TOY NEWS: Star Trek Geological Tricorder

Here it is. New pics of the latest Tricorder replica from DST, the Geolical Tricoder. Features two opening compartments and removable vials of mineral samples!


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VIDEO GAME REVIEW: STAR TREK ONLINE

Atari's new Star Trek MMORPG recently dropped and I have a some time to play the game both in it's beta and retail release form. While I've spent more time than I care to admit playing Star Trek Online, please understand that I have only scratched the surface of this truly epic game. In the interest of full disclosure, I am an avowed Trekkie but am also a console gamer and STO is my first foray into the massively multiplayer online game world. These two facts will no doubt color my perceptions of the game.




Gamestop exclusive Constitution Class Light Cruiser.

As a Star Trek experience, Star Trek Online excels. The game is absolutely steeped in Star Trek lore and NPCs are constantly referring to events and locations that were featured in this or that TV show or movie (I just encountered the Planet Killer from the TOS episode "The Doomsday Machine" of all things). There is a lot of fan love built into the game. Star Trek Online takes place about thirty years after Star Trek Nemesis, so many or the characters that we know and love from the Next Generation era are presumably retired or deceased. The game does introduce you to some famous Star Trek descendants such as Sulu's grandson and the daughter of Tom Paris and B'Elanna Torres from Voyager but for the most part you are starting with a fairly clean slate so that players can have their own distinct adventures in the Star Trek universe. During the time of the game, the peace treaty with the Klingons has fallen apart and they are nominally the leaders of the enemy faction. Other enemies are featured in the game such as the Romulans, The Borg and Species 8472.

STO features both space and ground combat. Of the two, I like the space combat better as you have to manage your shields, weapons, and officer abilities against enemies and, as your ships gain more weapons and abilities, there is an addictive strategy component to it and it feels like a more unique gaming experience. The away missions feel a little like games that I have played before but the options for both modes increase exponentially as you progress through the game and gain items and abilities.

The game starts out with a lot of scouting and survey missions during which you are asked to patrol this system and engage these enemies or investigate this planet to recover x number or artifacts. Early on, these missions get a little repetitive especially since your character and ship are underpowered and have only a couple of abilities. As you progress in the game the "story" missions become a larger part of the gameplay and you find yourself immersed in a narrative that is actually very cool.

I recently completed a mission in which Starfleet officer Miral Paris was kidnapped by Klingons and taken to the Guardian of Forever (from the classic Original Series episode "City on the Edge of Forever") and taken back in time. You then follow her and encounter the Enterprise during the time of Kirk and discover a Klingon plot that helps to explain the perplexing difference in appearance between TOS series Klingons and their descendants. This mission highlights the episodic structure of the game, which, when it works best, feels like you are in a really good Star Trek episode.

You start out with the ability to play a Federation character but then unlock the ability to play a member of the Klingon faction later on in the game. I have been having too much fun with my Federation character to explore the Klingon side of the game but I understand it involves more player versus player content, something very lacking in the main game. In the Federation campaign I have had very little interaction with other players thus far, other than seeing their ships fly past me, passing them in star bases, and occasionally forming loose teams on a few missions. It is an experience that feels almost like playing a single player campaign in a console game (well, a very large console game).

Character customization is a big part of the game. You start out selecting from a group of Federation races (like Vulcans, Bajorans, Andorians) and can endlessly tweak your character's appearance within those races or you can create your own alien out of a large library of customizable features, from which you can make any number of familiar Star Trek aliens. This is however limited to two-legged humanoids (you won't be able to make an Edosian or Tholian).

You can outfit your characters from a large selection of 25th Century Starfleet Uniforms (or from the TNG movies, if you are old school like me) and can customize the look of your uniforms as well. Certain exclusive versions of the game even include TOS, TNG, and DS9 uniforms. If you are feeling creative you can even write your character's biography for all to read. Over the course of the game you can visit "tailors" and alter your character's appearance (although if you chose one of the given races you will not be able to change your character's basic race but if you elect to play an alien character you can drastically change its appearance).

My alien avatar, Lt. Prag.


In addition to your own character, you also have access to Bridge Officers. These officers will serve with you on away missions as well and offer special abilities both on the ground and in space. Like your avatar, these NPCs can be customized, named, skilled and even promoted. They are either Science, Tactical or Engineering officers and careful co-ordination of your Bridge Officers and your ship type adds a strategic level to space combat. If your style is offensive gameplay, an escort ship with some well trained Tactical officers will give you an edge for taking out your enemies quickly and decisively. Science officers have access to advanced technologies that allow you to disable and disrupt enemy vessels and an emphasis on Engineering assures you a ship with robust repairs and shields.

