All hands, red alert! Long-range sensors have picked up an unidentified group of games headed for your local computer store, and Starfleet Command has ordered you to investigate.
When “Star Trek” premiered in 1966, nobody expected the TV show would remain popular for three decades and become a multi-billion-dollar franchise that now includes four highly rated TV series, eight motion pictures, nearly 200 novels, hundreds of toys and licensed products, and an ever-growing selection of PC-based computer games and reference CD-ROMs.
The Star Trek universe, created more than 30 years ago by Gene Roddenberry, continues to expand with each newly released computer game. Currently, three companies, Interplay (www.interplay.com), Simon & Schuster Interactive (www.ssinteractive.com) and MicroProse (www. microprose.com) are finishing no fewer than nine new Star Trek games and CD-ROM titles.
Out now is Interplay’s Star Trek: Starfleet Academy, a 3-D space combat simulator where you become a cadet and learn to pilot Federation ships. Capt. James T. Kirk, Sulu and Chekov from the original TV series appear in live-action video sequences filmed for this PC, Sony PlayStation and Nintendo 64 game.
“Working on this game was very different from filming a “Star Trek” episode or motion picture, because there were no sets,” said Walter Koenig, who plays Chekov. “All of the backgrounds and environments were computer generated and added later, after our live-action sequences were filmed. We did all of our acting in front of a large green screen.”
Starfleet Academy has become so popular that an add-on mission pack for the PC version has been released.
Star Trek: Starfleet Academy – Chekov’s Lost Missions features seven one-player missions and two on-line multiplayer adventures. The action revolves around piloting Starfleet ships through deep space and participating in battles.
But when Interplay’s Star Trek: Klingon Academy is released late this year, you can represent the Klingon empire as members train to become warriors under the command of Gen. Chang, the empire’s greatest living fighter.
If you want to experience life as a Klingon, MicroProse will provide Star Trek: The Next Generation – Klingon Honor Guard later this summer. The game features Klingon characters from the “Next Generation” TV series. Actors reprise their roles in this high-action, slick-looking effort that uses GT Interactive’s Unreal game engine.
Gamers trek through more than 20 fully interactive 3-D worlds (one-player missions) in this Doom-like game that features countless computer controlled enemies programmed with advanced artificial intelligence.
In September, beam up Star Trek: Starship Creator from Simon & Schuster Interactive. This PC and Mac CD-ROM comes from the company that created Star Trek Captain’s Chair and the Star Trek: TNG Interactive Technical Manual reference CD-ROMs.
Using Star Trek: Starship Creator, design and build Federation ships on the computer screen, add a hand-picked crew and set off on a series of missions to test ships in battle.
When the movie “Star Trek Insurrection” comes out in November, MicroProse will release Star Trek: The Next Generation – Birth of the Federation, a turn-based strategy game similar to Civilization II and Masters of Orion II. Take control of the Federation or the Romulan, Klingon, Ferengi or Cardassian empires. Depending on the empire selected, mission objectives vary greatly.
Like all strategy games, each time Birth of the Federation is played, the experience will be different, allowing for numerous replays. Each single-player game is designed to last three to 20 hours, and the emphasis is on strategy, not action.
Also in production for release in late 1998 or early 1999 is a real-time, multi-player strategy game from Interplay called Star Trek: Starfleet Command. Based on the original TV series, it will combine in-depth strategic planning with dramatic starship combat and head-to-head action for up to six players. Choose to control one of several different empires and you’ll take command of a squadron of ships as battles break out near planetary systems, nebulae and asteroid fields.
One of the most intriguing new “Star Trek” games won’t be available until early 1999, but when released it most likely will set new standards for character-based graphic adventures (Myst-like games). Star Trek: Secret of Vulcan Fury from Interplay can be considered a “lost episode” of the original TV series, but one that’s interactive. Life-like digital actors are being created so gamers can control Capt. Kirk and crew. Characters look like they did in the original series, and all original actors are voicing their digital counterparts.
While the photo-realistic graphics are almost spooky in their realism, what makes this game special is that John Lucas and D.C. Fontana, two of the directors and writers from the series, are writing and directing this game.
The story takes the original Enterprise crew to the Vulcan home world, where a peace conference with the Romulans is taking place. But a Romulan ambassador is assassinated, leaving it up to Capt. Kirk and crew to prevent a war.
Graphics are computer-generated, but the feel is that of a TV episode. Use the mouse to click on objects, control characters and explore.
In 1999 and beyond, GT Interactive and Simon & Schuster Interactive are expected to work together to create several games based on the “Star Trek: Deep Space Nine” TV series.
On the Web, there is Star Trek Continuum (www.startrek. com), the only official Star Trek site.
Beyond all this, a wide range of computer games are in development. Each will offer new ways to experience and enjoy the unique look into the future provided by Gene Roddenberry’s Star Trek universe.
