but having a single, central place is useful. Just like "the lurkers' guide" has served as the main source for production-information, Firstones can become the main source for FICTION and GAMING information related to B5.
Move past the game... [img]http://216.15.145.59/mainforums/smile.gif[/img]
I've been watching... silently for the most part... to see how this grand experiment turned out. The odds were ALWAYS long, and while I'm quite disappointed in the end (end?) result here, I'm far from shocked.
B5-ITF is dead. And it's probably going to stay dead for a little while longer... the main problem is that it never REALLY died, so it never REALLY got the chance to be reborn.
I have no doubt that ITF is no longer "cutting edge" and by the time it could be released it would be "old." That does not mean that there's nothing there of value, however.
Here's what I expect to see to "keep the dream alive" for now...
(1) A JMS-authorized novel of the storyline of ITF. We all know that JMS is not prone to leaving loose ends, though you sometimes have to dig a bit to find them (for instance, how many people know about the revival of Marcus and his.. unique... solution to his loss of Susan Ivanova, several hundred years after the end of the series?)
(2) A mod for INDEPENDENCE WAR 2 to use Babylon 5 ships. As you are probably aware, I-War2 has a spectacular engine, inertia-based rather than "air travel" based, and is ideally suited for B5's real-physics flight model, including capital ships and fighters. You can get the demo of I-war2 now, and if you have a GeForce3 card, it's absolutely friggin' unbelievable... even though the storyline (IMHO) sucks.
What is Firstones going to become? It's not dedicated to ITF anymore, obviously... but it should become a site for ALL Babylon 5 gaming as well as renderings and fan-fiction. MODs, the tabletop game, the card game (I've never quite gotten those, but who am I to judge???), etc.
How does ITF stay afloat? Well, banner ads are annoying as hell but they're necessary. Sales of B5 merchandise (licensed or "garage-type") are suitable as well... unlike Paramount, JMS and the studio both recognize that a little fan-involvement goes a LONG way towards keeping THEIR interests protected!
Sales can and should include the various books, novels, magazines, etc, as well as clothing (probably most all licensed stuff but some site-specific stuff would be fine, I'm sure). Models... both the official ones and the "garage kit" ones. Toys, etc, etc... basically, there is NO "central clearing house" for Babylon 5 materials. There is a precedent for this sort of thing... look at "Star Tech" or "New Eye Studio" as examples... they principally focused on Trek, however... and they did very well until they tried to grow past their roots and become full-fledged REAL businesses instead of side-business/hobby issues. Both are still around, and I've done business with both over the years.
You can find just about anything B5-related if you dig hard enough, but having a single, central place is useful. Just like "the lurkers' guide" has served as the main source for production-information, Firstones can become the main source for FICTION and GAMING information related to B5.
Move past the game... [img]http://216.15.145.59/mainforums/smile.gif[/img]
Comments
I recognize your enthusiasm, but I am compelled to offer this:
JMS, though he IS the author, does not own [i][b]Babylon 5[/i][/b]; Time-Warner-AOL does. To effectively "print" ITF's story you'd need their premission, assuming, of course, that the canon umbrella for the assets holds true, or else you might even have to get Sierra's permission (this is very doubtful, though).
Also:
Commercial sale or exploitation of trademarked material *must* be cleared through T-W-AOL, or you place several people at extreme financial risk.
The minute Firstones.com becomes a "Babylon 5 e-tailer", it implys endorsement, something that's a legan no-no.
I wouldn't make light of this, especially given the fact that T-W-AOL has become VERY restrictive as of late with B5 merchandise, and JMS has always been quite diligent in killing unauthorized merchandise.
I could tell you a horror story about all the hoops there were that had to be jumped through to produce the marketing materials associated with ITF; stories that would make even seasoned lawyers cringe (read: there's a reason you only paid for shipping of the mousepads and watches).
Websites are one thing; magazines and merchandise are something else.
Just letting you know to keep you out of harm's way.
-Rick
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[i]"...In the end it would hold because what is built endures. And what is loved endures.
And Babylon 5...Babylon 5 endures."[/i] -- Delenn in the Babylon 5 episode [i]Rising Star[/i]
[This message has been edited by Rick (edited 06-13-2001).]
