Another cryptic message from JMS

[samuelk]

In a recent Usenet post, JMS made yet another cryptic mention of an upcoming project:

The trade paperback containing the first six issues of Supreme Power hit the stands this past week, for those who want to jump on.

Oh...and starting around the Ides of May, look to the wrong side of the river for word from Harry, Jack and Albert.

Not that I'm enjoying this, of course....
jms

(jmsatb5@aol.com)
(all message content (c) 2004 by synthetic worlds, ltd., permission to reprint specifically denied to SFX Magazine and don't send me story ideas)

Whether or not the "Harry, Jack and Albert" reference is related to the upcoming B5 project is unknown.

Based on the clue, it seems (to me) as though there's going to be an announcement from the UK (London's South Bank is often known as the wrong side of the river) from Warner Brothers (Jack, Harry and Albert Warner founded WB) around May 15th.

[C_Mon]

WOOO!! I wish it was may allready.

[RubberEagle]

so 2 months until a possible announcement.. hm... :)

[Biggles]

Another 2 months? Aww geez...

[O'Brien_EF]

Another 2 months? Aww geez...

Patience is also a weapons when used properly

[ShadowDancer]

u plan to patiently beat it out of him do u;)

[WORF]

JMS likes being a Vorlon far too much.

Worf

[MartianDust]

Originally posted by Biggles
Another 2 months? Aww geez...

I couldn't agree more!

JMS likes being a Vorlon far too much.

LMAO! I couldn't agree with you more either! Hmm I reckon his brain is like a Vorlon encounter suit. I'd just love to get in it!! ;) ;)

[RedAssAg05]

*gasp*...Dust!! That's scandalous!!;-)

I kid:D

[Falcon1]

Man is he enjoying this or what???!!! ;) Well 2 months is not too long to wait. Bring it on!!!

[owigg]

To further fuel the speculation on the new project, if it IS a game, this might have something to do with it :

http://www.bigkid.com.au/index.php?itemid=276

[RedAssAg05]

as to the game speculation:

AFter doing some digging at Perception's website (accessible from the website in owigg's post), I found that Perception signed on with JoWood back in October. JoWood also recently bought the rights to publish a game based on Stargate SG-1. to play devil's advocate, and to help keep our feet on the ground...it is more likely that Perception is helping out with SG-1 development.

...BUT, I hope I'm not right!

[MartianDust]

Originally posted by RedAssAg05
*gasp*...Dust!! That's scandalous!!;-)

I kid:D

Haha! Now you know I said head....I mean brain (better stick with brain, else you'll be saying which head) LOL! :D :p

Man is he enjoying this or what???!!! Well 2 months is not too long to wait. Bring it on!!!

How can you say that?!! Am dying here!! ;)

As for it being a game I thought this was ruled out awhile ago by some evidence or JMS quote.

:)

[RedAssAg05]

Dust, I like your style! Don't you ever change!


...just keep in mind all, regardless what the project is (so long as it's visual media), if it does well...the embers for a game may be rekindled!

[David of Mac]

God, I hope it's not a game. Last thing I want is another damned PC game that'd I'd probably enjoy playing.

No, I want the theatrical movie, dammit.

[MartianDust]

Originally posted by RedAssAg05
Dust, I like your style! Don't you ever change!


Why thankyou! No worries there, I don't intend to. :)

God, I hope it's not a game. Last thing I want is another damned PC game that'd I'd probably enjoy playing.

No, I want the theatrical movie, dammit.

Funny...... few wks back I would've been all up for a game, but after seeing end of B5 I'd rather now see a series, something that will satisfy my B5 hunger every wk. A movie would also be cool but 2hrs max? Not enough! :)

[Akrovah]

2 hours not enough? How about 3 movies of 3 hours each. There is balance in the three.

Oh, yea, just wanted to say hi, been checking out firstones.com since the days of ITF but just registered for the forums.

[Freejack]

Actually, one of my fears, if it is a motion picture, is that it will try to be too rushed, to fit into the timeframe, and too "simple" due to being only one movie. The beauty of the series is that they had time to roll out the plot, build characters and create intrigue. A single movie, even one at three hours, loses some of that in order to tell a complete story in that time

Now if they could do something along the lines of Peter Jackson with LOTR (3 movies, 3 hours each, shot at the same time), then I think we'd have one hell of a story, but I don't see any studio taking a gamble of that size on a fanbase like B5's.

Jake

[RedAssAg05]

owigg, here's the about Stargate SG-1, as posted on Gamespydaily.com:

JoWooD Productions has announced that they have secured the worldwide publishing and marketing rights for videogames based on the science fiction television series, Stargate SG-1. Part of the agreement includes the development video games by Perception Ltd. for both Stargate SG-1 and the spin-off series, Stargate Atlantis.

