William Shatner Beams One More Time

Xbox® gamers finally get their very first Star Trek game, courtesy of the Bethesda Softworks title Star Trek: Legacy. This tactical space shooter lets Xbox 360™ gamers play as all five Star Trek captains from the past 40 years.

Shatner continues to be best known for his role in the Star Trek universe.

No starship captain is more recognizable, in fact few figures in science fiction are as recognizable as James Tiberius Kirk, played by William Shatner in both the original television show and in seven feature films. Shatner has stepped back into Kirk's space boots once again to bring a touch of authenticity to the new Legacy game, which introduces a new storyline connecting all 40 years of Star Trek mythology, and an intimidating new Vulcan antagonist.

Voice Work
Shatner stepped into the recording studio and immediately went back to the character he is most famous for. The actor, who recently won an Emmy for his portrayal of Denny Crane on Boston Legal, said that it was strange in a way to do the voice work for the game.

"The strangest part of it all was doing the branching responses in the game, where there are a lot of yes responses and a lot of no responses, to allow the player to make choices throughout the game," said Shatner. "It's very amusing, actually."

"I think the Holodeck technology that has been
featured in the TV shows is just around the
corner for gamers, actually."

The Final Frontier
Shatner is very familiar with the videogame industry. The Canadian actor is a partner in the Toronto-based company Core Animation, which creates computer-generated images for film, TV, and games. He said through that company, he's learned how advances in computer animation and special effects now propel both Hollywood and the videogame industry forward.

"We know that the technology is advancing by leaps and bounds and every three months or so something new is introduced," said Shatner, who respects the high definition visuals and cutting-edge effects that Star Trek Legacy features on Xbox 360.

Technology has always been an integral part of the Star Trek universe, and the franchise has been a popular staple for video games. Gamers have enjoyed commanding the Enterprise over the years and taking on enemies like the Borg, the Klingons, and the Romulans.

On shows like Star Trek: The Next Generation and Deep Space Nine, the Holodeck was often used to play futuristic videogames, including letting the crew explore virtual realities and even go back in time.

Experience epic Star Trek battles in high definition.

"I think the holodeck technology that has been featured in the TV shows is just around the corner for gamers, actually," said Shatner, who wasn't joking. In fact, even though the videogame industry may not yet have holodecks ready for sale, Shatner remains actively involved in the industry.

"I have been attempting to bring some new games to the market," Shatner said. "It's something that's difficult to do. At Core we try to do it all. We're constantly trying to improve videogames."

A Legacy Reborn
Shatner has proved in his post-Star Trek roles on shows like T.J. Hooker and Boston Legal that he has a good sense of humor, both about his work and himself. That was also evident when he was asked why the Star Trek franchise has remained so strong after 40 years.

"It's been waiting for this moment to become a really good game," he said, but also added, on a more serious note, "There's a magic in Star Trek, no matter what form it takes."

In fact, Star Trek has been translated into virtually every available entertainment medium there is, including the recent DVD release of Star Trek: The Animated Series. There have been movies and TV shows, pinball games, video games, slot machines, and even, believe it or not, an opera! Shatner said that although there have been Star Trek games before, none have been advanced or as entertaining as Star Trek: Legacy, and he said that's not just because he was a part of the project.

Boldly Going
J.J. Abrams (Lost, Mission: Impossible III) is current writing the script for a new Star Trek film, due out in 2008, that will re-launch the franchise with a new cast, but with familiar characters, including a young James T. Kirk. Shatner believes the true legacy of Star Trek is its message of security.

"The fact that the stories are set about 300 years from now means we'll still exist then," said Shatner, "It means that we won't die in the next 50 years."

Now that Bethesda Softworks has a long-term licensing deal for the Star Trek franchises through last year, expect more Star Trek games. It's likely that Shatner, as well as other creative forces behind the shows, like writer Dorothy "D.C." Fontana, who also worked on Legacy, will return for future interactive installments on Xbox 360.

Article by John Gaudiosi