I think it is safe to say, that every last one of us out there; love to get something for free. It doesn’t matter if it’s a sandwich or a coffee, it’s just nice to get a little break now and again and enjoy a little reward instead of handing over your hard-earned dollars. But sometimes, you do have to put in a little work to get that freebie and while sometimes the quest for free stuff is irritating, other times it is supremely worth your while and a lot of fun for certain, as is the case with this year’s big reward for the Star Trek Online anniversary event. Because the folks at Cryptic are offering up a free T6 Alliance Battlecruiser, provided of course you complete the tasks ahead of you and well, I have to admit, that sounded like a fair trade.
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Because this ship is cool, and armed to the teeth with fun weapons, so why not go after it? And well, that’s what today edition of the Admiral’s Log is going to be about, the grind to get that bad boy. Because not only will recounting this quest spotlight more of the fun present in the Tenth Anniversary celebration, it will also be worth documenting, simply because I’ve actually never done anything like this before in game. For I tend to stick to the storylines and my own carefully crafted agenda and the Endeavor missions as well. Which means I usually gloss over the big events and partake in a little portion of them, so I didn’t know what to expect. And it turns out, that diving into this event to get that monster of a ship, ended up being a far greater undertaking than I expected it to be.

Not because the tasks were hard. Because they certainly weren’t horribly taxing. I mean sure, I got my butt kicked in ‘The Measure of Morality Part 1 and 2’ but the other options available to complete my daily progress goal were to either take part in The Battle of the Binary Stars TFO or to fly about the galaxy and stabilize some Omega molecules per Q’s liking. Which aren’t tough by any means. So, what really what made this quite the quest, was carving out time in my day to do the work. Because I won’t lie, while I do visit STO often, there are some days where I just don’t have the energy to game. You know how it goes, where the day was long, or the laundry needs to get done, or you’re just stone cold tired and in need of a nap. So, those are the days where I don’t do much outside of watch my usual shows and go to bed at a decent hour. Or try to.

But this time around, I really wanted to push myself and earn this ship. So, on the days that I was tired or had too much to do, I figured out how to juggle everything so I could carve out a little time to log on. Because this was one of those situations where if I didn’t stay on top of it, I would have forgotten and let this ship slip through my fingertips. But a little bit of vigilance and a heavy use of the Omega hunt allowed for me to dive in like never before and it was quite a joy to see the daily meter continue to climb as I inched toward my goal and well, it didn’t take long for this to become habit and those days that I didn’t quite feel like logging on disappeared. Because now, I was on my way and I wanted this sucker and wouldn’t you know it, twenty days later… I had myself a brand-new ship.

She will be named the A.F.S. Pegasus (CSN-17) and I am so looking forward to taking her out for a spin. Because she is armed to the teeth with Anti-Proton beams, which are my favorite. And it would seem her shield system is impressive as well and really, what has me excited about taking this monster out in the galaxy, is the sheer fact that a little nerdy hard work brought her into my personal fleet. Because it’s always nice when you straight up earn something, and it is even better when that hard work lets you have it for free. And truly, this is the first time that I actually didn’t mind the grind and there’s a fair chance now that I’ll probably start diving into other events down the line as well since the grind wasn’t so bad once you get over the hump. But in the here and the now, I have a new toy to play with and how she performs on her shakedown cruise is where we will pick up, next time. Until then, Pegasus out.  

Hello again my fellow captains and admirals. It’s hailing frequencies open for another edition of The Admiral’s Log, and I do hope you’re all still having a wonderful time with the Anniversary Event right now on Star Trek Online and that everyone is close to earning their T6 Alliance Battlecruiser. In fact, I know I’m close to finally getting my hands on that bad boy, but the quest to obtain that behemoth is going to be another log topic for another time. Because today, it’s all about recapping the finale of the ‘Legacy’ missions and well, I have to admit, that early on ‘The Measure of Morality (Part 2)’ kind of made me nervous with its storytelling.
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Because at first glance, this second chapter seemed like more of what ‘Part 1’ had to offer. Because once again you’re tasked with teaching the Excalibians about good versus evil and diving back into the end of the Iconian War to provide them with more data was a little disappointing at first. I mean come on, they already have three scenarios that give them the information they seek, what good will four do? But thankfully, this was apparently all part of the plan, one designed to bore and frustrate the player so that a surprise can come into play, and what a surprise it turned out to be. Because the end of this first sub-mission, brought about the return of the Excalbians version of the Borg, who were quick to take over the trials in the hopes of gaining freedom from their masters and that led to quite the follow up sub-mission.

