A new DS9 Game - Science Fiction Fantasy Chronicles: forums

stripe · 2nd October 2000, 07:10 AM

Just passing on some interesting info for those who play the great Star Trek games.

Deep Space Nine: The Fallen - interview
A new DS9 game, and it`s gorgeous!

We haven`t had a Deep Space Nine computer game since Harbinger. I loved that game in its day, but time moves on and we`re well in need of a new game! Our wishes have been granted, and there`s two upcoming DS9 titles in the shape of The Fallen and Dominion Wars. The Fallen, produced by The Collective and published by Simon and Schuster, is due for release in September. Ken Gordon (executive producer on The Fallen at Simon & Schuster Interactive) and Tony Barnes (lead designer on The Fallen at The Collective) tell us what it`s all about.
The Fallen

What is the story behind the game? Where does it fit into the established Star Trek history and timeline?

Ken Gordon: For reasons maybe too complicated to explain, THE FALLEN takes place between the penultimate and final episodes of season six. The story revolves around the search for the three lost red orbs of the Pah`wraiths, whose existence up until this point in time had been largely unknown aside from an obscure legend
The Fallen

-- which had long been denied by the mainstream Bajoran religion, anyway. Lo-and-behold, when one of them actually turns up, mayhem ensues. For non-Trekkers, think "Raiders of the Lost Ark" meets "Star Trek." For hard-core Trekkers, see DS9: MILLENNIUM, Books I, II and III by Judith & Garfield Reeves-Stevens, from Pocket Books.

How did the premise for this game come about? Was it a fact of wanting to create a Trek game and deciding the premise, or did you come up with a premise and go from there?

Ken Gordon: A little of both. When we (Simon & Schuster Interactive) first acquired the DS9 gaming license, we thought to do some kind of tie-in with our book-publishing sibling, Pocket Books. Judy & Gar Reeves-Stevens came up with the Big Idea --
The Fallen

namely, the red orbs as backstory to the Pah Wraiths. From there, with Paramount`s blessing, we pretty much went our own ways, with Judy and Gar writing the three books for Pocket, and The Collective developing The Fallen for us. The results are very different -- one is not based on the other; rather, they`re complimentary works deriving from the same source concept.

What`s is the player`s role in the game, and what do they have to do?

Ken Gordon: The player takes one of three different roles. Sisko, Kira or Worf. They have to compete against a variety of foes (familiar and not-so-familiar) to acquire the three lost red orbs of the Pah Wraiths.

What characters or popular Trek things can we expect to see in the game?

Ken Gordon: Aside
The Fallen

from the three player characters, look for most of the rest of the supporting cast of characters. Look for Cardassians and Jem`hadar -- lots of `em. Look for some familiar places as well, from DS9 to the Defiant (yes, all of it), as well as several other places keen-eyed fans might recognize.

What is the Trek following like in the development team? Are you all Trek fans, do you have particular interests in a certain series?

Tony Barnes: Trek is deeply engraved in our development team`s psyche. Everyone on the team has more than a passing knowledge of Trek, we`re all passionate Trekkies. I personally took my monthly allowance and saw Star Trek: The Motion Picture on opening day back in 1978. I was seven at the time, and went
The Fallen

all by myself (much to my mother`s dismay). Ever since then, I`ve made it a point to go to the opening day of each of the movies and to follow each series also.

What steps are made to ensure the game is true to Trek?

Tony Barnes:We are constantly referring to episodes and technical manuals to ensure PRECISE adherence to the Star Trek universe. The science, technology and even behaviors of everything in the game has been scrutinized like no Trek game before.

Is it multiplayer, can fans play against other fans?

Ken Gordon: The decision was made a while back not to do multiplayer. It was never a key focus nor a selling point of the game. Rather, we decided to put all our efforts into making the
The Fallen

greatest single-player experience possible.

Do you have any plans beyond this game? Updates or a sequel?

Ken Gordon: We (S&SI) currently have a second game in development with Gizmo Games: DOMINION WARS, a space combat/tactical strategy game, also due this fall.

There are a variety of Trek games on the market right now. What do you think a player will gain from Hidden Evil in particular?

Ken Gordon: I think Nana Visitor (a.k.a. Kira) summed it up best when she said that if Paramount ever decides to do a DS9 movie, they should base it on this game. Another way to look at this statement would be to ask, "What would make a great DS9 movie?" I think most fans would include a great, epic story, steeped in that gritty, "darker side of Trek" sensibility that was the series` hallmark. Mix in healthy quantities of far-flung, eye-popping set locations, swashbuckling action, and some fancy camera work. Lay in a fantastic score worthy of the best Trek film music. Add a big dollop of fear and suspense (for flavor) -- and blow stuff up real good. THE FALLEN has all of these things, and more.

Thank you to Ken Gordon and Tony Barnes for taking the time to do the interview. With thanks to Doug Hare.

padders · 2nd October 2000, 08:29 AM

Another one, wow! I have only played "birth of the federation" so far and really liked that. Considering getting the voayger one (elite force it it).