[This message has been edited by Rick (edited 06-13-2001).]
As for selling merchandise: I don't think firstones should become a B5 store. Maybe a couple of shirts and things to remember S14S by, but nothing else.
PS: Cary: Good to see you again! You should post more often!
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Never eat anything bigger than your own head.
The Balance provides. The Balance protects.
"Nonono...Is not [i]Great[/i] Machine. Is...[i]Not[/i]-so-Great Machine. It make good snow cone though." - Zathras
[This message has been edited by Biggles (edited 06-13-2001).]
[b]Cary--
I recognize your enthusiasm, but I am compelled to offer this:
JMS, though he IS the author, does not own [i][b]Babylon 5[/i][/b]; Time-Warner-AOL does. To effectively "print" ITF's story you'd need their premission, assuming, of course, that the canon umbrella for the assets holds true, or else you might even have to get Sierra's permission (this is very doubtful, though).
-Rick
[/B][/quote]
It's that kind of commercial, corporate bollocks that really pisses me off! [img]http://216.15.145.59/mainforums/mad.gif[/img]
Sorry, but it does. [img]http://216.15.145.59/mainforums/smile.gif[/img]
Cherio.
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Catapvltam habeo. Nisi pecvniam omnem mihi dabis, ad capvt tvvm saxvm immane mittam.
Mater tva criceta fvit, et pater tvo redolvit bacarvm sambvcvs.
[b]I would love to see the story go into a novel. That would be great!
As for selling merchandise: I don't think firstones should become a B5 store. Maybe a couple of shirts and things to remember S14S by, but nothing else.
PS: Cary: Good to see you again! You should post more often!
[/b][/quote]
I agree with you on that one Biggles. We don't want this site to turn into a pop-up add nightmare just to make a few sales. The t-shirts sound like a nice idea actually. I'd buy one!
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'The future is all around us' G'kar
'I have no surviving enemies! None what so ever!' Galen
Visit my B5 site at: [url="http://babylon5.acmecity.com/alliance/110"]http://babylon5.acmecity.com/alliance/110[/url]
------------------
Never eat anything bigger than your own head.
The Balance provides. The Balance protects.
"Nonono...Is not [i]Great[/i] Machine. Is...[i]Not[/i]-so-Great Machine. It make good snow cone though." - Zathras
[b]Shuup Nick: How can that piss you off? It belongs to them, therefore they can say who can and can't sell it. I'm sure you wouldn't be too happy if you invented this great idea and then someone started using it to make money without your permission and without you getting any of the profit.
[/b][/quote]
I think he means that the fact that JMS doesn't own his own creation pisses him off.
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..And so it Begins
In all honesty, I can only think of one guy who ever got an IP contract right and ran with it--George Lucas.
He got Fox to pay for Star Wars, but since they weren't sure it would be a success, they gave george full IP and Merchandise Royalty rights. I think he's made more money on toys and comic books than the movie itself...
It must have ticked off more than a few execs over there to have to be the "lowest bidder" on profit cuts to get Episode 1...
------------------
[i]"...In the end it would hold because what is built endures. And what is loved endures.
And Babylon 5...Babylon 5 endures."[/i] -- Delenn in the Babylon 5 episode [i]Rising Star[/i]
WB still loves the B5 franchise.
Just look at the eBay auctions they ran. Did anybody notice that out of all the stuff they auctioned, the B5 props were the ONLY props that WEREN'T from major motion pictures?
That says a lot about B5 when WB groups that show in with $100 Million motion picture memorabilia.
[b]In all honesty, I can only think of one guy who ever got an IP contract right and ran with it--George Lucas.
[/b][/quote]
Didn't Alec Guiness do something smart on Starwars, If i remember the rumor right, Instead of getting paid for the movie, He got a profit percentage of all movie and merchandise grosses. Which would mean he was recieving money from StarWars until he died.
If the rumor was true it was pretty smart of him. I can't remember if i ever saw confirmation of it
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..And so it Begins
[b][i]"If that's the future, I'll have vanilla"[/i][/b]
-- Lt. Bradbury, _Cast_a_Deadly_Spell_
oh wait...
wrong thread...
ooops!
[img]http://216.15.145.59/mainforums/biggrin.gif[/img]