Watching reruns of DS9, it has occurred to me that it is
time for a new Star Trek game. Of
course, I say this having not played most of the star trek games released. So I guess what I really mean is: It’s time for me to play a star trek
game. Or, more specifically, it’s time
for me to play the star trek game I’m imagining. Does it exist, I wonder?
What I’m imagining is basically a Maniac Mansion style
adventure game. I have some vague
memories that a Star Trek game has done this in the past. The idea being to solve puzzles using a crew
or away team and a set of equipment and specializations. Tricorders, med packs, phasers, engineering
skills. All that good stuff.
I think the potential for level and puzzle design might be very
high when you consider all the different possible things a Tricorder might
detect. Invisible Gasses, energy waves,
life signs. It’s the basic structure of
any Star Trek episode. The captain says ‘give
me a reading’ and someone says ‘I’m
detecting high levels of _____ radiation.
That could be causing the ______ to ______” now ship it off to Michael Okuda to fill in
the blanks.
I suppose what I’m interested in is capturing and augmenting the experience of watching the show. I don’t necessarily want to dream up a fully functioning, open-world star trek universe (though that is obviously a cool thing to exist). My thought is of rich scenarios, clever puzzles, interesting characters and engrossing drama. I’m imagining something akin to Mass Effect, but with less fighting and more puzzles.
One game design question would be how you control
your party. Is it five independent
people, all controlled by the player, or does the player just control the
commanding officer, and issue orders to the others? The second option seems the simplest. Your commands can include ‘scanning’ or ‘advisement’
or ‘batten down the hatches.’ Well, some
star trek equivalent anyway.
Also, it seems obvious that getting actors from actual star
trek series to do voice overs is a good thing.
On the other hand, the Star Trek universe is rich, and with good
writing, I know I would happily embrace a new cast and crew and a new
setting. I've done it four times already.
I don’t think these ideas are original by any means. But in the past, Star Trek, like any licensed
product, has had a series of rather mediocre games. I’m just hoping there is a higher production value
game that shows a true understanding of the beloved show and universe. Of course, by now it’s likely that any new
game would be set in the re-imagined Original Series universe, which is full of
non-stop action. Yawn. I left my heart with TNG.
-D
