Star Trek Starship Creator

Copyright: KBkids.com 1998

Folks who are intrigued with building Starships, and learning Star Trek trivia will enjoy this program. Those who want hands-on flight and battle should stick with Starfleet Academy.

Build one of seven vessel classes, including Constitution Class, Defiant Class and more. You must select the individual components for your ship. You are given full control of designing:

• navigational systems
• living arrangements
• tactical controls
• propulsion systems
• crew selection
• hull, nacelle, and saucer design

It is possible to take a normal Starship and turn it into something of your own creation. Name your ship and the name is even printed on the hull. As each item is selected you can access detailed information regarding each part. Every part is based on actual Star Trek protocol and technology.

The crew includes characters from Deep Space Nine, Next Generation, and Voyager. You can mix and match the crew anyway you like. A brief history is given regarding each character as well.

From this point on, unfortunately, the program looses some of its appeal. The missions you send your ship on are more or less out of your control. Three 'skill levels', and many mission possibilities are available. You simply watch these missions unfold, and hope you have build an adequate ship. A ship moves across the screen, and you watch events unfold by reading the crews text messages which are generated at the bottom of the screen. Accelerated, real-time (five minutes or so) or stealth mode (do other computer work) are available. Testers wanted more hands-on involvement here.

The information regarding the ships, the ability to create your own ship, write your own mission, and import missions and ships from friends are great features. The program would have been top notch had there been more ability to be intimately involved in the mission itself.

Bottom Line: Good program for those who like to build and learn about Starships. Dull for those who want hands-on involvement in the flight and battle.

Ratings: (based on KBkids.com's 4 star rating system)

Overall: 2 1/2

BrainGain: 3

FunFactor: 2 1/2

EasePlease: 3

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