Star Trek: Starfleet Command
Encyclopedia
Star Trek: Starfleet Command is a computer game based on the table-top wargame
Star Fleet Battles
. It simulates starship operations, and ship-to-ship combat and fleet warfare in the Star Trek
universe.
The game's design and rules are drawn largely from those of the tabletop wargame Star Fleet Battles
. The playable races match those from Star Fleet Battles, as do many ship functions and ship classes, as well as many aspects of gameplay.
The player can play as one of six races:
It is divided into three main parts: a "Campaign" game, "Skirmish" games and a "Multiplayer" game. The "Dynaverse" campaign resembles an adventure
in which the captain of the ship (the player) earns prestige by successfully completing missions. These prestige points can be used to 'purchase' new ships, as well as repair and refit them and assign crew members. The "Skirmish" and "play-and-forget" games are fast and self-contained and help the player become familiar with the game and the high number of missions available in the "Dynaverse". In multiplayer mode, the player connects via IP or using a game matching service (e.g. GameSpy
) to challenge other human players instead of game artificial intelligence
.
Actual gameplay tended to consist of ships circling each other, waiting for various weapons to recharge and waiting to fire until one could fire upon the weakest shield of the enemy ship. The actual gameplay was very similar to that of an older `age of sail' naval combat game called Broadsides
by SSI.
The release of Starfleet Command is considered in the Star Trek gaming community as the start of the "Golden Age" of Trek video games. This was a period in time between 1999 and 2001 when Interplay and Activision
produced a number of games that were perceived as being of higher quality. In 2001, Interplay bowed out of the franchise and Activision took over as the most prominent developer of Trek-themed titles.
The success of Starfleet Command came as surprise to Interplay, and as a result, http://www.gopets.net/en/main/about_ceo.htmlErik Bethke
formed Taldren, Inc. together with 9 members of the original Starfleet Command team to create additional titles for the series.
To this day Starfleet Command is one of the longest running serials of trek games, which are widely considered to be classics and are still being played years later. Starfleet Command was followed by three sequels, Starfleet Command II: Empires at War, Starfleet Command: Orion Pirates, and Starfleet Command III.
Gameplay consists of maneuvering one's ship to approach enemy ships and assault them in the areas where various systems and ship's shields are vulnerable. It also consists of achieving various other objectives specified in mission assignments, which are provided at the beginning of each scenario. This can include interacting with various ships, aliens, planetary bodies, and other objects in space, depending on the specific assignment.
One important point to note is that gameplay is not continuous; i.e., players do not do a variety of missions within a single game scenario. Players are given a specific mission to accomplish within a scenario. When the mission is completed, the scenario ends. After a set of a screens for refit and repair, the next scenario begins with a new mission. This is different from earlier games of this category, in which players might be given the ability to warp around the galaxy, and to continually fight enemies and to achieve various objectives in a single session.
In this screen shot, a Federation battlecruiser is facing an enemy frigate. In the upper left of the screen is the main control window, with various symbols up and down the right side which bring up various sets of controls. The player has clicked the helm symbol to bring up the helm function. This displays multiple buttons labeled with arrows for maneuvering the ship, in various special maneuvers. (Standard maneuvering occurs simply by clicking the image of the ship in the main part of the screen.)
Below this is a schematic of the player's ship, with buttons on the left side for bringing up various ship systems. The function displayed is Weapons, displayed here by weapons type (the other view is by firing arcs). This view can be used to fire the weapons and to track their recharging status. Other functions which can be shown in this window section are shields
, electronic counter-measures (ECM) and electronic counter-counter-measures (ECCM), tractor beam
, transporters
, and shuttles.
The function which is clicked on in the ship schematic will define the controls shown in the screen directly below the schematic. Since a weapon is clicked in this example, the screen shows controls for firing and related functions. This screen shows the button used to set photon torpedoes to "overload."
Below this is the tactical schematic, which will display any target or object which the player clicks on. In this screen shot, it displays the approaching enemy vessel, a Klingon frigate.
The top and bottom of the screen displays various aspects of the status report for the player's ship (and the target ship). These include speed, hull integrity, power available and used, alert status, weapons recharge status, and mission timer.
In this game, ships are treated as complex entities, with a variety of tactics and resources. Players spend less time aiming and shooting, as they might in simpler games, and spend more managing various resources, and allocating power. Starships are complex vessels which take a while to maneuver and to attack.
During a battle, various weapons and resources play differing roles, such as beam weapons, missiles, shuttles, marines and tractor beams. All of these must be used to maximize power availability. They also change in importance, based on the type of enemy faced.
One key aspect of ship combat is targeting the enemy's weaker shields, and also using the opportunity available when specific systems are damaged.
In other scenarios, objectives may range from defeating aliens, guarding artifacts, rescuing other ships, and a range of other scenarios. Each requires unique use of ship systems. For example, the tractor beam may be the only way to rescue other ships, or move items, while marines may be the only option when the player is assigned to capture another ship or a base.
" (a term used for fan made add-ons) ability of the game. Now the ordinary gamer was able to create his/her own ship and add it into the game.