One that takes you aboard a Borg cube to fight back this terrifying new iteration of Starfleet’s greatest enemy and well, this was quite the difficult segment for certain. Because there is a seemingly endless supply of drones aboard this cube, and they are relentless in their attacks, and the boss battles are equally as intense and truly, this is a humbling fight. One where I found myself on my digital butt on a regular basis. In fact, I made a point to beef up my first officer’s stats to Mark XV (I may have forgotten to do so before this) just to have a little help during this rough leg of the journey since Commander Flores took her lumps too. But the ending is worth it since it is a battle for the ages with a fascinating new version of the Borg Queen and that battle leads to the centerpiece of the episode.

Because what would a grandiose two-part mission be, without an epic finale? And this episode delivers on that, since you’re forced to fight the Queen and her seemingly endless resources in space and the only way to defeat a monster of her caliber is to bring in Starfleet’s finest, and the Excalbians deliver there. For they temporarily recreate some of the greatest captains in history to help with this battle. Which means you get to fight alongside: Captain Christopher Pike and his Enterprise from Discovery, along with Captain James T. Kirk’s NCC-1701 from both the Prime and Kelvin timelines. Plus, Captain Benjamin Sisko and the Defiant and Captain Kathryn Janeway and the Voyager join the fray and it doesn’t end there. Captain Jonathan Archer and the NX-01 are here to help, and so is Captain Gabriel Lorca and the Discovery, ​and you are also joined by a pair of Captain Jean-Luc Picards since the 1701-D and E are part of this fight and as icing on the cake, Captain Va’Kel Shon and the Enterprise-F are there to support you as well.

Which makes this grand finale is about as epic as they come, and fighting alongside some genuine Starfleet legends is pretty incredible in its own right, and there are plenty of geeky moments to be found as you hear these legendary captains bark orders to their crews and well, I have to tip my cap to the folks at Cryptic when all is said and done. Because this really was quite the incredible way to wrap up this particular tale, and they definitely had me fooled. But in the end, good writing prevails once again and the cinematics here are top notch and this really does celebrate every corner of the franchise in classy and fun fashion and well, now that these missions are all done, it’s back to the daily grind and earning that new ship and that particular journey is where we will pick up next time. Until then, Galactica out.

There are, a great many reasons to celebrate the wonder of Star Trek Online. After all, it is a truly immersive experience set in the universe of one of science fiction’s greatest franchises. Plus, you get to captain a starship and sail through the stars. But of the many reasons to love this game, personally I’m a huge fan of the fact that it seemingly never runs out of stories for the players to participate in. Between the Endeavor Missions, and new content, there’s always something to satisfy and really it is the new stuff that is on my mind today, simply because the Tenth Anniversary Celebration has offered up a pair of delightful new missions that celebrate the franchise as a whole. 

Because ‘The Measure of Morality (Part 1)’ finds a way to tie together four various iterations of Trek in fascinating fashion. But it sure doesn’t seem like you’re in for anything all that epic at first. Because this episode opens up with you on a simple mission, one where you swing by to help Seven of Nine do some technical work on satellites only to find yourself whisked away to a world that hasn’t been seen since The Original Series. But a return to Excalbia reunites fans with the Abraham Lincoln that once interacted with Captain James T. Kirk and well, it turns out that the Excalbians still don’t understand the lessons that were taught to them in ‘The Savage Curtain’ and they need your help in figuring out which is better; a society grounded in good, or one grounded in evil.

Which means that once again, a Starfleet captain and their intrepid crew will have to go through unique trials to help these beings understand the difference between right and wrong. But this time around, said captain gets an assist from Seven, and Commander Michael Burnham. And both of these characters are voiced by their respective actors; Jeri Ryan and Sonequa Martin-Green and getting to fight alongside these characters and solve mysteries with them is just a true delight and the performances from these two fine actors are simply top notch. But what is truly cool about the first half of this particular mission, is how it truly pulls together your personal experience in the game, while paying tribute to Star Trek history.

