''Trek-80'' is a

computer game Video games, also known as computer games, are electronic games that involves interaction with a user interface or input device such as a joystick, game controller, controller, computer keyboard, keyboard, or motion sensing device to gener ...

developed by

Judges Guild Judges Guild is a game publisher that has been active since 1976. The company created and sold many role-playing game supplements, periodicals and related materials, but became best known during the late 1970s and early 1980s as one of the leadin ...

in 1979 for the

TRS-80 The TRS-80 Micro Computer System (TRS-80, later renamed the Model I to distinguish it from successors) is a desktop microcomputer launched in 1977 and sold by Tandy Corporation through their Radio Shack stores. The name is an abbreviation of '' ...

Plot

The object of ''Trek-80'' is to destroy all the Klingon vessels while losing no more than five supply tugs in a specified period of time. The player moves the ship using warp drive for galactic travel, and impulse drive for inner quadrant movement. The Enterprise and Klingon vessels are armed with phasers and photon torpedoes, while the supply tugs only have phasers. The Enterprise also has the ability to use the ram as a weapon.

Gameplay

The graphic layout is the usual galactic grid overlaid by an 8 × 8 quadrant grid found in Trek games. The Enterprise is depicted by an "E", and Klingons by a "K", and the tugs by the up arrow. Additional information displayed on-screen includes: stardate, ship's condition, quadrant, ship's energy, bases, torpedoes, and number of tugs lost.

Development

As part of their plan to compete with TSR, Judges Guild increased production on their print products, and they also started to diversify by moving into computer game production, although ''Trek-80'' (1979) was their only computer game. ''Trek-80'' was a basic language, 16K program written by Bruce Berry, and was the first computer game produced by a science-fiction/fantasy wargaming company. Barry took many ideas from the numerous Trek programs already on the market, and added a few new and different twists.

Reception

The game was reviewed in 1980 in '' The Dragon'' #36 by Michael Dodge. Dodge concluded the review with, "''Trek-80'' is a well written program and a good ''Star Trek'' game. The program's graphics are well laid out and easy to read, the mechanics are adequate, and the introductions of ramming and tugs are excellent features".

References

{{reflist 1979 video games Judges Guild publications TRS-80 games TRS-80-only games Video games based on Star Trek Video games developed in the United States