Star Trek (script game)
Encyclopedia
Star Trek was a text-based mainframe
computer game written by Don Daglow
on a PDP-10
timesharing computer at Pomona College
in 1972, and upgraded periodically through 1974, including contributions by Jonathan Osser. The game was picked up by the DECUS
user group in 1972 and distributed to many universities and other PDP-10 installations around the world, often appearing on the same systems alongside the Star Trek text game
. Daglow only learned of the game's publication when he began receiving fan letters at his college dorm. The two Star Trek games were each among the most popular mainframe computer games of the 1970s, which were played for free on college systems.
") as the name of the ship's captain. Spock
would then declare that a Klingon
, Romulan
or Tholian
vessel had appeared on the Enterprise
's sensors, and announce its position.
The game described the action by printing a script displaying the characters' dialogue in traditional dramatic format. Daglow was a writing major studying playwriting with professor Steven Young, but prior games (including a horse racing game where players guessed the winner) had already used the idea of printing out the dialogue of a fictional character to narrate the action.
On each turn, Sulu
or Chekov
updated the enemy's position and Uhura
asked for the player's orders, and a number (initially from 1 to 10, later from 1 to as high as 19) could be entered to tell the crew of the Enterprise what to do. Options included moving closer or farther away from the enemy vessel, and firing phasers or photon torpedoes. The different weapons each had optimal ranges.
After each player turn the results were announced by Spock, and the enemy then moved, fired, or tried another option. Damage to shields, weapons and engines was reported, as well as the rising count of Enterprise casualties. Badly damaged vessels on either side could try to flee the sector and trigger a pursuit.
If players chose to surrender a crippled ship or the computer enemy did so, either the enemy commander or Kirk would commend the surrendering captain for saving his crew and transmit the directive, "Prepare for our boarding party!"
Mainframe computer
Mainframes are powerful computers used primarily by corporate and governmental organizations for critical applications, bulk data processing such as census, industry and consumer statistics, enterprise resource planning, and financial transaction processing.The term originally referred to the...
computer game written by Don Daglow
Don Daglow
Don Daglow is an American computer game and video game designer, programmer and producer. He is best known for designing a series of pioneering simulation games and role-playing games, as well as the first computer baseball game and the first graphical MMORPG, all between 1971 and 1995...
on a PDP-10
PDP-10
The PDP-10 was a mainframe computer family manufactured by Digital Equipment Corporation from the late 1960s on; the name stands for "Programmed Data Processor model 10". The first model was delivered in 1966...
timesharing computer at Pomona College
Pomona College
Pomona College is a private, residential, liberal arts college in Claremont, California. Founded in 1887 in Pomona, California by a group of Congregationalists, the college moved to Claremont in 1889 to the site of a hotel, retaining its name. The school enrolls 1,548 students.The founding member...
in 1972, and upgraded periodically through 1974, including contributions by Jonathan Osser. The game was picked up by the DECUS
DECUS
The Digital Equipment Computer Users' Society was an independent computer user group related to Digital Equipment Corporation.The Connect User Group Community, formed from the consolidation in May, 2008 of DECUS, Encompass, HP-Interex, and ITUG is Hewlett-Packard’s largest user community...
user group in 1972 and distributed to many universities and other PDP-10 installations around the world, often appearing on the same systems alongside the Star Trek text game
Star Trek (text game)
Star Trek is a text-based computer game that puts the player in command of the USS Enterprise on a mission to hunt down and destroy an invading fleet of Klingon warships...
. Daglow only learned of the game's publication when he began receiving fan letters at his college dorm. The two Star Trek games were each among the most popular mainframe computer games of the 1970s, which were played for free on college systems.
Gameplay
The player began the game by entering their own name (or, if they preferred, "KirkJames T. Kirk
James Tiberius "Jim" Kirk is a character in the Star Trek media franchise. Kirk was first played by William Shatner as the principal lead character in the original Star Trek series. Shatner voiced Kirk in the animated Star Trek series and appeared in the first seven Star Trek movies...
") as the name of the ship's captain. Spock
Spock
Spock is a fictional character in the Star Trek media franchise. First portrayed by Leonard Nimoy in the original Star Trek series, Spock also appears in the animated Star Trek series, two episodes of Star Trek: The Next Generation, seven of the Star Trek feature films, and numerous Star Trek...
would then declare that a Klingon
Klingon
Klingons are a fictional warrior race in the Star Trek universe.Klingons are recurring villains in the 1960s television show Star Trek: The Original Series, and have appeared in all five spin-off series and eight feature films...
, Romulan
Romulan
The Romulans are a fictional alien race in the Star Trek universe. First appearing in the original Star Trek series in the 1966 episode "Balance of Terror", they have since made appearances in all the main later Star Trek series: The Animated Series, The Next Generation, Deep Space Nine, Voyager...
or Tholian
Tholian
Tholians are a fictional starfaring and extremely territorial race in the Star Trek fictional universe. The Tholian home nation is the Tholian Assembly, which inhabits an area of space in the Alpha Quadrant, near the Cardassian Union and the Badlands....
vessel had appeared on the Enterprise
Starship Enterprise
The Enterprise or USS Enterprise is the name of several fictional starships, some of which are the focal point for various television series and films in the Star Trek franchise created by Gene Roddenberry. It is considered a name of legacy in the fleet...
's sensors, and announce its position.
The game described the action by printing a script displaying the characters' dialogue in traditional dramatic format. Daglow was a writing major studying playwriting with professor Steven Young, but prior games (including a horse racing game where players guessed the winner) had already used the idea of printing out the dialogue of a fictional character to narrate the action.
On each turn, Sulu
Hikaru Sulu
Hikaru Sulu is a character in the Star Trek media franchise. First portrayed by George Takei in the original Star Trek series, Sulu also appears in the animated Star Trek series, the first six Star Trek movies, one episode of Star Trek: Voyager, and in numerous books, comics, and video games...
or Chekov
Pavel Chekov
Pavel Andreievich Chekov is a Russian Starfleet officer in the Star Trek fictional universe. Walter Koenig portrayed Chekov in the original Star Trek series and first seven Star Trek films; Anton Yelchin portrayed the character in the 2009 film Star Trek.-Origin:Star Trek creator Gene Roddenberry...
updated the enemy's position and Uhura
Uhura
Nyota Uhura is a character in Star Trek: The Original Series, Star Trek: The Animated Series, the first six Star Trek films, and the 2009 film Star Trek...
asked for the player's orders, and a number (initially from 1 to 10, later from 1 to as high as 19) could be entered to tell the crew of the Enterprise what to do. Options included moving closer or farther away from the enemy vessel, and firing phasers or photon torpedoes. The different weapons each had optimal ranges.
After each player turn the results were announced by Spock, and the enemy then moved, fired, or tried another option. Damage to shields, weapons and engines was reported, as well as the rising count of Enterprise casualties. Badly damaged vessels on either side could try to flee the sector and trigger a pursuit.
If players chose to surrender a crippled ship or the computer enemy did so, either the enemy commander or Kirk would commend the surrendering captain for saving his crew and transmit the directive, "Prepare for our boarding party!"