Star Trek Online features an extensive selection of starships. As you progress in rank (you start as a Lieutenant but can move all the way up to Admiral over the course of the game) you gain access to more powerful ships. You start the game in a Miranda Class Light Cruiser (like the ship Ricardo Montalban stole in Wrath of Khan) a basic little ship with a limited amount of weaponry and bridge officer slots. By the time you make your next rank, you get to chose a new ship from one of three branches, Cruisers (think the various Enterprises), Tactical Escorts (think the Defiant from DS9) or Science Vessels (think Voyager). These three distinct branches each have their own strengths and allow you to use distinct weapons and abilities and allow you to utilize your crew in different ways.

Cruiser, Vesper subclass.

The ships are somewhat customizable as well, although this is limited so that they always retain a recognizable look for their class. Each class of ship has three alternate configurations, from which you are free to mix and match parts. For example if you are a Lieutenant and have opted for the Constitution class you can select the venerable Refit subclass as featured in the TOS Star Trek movies, the more streamlined Vesper which is the in game equivalent of the Excelsior Class, or a third modernized option. Or you can mix the saucer, nacelles and hull in whatever way you want. You can even select from different color palettes and some subdued decorative touches. As with your character, you are free to name your ship (although something appropriate would be nice. Seeing the USS Dirty Sanchez really pulls me out of the game). There are a very limited number of bridge layouts available as well, although I am disappointed the the bridge is really only a cosmetic addition to the game and you don't actually do anything there (you can't even sit in the captain's chair).

So those are my early impressions of Star Trek Online. With all of its loving references to the long and deep history of Trek, the game is a tremendous love letter to Star Trek fandom and promises lots more goodies to come (such as more of the Borg and even an appearance from Q himself). I am also happy that the game is continuing the Next Generation era, and not the more popular alternate continuity from the new movie. The issues that I had with some simple minded and repetitive gameplay seem to be diminishing now that the story is gaining momentum and the play options are growing for my more powerful character. We are only at the beginning of the game's life and it is sure to expand from here. I'm hoping to encounter some familiar faces and to have more bridge time in the future.

Patrick Garone
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Comic Review: Star Trek Captain’s Log: Sulu (IDW)

From IDW: Introducing a brand-new series focusing on some of the most famous Captains in Starfleet history! In the debut issue, Captain Hikaru Sulu, still new to the command of the U.S.S. Excelsior, finds himself once again face to face with one of the Federation's most dangerous and mysterious adversaries-the Tholians! From the creative team behind Spock: Reflections!



Art: Federica Manfredi provides the pencils in this issue, with colors by Andrea Priorini. The art is sufficient for the most part, although there are a few things holding it back. The pencils aren’t always crisp, which can be problematic when dealing with the lines of machinery such as the inside of the Excelsior. This also leads to some “wonky” proportions on the ship’s crewmembers, and Manfredi seems to have had difficulty deciding how old Sulu should look. Some panels have him looking a bit older than he did on Star Trek, and some have him looking like an old woman, so I would say that there’s a bit too much variation. The likeness of George Takei slips back and forth as well. One other problem area with the pencils is that there isn’t much background to speak of in some of the panels, instead just a flat color.

The colors by Priorini are a bit flat. I understand that the interior of the ship is going to be mostly grey and that everyone is going to have the same color uniform, so I don’t expect to see every color of the rainbow, but a smoother, warmer look to the colors would help with the hindered pallet.

As I stated before, the art is sufficient for the most part, and the shortcomings don’t hinder the book from being enjoyable. Besides, I’ve seen much worse from high profile artists who get paid millions of dollars to draw like they are in the 2nd grade. (I’m looking at you Chaykin and Liefeld)

Writing: This is where the issue really thrives. From the very beginning you get the sense that Scott and David Tipton know their Star Trek history. In the opening of the issue, Sulu is practicing his fencing with his first officer. At first this seemed a bit “on the nose” and too obvious since the “fencing incident” from Star Trek seems to be the most often remembered thing about Sulu. However, the principle’s and ideology behind fencing come back later on in the issue, and we realize that Sulu’s love and respect for the sport influence his own philosophy and command style. Lesser writers would have just thrown out the fencing references in a thinly veiled attempt to win over Star Trek fans, yet the Tipton’s show their writing strength by actually tying the reference into the story.