That particular feat is accomplished by way of the trials that the Excalibians put you and your new friends through. Because you are able to revisit big moments from your own Starfleet career, only this time around, there are twists and turns present so that you don’t make the same choice twice and every single decision you make is challenged by Yarnek and honestly, I love that the game makes you reflect upon whether or not you did the right thing. But truly, the wonder of this tale is its final act, since you’re able to experience a wildly different ending to the Star Trek: Discovery episode ‘The Red Angel’, one that I won’t spoil here since you need to experience it, but I will say that it is epic in nature and does a fine job of setting up ‘Part 2’.

In the end however, I have to admit that I was truly impressed with this particular episode. Because the writing really is strong from start to finish and the game deserves some serious credit for assembling visuals that are supremely cinematic in nature. Because this really does look like a television episode from time to time, and it really is a wonderful way to tie together the game and the franchise and truly, I’m eager for more. Because if the second half of this tale is anything like the first, then I am in for quite the treat and on that note, I think it is best that I head back down to the surface, to see what other trials await myself and my away team. Until next time.  

​Well hello again my fellow Fleet members out there. It’s been a long time since we settled in to discuss the wonder of Star Trek Online because truthfully speaking, I’ve had little to blog about. I mean, don’t get me wrong, I’ve been playing this game with vigor since my last entry. But telling you how I finished or didn’t finish my daily and weekly endeavor missions really doesn’t make for a juicy blog. But thanks to the fact that the game has reached a special milestone, the time has come to knock the dust off of my PADD and discuss how incredible it is, that we are now celebrating ten years of Star Trek Online.
 
Which is quite the milestone when you think about it, because that means for a decade now, fans of this game and of the franchise have been indulging in rich adventures through the stars and well, it only seemed right to take a moment today to celebrate the wonder of this game and what it means to me. Because STO really is a dream come true for this giant nerd. For as long as I can remember, I wanted nothing more than to sit in the captain’s chair and lead a crew into the great unknown and make incredible discoveries and explore strange new worlds and at long last… that’s what I get to do here. And that makes every single time I log on a true delight, and I still find myself staring into the void of space with a sense of awe.
 
But while I could go on and on for pages on end about how much joy this game brings me in every possible way, it’s best I scale it back. Because we have more to discuss in regard to the celebration. Because the game is also offering up all kinds of fun events and giveaways to accompany this amazing anniversary. For starters, I do know that you can get your hands on the new uniforms featured in Star Trek: Picard and I was quick to hop on that because they’re slick as hell and you too can claim yours by swinging by the Zen Store promotional tab and well, sporting that bad boy while soaring through the galaxy just adds to the fun. And the addition of that uniform is a fine example of how the game is celebrating every facet of the franchise right now and that brings me to the first thing I’m truly excited about for the anniversary; the new missions.
 
Because Jeri Ryan and Sonequa Martin-Green are starring in two brand new missions that are designed to pay homage to the past in rich fashion and truthfully speaking, I’m so excited for these that I put off playing them until the weekend so I can properly appreciate everything they have to offer. Plus, there’s some new TFOs to take part in and really, what I’m excited about the most in regard to this celebration is what it is offering players in regard to the future. For the Alliance is a big deal in years to come for this saga and our first real taste of what tomorrow is going to look like is available for players who are willing to put in the twenty-day grind. For at the end of that respective quest, a powerful ship awaits them as a reward; the T6 Khitomer Alliance Battlecruiser!
 
Which is a vessel that celebrates the finest that Klingon and Federation engineering has to offer and this beastly ship (pictured below) looks like it can handle anything that the universe can throw its way and damnit, I want this thing. I honestly don’t know why, because the Galactica is my home and I know her well. But hey, if it is free and it can offer up a little fun… why not have it? So, with that in mind, over the next few weeks, I’ll be sure to chronicle how my hunt for this ship goes since uh, the grind can be a bear and it may test exactly how bad I want this on days when I don’t have the desire to game within me. Plus, we’ll be discussing those new missions and everything else this celebration has to offer, and on that note, if you’ll excuse me, I do believe Q needs my help in stabilizing some Omega Particles so I can be one step closer to getting that glorious new vessel. Until next time, Galactica out. 

