We've had a Star Trek game for just about every PC game genre under the sun - and this grand strategy game is one more, which, as Spock might say, was the next logical genre for the franchise to tackle.
MicroProse's Birth of the Federation, like the interstellar alliance it chronicles, has ... Read review
Advantages: Intriguing diplomacy features; some nice interaction between the different races Disadvantages: Basic, uninspiring strategy; makes little use of its powerful license; dull combat
We've had a Star Trek game for just about every PC game genre under the sun - and this grand strategy game is one more, which, as Spock might say, was the next logical genre for the franchise to tackle.
MicroProse's Birth of the Federation, like the interstellar alliance it chronicles, has very high ambitions. Set in the "Next Generation" timeline, it tries to be an all-in-one strategic playground for fans of the series. ... ...After all, we're talking about Star Trek, one of the most consistently creative and enthralling fictional universes of all time. Movies, episodes, and games may hit or miss, but rarely are they boring. Nevertheless, Birth of the Federation takes the most straightforward, uninspired route possible through the genre. And while the game is serviceable from a strategy fan's perspective, it seems a great shame that the designers did almost nothing to ... more
We've had a Star Trek game for just about every PC game genre under the sun - and this grand strategy game is one more, which, as Spock might say, was the next logical genre for the franchise to tackle.
MicroProse's Birth of the Federation, like the interstellar alliance it chronicles, has very high ambitions. Set in the "Next Generation" timeline, it tries to be an all-in-one strategic playground for fans of the series. The fact that it treads over all the same ground covered by games as far back as MicroProse's own Master of Orion, adding little new to the genre beyond some official Trek paraphernalia, is a big letdown.
Right out of the gate, you'll know you're looking at something you've pretty much seen before. Most of the gameplay is directed from a boring, static command screen that lays out the galaxy in the most predictable way possible - starfield, homeworld, grid overlay, etc. Play progresses in turns through the colonization of neighboring planets, the micromanagement of production on each world, the research of empire-specific technology trees, the assessment of diplomatic and espionage assets, and the occasional brushfire of combat. It's much the same as you've seen in any game of this genre, but with a discouraging lack of creativity.
After all, we're talking about Star Trek, one of the most consistently creative and enthralling fictional universes of all time. Movies, episodes, and games may hit or miss, but rarely are they boring. Nevertheless, Birth of the Federation takes the most straightforward, uninspired route possible through the genre. And while the game is serviceable from a strategy fan's perspective, it seems a great shame that the designers did almost nothing to capitalize on the singularly rich treasury of Trekdom. You could pretty much delete the race names, change the ship designs, and nix the talking-head videos, and this could be just any old space strategy game.
The basics of empire management will be very familiar to fans of Master of Orion and its ilk (and lets face it: MOO casts a shadow over this genre that is practically impossible to escape, much like a black hole). You can play as any of five empires. The United Federation of Planets is the beacon of light shining in the darkness of the interstellar abyss, and their technology and diplomacy are first-rate. The Klingons just like to stomp the guts out of other races. The Ferengi are financial wizards with no diplomatic tact, the Cardassians are craven intrigue-mongers, and the Romulans continue to demonstrate what happens when Vulcans don't get enough affection. There are also dozens of minor races (the Bajorans, Angosians, Edo, etc.), and the gameplay places great importance on making first contact with them.
Birth of the Federation shines momentarily in these encounters, doing a good job of remaining true to the series' emphasis on these historic meetings between cultures. Depending on your empire and temperament, you can negotiate treaties with new races or just open a can of whup-ass on them. But the subtleties of diplomacy have far-reaching impact. For example, you may be playing as the Klingons and may really hate those obnoxious Ferengi, but you'd be insane to deny them trade routes through your empire because it's just plain silly to try and compete economically with them. Much as in the series and films, cultures are generally forced to find some way to coexist if they want to continue expanding their own influence.
Combat is a real snoozer, though. When starships encounter each other, the game shifts to a tactical screen detailing that sector of space. Your fleets can then be maneuvered in a turn-based engagement, but the dry, limited tactics and unimpressive combat graphics make for a hugely underwhelming experience. Star Trek battle is supposed to be jaw-dropping, but I'd have settled for just plain old interesting. As it stands, the combat screen becomes more of a distraction than anything else, and I eventually began to auto-battle so as not to take more time away from the command screen. The combat offers no room for Kirk-style audacity or Picard's icy determination. You pretty much just charge and fire, and may the toughest fleet win.
Birth of the Federation isn't a bad game, but it's got nothing on its older competition and squanders the romantic appeal of the Trek-based grand strategy concept. Only die-hard fans will get much out of it.