Another plus on the writing side is that this issue deals with the Tholians, rather than the better known Klingons or Romulans. Sulu recounts his own personal experiences with the Tholians to his first officer, and we see this visually through a flashback to the Star Trek episode “The Tholian Web”. Not only does this let Sulu’s first officer know what possible dangers they may be facing, but it lets any reader who isn’t familiar with the Tholians know what Sulu and crew may be up against.

While I don’t have any particular complaint against the writing itself, it is hindered by the one shot format. Since the writers had to come to the table with a “one and done” storyline, it feels a bit rushed and not fully fleshed out. The story is still well written and entertaining, I just feel that giving it two or three issues to play out would have helped it feel more dramatic.

Unfortunately this is a hindrance that will likely affect the follow Captain’s Log issues. If IDW wanted to create a new Star Trek series to highlight the different command style’s of the most decorated Captains in Starfleet history, maybe they could have formatted it differently. Perhaps instead of a series of one shots, they could have simply created a series called Star Trek: Captain’s Log. Issues one and two could have been this story expanded, with issue three starting a new story. I think that would have allowed the stories to breathe a bit more and not feel so rushed. Regardless, this is a pretty good one shot for Star Trek fans.

Written by Scott & David Tipton
Drawn by Federica Manfredi

Terry Barnhill
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Comic Review: Star Trek DS9: Fool's Gold #1

IDW has been on a real roll lately with their Star Trek comics, particularly with their takes on The Original Series era stories like Star Trek: Crew and Mission's End. Their new comic, Fool's Gold is set in the Next Generation era and brings back the characters and locations from Star Trek: Deep Space Nine.



It's great to see this era and especially this series get some love from IDW. Deep Space Nine was the Star Trek show that broke all the rules: there was no Enterprise, not even a real star ship to speak of until later in the show, most of the action took place in a confined space station, the characters were not a harmonious bunch of space explorers but a sometimes fragmented group of realistic personalities with their own agendas. It was a ground breaking sci-fi show that paved the way for gritty shows like the reimagined Battlestar Galactica.

Fool's Gold is the first part of a series and wisely takes some time to reintroduce us to the cast of characters and the station itself. I like the fact that the story starts with another ship docking with DS9 and we get a chance to experience the station as outsiders coming in and all of the main characters have a short bit with occasional inside references for fans of the show. The story seems to be set somewhere in the middle to early seasons of the show while Jake is still younger and before Worf joined the cast and it involves a pair of outsiders who come to station and are seemingly up to no good. Of course, it involves the Ferengi Quark which raises the ire of Constable Odo.

Trekkies and fans of DS9 will definitely want to pick this one up to see how the story unfolds. I can't overestimate how great it is to be able to re-enter the world of Deep Space Nine again. It looks like the popularity of last summer's Star Trek movie is creating a resurgence in interest in all things Trek, and that's a good thing.

Patrick Garone
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DVD News: Star Trek (2009) Countdown Widget!! on DVD & Blu-ray 11/17!!

Add This Widget to Your Website Now!!

Please visit http://www.startrekmovie.com/widget/ to check out this awesome Star Trek (2009) widget that counts down the DVD & Blu-ray release! Simply click on GRAB on the widget to add it to your Website or post it to your Facebook, Twitter, etc.

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Comic Review: Star Trek: Mission's End (IDW Publishing)

Star Trek: Mission's End is a new trade paperback that chronicles the final mission of the U.S.S. Enterprise and her crew as captained by James T. Kirk. Mission's End, therefore, serves as a bridge between the end of the Original Series and the first movie, Star Trek: The Motion Picture. It is somewhat surprising that it has taken so long for this story to be told.



Mission's End revolves around the first contact between the Federation and a race of spider and insect people that have evolved on the surface of a long abandoned and colossal starship and the eventual admission of this planet into the Federation. The story has the feel of classic Star Trek, exploring themes of friction between species, religion, and even a touch of mid 1960's style feminism, which is anachronistic for 2009 but crucial for getting that classic Star Trek feel. It's all packaged in a fun sci-fi/adventure story in which you can practically hear the Star Trek theme and the classic actor's voices as you read the comic. The artwork is colorful and also captures the classic Original Series feel.

IDW is doing really great work with this era of Star Trek, creating comics that are lovingly faithful to the original source material. Star Trek: Mission's End presents an engaging sci-fi story, which does what Star Trek used to do so very well, that is use science fiction to tell a story that reflects on our own times. It's also a fun read that tells a pivotal chapter in Star Trek history, a must for any Star Trek fan.