​Over the course of its illustrious, fifty-plus year run, Star Trek has accomplished a great many things. For this franchise has provided fans everywhere with some powerful and inspirational stories that are timeless in their own right. Plus, this saga inspired much of the modern technology we use today, including the phone that you may or may not be reading this blog upon as we speak. Whoa. That got real meta. But I digress. Because while this storied franchise has blown us away with incredible storytelling and ideas that ignite our imaginations, not everything that has been tied to this saga has been successful.
 
Take for example, the video game side of Star Trek. Because for many years computer game and console releases involving the five-year mission or The Next Generation and beyond, were fairly sub-par, and they were derided often by critics and ignored by gamers simply because they never once captured the spirit of the saga and the game in question, was outright terrible. But as the years rolled on, more effort was put into trying to make better video games from this rich franchise, and for a time some solid ones came about from Interplay and Spectrum Holobyte. But back in the late 90s, Viacom and Activision decided to try something new for the gaming side of the franchise and worked side by side to try and create a series of Trek related games that would stand out from the rest… with mixed results of course.
 
Take for example, the flagship game from this partnership, Star Trek: Hidden Evil. Which offered up quite the unique storyline. For this particular story took place shortly after the events of Star Trek: Insurrection and that’s a good thing. Because there was so much more to learn about the Son’a and the Ba’ku’s strange ‘home world’ that was introduced in that film and this game takes the time to allow for the player to explore it, and the strange mystery that lurks beneath its surface. Which means the player was able to dive into a grand mystery involving a mysterious genetic seed and well the true highlight of this game is the sheer fact that Patrick Stewart and Brent Spiner reprise their roles from TNG and it is a delight to fight alongside them and enjoy a fascinating story that allows for you to see rich and beautiful places, and to a lesser extent, explore the U.S.S. Enterprise NCC-1701-E.
 
Yet while the game does offer an interesting story and some unique and beautiful locations to explore, I made mention of the fact that this game is a bit of a mixed bag when all is said and done and sadly, that relates to some of the graphics and the gameplay. For while great detail went into the backgrounds of the Ba’ku planet and the ships that you board, not as much detail was dedicated to the characters themselves, which does make the game look a little goofy at times. Plus, the gameplay also left a lot to be desired, for I distinctly recall huffing with frustration on multiple occasions while playing, because of the clunky targeting system for the weapons, and the controls in general often struggled to properly function and that is a shame when all said is and done. Simply because had the controls been smooth and the characters received a little more care, we’d be celebrating the wonder of this game.
 
For those elements would have provided fans with a beautiful cinematic experience, the kind that could have become a true unofficial sequel to Insurrection. But instead we are left with an inconsistent but enjoyable game, one that really did put a smile on your face when Captain Picard sends an order your way or when Data begins to work that powerful positronic mind of his and I really cannot stress enough the quality of the story. Because it really does bring about some fascinating moments and it definitely offers up some high stakes, the kind that lead to a satisfying ending and well, this game more or less served as a hopeful entry when it came to the sheer potential of this partnership. But alas, it never quite lived up to said potential, despite the fact that it always flirted with greatness.   

Well my fellow Trekkers and Trekkies, we’ve come to quite the milestone in The Admiral’s Log. For over the course of the past year, we’ve quite literally visited every single corner of the Milky Way Galaxy in Star Trek Online. We’ve been to the inhabited worlds of the Beta Quadrant; we’ve seen how isolated the Alpha Quadrant is. We’ve endured the rampant chaos of the Delta Quadrant and the silence of the Gamma Quadrant and throughout our travels through the galaxy, we’ve also been privy to some incredible beauty and some wonderful moments, since every corner of this tiny little sliver of the universe we call home, features planets and interstellar phenomena that outright take one’s breath away.
 
But of course, this journey has offered up so much more than incredible visuals and light years to traverse. It also brought us to places that instantly allowed for us to bask in the memories of our favorite Star Trek shows, something that was further enhanced by our ability to transport down to famous worlds in the Federation. Yet while we have seen great wonders over the past year, all good things must come to an end, and we have in fact… come to the end of this grand and magnificent journey. For only one world is left to explore, and that would just so happen to be the seat of the United Federation of Planets and the home of Starfleet Command; Earth.
 
