Gameforge To Produce Free-To-Play Star Trek Browser Games

German online game company Gameforge signed a worldwide licensing agreement with CBS Consumer Products to develop and publish browser-based, free-to-play games based on classic science fiction franchise Star Trek. Gameforge says that acquiring the series' license marks the start of its "global AAA expansion", and expects its upcoming casual online Star Trek games to expand its consumer base and market share on an international scale. The company has so far published 20 games (Metin2, Ikariam) in over 50 languages, reaching more than 100 million registered users worldwide. The company has so far planned two Star Trek titles, a Facebook game developed by an external German studio, and a browser-based release from another external developer in California. Though GameForge typically puts out its titles in Europe first, it plans to roll out the games in the U.S. and Europe simultaneously, according to a report from GamesIndustry. The browser-based titles -- one based on the classic Star Trek series, and the other on Deep Space Nine -- will complement if not compete against another game based on the property: Cryptic Studios and Atari's subscription-based MMORPG Star Trek Online, which released for PCs last February and requires users to buy and download/install before playing. "The popularity of Star Trek spans decades and is a testament to the richness and depth of the universe Gene Roddenberry created – at Gameforge, we put the same level of detail and dedication into our games," says Gameforge's vice president of publishing Ralf Adam. He adds, "Honoring the Star Trek legacy and providing the global community with excellent free-to-play browser games is something we are very dedicated to and excited about."