Star Trek: The Next Generation: Birth of the Federation

Star Trek: The Next Generation: Birth of the Federation
Developer(s)	MicroProse
Publisher(s)	Hasbro Interactive
Version	1.0.2
Platform(s)	Microsoft Windows
Release date(s)	June, 1999
Genre(s)	Turn-based strategy
Mode(s)	Single player, Multiplayer
Rating(s)	ELSPA: 11+ ESRB: E
Media/distribution	CD-ROM
System requirements Pentium 133 or equivalent, 16 MB of memory, 2 MB PCI graphics card, 4X CD-ROM drive, DirectX version 6.0

Star Trek: The Next Generation: Birth of the Federation is a 4X turn-based computer strategy game, based in the Star Trek fictional universe, that was released in 1999. It was published by Microprose, makers of Master of Orion and Civilization.

Gameplay

The similarities to Microprose's earlier title Master of Orion become easily noticeable when playing the game for the first time: "Anyone who has played Master of Orion will find Birth of the Federation very familiar".

The entire game is set in The Next Generation era, with only starships and races from that series and movies. There are no ships or races from The Original Series or Star Trek: Voyager unless they appeared on The Next Generation. There are two designs from Deep Space Nine that are in the game: the Heavy Escort Defiant Class and the Cardassian Starbase design used for Deep Space Nine.

Although the title of the game is Birth of the Federation, the player can choose from five political entities:

In addition, many minor races can be befriended by the player and can eventually become part of their empire (either by joining peacefully or by Conquest). There are 30 minor races in the game.

The purpose of the game is to create the most powerful Empire in the galaxy. This is achieved through diplomacy, colonization of new worlds and defeating rivals. Winning the game in an alliance with a rival Empire is also possible. Multiplayer is available over a LAN, or the Internet.

The game is played on a 2d Galaxy Map which represents star systems, task forces, empire borders and other space phenomena via the use of icons. Map size vary from small (10x13), medium (12x16), and huge (18x26). There are also separate screens for empire research, colony management, intelligence and diplomacy which are all accessed from a right-click main menu.

Space Battles are also turn-based, but are in 3D using software rendering. Tactics, such as ram and evade, are given to ships before the turn button is pressed.

The player can build a variety of starships for this task ranging from Oberth class starship scouts to colony ships, and Romulan Warbirds.

Reviews

GameSpot said in 1999: "Birth of the Federation is a good game, if you are willing to forgive the interface and the amount of micromanagement required. It definitely has a Star Trek feel to it, right down to the humanoid aliens and confusing technobabble."

Modifications continue to be made for this game, with Codeweavers saying "There is a fairly active modding community for Star Trek: Birth of the Federation".

External links

• Star Trek: The Next Generation: Birth of the Federation at Memory Alpha (a Star Trek wiki)
• GameSpot Review