Star Trek: The Next Generation - Birth of the Federation

Star Trek: The Next Generation - Birth of the Federation is a 4X turn-based computer strategy game, based in the Star Trek fictional universe, that was released in 1999. It was developed by MicroProse, makers of Master of Orion and Sid Meier's Civilization, and published by Hasbro Interactive, the same company that published RollerCoaster Tycoon.

Gameplay
The similarities to Microprose's earlier title Master of Orion become easily noticeable when playing the game for the first time: "Anyone who has played Master of Orion will find Birth of the Federation very familiar".

The entire game is set in the Star Trek: The Next Generation era, with only starships and races from that series and movies represented. There are no ships or races from the original series, Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, or Star Trek: Voyager unless they appeared in Star Trek: The Next Generation or it's spin-off movies.

Although the title of the game is Birth of the Federation, the player can choose from five political entities:


 * United Federation of Planets
 * Cardassian Union
 * Klingon Empire
 * Romulan Star Empire
 * Ferengi Alliance

In addition, many minor races can be befriended by the player and can eventually become part of their empire (either by them joining peacefully via diplomacy, or by conquering them). There are thirty minor races in the game.

The purpose of the game is to create the most powerful Empire in the galaxy. This is achieved through diplomacy, colonization of new worlds and defeating rivals. Winning the game in an alliance with a rival Empire is also possible. Multi-player is available over a LAN, or the internet.

The game is played on a 2D Galaxy Map which represents star systems, task forces, empire borders and other space phenomena via the use of icons. Map size vary from small (10 x 13), medium (12 x 16) and huge (18 x 26). There are also separate screens for empire research, colony management, intelligence and diplomacy, which are all accessed from a right-click radial menu.

Space Battles are also turn-based, but are in 3D using software rendering. Tactics, such as ram and evade, are given to ships before the turn button is pressed.

The player can build a variety of starships for this task ranging from Oberth class scouts to colony ships, and Romulan Warbirds.

Random events (which can be disabled) include a Borg Cube, the Crystalline Entity, Gomtuu and other deadly interstellar craft and lifeforms.

Reviews
GameSpot said in 1999: "Birth of the Federation is a good game, if you are willing to forgive the interface and the amount of micromanagement required. It definitely has a Star Trek feel to it, right down to the humanoid aliens and confusing technobabble."

Modifications continue to be made for this game, with Codeweavers saying "There is a fairly active modding community for Star Trek: Birth of the Federation".

Modifications and sequels
Two patches were released to fix a series of problems with the program, including a major memory leak which caused slowdowns later on in the game.