Star Trek: The Game Show

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Star Trek: The Game Show
Star Trek The Game Show cover.jpg
Developer(s) Sound Source Interactive [1]
Publisher(s) Sound Source Interactive [1]
Series Star Trek
Platform(s) Windows, Classic Mac OS [2]
ReleaseFebruary 9, 1998 [3]
Genre(s) Quiz
Mode(s) Single-player, multiplayer

Star Trek: The Game Show is a quiz video game set in the Star Trek universe released in 1998 for the Windows and Macintosh by Sound Source Interactive.

Contents

Another similar game, Star Trek Trivia Challenge, was released by Sound Source Interactive in 1999. [4] [5]

Gameplay

The game is presented as a game show hosted by Q (John de Lancie), an all-powerful extra-dimensional being, and a female assistant (a Q in training) (Karen Cornwell). The game comprises four distinct rounds ("quadrants"), covering four television series and seven films from the franchise. [6] Each round features a unique gameplay style and theme. If the player answers incorrectly or runs out of time, a character known as Mr. Knowitall (T. Buffalo Wagnon) frequently pops up to give the correct answer. Some questions require the player to type in the specific answer without any spelling mistakes. With multiple choice questions, each player (up to 3) has a buzzer key assigned on the keyboard. The questions are not randomized, they are in the same order every playthrough.

Reception

Computer Gaming World noted that the game lacks the humor found in the You Don't Know Jack series and criticized its interface design. However, the sound design and De Lancie's performance were praised as strengths. PC Player remarked that the questions cater more to dedicated Star Trek fans rather than a casual audience. The magazine also compared the game unfavorably to You Don't Know Jack. Q was highlighted as a positive feature. Ultimate PC wrote: "Get ten pints of lager down your neck and The Game Show's a riot - really." [9] In the book Star Trek Video Games, Mat Bradley-Tschirgi wrote that Q was "a perfect fit" for the game. Mr. Knowitall's constant appearances were described as "frustrating instead of entertaining". The game's interface was noted as "too rigid". [1] PC Gamer described the game as a "cash-grab" and "a truly soulless trivia contest". [10] The music was noted as "painful". [11]

References

  1. 1 2 3 Mat Bradley-Tschirgi (August 10, 2024). "Star Trek: The Game Show". Star Trek Video Games: An Unofficial Guide to the Final Frontier. White Owl. ISBN   9781399050746.
  2. ↑ "Back cover". Star Trek: The Game Show Game Box. Sound Source Interactive. 1998. SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS - PC REQUIREMENTS: Win 3.1x or Win 95 - MAC REQUIREMENTS: System 7.1 or higher
  3. ↑ "PRESS RELEASES". Sound Source Interactive . 9 February 1998. Archived from the original on 23 August 2000. Retrieved 24 April 2025.
  4. ↑ Guinness World Records Gamer's Edition 2009. Guinness World Records. February 3, 2009. p. 93. ISBN   9781904994459. Star Trek Trivia Challenge [...] Released in 1999, [...]
  5. ↑ Austinat, Roland (September 2000). "Spiele-Test - Star Trek Trivia Challenge". PC Player (in German). No. 9/2000. p. 135. HERSTELLER: Sound Source Interactive/Paramount
  6. ↑ "Advertisement". Sci-Fi Universe. Sovereign Media Co., Inc. April 1998. p. 2. 30 YEARS, 7 MOVIES, 4 SHOWS AND ONLY 1 ANSWER
  7. ↑ Ardai, Charles (May 1998). "Review - Star Trek: Game Show". Computer Gaming World . No. 166. Ziff Davis. p. 198.
  8. ↑ Austinat, Roland (May 1998). "Spiele-Test - Star Trek: The Game Show". PC Player (in German). No. 5/98. p. 109.
  9. ↑ Pullin, Keith (March 1999). "Feature - Star Trekkin'". Ultimate PC. No. 20. Rapide Publishing. p. 24.
  10. ↑ Cobbett, Richard (25 September 2017). "The best Star Trek games". PC Gamer . Future plc. Archived from the original on 28 September 2017. Retrieved 23 April 2025.
  11. ↑ Cobbett, Richard (12 May 2012). "Crapshoot: The games of variable quality based on Star Trek: The Next Generation". PC Gamer . Future plc. Archived from the original on 10 October 2014. Retrieved 23 April 2025.
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