--Looks like Perception's onboard for the Stargate game, not B5...drat

Oh yeah, and welcome to the forums!!! Glad you're here!

[MartianDust]

Originally posted by Akrovah
2 hours not enough? How about 3 movies of 3 hours each. There is balance in the three.


That would be better but I agree with freejack that if it were on every wk you relate more to the characters, plus say 20 eps thats 20wks to look forward to and hopefully another great season! And
in a movie you don't really get to see their strengths,weaknesses or relationships growing/dying. You can't really fall in love with characters in 2 hours less its the same characters that have been in a series IMO. I will still be happy for a movie
But I am really hoping for a series.
btw Welcome aboard! :)

[croxis]

A movie is about the same as a short story MAYBE a novilla.

[SpiritOne]

well to be honest, I hope its not a game either. Id much rather have a good new series, than another subpar game.

rarely do major game makers make good show/movie -> game ports. In fact, alsmot every one Ive played, kind of sucks. ITF did a great job, and really brought a great story to the table with their game. However, they were not one of the big players in the game market either.

Look at the most recent Star Trek based game. It had the full potential to be a great game. Based losely on the Mirror Universe that we saw the first time in TOS and again in some very good books and several episodes of DS9 that didnt suck. Ends up, the game is repetetive with poor voice cameos and missions that have you doing the same thing over and over. very lame.

give me another quality show jms.

this ramble brought to you by

[Biggles]

Originally posted by SpiritOne
well to be honest, I hope its not a game either. Id much rather have a good new series, than another subpar game.

I wasn't aware we had a game o be subpar, and B5ITF is about as far from subpar as you can get.

rarely do major game makers make good show/movie -> game ports. In fact, alsmot every one Ive played, kind of sucks. ITF did a great job, and really brought a great story to the table with their game. However, they were not one of the big players in the game market either.

Sierra not a big player in the game market? Also of note is that the story was written by a couple of excellent writers with some very very good ideas, and had input from jms too.

Look at the most recent Star Trek based game. It had the full potential to be a great game. Based losely on the Mirror Universe that we saw the first time in TOS and again in some very good books and several episodes of DS9 that didnt suck. Ends up, the game is repetetive with poor voice cameos and missions that have you doing the same thing over and over. very lame.

give me another quality show jms.

this ramble brought to you by

That game doesn't even count as a game, let alone a ST game. :)

[Samsomael]

A game may not be to bad, there have been a few reasonable crossovers between games and cinema/TV. It has been a while since a rollicking good series though so that would be my hope.

BTW, seeing as JMS created the Vorlons would that make him their god? Might explain the linguistic rebus' he keeps giving out. ::robot:

[WORF]

Licence based games tend to be best when they don't follow the story of what they're based on but only use the setting/universe.

Examples: Knights of the Old Republic, Tie Fighter, Aliens vs Predator, the Buffy games...

Ok so the Buffy games use the cast of the show but they don't follow a storyline from the actual series.

Of course that doesn't always work, the Star Trek game mentioned above for example. I don't think it has even been or will be released in Europe.

Worf

[Bekenn]

Well, hey, let's not forget the excellent Star Trek: 25th Anniversary and its sequel Star Trek: Judgment Rites. Those used the original series cast, and were excellent.

On the other hand, that's probably because the original series didn't have an overall plot structure tying everything together. Thus, those games could be made to be completely separate from the series.

[RubberEagle]

Originally posted by Bekenn
Well, hey, let's not forget the excellent Star Trek: 25th Anniversary and its sequel Star Trek: Judgment Rites. Those used the original series cast, and were excellent.

On the other hand, that's probably because the original series didn't have an overall plot structure tying everything together. Thus, those games could be made to be completely separate from the series.
Yeah, i have fond memories of playing those :)

[WORF]

Oh right, forgot about those. In that case lets not forget A Final Unity.

Worf

[RubberEagle]

And, i also had quite a good time playing Starfleet Academy, Klingon Academy and Bridge Commander

[Samsomael]

Hmmm, I seem to have been missing out on something.

[MartianDust]

Originally posted by WORF

Ok so the Buffy games use the cast of the show but they don't follow a storyline from the actual series.


The Buffy ones do to a point! They have the same main baddy guy in the first Buffy game as in the series that she has to defeat. :)

[Sanfam]

And don't forget Starfleet Command

[SpiritOne]

Originally posted by Biggles
I wasn't aware we had a game o be subpar, and B5ITF is about as far from subpar as you can get.