Yet what’s truly unique about visiting the world that helped to found the Federation in the first place, is the sheer fact that you can really only beam down to two places here. There’s Bozeman, Montana; wherein you can explore the Zefram Cochrane Warp Test Complex. But that is only available during April to correlate with the celebration of First Contact Day, so really, you’ll spend most of your time on Terra at Starfleet Academy in San Francisco and that’s honestly not a bad thing by any means. Because the beauty of that city and the Golden Gate Bridge are still on display in 2410, making for a lovely view when you’re in need of one, and the Academy has plenty to offer one as well. 

​Because you’re able to walk a fair chunk of the halls that great Starfleet captains once did, and you can bask in the beauty of the topiary that Boothby once cared for. If anything, it’s a shame there’s not a hologram of him still doing his thing and well, I suppose even wishing for something like that, just speaks to how much rich history is in this tiny sliver of the game, since everywhere you turn makes you think about Star Trek’s past. And the memorials and monuments present here only enhance that further since they remind everyone of the good and the bad this proud place has seen, since there’s one memorial honoring the founding of the Federation and another that reminds everybody of the lives lost in the Breen invasion/attack on Earth during the Federation/Dominion war.
 
But while all of this is in incredible to see, it is still Earth, the place where every player in this game goes about their daily lives. Which means there’s little else to say about this place other than, it’s a wonderful place to get away from the depths of space and recharge since it is home for all of us, and it is still beautiful and bright in the 25th Century. However, that is that when it comes to this journey and well, that also means that it is time for me to take a break from this log for just a little while. In part because the holiday season sees a quasi-hiatus for Nerds That Geek in the first place, but also because I think it’s high time to change this log up and do some new things with it in 2020.
 
Because if there’s one great lesson I learned from Stephen King, it is that a writer has to constantly challenge themselves in order to keep any story fresh and that definitely applies here. Because it would be a disservice to you, dear reader, to let this slide into boring territory with weekly updates on how I only finished 23 of my 24 Endeavor Missions for the week, or that I changed things up by using Transwarp to get to Deep Space Nine on Tuesday instead of conventional Warp and the Quantum Slipstream drive. But how exactly this blog will evolve, I haven’t quite decided, but I’m sure something will come to me during the break whilst I cruise amongst the stars. So once again, thank you for taking the time to read this Log, your support means the world to me, and if you see me in game, do say hello because that’s just awesome and I hope all of you have a Happy Holidays as well and I’ll see you out there, in the void, in the new year. Until next time.  

If there’s one important thing I’ve learned in my years as a writer, it is that sometimes a location or an object is as important to the story as the characters themselves. In fact, sometimes the location in question is a character in its own right, since it symbolizes so much and means so much to the characters that visit it or travel through it, and I would venture to say that utilizing that storytelling element is something that Star Trek has outright mastered. Because some of the worlds we’ve visited with various captains really have taken on a life of their own, and the many ships that populate the galaxy in the 23rd Century and beyond, have their own personality thanks to their overall design and unique interior look. But of the many locations we’ve seen in the fifty-plus year run of this franchise, one critical ‘character’, that the saga doesn’t spend enough time exploring is Earth Spacedock.
 
For this grandiose orbital station that circles the Earth night and day, is truly the greatest and most iconic hub that Starfleet has ever used, and she’s truly become a staple of the saga after her first appearance in The Search for Spock since we’ve seen this grandiose station in other Trek films and shows as the years have rolled on and thankfully, she even makes an appearance in Star Trek Online. Which is a wonderful thing since this game gives everything that is featured in the franchise new life and depth and this massive space station is no exception to that rule. Because there is a lot to see within the walls of this massive structure, one that is in essence the gateway to all of the Milky Way Galaxy, and well, it’s so massive and breathtaking in the game that it is honestly a tad difficult to find a good starting point to discuss.
 
So, perhaps the best place to start, is to reflect upon a spot where this wild journey began. For when one first arrives at Earth Spacedock at the beginning of your career in STO, one is expected to report to Admiral Quinn’s office and that’s actually quite a fascinating place to explore in its own right. For not only does the Admiral have a bustling office filled with diplomats and senior officers, there are some exquisite mockups of ships from the fleet on display and a detailed map of what ships are currently in drydock, and some of the names on that list definitely allow for one’s inner geek to take hold and the lovely Easter Eggs present here are extended to the rotunda nearby. For this part of the station also features a massive holographic map that highlights some important vessels that float around the perimeter of ESD and this area also features one hell of a breathtaking view, one that you can easily get lost within if you just stand there and stare at the beautiful blue ball beyond that panel of transparent aluminum.  

