Trek Sims Look Fun By Thomas Williams

Ever wanted to be in Star Fleet? I mean, do you look up at the stars, and secretly say to yourself, "I wish I could join!"? There might be a way for you to come close...at least without joining the cast of the latest Trek series that is.

I exchanged some emails with Wendy, AKA Commander Daniella Jackson, of the U.S.S. Cougar. The Cougar is a sim that carries a real crew, courtesy of the internet. (We've left off Wendy's last name for privacy purposes).

"A sim is sort of like telling a story around a campfire where one person starts it off and then the next person continues the story," Wendy says. "except with a sim you don't have to wait until the story has gone around in a circle until its your turn again."

She describes it as an all-involving role playing game, made up of each character's personal or duty log entries. You know the ones...we hear them all the time on our favorite shows.

"Captain's Log, Stardate 123456, the Tholian ambassador....," you get the idea.

The captain of the ship creates the mission premise and Wendy explains that they "will start and finish the mission and guide it in the direction that they want it to go."

The players get to play along, fulfilling their duties, and all the details! Each character has a background they have created, and a rank based on sim experience and position.

Don't expect any outlandish Star Trek vs. Star Wars experiences though. Wendy tells prospective crewmembers, "if it is not said or done in Star Trek," it just doesn't happen. (That's part of the fun, this is supposed to be a sim of really being in Starfleet!) Wendy spoke highly of her "XO" and others in the sim world, so it is obvious that you can really get into things, and enjoy it.

"Sims are a place where our dreams can become realities. Most of us would love to be involved in Star Trek and being in a sim gives you an opportunity...all be it a small one to pretend that you are. Its like living another life. There are endless possibilities in what you can be and do. It allows creativeness to flow and frustrated writers to write."

Sounds good to me, most Trek games don't live up to this! Where do I sign up?

Thomas Williams is host of Trekline, the Star Trek Radio Show. Click here to listen to the show.

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Check out the U.S.S. Cougar. Wendy also recommends Bravofleet to get more sim information.