TWITTER 
Star Trek (video game)
Retro Coin Op Synopsis
“Welcome aboard, Captain!”
Billed as a “Strategic Weapons Simulator,” Sega’s Star Trek gave Trekkies, Trekkers and assorted Trek-heads the chance to take the bridge of the famed U.S.S. Enterprise. Delivering to players full control of the ship’s Phasers, Photon Torpedoes, Impulse Power and Warp Drive, Star Trek took would-be James T. Kirks on 40 missions of Klingon-blasting strategy and action.
The game’s color vector graphics display gave a first-person look through the ship’s viewscreen, along with a long-range scanner and a display of remaining shields, warp capability and photon torpedoes. Using the paddle control and several buttons, Starfleet captains-in-training patrolled their sectors, defending star bases from invading Klingon Birds of Prey.
Using slower Impulse Power or your limited Warp Drive, you sped the Enterprise toward your foes, blasting away with Phasers or more powerful (but again limited) Photon Torpedoes. Once a sector was cleared, a voice announced, “Damage repaired, sir,” and the refreshed Enterprise moved boldly on to its next mission.
The arcade Star Trek debuted soon after the highly successful Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan hit theaters, and the game was announced and advertised with all the fanfare of a major motion picture. Paramount (owners of the Star Trek TV and film franchise) teamed up with Sega for major promotions, bringing in series stars like George “Sulu” Takei to mingle with fans at select arcades around the country. The strategy helped turn Star Trek into an arcade hit, but the game was overshadowed in the long run by another vector graphics adaptation of a major sci-fi franchise, Atari’s Star Wars.