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'''''Star Fleet Battles''''' (or '''SFB''') is a [[Games|tactical ship-to-ship combat game]] created by the [[Amarillo Design Bureau]] and published by the now-defunct [[Task Force Games]] beginning in {{y|1979}}. Amarillo Design Bureau now publishes the game independently. The principal designer is [[Stephen V. Cole]], an engineer and former US Army military intelligence [[officer]]. It has undergone heavy revision and expansion since it was originally released and is the oldest and most thoroughly tested ''[[Star Trek]]''-based game in existence.
'''''Star Fleet Battles''''' (or '''SFB''') is a [[Games|tactical ship-to-ship combat game]] created by the [[Amarillo Design Bureau]] and published by the now-defunct [[Task Force Games]] beginning in {{y|1979}}. Amarillo Design Bureau now publishes the game independently. The principal designer is [[Stephen V. Cole]], an engineer and former US Army military intelligence [[officer]]. It has undergone heavy revision and expansion since it was originally released and is the oldest and most thoroughly tested ''[[Star Trek]]''-based game in existence.
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While this is a ''Star Trek'' product officially licensed by [[Paramount Pictures]], it is granted only a partial license, and as such cannot mention specifics of canon ''Trek'' in the games, save for basic information. This game does not use the name ''Star Trek'' in its title, but incorporates the design of the {{ShipClass|Constitution}} [[heavy cruiser]] and the [[uniform]]s, [[weapon]]s, [[aliens]], and some of the terminology of ''[[Star Trek: The Original Series|The Original Series]]'' era. Part of this license allows the game to depict information from the ''[[Star Fleet Technical Manual]]'' by [[Franz Joseph]] (such as the [[Federation class|''Federation'']] [[dreadnought]] and [[Ptolemy class|''Ptolemy'']] [[tug]]) and also information from ''[[Star Trek: The Animated Series]]'' (including the Klingon [[projected stasis field]] and [[Larry Niven]]'s rarely-seen [[Kzinti]]. It should be noted that the SFU Kzinti are very distinct from those of Larry Niven's works). This game's license forbids the release of characters, aliens, ships or situations taken from any of the [[Star Trek films|''Star Trek'' movies]] or the ''[[Star Trek: The Next Generation|Next Generation]]'' era series (''[[Star Trek: Deep Space Nine]]'', ''[[Star Trek: Voyager]]'', ''[[Star Trek: Enterprise]]'', etc.). However, Amarillo Design Bureau has continually added their own ships and races to the game system, referring to their continuity as the ''[[Star Fleet Universe]]''.
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While this is a ''Star Trek'' product officially licensed by [[Paramount Pictures]], it is granted only a partial license, and as such cannot mention specifics of canon ''Trek'' in the games, save for basic information. This game does not use the name ''Star Trek'' in its title, but incorporates the design of the {{ShipClass|Constitution}} [[heavy cruiser]] and the [[uniform]]s, [[weapon]]s, [[aliens]], and some of the terminology of ''[[Star Trek: The Original Series|The Original Series]]'' era. Part of this license allows the game to depict information from the ''[[Star Fleet Technical Manual]]'' by [[Franz Joseph]] (such as the [[Federation class|''Federation'']] [[dreadnought]] and [[Ptolemy class|''Ptolemy'']] [[tug]]) and also information from ''[[Star Trek: The Animated Series]]'' (including the Klingon [[projected stasis field]] and [[Larry Niven]]'s rarely-seen [[Kzinti]]. It should be noted that the SFU Kzinti are very distinct from those of Larry Niven's works). This game's license forbids the release of characters, aliens, ships, or situations taken from any of the [[Star Trek films|''Star Trek'' movies]] or the ''[[Star Trek: The Next Generation|Next Generation]]'' era series (''[[Star Trek: Deep Space Nine]]'', ''[[Star Trek: Voyager]]'', ''[[Star Trek: Enterprise]]'', etc.). However, Amarillo Design Bureau has continually added their own ships and races to the game system, referring to their continuity as the ''[[Star Fleet Universe]]''.