Patrick Garone
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Comic Review: Star Trek- Romulans: Schism #2 (IDW Publishing) by Ed Rondo

In technology we trust....

Star Trek- Romulans: Schism #2 continues the high pace cat and mouse game between the Romulan’s/ Klingon’s and the Federation already established in Issue #1. Our Heroine, the former Number one under Captain Christopher Pike, who is now a Commodore and in command of the U.S.S Yorktown, is before the Federation Council in a last ditch effort to try to persuade the council members into finding an alternative method to using the stolen Romulan cloaking technology, in order to bring about a less brutal solution to the escalating crisis near the Neutral zone. Falling upon deaf ears, The Commodore and the crew of the U.S.S Yorktown are dispatched to a Federation listening post along the border of the Neutral Zone, where they will get a chance to see if the technological gamble the Federation has taken will prove effective in preventing war.




Meanwhile on Romulus, the current Praetor embarks on a tour to inspect the newest ship in the Romulan fleet, one that might possibly tip the scales in favor of a Romulan victory over not only the Federation, but the Klingon’s as well. All the while, a fleet of Romulan ships near the Neutral zone finally make their presence known, hoping to force the hand of the Federation into a fully fledged conflict.

If anything, I think the general theme of this issue would be “faith in technology”. The way the Romulans and the Federation are being shown to have bestowed total confidence in each others technological achievements, reminds me of another famous Star Trek TOS episode “A Private Little War”. In that episode the crew of the U.S.S Enterprise discovers the Klingon’s interfering with development of a peaceful race, by providing them with advanced weapons technology, in order for them to defeat their enemy. This soon turns into an arms race, and Captain Kirk must provide the other side with firearms just as equal in order to level the playing field. It’s nice to know that Mr. Byrne is never at a loss at showing how these themes are still as valid today’s as they were 40 years ago.

As usual the artwork is meticulous & exquisite, full of enough details to make any Trek fan giggle like a school girl with glee. The color scheme for me is what sets the tone. It’s spot on for the time this is set in, and invokes a sense of nostalgia each and every time.

However, my only complaint would have to be the following: Does anyone else think it’s about time The Commodore (and former Number One) got a name? I mean it’s fine if this is not addressed here, but if it was, that would be some pretty sweet icing on an already decadent cake.

Writer: John Byrne
Artist: John Byrne

On sale October 7th

8/10

Ed Rondo
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Toy News: eFX Boldly Goes into a New Frontier with the Addition of Star Trek Collectibles

Star Trek Joins Other Incredible Entertainment Properties to Make eFX the Premiere Producer of Officially Licensed Prop Replicas


Space was the final frontier for Capt. James T. Kirk and his crew – and now it is the next frontier for eFX Inc., which today announced that it will introduce new high-end collectibles based on the classic Star Trek films and TV series.

eFX will introduce its Star Trek collectibles, licensed from CBS Consumer Products, later this year with the Mark IX Tricorder as seen in Star Trek: First Contact – and it’s just the first of many contacts that eFX plans for fans to be able to make with the seminal science-fiction TV and movie series, which holds a special place in the hearts of eFX’s development team.

“For many of us, Star Trek was our introduction to the possibilities and promise of science-fiction storytelling, and it is an absolute honor to have been given the chance to bring Star Trek collectibles to fans,” said Bryan Ono, president of eFX Inc.

Pre-orders for the Mark IX Tricorder are expected to begin in September, and eFX will limit its production run to no more than 1,000 pieces worldwide. The Tricorders will be offered as a “Signature Edition” signed by actor Brent Spiner, who played Data in Star Trek: The Next Generation and the films it inspired.

Star Trek joins an incredible list of properties within the eFX portfolio. They include Star Wars; the original Battlestar Galactica TV series; Disney animation, live-action films and TV series; and the Muppets.

“With the addition of Star Trek to the eFX catalog, we’re very proud to be home to high-end collectibles based on some of the most classic entertainment properties and brands,” Ono said.

More details about eFX and its collectibles can be found online at www.efxcollectibles.com. Read more...

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Toy News: New Star Trek figures

For your viewing pleasure, here are the new Star Trek action figures from DST. Available at Toys “R” Us!




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IDW Continues the Star Trek Saga with NERO

New story by film's screenwriters coming in August


Hot on the heels of one of this summer's biggest blockbuster films, IDW is proud to announce the latest chapter in its Star Trek comic book saga. Star Trek: Nero expands on the action of the movie, following Starfleet's newest enemy as he seeks ultimate revenge-the utter destruction of the Federation and all its worlds.