Players have set up websites which provide player-created scenarios and mods for the games. It is also possible to download a variety of patches and supplemental programs. one example is alternate "skins" which can be used to alter the appearance of ships in the game.
Many new sites evolved around Starfleet Command itself just to cater for the ever growing numbers of new gamers which Interplay's latest game had brought into the Star Trek gaming community fold. Some "modders" of that time would later go on to work full time in the gaming industry.
Wargaming
A wargame is a strategy game that deals with military operations of various types, real or fictional. Wargaming is the hobby dedicated to the play of such games, which can also be called conflict simulations, or consims for short. When used professionally to study warfare, it is generally known as...
Star Fleet Battles
Star Fleet Battles
Star Fleet Battles is a tactical board wargame set in an offshoot of the Star Trek setting called the Star Fleet Universe. Originally created in 1979 by Stephen V. Cole,...
. It simulates starship operations, and ship-to-ship combat and fleet warfare in the Star Trek
Star Trek
Star Trek is an American science fiction entertainment franchise created by Gene Roddenberry. The core of Star Trek is its six television series: The Original Series, The Animated Series, The Next Generation, Deep Space Nine, Voyager, and Enterprise...
universe.
The game's design and rules are drawn largely from those of the tabletop wargame Star Fleet Battles
Star Fleet Battles
Star Fleet Battles is a tactical board wargame set in an offshoot of the Star Trek setting called the Star Fleet Universe. Originally created in 1979 by Stephen V. Cole,...
. The playable races match those from Star Fleet Battles, as do many ship functions and ship classes, as well as many aspects of gameplay.
The player can play as one of six races:
- United Federation of PlanetsUnited Federation of PlanetsThe United Federation of Planets, also known as "The Federation" is a fictional interplanetary federal republic depicted in the Star Trek television series and motion pictures...
- Klingon Empire
- Romulan Star Empire
- Gorn ConfederationGornIn Star Trek, the Gorn are humanoid reptiles from the Gorn Hegemony.-Fictional history:The Gorn had contact with the Orion Syndicate as early as 2154...
- Hydran Kingdoms
- Lyran Star Empire
It is divided into three main parts: a "Campaign" game, "Skirmish" games and a "Multiplayer" game. The "Dynaverse" campaign resembles an adventure
Adventure game
An adventure game is a video game in which the player assumes the role of protagonist in an interactive story driven by exploration and puzzle-solving instead of physical challenge. The genre's focus on story allows it to draw heavily from other narrative-based media such as literature and film,...
in which the captain of the ship (the player) earns prestige by successfully completing missions. These prestige points can be used to 'purchase' new ships, as well as repair and refit them and assign crew members. The "Skirmish" and "play-and-forget" games are fast and self-contained and help the player become familiar with the game and the high number of missions available in the "Dynaverse". In multiplayer mode, the player connects via IP or using a game matching service (e.g. GameSpy
GameSpy
GameSpy Industries, Inc., known simply as GameSpy, is a division of IGN Entertainment, which operates a network of game websites and provides online video game-related services and software. GameSpy dates back to the 1996 release of an internet Quake server search program named QSpy. The current...
) to challenge other human players instead of game artificial intelligence
Artificial intelligence
Artificial intelligence is the intelligence of machines and the branch of computer science that aims to create it. AI textbooks define the field as "the study and design of intelligent agents" where an intelligent agent is a system that perceives its environment and takes actions that maximize its...
.
Actual gameplay tended to consist of ships circling each other, waiting for various weapons to recharge and waiting to fire until one could fire upon the weakest shield of the enemy ship. The actual gameplay was very similar to that of an older `age of sail' naval combat game called Broadsides
Broadsides (game)
Broadsides is a 1983 videogame that simulated naval combat in the Age of Sail for the Atari 8-bit, Apple II, and Commodore 64. Giant warships circled each other, waiting for the best time to unleash a broadside upon the enemy...
by SSI.
Release and reception
Starfleet Command was released by Interplay led by Erik Bethke at a time when the gaming franchise for Star Trek was at an all time high. Previously Interplay had released Star Trek: Starfleet Academy which placed Interplay on the top position with regards to the standings of the 3 main publishers at that time.The release of Starfleet Command is considered in the Star Trek gaming community as the start of the "Golden Age" of Trek video games. This was a period in time between 1999 and 2001 when Interplay and Activision
Activision
Activision is an American publisher, majority owned by French conglomerate Vivendi SA. Its current CEO is Robert Kotick. It was founded on October 1, 1979 and was the world's first independent developer and distributor of video games for gaming consoles...
produced a number of games that were perceived as being of higher quality. In 2001, Interplay bowed out of the franchise and Activision took over as the most prominent developer of Trek-themed titles.
The success of Starfleet Command came as surprise to Interplay, and as a result, http://www.gopets.net/en/main/about_ceo.htmlErik Bethke
Erik Bethke
Erik Bethke is a computer games designer.Bethke worked on UV Spectrometer experiments under Dr. D.E. Shemanksy at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory and the University of Southern California, but did not complete his PhD studies in Space Sciences....
formed Taldren, Inc. together with 9 members of the original Starfleet Command team to create additional titles for the series.