But while the Starfleet side of things is awesome and nerdy in its own right, there is so much more to see in this place. For there is a medical center you can visit if you’re in need of a little fix me up and your CMO is vacationing on Risa for the week, plus you can change up your ship’s weapon, shield and panel loadout at the fleet operations center on the lower level, and you can get your hands on some new weapons and gear at the exchange, or change up your uniform at the tailor’s station or take a shuttle to Starfleet Academy. Which, now that I think about it, is a ridiculous number of things that you are able to do at this station. In fact, that’s more than you what can do on some planets for that matter, and believe it or not, we’re not even done with grandiose tour just yet. Because there are a couple more spots that are worth visiting, that just so happen to be quite contrasting in nature.
 
For there is the always popular Club 47 off to the side, where you can legit dance the night away, which is just hilarious to find in a Star Trek game because I had no idea that slamming back some synthehol and busting out The Running Man or the Sprinkler was a popular thing in 2410, but apparently it is. And if dancing isn’t your thing you can head off to the lounge section of the club and once again enjoy fine views of Earth while calmer music soothes your soul. But I made mention of spots that serve as a foil, which brings us to Deck 83 where… there’s nothing but empty hallways that serve a purpose I honestly haven’t explored just yet. But the true centerpiece of this station, is the memorial that resides on the Deck 47 Mezzanine, for it pays tribute to everyone that has ever been associated with this proud franchise and has just so happened to pass away, and it is definitely a humbling and somber place to visit, one that definitely gives you pause.
 
If anything, that powerful memorial serves as the exclamation point on the detail present in this part of the game and well, it’s easy to lose one’s self in the majesty of Earth Spacedock. Because the true icing on the Gagh in this place is the sheer fact that it is also a thriving hub, filled to the brim with Starfleet officers heading for duty, and plenty of your fellow players. Which means you never know what you’ll find or see at ESD, because once I saw a dance party break out at Ship Operations, complete with disco ball because… why not? Either way, this really is just a wonderful place to visit in the game and I’m so glad the folks behind the scenes took their time in enhancing this place because it really does feel like a massive hub for the Federation, one that millions of species make use of on a regular basis. But while it is quite lovely, it pales in comparison to the planet below and the wonder of Earth and Starfleet Academy is where we will end our second journey through the stars in my next log entry. Until then. 

We live in an interesting era when it comes to video games. Simply because the technology used to create these fictional and delightfully beautiful worlds is evolving at an incredible pace, to the point where something that was revolutionary a year or two ago looks quite dated in its own right, today. Which is now prompting video game companies everywhere to revisit some of those ‘older’ properties and clean them up properly for the next generation of consoles, with mixed results of course, for various and unfortunate reasons.
 
For some companies treat this act as an opportunity to get their hands on a boatload of cash, which means that some of the re-dos that come out are subpar, and really don’t offer the fans anything new, and that’s always disappointing when all is said and done. But thankfully, there are some companies that want a remaster to go the extra mile and deliver everything they intended to when the game first came out. And recently, I finally had the opportunity to play one of the better remasters out there by way of the updated re-release of Ghostbusters: The Video Game.
 
Now this particular game, which originally came out in 2009, is one that I firmly believe was supremely overdue for a makeover, so it made me supremely happy to know this one was finally getting a quality update because this one deserved it for so many reasons. The first one being, this was quite the epic adventure with the Ghostbusters, one that was definitely limited by the technology of the time and putting it through the cleanup process would likely allow for this game to look as gorgeous as possible, allowing for the player to truly settle in and enjoy a pseudo-cinematic experience and well, the quality of the graphics are precisely the first thing that once notices when playing this game.

Because the cleanup and redo of New York City and for that matter the world that the Ghostbusters inhabit, is magnificent to say the least. For now, there is genuine detail everywhere that you go in the game, allowing for one to get lost from time to time as you admire the bright lights of Times Square, or the swirling clouds and vortices of the ghost world. But the cleanup of the background and the environment is merely the tip of the iceberg for this remaster. Because even the ghosts got a facelift, since they now feature incredible and haunting detail, and even your weapons have a new feel to them since the proton stream looks exactly like it did on the silver screen.
 