Advantages: Excellent graphics, good gameplay, brilliant dogfights Disadvantages: Unoriginal soundtrack, computer AI gone gaga, needs vast amounts of RAM at times, good processor needed for larger games/fleets
There have been some excellent Star Trek games, and then there have been some that were...well...rather crap. Birth of the Federation is one of the better ones.
Birth of the Federation (BOTF) has been created by the makers of Civilization II, one of my all time favourite strategy games, and is based on the same concept. You are given a map and a population. Your goal is to expand and thrive in the computer generated galaxy set out for you.
Installation ... ...your ships to explore distant star systems. If you find one that think would be benificial to your civilization, send a colony ship to terraform and colonize it.
Look after each of your star systems individually, keeping the people employed, and building new structure to strengthen industrial and economic output. Make sure your citizens are mappy, and that they never go hungry.
Build outposts and starbases to defend your borders. Research new technology ...
Tanthalas 03.06.2001
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Star Trek: Birth of the Federation (PC)
Advantages: Addictive, challenging gameplay, easy to pick up Disadvantages: Very, very hard!
...last saw an episode of Star Trek, of whatever variety, though I do enjoy the show. But in a way, I think I enjoy this game more, frustrating though it is!
The concept of the game is this: space exploration is just taking off, and you are at the helm of one of Star Trek's famous races in order to make it into a galactic power. You control research and development, the military, diplomacy and espionage. Just about everything, in other words, that ... ...by anyone who's not into Star Trek and its many variations, but I think it would probably appeal to anyone who enjoyed such strategy games as Civilsation, which, come to think of it, is surprisingly similar. It's a fun, challenging game and has enough quirks and details to keep you guessing for some time. As long as you keep those stupid 'random events' turned off… ...
DavidBedford 23.07.2001
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Star Trek: Birth of the Federation (PC)
Advantages: Lots of things to do Disadvantages: Coul have some gameplay improvements
...Klingon Empire or the Romulan Star Empire.
Each race has their own unique characteristics, the Federation ships are quite strong and also the Federation citizens like piece and do not like it when you go to war. Klingon ships are strong and the citizens hate it when piece is signed. The Cardassians ships have strong hulls and powerful weapons they also have strong intelligence structures.
The Romulan ships can all cloak which gives them a free ... ...can also construct outposts and star bases to aid your fleet movements as all ships have a range that they can move and the construction of the star bases increase this range to allow more movement into enemy territory This game allows you to conduct research that, when the necessary components are finished, you can build bigger and better ships and buildings. You can also undertake in the art of espionage and sabotage against the other races to ...
robin_best 08.07.2001
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Star Trek: Birth of the Federation (PC)
Advantages: Great gameplay, multiplayer mode Disadvantages: Too many bugs, Borg can be annoying in single player
Star Trek : Birth of the Federation is a great strategy game whether you are a Star Trek fan or not. The main objective to the game is to dominate the galaxy, by taking command of one of the 5 major Next Generation races, such as the Ferengi, Klingons, Romulans, Cardassians and of course the Federation itself, all with their own advantages and disadvantages (for example, all Romulan and some Klingon vessels can cloak, Cardassian vessels have the ... ...it's almost paradise for any Star Trek or strategy fan. But with every good game, there comes it's flaws. BOTF is not without exception. The initial release was nigh on unplayable, with mouse lag and various other things spoiling the gaming experience as time went on. A patch was released which fixed a load of these problems, but now there will be no more patches as Microprose refuse to support this game, which is a shame as if it was bug-free, this ...
Karnage 19.07.2000 (18.03.2002)
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Star Trek: Birth of the Federation (PC)
Advantages: A great strategy game Disadvantages: none
Star Trek Birth Of The Federation was one of the first star trek games. Unlike most games, this game does not have a story to it. Instead you select what you want each empire's level to be at. Then select what kind of match you want. What size and shape the universe will look like and how many alien species there are. You then select your empire out of:
The United Federation Of Planets
The Klingon Empire
The Romulan Star Empire
The Cardassion ... ...was a new concept for star trek.
Also the game is very addictive and enjoyable which is what a game should be.
Overall i recommend this game to all. A definate 5 star game.
OPERATING SYSTEM
Since this is an old game, it will run best on windows 95/98. But this game does work on windows me/2000/xp. Just note that windows xp may have trouble operating this game since it is an old game. I doubt that the new windows viesta will be able to run this ...
seadevil 10.03.2007
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Star Trek: Birth of the Federation (PC)
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