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While ''Star Fleet Battles'' is a tactical-level game, Amarillo Design Bureau also published a strategic-level game based on the same "universe" entitled ''[[Federation and Empire]]'' in {{y|1986}} which is similar to a {{y|1981}} game entitled ''[[Federation space (game)|Federation Space]]'', also published by Task Force Games. The focus of the game involves the eighteen-year long General War fought between the "Coalition" (the [[Klingon]], [[Romulan]] and Lyran Empires) and the "Alliance" (the [[Federation]], Kzinti, Hydrans and [[Gorn]] with the [[Tholian]]s as co-belligerents). Expansions and updates published in {{y|1993}} and {{y|2000}} have greatly enhanced the game and further expansions are still forthcoming to involve races and time periods outside of the General War. A role-playing game has also been created entitled ''[[Prime Directive (game)|Prime Directive]]'' which focuses on small, specially-trained and equipped "Prime Teams", who are sent on exceptionally dangerous missions. Also, a card-based combat game known as ''[[Star Fleet Battle Force]]'' and a new tactical combat game, ''[[Federation Commander]]'' are also produced by the company.
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While ''Star Fleet Battles'' is a tactical-level game, Amarillo Design Bureau also published a strategic-level game based on the same "universe" entitled ''[[Federation and Empire]]'' in {{y|1986}} which is similar to a {{y|1981}} game entitled ''[[Federation space (game)|Federation Space]]'', also published by Task Force Games. The focus of the game involves the eighteen-year long General War fought between the "Coalition" (the [[Klingon]], [[Romulan]], and Lyran Empires) and the "Alliance" (the [[Federation]], Kzinti, Hydrans, and [[Gorn]] with the [[Tholian]]s as co-belligerents). Expansions and updates published in {{y|1993}} and {{y|2000}} have greatly enhanced the game and further expansions are still forthcoming to involve races and time periods outside of the General War. A role-playing game has also been created entitled ''[[Prime Directive (game)|Prime Directive]]'' which focuses on small, specially-trained and equipped "Prime Teams", who are sent on exceptionally dangerous missions. Also, a card-based combat game known as ''[[Star Fleet Battle Force]]'' and a new tactical combat game, ''[[Federation Commander]]'' are also produced by the company.
Because of the game's extensive revisions and high-degree of playability, much of the material from the ''Star Fleet Battles'' universe was incorporated into video games by [[Interplay]], such as ''[[Star Trek: Starfleet Command]]'' and ''[[Star Trek: Klingon Academy]]''. These games were licensed by Paramount and therefore were allowed to feature situations during the ''Star Trek'' movie era. Amarillo Design Bureau's partial license has prohibited them from producing computer games based on their own material and previously published board games, however this has been disputed in the past and is still being contested by legal means.
Because of the game's extensive revisions and high-degree of playability, much of the material from the ''Star Fleet Battles'' universe was incorporated into video games by [[Interplay]], such as ''[[Star Trek: Starfleet Command]]'' and ''[[Star Trek: Klingon Academy]]''. These games were licensed by Paramount and therefore were allowed to feature situations during the ''Star Trek'' movie era. Amarillo Design Bureau's partial license has prohibited them from producing computer games based on their own material and previously published board games, however this has been disputed in the past and is still being contested by legal means.
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==See also==
==See also==
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==External link==
==External link==
* [http://www.starfleetgames.com/starfleetbattles.shtml Official ''Star Fleet Battles'' site] at [http://www.starfleetgames.com StarFleetGames.com]
* [http://www.starfleetgames.com/starfleetbattles.shtml Official ''Star Fleet Battles'' site] at [http://www.starfleetgames.com StarFleetGames.com]
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* [http://sfb.swa-gaming.org/ The Star Fleet Battles Open Community Forum] at [http://sfb.swa-gaming.org sfb.swa-gaming.org]
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* [http://sfb.swa-gaming.org/ The Star Fleet Battles Open Community Forum] at [http://sfb.swa-gaming.org/ sfb.swa-gaming.org]
[[de:Star Fleet Battles]]
[[de:Star Fleet Battles]]