But all glamour and glitz aside, there are two key elements that truly made me happy about this particular remaster. First and foremost, I love the fact that the game now features detailed surround sound support, because that only further enhances the experience when you hear spirits in the darkness growl or enjoy the sound of proton beams cycling over your shoulder as you line with up with the boys to bust ghosts, and I’m also supremely happy with the tweaks present in the gameplay itself. Because from time to time, I couldn’t help but notice that trapping a ghost or getting a capture stream locked onto them was quite the chore in the original game. As was simply getting the proton stream to hit its target, and that’s all been fixed here.
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Which makes for a delightful gaming experience, one that feels complete and natural and of course, it is wonderful to revisit the world of the Ghostbusters once again and fight alongside the original cast and hear Venkman’s quips. But no game is perfect, and I suppose if I have one complaint when it comes to this game, it would have to be that they squandered a grand opportunity to include the missing Thanksgiving Day Parade level that was apparently cut back in the day, because it would have been awesome to have experienced a ghostly bedlam on Turkey Day. Outside of that however, this is a great remaster, one that injects a new level of fun into an old game and one that will definitely tide the fans over until Ghostbusters: Afterlife hits the silver screen in 2020.    

​Something I’ve noticed is an outright constant when it comes to naval vessels, is how many sailors tend to refer to their ships with fond admiration, and as their outright home. It’s something that I’ve seen in television and the Star Trek franchise as well and it is honestly something, I’ve only half understood for the longest time. For part of me gets it, you sleep there, eat there, live there and that is indeed home enough but it’s also just a ship, right? It’s a hunk of metal that sails the seas, or in the case of Trek, it’s an airtight hunk of metal that travels the stars. But as time rolls on, I’ve come to realize that there is a legitimate reason for sailors and Starfleet officers to look upon their vessels so fondly, simply because… there is more to them than meets the eye.
 
Because these vessels really are more than just hunks of metal doing their thing. They are indeed homes, where lives grow and thrive, something that was taught to me by both my father and my brother since they are both Navy men and have been happy to share their experiences aboard a ship. But while that was incredible and fascinating to learn in its own right, one particular element of a sailor’s dedication to a vessel eluded me. Specifically, why so many stand behind their ship as the greatest in the fleet, and view their ship as something more, that is until recently. Because as cheesy as it sounds, Star Trek Online is helping me to understand this particular trait and that’s thanks in large part to the fact that I’ve been flying the U.S.S. Galactica NCC-1775-B for about two years now.
 
Which is funny because when I first started playing this game, I was heavily interested in getting my hands on every ship that I could, just to enjoy the Star Trek experience properly, and I’ll never forget the pride that came with flying the Sovereign class Galactica-A since that was about as close as I was ever going to get to flying the 1701-E. But once I got over the glamour and glitz of flying T.V. and movie ships, I came to realize that I needed a vessel that could handle anything and everything that the game throws at you and that’s when the Galactica-B was commissioned. For an Odyssey class vessel is quite versatile and powerful in its own right and after slowly getting her to my standards weapons and loadout wise, I settled in on this vessel and came to understand her true majesty and everything that sailors hold near and dear about their respective ship.
 
Because eventually you come to know your ship like an old friend and that’s really what she is, a great pal that is always there in a time of need. And by knowing your vessel well, you know exactly how to handle it and what kinds of stresses you can put it through in order to complete the mission and yeah, you quickly do become to believe your vessel is one of the greatest ships out there. For you know the old girl is going to accomplish wonders and is going to get you through tough times if you trust in her abilities and eventually the ship does become a genuine home. Because despite the fact that I visit Earth often in the game, it doesn’t take long for me to order the Galactica back out in deep space because her bridge is where I belong, and it is just wonderful to be home and traveling amongst the stars, armed with the knowledge that your trusted friend is there for you through thick and thin.
 
