Apr 10, 2020
This week on Priority One --- DS9 & Voyager get an HD remastering (sorta); We learn what S2 of Picard won’t be about; First Contact giveaways and events are still going strong in Star Trek Online while on the mobile platforms, Timelines and Starfleet Command get some interesting updates; then, we’re pleased to have with us Star Trek TNG’s Lt. Jae --- Tracee Lee Cocco!
Of course, as always, before we wrap up the show, we’ll open hailing frequencies for your incoming messages
Let us know on social media like Facebook, Twitter, or by visiting our website!
This Weeks Community Questions Are:
CQ: How impressed are you with the A.I. update to DS9 and Voyager. Does it make you pine for a HD release of both series?
AND
CQ: Will you be getting your hands on the D’Quarka?... the new T6 D’Kora Update.
TREK IT OUT
by Elio LLeo
DS9 & Voyager get a Hi-Def Treatment
When Star Trek The Original Series and The Next Generation were
given the hi-def treatment --- breathing new life into both series
in stunning high-definition -- it didn’t take long for fans to
start asking… when are we getting DS9 and Voyager?! Unfortunately,
that wish might never be granted --- at least not according to
Robert Meyer Burnett -- the writer, director, producer and editor
of the bonus features included with The Next Generation and
Enterprise Blu-ray releases. You see, back in 2017, Burnett
went on record to explain that remastering these series is
expensive and time consuming -- but, mostly expensive… and the
return on investment wouldn’t be the same as with the other - more
popular - series.
However, a couple of fans took it upon themselves to apply some
machine learning and digitally enhance
several scenes from DS9 and Voyager into 4K Resolution. Last
year, a fan that goes by CaptRobau uploaded a couple of comparison
videos with scenes from DS9. Now, Billy Reichard ran a similar
process to a couple of scenes from Voyager.
Upgrade your Boring Zoom backgrounds w/ wild environments
While we’re on the topic of technical advancements, COVID-19 has
disrupted our daily lives in an unprecedented way. Many of us are
adjusting to “Work From Home” scenarios and might even find
themselves sitting in front of their laptops using a program like
Zoom for work meetings… Or podcast production…. Well, if you happen
to use Zoom for work, why not liven up that boring bedroom
background with something more… Stellar?
Via twitter, Star Trek released a few
images that can be imported into Zoom and configured to be a
virtual background! Now, Zoom already has this feature built in
with some default backgrounds but, you can import these new images
to set a more colorful stage! Why not set yourself in Chateu
Picard? Or in a corridor aboard the Discovery?
Either way, these are definitely a fun way to liven up those boring
Zoom meetings… which could have probably still been addressed in an
email… just sayin’
Picard S2 and A Star Trek Film
Now that Picard has wrapped up it’s first season, the big question on everyone’s mind is --- what’s coming in Season 2. Although Chabon and Goldsman have explained that ideas are starting to formulate, Sir PatStew can tell you what it won’t be about… Pandemics. Now - although Sir Patrick has gone on record explaining his goals for Season 1 of Picard and how contemporary issues affected the themes of the first season -- he doesn’t believe tackling a pandemic storyline would be appropriate explaining “This is a disturbing and frightening and sad time for many thousands of people… It is too sensitive, too upsetting, too frightening, I think.”
Russo & Hawley
While we’re on the topic of future productions, Star Trek Picard’s composer - Jeff Russo - chatted with flickeringmyth.com to talk about his involvement with the Star Trek Franchise…. Including his connection to Noah Hawley --- who is supposed to take the director’s chair on the next Star Trek Film. The question --- has Russo spoken to Halwey about the next film. His reply “I have! We have spoken about it, and we’ve talked what he is going to want from a musical perspective, and how to approach it, and what the story is looking like it’s going to be, which is extremely exciting to me… He’s one to definitely talk about music with me, so when he called to say that his film was in the works, I was extremely excited.”
Roddenberry Impact Awards
Calling all Television Content creators! The Roddenberry
Foundation and social impact agency Propper Daley’s A Day of
Unreasonable Conversation have teamed up for this year’s
Roddenberry Impact Awards. Ten awards of $10,000 will “be
granted to television content creators who are committed to - and
have innovative ideas and approaches for - reimagining the
processes for writing and telling stories that better represent the
diversity of people, thought, and expression throughout
society.
Those of you interested in applying have until May 8, 2020 at 5pm
PT --- and remember --- the goal of the event is to //quote//
unlock social progress through the power of stories //end
quote//.
Star Trek Online and Gaming News
by Shane Hoover
Free Borg Pack
A free giveaway has just begun on April 9th for Console Captains, running for two weeks. Players can claim a free promotional Borg Pack once per account. The pack contains:
- 4 Borg Lock Box Weapon Packs (choice of Borg ground or space weapon)
- 1 Faction-appropriate Borg Bridge Officer
- 1 Small XP Boost
And though the PC giveaway started last week, it’s not too late to grab your Borg Pack there, either. The PC giveaway continues through April 16th.
April Fools Day Klingon Concertina Festival
All around the Galaxy, space stations, academies, bases, and back alleys were immersed in Klingon Culture last week! To celebrate April Fools Day, Star Trek Online gave players a game-wide Klingon Concertina Festival. NPCs all over the galaxy could be found trying their hands at the Klingon squeeze box and singing Klingon music (sadly with no audio).
Also in the April Fools spirit, Kurland was back on DS9’s Promenade. Interacting with the famous Starfleet Captain would get you a “Mysterious Box” and a free Dab emote. The Mysterious Box, when opened, would randomly present you with another “Mysterious Box” or an impressive explosion! It’s probably safe to say this was Kurland’s revenge for all the abuse he took during 2018’s April Fools Day.
EVENTS
The in-game calendar on PC shows a couple of events coming up.
First, we have a 3 week “Bonus Experience” event starting April 24th. During this event, players earn an extra 100% bonus Experience throughout the game. It’s a great time to level up a character or start a whole new character. It’s a little unusual for this event to be 3 weeks long, so stay tuned for any related news from Cryptic on this one.
Starting on April 30th, we also have an “Item Upgrade” weekend through May 4th. During this event, item upgrade tokens provide 100% more Technology Points. Get your Phoenix Upgrade tokens ready to burn, Captains!
PRIORITY ONE ARMADA NEWS
Join us for TFO Thursday - each Thursday we team up with other Armada members to earn marks and dilithium.
Tribbles and bits - cannibal tribble edition.
- Mirror Month!
Other Gaming News
Star Trek Fleet Command Introduces New Player Server Selection
Star Trek Fleet Command has announced a new feature designed to make the game more friendly to referrals. Players who join the game now can choose what server they’re attached to. This lets a new player join the specific server where a friend already plays. For a limited time, players who refer a friend will also earn rewards when that referral reaches level 10 in the game or makes in-game purchases. The reward for your first referral is 800 Ultra Recruit tokens and a Reward Chest. Additional Reward Chests can be earned on your 3rd, 6th and 9th referrals. The reward earned by a referral purchase is a special Uhura game avatar.
This promotion ends April 15th, and referrals must reach level 10 by then to qualify for rewards.
Star Trek Timelines April Mega-Event
Star Trek Timelines has announced the theme of April’s Mega-Event, “Double Jeopardy”. This story event will focus on the knowledge of the U.S.S. Discovery becoming public again, and an ensuing push to ban synthetics. The event will feature crew from both Picard and Discovery, and will give bonuses to all crew with the Cyberneticist trait. The Soji crew card will be the recurrent threshold reward for all four events this month.
Tracee Lee Cocco
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/realtraceecocco/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/realtraceecocco
Official Website: www.traceeleecocco.com