This week on Episode 469 of Priority One --- We ‘Trek Out’ what’s coming to Comic-Con@Home, and our thoughts on the Lower Decks Trailer! In Star Trek gaming, we share with you which game developers are taking actions for a more equitable future, and we relieve several old favorites - like Star Trek: Starfleet Academy.
Sir Patrick Stewart Turns 80
As far as Birthday’s go, 80 is an incredible milestone -- And when you’re Sir Patrick Stewart, everyone wants to recognize your achievements! On June 13th, Sir Patrick celebrated his 80th Birthday and friends, fans, and news outlets did their very best to honor the veteran actor. The Guardian, for instance, interviewed several of SirtPatStew’s friends and colleagues to share some of their most memorable moments with the actor.
For instance, David Tennant had this to say, "He’s fit as a fiddle and so strapping! How many 80-year-olds are the lead in their own science fiction series? There’s nothing of the 'old man' about him. He’s very virile – I’m sure he wouldn’t mind me saying that!"
Sir Ian McKellen told The Guardian, "Eighty is, of course, a milestone but he has had so many remarkable achievements in his careering journey from Huddersfield, to Stratford, the West End, Hollywood, to Broadway and beyond, I’m sure there will be no silly talk about retirement."
And - of course - many of his co-stars from TNG joined him for a celebration and shared a picture of them together. Fortunately, they were all wearing their masks and maintaining social distancing!
Happy Birthday, Sir Patrick!
https://twitter.com/berman_rick/status/1282867166321098752?s=21
Robert Sallin & a new Trek Film
On July 9th, Den Of Geek’s Don Kaye spoke with Robert Sallin -- producer on the 1982 film Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan. According to Kaye, during an interview about the film, Sallin hinted that he’s currently in the process of developing a script for a new Star Trek Film.
I don’t have it completely written, but I have a lot of it written. I have a concept for another Star Trek feature that I’ve had discussions with Paramount about — at least on the phone. This one I guarantee you is unlike anything that has been done in Star Trek, and it will be part of the canon, but they (the studio) don’t want to talk about it until they see what Noah Hawley does.
-Robert Sallin via Den of Geek
Comic-Con@Home w/ Star Trek
The pandemic may have put a damper on most of our plans this year --- including the cancellation or rescheduling or re-imagining of convention events. San Diego Comic Con for instance, has shifted their presentations to an online format and Star Trek will be participating in several ways.
Generally, the event takes place Wednesday July 22 - Sunday, July 26. However, you don’t have to stay glued to your computer all three days for the Star Trek Studded events.
Thursday, July 23 @ 10AM PT, The Star Trek Universe Virtual Panel will feature discussions with Executive Producers Alex Kurtzman & Heather Kadin -- Followed by a virtual table read of Star Trek Discovery’s episode “Such Sweet Sorrow, Part 2” with many of the episode’s featured actors.
Later, Mike McMahan takes the virtual stage to discuss the new animated comedy series, “Star Trek: Lower Decks.” McMahan will be joined by several of the voice actors from the series including Tawny Newsom, Jack Quaid and more.
It all wraps with a “Star Trek: Picard” panel that includes Sir Patrick Steward himself along with fan favorites like Jonathan Frakes, Jonathan Del Arco, Marina Sirtis, and Jeri Ryan -- among many of the other key actors from the series.
During an Instagram Livestream, Mary Chieffo expressed enthusiasm over the prospect of returning as L’Rell in the new Pike Series: “Strange New Worlds” ---- It would be nice to see a discussion about what the world will look like in this series set in the same universe as Star Trek Discovery. Who else could reprise their roles?
https://www.instagram.com/tv/CCeW1mtJLdT/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link
Lower Decks - Trailer
If you were up early and perusing social media on Sunday, July 12th, your feed may have been flooded with tweets about a leaked trailer for the new animated series, “Star Trek: Lower Decks.” But, before long, Star Trek’s official websites and social media channels went ahead and officially released it to the masses.