As an added bonus, the game is also nice enough to let you explore portions of your vessel, and there is just something so supremely cool about standing in your own ready room like other famous captains and admirals in Starfleet, or sitting in the big chair on the bridge with the viewscreen and the vastness of the galaxy ahead of you. And sometimes your ship is so massive that your bridge leaves you in awe, and I feel that every time I visit my own, since the bridge of 1775-B is two stories tall. But all of that aside, one’s ship really is important in the game, and when you’re as big of a Star Trek nerd as I am, being able to command one for years on end like Jim Kirk or Captain Picard were able to do, lets the imagination take hold and brings out the geekiest parts of you and I am not ashamed to share the thrill I enjoy when my avatar sits in that chair because this was all I ever wanted growing up.
 
But all joy and nerdiness aside, our journey through my ship has only delayed the inevitable. Because at long last we have come to the end of our second journey through the Milky Way Galaxy. Which means that for the next couple of weeks, we will explore the heart of the United Federation of Planets; Earth, and everything it has to offer. So be ready for an in depth look at the wonder of Earth Spacedock since it really is a massive structure worth exploring and discussing on its own and of course, we’ll spend plenty of time at Starfleet Academy, as the Admiral’s Log closes out its 2019 entries. Until next time. 

One of my fondest memories when it comes to being introduced to the Star Trek franchise as a whole, was the first time that I ever saw Lieutenant Commander Spock on screen. Because there was just something magical about seeing an alien with pointy ears, who had a giant IQ that he wasn’t afraid to use, be accepted by his peers and be embraced as a valuable member of the Enterprise crew. But while there was a strange nerdy personal tie that I immediately shared with Spock, what mattered more about that opening introduction to this iconic character, is the sheer fact that he was the first ‘alien’ that mainstream audiences were able to properly get to know and well… I think he’s one of the big reasons this franchise is so darn popular.
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Because for the most part, aliens are often viewed as bad guys in science fiction since they tend to come down to Earth to rob us of our precious resources or enslave us because they can and while that does make for good storytelling, getting to see how other species live in Trek is something that is far more powerful and supremely unique. Because it does in essence, humanize these beings and allow for us to understand other cultures better, a message we can definitely use in modern times. But all commentary aside, the franchise does deserve serious credit for creating so many fictional species that feature a rich future history and Spock’s race is one that has captivated so many and that’s why I’m so supremely thankful of the fact that Vulcan is a place that one can actually visit in Star Trek Online.

For this allows for fans of the series to get up close and personal with one of the most important worlds in the Federation, one that helped guide mankind to interstellar travel in the first place and well, I won’t lie, beaming back down here again after all this time, more or less took my breath away. Because despite its stark and harsh nature, there is an odd beauty to this planet, especially when one considers that this desert like world, one that looks inhospitable at first glance, is home to a race of beings who embrace the chaos of the environment as part of their push to find peace and logic in all things. Something that is reflected in the physical design of the cities of Vulcan, since everywhere you go offers up some unique and magnificent architecture, the kind that I’ve yet to see replicated anywhere else in the game.

Which means, in essence, the Vulcans are one with their home, since the powerful statues and cathedrals and monasteries seem to be extensions of the world itself and that really does make for some stunning views. But truly, the magic of arriving on this world, is the sheer fact that you’re standing on Vulcan. The very world that helped to bring mankind out of its darkest hour, that guided our planet to become part of something greater and where legends like Spock once roamed and that… just brings out the geekiest part of you and it’s quite cool to traverse this ancient world and see the monasteries that feature incredibly steep hills to symbolize one’s quest toward logic and to set foot in an arena that appears to be straight out of The Original Series episode, ‘Amok Time’.

If anything, this is indeed one of the coolest places in the game to visit, one that quite frankly I need to see more often simply because it takes me back to that sense of wonder I experienced the first time I saw the planet on the original Star Trek. Plus, it’s a fine place to be reminded of Leonard Nimoy’s contribution to the role of Spock and the franchise as a whole, since there is a memorial to him that stands in the square and well, this planet really is a Trekker/Trekkie’s dream come true. But alas, there is a bittersweet element that comes with this particular journey. For there is only one planet left to explore in the galaxy, the one that now protects and defends countless others. But before we return to Earth and everything it has to offer, we will take a moment to explore one more important element in the game, one that made this journey possible, and the bridge of the U.S.S. Galactica is where we will pick up our discussion, next time. Until then.