To this day Starfleet Command is one of the longest running serials of trek games, which are widely considered to be classics and are still being played years later. Starfleet Command was followed by three sequels, Starfleet Command II: Empires at War, Starfleet Command: Orion Pirates, and Starfleet Command III.
Gameplay
One important point to note is that gameplay is not continuous; i.e., players do not do a variety of missions within a single game scenario. Players are given a specific mission to accomplish within a scenario. When the mission is completed, the scenario ends. After a set of a screens for refit and repair, the next scenario begins with a new mission. This is different from earlier games of this category, in which players might be given the ability to warp around the galaxy, and to continually fight enemies and to achieve various objectives in a single session.
Controls and functions
One major part of gameplay involves managing various ship systems which are accessed via an interface running up and down the left side of the screen.In this screen shot, a Federation battlecruiser is facing an enemy frigate. In the upper left of the screen is the main control window, with various symbols up and down the right side which bring up various sets of controls. The player has clicked the helm symbol to bring up the helm function. This displays multiple buttons labeled with arrows for maneuvering the ship, in various special maneuvers. (Standard maneuvering occurs simply by clicking the image of the ship in the main part of the screen.)
Below this is a schematic of the player's ship, with buttons on the left side for bringing up various ship systems. The function displayed is Weapons, displayed here by weapons type (the other view is by firing arcs). This view can be used to fire the weapons and to track their recharging status. Other functions which can be shown in this window section are shields
Shields (Star Trek)
In the Star Trek fictional universe, shields refer to a 23rd and 24th century technology that protects starships, space stations, and planets from damage by natural hazard or enemy attack...
, electronic counter-measures (ECM) and electronic counter-counter-measures (ECCM), tractor beam
Tractor beam
A tractor beam is a device with the ability to attract one object to another from a distance. Since the 1990s, technology and research has labored to make it a reality, mostly at microscopic level. Less commonly, a similar beam that repels is called a pressor beam or repulsor beam...
, transporters
Transporter (Star Trek)
A transporter is a fictional teleportation machine used in the Star Trek universe. Transporters convert a person or object into an energy pattern , then "beam" it to a target, where it is reconverted into matter...
, and shuttles.
The function which is clicked on in the ship schematic will define the controls shown in the screen directly below the schematic. Since a weapon is clicked in this example, the screen shows controls for firing and related functions. This screen shows the button used to set photon torpedoes to "overload."
Below this is the tactical schematic, which will display any target or object which the player clicks on. In this screen shot, it displays the approaching enemy vessel, a Klingon frigate.
The top and bottom of the screen displays various aspects of the status report for the player's ship (and the target ship). These include speed, hull integrity, power available and used, alert status, weapons recharge status, and mission timer.
Gameplay dynamics
One central question for Star Trek games of this type is the dynamics which define ship control and action, and what type of overall experience is created.In this game, ships are treated as complex entities, with a variety of tactics and resources. Players spend less time aiming and shooting, as they might in simpler games, and spend more managing various resources, and allocating power. Starships are complex vessels which take a while to maneuver and to attack.
During a battle, various weapons and resources play differing roles, such as beam weapons, missiles, shuttles, marines and tractor beams. All of these must be used to maximize power availability. They also change in importance, based on the type of enemy faced.
One key aspect of ship combat is targeting the enemy's weaker shields, and also using the opportunity available when specific systems are damaged.
In other scenarios, objectives may range from defeating aliens, guarding artifacts, rescuing other ships, and a range of other scenarios. Each requires unique use of ship systems. For example, the tractor beam may be the only way to rescue other ships, or move items, while marines may be the only option when the player is assigned to capture another ship or a base.
Player community
Starfleet Command spawned a massive new community due to the "moddingModding
Modding is a slang expression that is derived from the verb "modify". Modding refers to the act of modifying a piece of hardware or software or anything else for that matter, to perform a function not originally conceived or intended by the designer...
" (a term used for fan made add-ons) ability of the game. Now the ordinary gamer was able to create his/her own ship and add it into the game.
Players have set up websites which provide player-created scenarios and mods for the games. It is also possible to download a variety of patches and supplemental programs. one example is alternate "skins" which can be used to alter the appearance of ships in the game.
Many new sites evolved around Starfleet Command itself just to cater for the ever growing numbers of new gamers which Interplay's latest game had brought into the Star Trek gaming community fold. Some "modders" of that time would later go on to work full time in the gaming industry.
See also
- Star Trek: Starfleet Command: Orion PiratesStar Trek: Starfleet Command: Orion PiratesStarfleet Command: Orion Pirates is a stand-alone expansion for the computer game Star Trek Starfleet Command II: Empires at War designed by Erik Bethke. The game adds eight separate playable pirate cartels based on the Orion Pirates, who had been frequently fought throughout the earlier games. It...
- Star Trek: Starfleet Command II: Empires at War
- Star Trek: Starfleet Command IIIStar Trek: Starfleet Command IIIStar Trek: Starfleet Command III is a Star Trek computer game published in 2002. The game takes place in the Next Generation/Deep Space Nine/Voyager era.-Storyline:...