The 2-minute and 15 second video takes us on a wild ride aboard the USS Cerritos and provides a sneak peak of the show’s overall tone. We also get a solid peak into the types of characters we’ll be following like Jack Quaid’s Ensign Boimler and Tawny Newsome’s Ensign Mariner.
https://youtu.be/V3RkBKedKWw
Grant Imahara
Before we move on, Captains - we need to take a moment and remember the life of Grant Imahara - who passed away suddenly on June 13th. Imahara - who is best known for his role on Mythbusters and - later, portrayed Hikaru Sulu in Star Trek: Continues. He was only 49 years old.
Silence Continues
We’re still holding our coverage of updates from Star Trek Online but, thought it prudent to share with you a list of other game developers who have stepped up to support social justice, equality, and the Black Lives Matter Movement.
- Blizzard has donated to several organizations
- Bungie has designed items to sell with all the proceeds going towards Equal Justice Initiative
- Niantic (Pokemon Go) is donating $5Mil to "Black gaming and AR creators that can live on the Niantic platform" and "US nonprofit organizations that are helping local communities rebuild."
- EA is donating $1Million to the Equal Justice Initiative, the NAACP Legal Defense & Educational Fund, and other organizations
- Ubisoft is making a $100,000 donation to the NAACP
This is but a short list of game developers and companies who have taken measurable actions to support Social Justice and Equality. Gamespot has a very extensive list --- links will be in the shownotes.
Star Trek Timelines Event: “Lightbringers”
by Thomas Reynolds
After last week’s Flashback to Dozaria, Star Trek Timelines returns to the future...present...whatever, with “Lightbringers”. The Galaxy-type Event runs from this Thursday, July 16th, to Monday July 20th for the Romulan Star Empire, Federation, and Ferengi Traditionalist factions, with 5-star Mother L’Rell as the Ranked Reward crewmember. Event crew granting high bonuses for “Lightbringers” include last week’s Ranked Reward 5-star Kamin, the new 4-star Traveler Wesley, and the returning 4-star Commander Tomalak. Other Picard and Wesley variants will grant small bonuses.
Star Trek Timelines’ Offer Wall Comes Tumbling Down on iOS
by Thomas Reynolds
https://stevivor.com/news/potential-star-trek-timelines-privacy-issue-sees-resources-shut-protest/
Well, that didn’t take long. On July 10th Star Trek Timelines developer Wicked Realms announced it was removing its controversial Offer Wall feature from the iOS app indefinitely. Ostensibly this is because “due to Apple guidelines the offers that can be presented on iOS are too limited to be of interest.” Third-party developers taking issue with Apple’s App Store constraints is certainly nothing new, and it’s significant that the Wall’s alive and well on the game’s Android version. However, recent player base outcry (and fan resource website outages) protesting perceived privacy threats almost certainly influenced the decision. Wicked Realms acknowledged “ongoing concerns regarding the Offer Wall in general” and their advertising partner ironSource’s business practices in particular.
The Last Outpost Provides Star Trek Voyager: Elite Force Holomatch For Download
by Shane Hoover
https://twitter.com/Last_Outpost/status/1281447523933093889
Star Trek Voyager premiered twenty five years ago, in 1995. Five years after that, the series debuted its first video game, “Star Trek: Voyager - Elite Force”. And now, 20 years later, a community of Trek gamers called The Last Outpost has rereleased the multiplayer platform of “Elite Force” for free download. Called “Star Trek: Voyager Elite Force Holomatch”, the game is available for Windows and Linux PC’s. In a tweet posted July 9th, The Last Outpost announced, /QUOTE/
2020 is a milestone year. The Last Outpost is 10 years old today, Raven Software celebrated 30 years, and
Star Trek Voyager: Elite Force turns 20 this September. Eight years ago, Raven and Viacom CBS graciously gave us permission to distribute the game's code and assets. We at The Last Outpost are eternally grateful to Raven and ViacomCBS for their generosity. In honor of our 10th anniversary, we pass this gift along to the thousands of Star Trek fans who grew up playing this game and loving it as much as we do. /ENDQUOTE/
A link to the download, and to The Last Outpost’s website can be found in our show notes.
RETRO TREK
Join us for a RetroTrek Adventure brought to you by Anthony Cox! This week, we discuss Star Trek: Starfleet Academy!
