New this issue:
Module Editor Alpha development.
Sections:
SoloTrek
SoloTrek II
SoloTrek III
SoloTrek III Specifications
Modules
SoloTrek
SoloTrek featured an 8X8 galaxy with six levels of play. You had no options
of alliance, you were the Federation. The graphics were minimal, but it was
still difficult to beat level six.
SoloTrek II
SoloTrek II featured a 16X16 galaxy. You could choose one of five alliances
and six difficulty levels. There were good graphics and sounds. Level six was
still almost impossible to beat, especially without a save option.
SoloTrek III
SoloTrek III features a 20X20 main galaxy, with a 20X20 secondary galaxy. The
graphic interface has been improved and graphic display has been enhanced.
You're back to being the Federation (The Dominion War), but there's more than
enough to keep you busy as it is.
The biggest addition to the game is the module approach. The galaxy, hailing messages, events, planets and missions are all based on external script files. This means that new games can be developed to run on the SoloTrek III engine.
It is now possible to create modules from other SF universes and integrate them into the SoloTrek game engine. With any luck, SoloTrek III will have at least three modules included with the main archive.
SoloTrek III Specifications
The Galaxy
20X20 with a 20X20 linked section
The Hailing Messages No more yes or no messages. Each hailing message appears only once in a game session and each message can have up to four different responses. Each response means different results.
Events Events can now have much more dire results for your ship. As with Hailing Messages, Events only happen once per game session.
Planets Along with the standard random Class M planets, specific planets dot the galaxies. They can be either fixed, like Earth at sector 001, or randomly placed.
Missions No longer simple exploration and combat for you, Captain. There are several missions to be completed as well. Some are as simple as finding a Dominion Outpost and destroying it (The Dominion War). Some are more complex, asking you to find items and take them to specific locations.
Starbases Like the planets, Starbases can be randomly placed, or fixed. Just like SoloTrek II, not all Starbases will be friendly to you.
Save Game Praise Emperor Kayless! Finally, you don't have to take on the whole galaxy in one sitting.
Hidden Items Q, lovable Q, still shows up to pester you. The Borg are not going to give up any time soon either. Three new `arcade games' have been added to show up from time to time and annoy you.
Game Action You start out with a Runabout (The Dominion War - Level 6) and must work your way up to bigger and better ships. Get your `Federation Factor' high enough and you'll be promoted and given a new command. Or, you bloodthirsty types can take on enemy ships to plunder them for latinum to buy new ships.
Timeline Used to taking your time? Not any more, Space Jockey! There's a timeline running; if you don't get the situation under control, it will get you under its control.
The Dominion War by R. M. Gibb
The timeline is running and the Dominion is playing for keeps. Grab your mouse
and get the galaxy back under control. You can even make it to the Gamma
Quadrant.
Classic Trek by Chris Korhonen
Its the 23rd Century, an age where the future was forged! You can explore
where it all began, meet the Klingons, outwit the Romulans and get tangled
up in the Tholian Web. You can also come face to face with your counterpart
in the Mirror Universe.
Borg by Chris Korhonen
The Borg have launched a third invasion of the Federation and, this time,
they're serious. They came in hordes, descending on the Cardassians and the
Ferengi, leaving only a trail of destruction. Starfleet is desperate. Your
orders are simple:
Take care of the Borg threat, by any means neccesary.
Voyager by Chris Korhonen
Voyager is lost in space. It's your job to guide her home in one piece. You
are faced with new races, new allies and new enemies. Your supreme goal -
Earth. But can you find a way home before it is descended upon by your new
enemies?
Babylon 5 by Chris Korhonen
The Year is 2259! The place Babylon 5! Relive the action of the TV Series
by defending the galaxy from the Shadows.
Nuked! by C. Edward Stewart
Lost on the far side of the Barrier, your only hope for survival is your wits.
Couple that with post nuclear holocaust technology, roving gangs of thugs,
mutants and other assorted plug-uglies, and you've got a fantastic adventure.
The odds are against you. Make it and you'll be a hero. Fail and you'll be
Nuked!
The Module Editor is in alpha stages. It makes designing your own module a question of creativity, not computing brains. You can define almost every aspect of ST3. The Module Editor also compiles your data for use with ST3 (registered version of ModEd only).
You can define:
And that's just the beginning.
Developers/Beta Testers offer
Think you've got what it takes to make a module? Get on the mailing list now
and receive beta versions of the Module Editor. If you submit a module that
ends up in the final release, you'll be offered a half price registration fee
if you want the Module Editor.
The beta versions will not be able to compile modules for play; you'll have to submit your data for review.
Don't submit data until you've received the final version of ModEd.
Release Dates
Module Editor Alpha: shipping now!
Module Editor Beta (full) : Late October
Module Editor Final: Early November
SoloTrek III: Early December