2nd October 2000, 07:10 AM	#1 (permalink)
stripe Sovs Favorite Moderator Join Date: Sep 2000 Location: Australia, New South Wales Posts: 1,533	Just passing on some interesting info for those who play the great Star Trek games. Deep Space Nine: The Fallen - interview A new DS9 game, and it`s gorgeous! We haven`t had a Deep Space Nine computer game since Harbinger. I loved that game in its day, but time moves on and we`re well in need of a new game! Our wishes have been granted, and there`s two upcoming DS9 titles in the shape of The Fallen and Dominion Wars. The Fallen, produced by The Collective and published by Simon and Schuster, is due for release in September. Ken Gordon (executive producer on The Fallen at Simon & Schuster Interactive) and Tony Barnes (lead designer on The Fallen at The Collective) tell us what it`s all about. The Fallen What is the story behind the game? Where does it fit into the established Star Trek history and timeline? Ken Gordon: For reasons maybe too complicated to explain, THE FALLEN takes place between the penultimate and final episodes of season six. The story revolves around the search for the three lost red orbs of the Pah`wraiths, whose existence up until this point in time had been largely unknown aside from an obscure legend The Fallen -- which had long been denied by the mainstream Bajoran religion, anyway. Lo-and-behold, when one of them actually turns up, mayhem ensues. For non-Trekkers, think "Raiders of the Lost Ark" meets "Star Trek." For hard-core Trekkers, see DS9: MILLENNIUM, Books I, II and III by Judith & Garfield Reeves-Stevens, from Pocket Books. How did the premise for this game come about? Was it a fact of wanting to create a Trek game and deciding the premise, or did you come up with a premise and go from there? Ken Gordon: A little of both. When we (Simon & Schuster Interactive) first acquired the DS9 gaming license, we thought to do some kind of tie-in with our book-publishing sibling, Pocket Books. Judy & Gar Reeves-Stevens came up with the Big Idea -- The Fallen namely, the red orbs as backstory to the Pah Wraiths. From there, with Paramount`s blessing, we pretty much went our own ways, with Judy and Gar writing the three books for Pocket, and The Collective developing The Fallen for us. The results are very different -- one is not based on the other; rather, they`re complimentary works deriving from the same source concept. What`s is the player`s role in the game, and what do they have to do? Ken Gordon: The player takes one of three different roles. Sisko, Kira or Worf. They have to compete against a variety of foes (familiar and not-so-familiar) to acquire the three lost red orbs of the Pah Wraiths. What characters or popular Trek things can we expect to see in the game? Ken Gordon: Aside The Fallen from the three player characters, look for most of the rest of the supporting cast of characters. Look for Cardassians and Jem`hadar -- lots of `em. Look for some familiar places as well, from DS9 to the Defiant (yes, all of it), as well as several other places keen-eyed fans might recognize. What is the Trek following like in the development team? Are you all Trek fans, do you have particular interests in a certain series? Tony Barnes: Trek is deeply engraved in our development team`s psyche. Everyone on the team has more than a passing knowledge of Trek, we`re all passionate Trekkies. I personally took my monthly allowance and saw Star Trek: The Motion Picture on opening day back in 1978. I was seven at the time, and went The Fallen all by myself (much to my mother`s dismay). Ever since then, I`ve made it a point to go to the opening day of each of the movies and to follow each series also. What steps are made to ensure the game is true to Trek? Tony Barnes:We are constantly referring to episodes and technical manuals to ensure PRECISE adherence to the Star Trek universe. The science, technology and even behaviors of everything in the game has been scrutinized like no Trek game before. Is it multiplayer, can fans play against other fans? Ken Gordon: The decision was made a while back not to do multiplayer. It was never a key focus nor a selling point of the game. Rather, we decided to put all our efforts into making the The Fallen greatest single-player experience possible. Do you have any plans beyond this game? Updates or a sequel? Ken Gordon: We (S&SI) currently have a second game in development with Gizmo Games: DOMINION WARS, a space combat/tactical strategy game, also due this fall. There are a variety of Trek games on the market right now. What do you think a player will gain from Hidden Evil in particular? Ken Gordon: I think Nana Visitor (a.k.a. Kira) summed it up best when she said that if Paramount ever decides to do a DS9 movie, they should base it on this game. Another way to look at this statement would be to ask, "What would make a great DS9 movie?" I think most fans would include a great, epic story, steeped in that gritty, "darker side of Trek" sensibility that was the series` hallmark. Mix in healthy quantities of far-flung, eye-popping set locations, swashbuckling action, and some fancy camera work. Lay in a fantastic score worthy of the best Trek film music. Add a big dollop of fear and suspense (for flavor) -- and blow stuff up real good. THE FALLEN has all of these things, and more. Thank you to Ken Gordon and Tony Barnes for taking the time to do the interview. With thanks to Doug Hare.

2nd October 2000, 08:29 AM	#2 (permalink)
padders System Lord of ASciFi.com Join Date: Jul 2000 Posts: 2,810	Another one, wow! I have only played "birth of the federation" so far and really liked that. Considering getting the voayger one (elite force it it).