Software Related to SFB

SFB software is limited by the original Star Trek liscensing agreement. ADB's liscense for Star Trek rights from Paramount does not include rights to make a computer game. Thus, any direct translation of the SFB rules into computer code (whether by ADB or by a third party) would be a violation which could threaten their liscense. However, there are two sources of semi-official software and plenty of unofficial sources:

Official Software

These are the two companies which have liscenses from ADB to develop software.

Star Fleet Command by Interplay
This is a commercial game in the works with a liscense from ADB. The designers are fans of SFB, but the game will not be a direct port of SFB. It will be real-time rather than turn-based, but allows 10-12 minutes to complete a cruiser duel. There are no turns or hexes: weapons begin reloading as soon as they are fired and can fire again 32 "impulses" later assuming there is enough power.

SFB Online from Online Game Systems Inc. and ADB
This will be an online service which you can subscribe to which allows you to play SFB over the Internet. There is a limited demo version currently available (which requires Internet Explorer). It is basically a mapboard and dialogue/control box through which you and your opponent control the pieces on the map.

Un-official Software

The following programs are not liscensed from ADB. Technically this requires that they not include any copyrighted material. Note that general game concepts like the hex-based sideslips and turn modes, or drones and direct-fire weapons are not copyrighted -- indeed, you see them in many other wargames. Copyright protects the text of the game rules, but not the concepts of game play involved.

The problematic issue is terms like photon torpedoes and specific charts like the DAC and damage charts. The exact solution to this -- as demonstrated in Viper's Star Fleet Assistant program -- is to create a program which requires that the player type in the appropriate numbers from his edition of the SFB rules.

Please note that I have not tested most of of these programs -- I cannot vouch for their content or even their accuracy. Most are written for Windows 95, which I do not use (I use UNIX at work and a Macintosh at home). Caveat Emptor.

Viper's Star Fleet Assistant
This is a 32-bit Windows program which handles most of the movement and damage functions in a very readable format. It rolls and tracks internals, displays movement and tracks turn/slip modes, tracks when weapons were last fired, etc. It is intended as a game aid for a face-to-face game. It does not violate copyrights, so you have to enter in game-specific charts by hand.
Thorsten Kern's Play-by-Email (PBEM) Tool
This include various TC's and hexmaps.

Mark J. Mean's PBEM Tools
Including a sitrep map generator which generates a map image (GIF format) from a text sitrep, and EAF web form.
Robert Harmon's Starfleet Helper  (Download)
This is a Windows 95 program by Robert Harmon that automates impulse movement and handles damage and damage allocation.

Eric Downey's PBEM Java Tools (incomplete)
This is the start of a project to make a 100% Java PBEM helper which will run on all platforms.
Rob Eskridge's Combat Simulator Program
This is planned for full-fledged simulator. Currently there is a damage allocator program (in Visual Basic for Win95) as a front end.
Drock's SFB Simulator
This is a full-fledged simulator program.
Chad Ward's Hex-based Battles Project
This was a plan for a non-copyright-violating general-purpose utility, but nothing has appeared here lately.

Nand's SFB Tools (DOS Download, 30kB)
This program ostensibly tracks unit movements on the impulse chart and assigns damage on the DAC.
Electronic Cardboard
This is a general-purpose shareware program for wargame mapboard handling.
Hexmap Utility
A freeware utility by Ken Logcrier.

Similar Games

There are various general computer games which are similar to SFB. I can't give detailed reviews since I don't play these, but supposedly they involve some degree of similarity. Certainly none of these is a computer version of SFB or even close -- they are just potentially similar games.

Fleet
This is a a shareware game from Smoke and Mirrors Studios which combines some elements of SFB. It is turn-based rather than the "real-time" favored by Star Fleet Command and other games. It also allows you to design your own ships, bases, and scenarios. It even allows you to put in a new ship image (made in paintbrush or similar program), put it in the shipimg directory, and then design it in the game.

Games Domain Review of Fleet.

Warship
A networked 3D tactical game where each player controls one ship on a turn by turn basis.

Space Empires III
A shareware game on a more strategic level -- similar to Federation & Empire

John H. Kim <jhkim@fnal.gov>
 Last modified: Tue Aug 1 16:06:23 2000
Star Fleet Battles, SFB, Federation & Empire, Star Fleet Missions, Prime Directive, and all contents thereof are copyright (C) 1990 by Amarillo Design Bureau. Second Edition copyright (c) 1994 by Amarillo Design Bureau. These games were produced under license from Franz Joseph Designs, authors of the STAR FLEET TECHNICAL MANUAL. Elements of the Star Fleet Universe are the property of Paramount Pictures Corporation and are used with their permission.

Amarillo Design Bureau (ADB) and Task Force Games (TFG) are NOT related in anyway with these Web pages; it is an undertaking and opinions of a private citizen (hence unofficial), and is not construed to be an official position of either companies. Ideas and information from the games are presented without permission.