"Nero, the great villain of the movie, was actually introduced in Star Trek: Countdown, which leads directly into the film," said Scott Dunbier, IDW's Star Trek editor. "This follow-up series will reveal exactly what happened to the crew of the Narada during the intervening 25 years Nero was waiting for the arrival of Ambassador Spock."

Star Trek: Nero reunites the creative team behind The New York Times best-selling movie prequel, Star Trek: Countdown. Roberto Orci and Alex Kurtzman, the film's screenwriters/producers, once again supply the story, while Mike Johnson and Tim Jones return to skillfully apply their scripting talents to Nero's story. Artist David Messina again lends his artistic talents, depicting each painful twist and supplying eye-catching covers. The four-issue miniseries will be available monthly, beginning in August.

Star Trek: Nero #1, a licensed product of CBS Consumer Products, will be available in stores in August 2009. Diamond order code JUN09 0956

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Star Trek Original Series Romulan Kirk and Spock Figures

New Spock Finds Kirk Fascinating

Have you ever made the decision to buy a figure solely because of the placement of an eyebrow? Ordinarily, we'd say, "No, that's not the main reason to buy a toy." But if you check out the Spock in this Star Trek Original Series Romulan Kirk and Spock Figures, we're fairly sure you'll want to get it just because of how intrigued Mr. Spock looks. Oh, it's got Kirk as a Romulan in it, too. But take a look at Mr. Spock!

Star Trek Original Series Romulan Kirk and Spock Figures
Description:

* Kirk and Spock together again!
* From the fan-favorite episode!
* Extremely articulated figures!

Bring home the unstoppable team responsible for saving the universe on several occasions with this Classic Star Trek action figure two-pack! With Romulan Kirk as featured in the fan-favorite "Enterprise Incident" and an all-new Commander Spock, each six-inch figure features 20 points of articulation and includes accessories from the classic series!

New Spock Finds Kirk Fascinating

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Star Trek Original Series Medical Tricorder - EE Exclusive

It takes a long time to get the greatest in toy medical equipment from across the galaxy!


Our awesome Exclusive Star Trek Original Series Medical Tricorder is now available, complete with sound effects from the original series. Not only is it packed with a few zingers from the good doctor, but it also sports a strap so you can wear it, a removable scanner, and some nifty lighting effects. If you already scored our Exclusive Star Trek Original Series Communicator, this should be your next piece of equipment!

And don't forget, we're offering free shipping on these items with a minimum purchase, but only for a limited time!

Star Trek Original Series Medical Tricorder - EE Exclusive
Description:

* Entertainment Earth Exclusive! This medical tricorder is true to the original Star Trek series.
* Incredibly detailed and features the voice of Dr. McCoy.
* Includes lights, sounds, and an exclusive removable scanner with motion effects.
* It's perfect for your next away mission!

The Entertainment Earth Exclusive Star Trek Original Series Medical Tricorder is a compulsory component of any futuristic first-aid kit. Following the runaway success of the classic-era phaser and communicator, you can now boldly go where no man has gone before with this authentic tricorder replica! Based on the 23rd-century design seen in the original Star Trek television series, the remarkably detailed electronic instrument features silver highlights over a black finish, plus light and sound effects taken from the watershed TV show. It's perfect for your next away mission! Window-box packaging.

The Entertainment Earth Exclusive Medical Tricorder is the ultimate replica for any fan, collector, or 23rd-century physician. Not only does the case open to reveal the detailed interior, but this deluxe version also includes a compartment with a removable scanner accessory with sounds and motion that you won't find anywhere else! The Tricorder features blinking lights, a spinning scanner, light-up elements, and an adjustable shoulder strap. All doors open and close.

This Tricorder includes 7 electronic phrases from Dr. McCoy that you won't find anywhere else! They include:
"Shock, radiation burns... internal injuries for certain."
"This is medically impossible!"
"Some heart flutter. Better risk a few drops of cordrazine."
"Respiration normal; blood pressure normal."
"He's in perfect health."
"He's dead, Jim."
"I'm a Doctor, not a brick layer!"

* Collector's Notes: To activate the Tricorder's lights and sounds and hear all the electronic phrases, the machine must be in "play" mode. To accomplish this, open the battery compartment and move the switch from "Try Me" to "Play."
* The instruction manual for this item contains an error. Pushing the button on the removable scanner should activate the sound, but turning the thumbnail wheel is required to make the sensor spin. Please try that and see if that handles it for you.

Dr. McCoy's Tricorder Exclusive Is Here

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