Gaming Nomads offers Star Trek fans the experience they've always wanted -- the chance to command your own bridge crew during a combat simulation.
They've combined a shareware application -- the Artemis Spaceship Bridge Simulator (http://www.artemis.eochu.com/) -- with touchscreen monitors (bridge stations) and a large LCD monitor (the "viewscreen") to create a truly immersive team building experience.
Artemis combines the standard bridge stations -- Helm, Weapons, Engineering, Science, Comms -- with the most important station on any "standardized" starship bridge -- the Captain. Perfect for team and communication skills building, Gaming Nomads' service is perfect for Star Trek fans and cubicle / office mates alike.
So what's it like?
1st star - Helm
"Oh, my..." Take a spin in Sulu's chair, using warp drives OR jump drives (an Artemis option) to dodge space mines, singularities, enemy ships, and space whales.
The helmsperson is probably the busiest player in the Artemis Spaceship Bridge Simulator. You're the one responsible for docking for supplies and repairs, maneuvering around enemies, and fulfilling mission objective travel. You have to be aware of the Weapons station ranges, the status of repairs / energy allocation in Engineering, and the location of anomalies found by Science.
2nd star - Weapons
"Enemy wessels!" Chekov's station is pure fun, but you have to be careful. This isn't just phasers and photon torpedos.
No, Artemis gives you beam weapons, missiles, nuclear missiles, ECM bursts, etc. The sheer variety of weapons will keep you very busy during combat situations, as you must micro manage the launchers, the targeting of enemies, and the state of your shields (a duty shared with the Helm station).
Bonus -- Gaming Nomads will ACTIVELY provide you with tactics recommendations, my favorite being the poop and scoop.
3rd star - Science
"Fascinating..." Spock's station requires you to be a terrific communicator, as you will have the most direct communication with the captain. Without your reports on what's available on the game map -- enemies, anomalies, etc. -- the Captain (and the rest of the crew) won't have a thing to do.
4th star - Engineering
"She's givin' you all she's got, Captain!" You'd think Mr. Scott just has to shovel dilithium coal into the boilers of your Artemis ship, but that's not the case.
The folks at Gaming Nomads will spend a lot of time instructing anyone at the Engineering station explaining how EVERY other position on the bridges needs your diligence in energy allocation and repairs. It's more than just sliding around power and coolant controls -- it's demands listening to all your crewmates and acting on their needs.
5th star - Captain
"Warp speed..." Kirk doesn't get a station. All of the five stations and the crew at those stations belong to the Captain insomuch as he or she can communicate, make decisions, and react quickly to changing conditions.
The Captain in an Artemis simulator game is challenged to work with all five (5) bridge stations and the people manning them. His or her best friend is the main view screen -- something Gaming Nomads makes possible with a 46" LCD monitor at the front of the bridge.
Want to see something on main viewer? Ask your Helm or Weapons officer(s). They have full control of all of the various view modes for the Artemis simulator, and Gaming Nomads has made it the front and center way for the entire bridge to watch the action as a group.
Honorary 6th star - Gaming Nomads staff (not the Communications station)
No offense to Uhura, but the Gaming Nomads staff trumps the last Artemis simulator station...
Bill and Laurie travel around the country for team building sessions and cons with their Artemis simulator kit. They understand that their simulation setup goes way beyond Star Trek nerdgasms. The team building and self-assessment opportunities are much more rewarding than just the simple sci-fi satisfaction.
By adding touch screens to each station and a large view screen for the entire team, Gaming Nomads has turned what could be a fanboy simulation into an immersive team building experience. Instead of individual players pointing and clicking, the touch screens accept quick, casual input and allow the players to focus on the communication and camaraderie of the simulation itself.
The big screen brings all the stations together and provide a focal point for the participants, especially the Captain. It's also a great way for bystanders / observers of the simulation to partake in the action and learn from the current bridge crew's mistakes / achievements.
Bill and Laurie are very involved during each simulation, giving advice, technical support, and encouragement. They MAKE the Gaming Nomads / Artemis simulation experience, and you should get them in your office ASAP. read more