Since it was never released, I dont consider a real game.



Sierra not a big player in the game market?


I messed up there, I meant to say IFH did a good job, but are not one of the big players, just some Russian fans with a passion.


That game doesn't even count as a game, let alone a ST game. :)

Unfortunately it does count as a game and thats the damn problem, is they keep cramming this crap down our throats and expect to sell soley on the name alone.

Since Activision picked up the contract to make Star Trek based games they have actually done a damn good job. Trek: Armada was a very good game, the sequel was ok. Trek: Elite Forces quickly became a hot selling title to even non-fans.

However all that is over now because Activision is activly in a lawsuit with Paramount because they feel Paramount has not successfully expanded on the Trek universe and give them the exposure to sell more games. They are right too.

again, im hoping for a show/mini-series ala Battlestar Gallactica.

[Biggles]

Originally posted by SpiritOne
Since it was never released, I dont consider a real game. [/B]

Then what do you mean by "another subpar game"?

[SpiritOne]

Im referring to sci-fi show/movies that get made into sub par games in general when I said another.

Its mostly star trek games that suck beyond recognition.

Dont ge me wrong, there of plenty of good games, like Enter the Matrix, but the bad ones overshadow the good. And there have been a rash of bad games in general lately.

[Biggles]

That's definitely true. Why are scifi spinoff games so often shit?

[croxis]

Look at it like this:
Look at all the titles out there.
Look at the percentage that is crap
Compare to Spinoff

[RedAssAg05]

Originally posted by SpiritOne
Dont ge me wrong, there of plenty of good games, like Enter the Matrix...

Personally, I was disappointed with Enter the Matrix...I liked what they did with the FMV...and bullet time was alright...but there were SO many bugs (when you're chasing that plane on the ground, and all you see is the cargo hold...no rendered exterior!!)...

I would have rather seen more of Niobi's Operator in the movies than Morpheus' operator...Niobi's had some GOOD lines in the games cutscenes!!

[SpiritOne]

your right, Niobes operator was much more interesting than that link guy.

[Sanfam]

The only problem with trek games is that the good ones get ignored.

Until I lost the CD, I was playing Starfleet Command regularly. And, my roomates and I were playing Birth of the Federation multiplayer

[cx2]

Is it just me or did it seem that B5 Legend of the Rangers was leading into a series? Looked like plenty of scope for the characters to me, as long as they fixed the damn ship.

[Biggles]

It was the pilot for a new series, but because it had poor ratings the series never got the go ahead.

[Samsomael]

Seems to be an unfortunate pattern with B5, though not always necesssarily to do with poor ratings.

[cx2]

If WB won't give them a series then why do they keep insisting on letting them pump out good quality pilots in vain. Someone needs their head checking.

[MartianDust]

Originally posted by Biggles
It was the pilot for a new series, but because it had poor ratings the series never got the go ahead.

I had no idea it was for a series!! I hope even more now that this new JMS project isn't another pilot movie as I can see where it will go and I don't mean from JMS's doing but whoevers the bigwigs now.

[cx2]

Originally posted by MartianDust
I had no idea it was for a series!! I hope even more now that this new JMS project isn't another pilot movie as I can see where it will go and I don't mean from JMS's doing but whoevers the bigwigs now.

I heard that they peeved JMS off with Crusade by trying to influence it's direction, and JMS won't let the big cheeses interfere with the direction of his shows. He's apparently walked out on jobs over this before, and I must respect his integrity.

By the way, how do you set a signature on here?

[Samsomael]

'Tis all a tad frustrating for the fan base.

And a pity for those who aren't, who will then be subjected to even more reality TV shows from said bigwigs (sorry, reality stuff is pet peeve :D, but no mind)

[Samsomael]

Signature can be added through your personal settings when you are logged on as a user, i think it down the bottom somewhere.

[Samsomael]

Gah, should have checked first :o . go to "user cp" at top of page then to "edit profile". It will be there half-way down.:D

[cx2]

Thanks for that about signatures. I found it when I looked better.

How about this for reality TV though? Three Minbari, Narn and Centauri closed up in a house for six weeks... :-)

[Samsomael]

Intergalactic BB? Eeep! :eek:

[Biggles]

Originally posted by cx2
I heard that they peeved JMS off with Crusade by trying to influence it's direction, and JMS won't let the big cheeses interfere with the direction of his shows. He's apparently walked out on jobs over this before, and I must respect his integrity.

It was TNT that tried to influence Crusade, not WB. They wanted some fairly major changes, and jms just started flat out refusing when they got ridiculous. More recently, he decided not to return to write the 3rd season of Jeremiah (after having written a great 1st season and an amazing 2nd season) because, as he said, the MGM execs were the worst people he'd ever had to work with.

[Samsomael]

Which group was it that decided to axe B5 in the fourth season? Was that TNT as well, then taken up by WB for a fifth season? My recollection has been a little fuzzy on that.

[cx2]

I'm not sure about season 4/5 business, but judging from the last episode of 4 it looked like they were trying to wrap it up anyway, and the 5th season just tied up loose ends (no jokes please Martian Dust).

[Samsomael]

From what I understand at the time (and this being quite a few years ago), the Earth civil war was going to be the fifth season. From what I remember the company supporting B5 cut the fifth season while the fourth had started filming.

JMS trimmed the fourth season down so he could fit the fifth season storyline in. A second company stepped in and said they would support a fifth season. This created havoc, I think, with some actors (partiularly CC, hence no Ivanova in the fifth season) as they had already signed on for other projects but the show did go on.

I'm curious as to which company was which as I can't remember, if anyone knows?

[cx2]

That would explain how the Shadow war got finished so fast...

But I heard that they asked all actors to attend a meeting whilst CC was over here doing convention work in the UK and couldn't make it, thus being sadly lost. Lochley was OK, but I preferred Ivanova's sense of humour

[RubberEagle]

I think the reason WB canceled B5 after the 4th season were the changes in the syndication market.
The networks (The WB Network, UPN, Fox) took more and more stations, and there weren't many free timeslots left for syndication shows.
Also, you have to understand that WB isn't/wasn't one big entity, but each section (the network, the syndication unit) was kinda competing with one another, and the Network would never have picked up a WB syndicated series (in part also because they tried to get a distinct identity).
If I understand it correctyl, there weren't enough timeslots left to get nation-wide comercials, and thus the funding of the show disappeared, no matter how good the ratings and demographics were.

[Biggles]

The whole season 4 thing was to do with the channel B5 played on being shut down or something. jms has also said that nothing would have happened that much faster or slower had they known for sure about getting a 5th season. The season 4 cliff hanger would have been near the end of the earth civil war, and the first couple of episodes of season 5 would have tidied that up. Also note that B5 was never cancelled, they just weren't sure if they would get a 5th season or not.
This has all been covered in great detail on these boards before, so do a search and you'll find some better explanations than I can give. You could also try poking around at The Lurker's Guide (http://www.midwinter.com/lurk/lurker.html).

[SpiritOne]

The original network that was funding B5 was call PTEN. Those of use lucky enough to watch it in its first broadcast day Im sure remember the PTEN logo.

When PTEN collapsed it was WB picked it up. Biggles is right though, B5 was never cancelled it was just unclear as to if they were going to get the green light for season 5 or not.

And yes, JMS trimmed the story so that he could complete the major story arcs in the 4th season. The last episode shown in the 5th season is actually shot in the 4th season thats how you see Claudia Christian in it.

[Biggles]

Originally posted by SpiritOne
And yes, JMS trimmed the story so that he could complete the major story arcs in the 4th season.

He has stated that he only trimmed it by a couple of episodes, nothing significant.

[MartianDust]

About the trimmings, wouldn't it be great if JMS put the cut bits on DVD/VHS? Then again maybe it wouldn't make much sense!

[Samsomael]

A "director's cut" B5 season?

[Biggles]

You people are all getting confused. :)

He didn't cut footage, he altered his plans a bit, which meant that he wrote slighty different episodes to what he originally intended, but nothing significant.

[croxis]

I think the harsh cut between 4 and 5 is significant ;)

[Biggles]

I meant that nothing significant was lost.

[Samsomael]

There were some good changes due to re-writes, from what I understand there were parts to do with

***********************
** Potential Spoiler Here ***
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B4, Valen and Sinclair in "War Without End" that were due to an enforced re-write because of a problem with rendering of graphics on time.

Did I read somewhere here that there is going to be an announcement in May on the new project? Any idea when in May?

[MartianDust]

Originally posted by Biggles
You people are all getting confused. :)


They are the confusers, confusing me! ;)


How about this for reality TV though? Three Minbari, Narn and Centauri closed up in a house for six weeks... :-)


That would be funny! :)


I'm not sure about season 4/5 business, but judging from the last episode of 4 it looked like they were trying to wrap it up anyway, and the 5th season just tied up loose ends (no jokes please Martian Dust).

I never saw your reference to me. However I can't think of anything remotely funny about your quote! :)

Samsomael I like your AV.

[Samsomael]

Thanks, I managed to get the camera to take the photo without it appearing in the mirror! :)

[MartianDust]

Lol! Hope I never meet you on a dark night then! ;)