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...arcades. According to that one episode of TNG, the one where Data takes over the ship and meets Dr. Soong. The kid who accidently caused his brother to get infected with parasites talked about an arcade they went to play in. It wasn't a holodeck because the kids little brother wouldn't have gotten infected then.

This makes me dislike non war galaxys more and more. Bad enough they've got families onboard, but an arcade? On top of that, it appeared to be a...lazer tag arcade.

Aya wrote:This makes me dislike non war galaxys more and more. Bad enough they've got families onboard, but an arcade? On top of that, it appeared to be a...lazer tag arcade.

What's wrong with arcades? Kids aren't the only ones found in them. There were adults playing "arcade" games in a bar in ST 3.

IT IS A BLOODY SHIP (that belong to quesi-military)

Lets not forget the poisenous plant the kid ate. Why would that be on a ship that carries children? Then again there should be no children on a military ship but hey, thats starfleet for ya.

Well, you could get cadet midshipmen "kids" who are really just teenagers who want to join Starfleet; that's more plausible than having families onboard a ship which regularly encounters hostile ships and entities on it's exploration patrol. Why they didn't go down that route I'll never know...

Because, for one reason or another, GR wanted a world where people didn't mind endangering kids to military and scientific dangers every week. Why did he want this again?

FaxModem1 wrote:Because, for one reason or another, GR wanted a world where people didn't mind endangering kids to military and scientific dangers every week. Why did he want this again?

Same reason that the Federation suddenly had jack of all trade super flagships?

The biggest problem I had was that literally the Enterprise-D was supposed to be the best thing since sliced bread, and supposed to support families yet regularly goes into hostile and unknown territory that would've been far more suited for a devoted ship.

Just a bizarre dichotomy.

What's wrong with an arcade? It takes up little space, it allows the crew to relax, and it's not so dangerously volatile as a holodeck. I'm sure the USN has a few video games on the carriers and things.

Arcades are not the main problem with the GCS. The children and civilans omboard are.

Because, for one reason or another, GR wanted a world where people didn't mind endangering kids to military and scientific dangers every week. Why did he want this again?

He was really, really hung up on that "Wagon Train to the Stars" idea of his.

Uraniun235 wrote:

Because, for one reason or another, GR wanted a world where people didn't mind endangering kids to military and scientific dangers every week. Why did he want this again?

He was really, really hung up on that "Wagon Train to the Stars" idea of his.

Did he not watch Boxey-centric Galactica episodes?

Boxey was the little kid, right?

*shrug* It could be he felt he could do them better...? Or maybe by the time TNG came along, he had forgotten them.

Arcades aboard the Enterprise aren't a problem. In fact, I'd say arcade games are a far healthier diversion than a VR chamber that you lose Cthulhu-knows how many hours of your life in, disconnected from the real world.

The arcade was on the planet the Enterprise was in orbit of.

I've seen photographs of coin'ops and movie theaters aboard U.S. Navy carriers, some recriational facilities for crews on long voyages aren't a bad idea.

Soccermom_Union wrote:Lets not forget the poisenous plant the kid ate. Why would that be on a ship that carries children? Then again there should be no children on a military ship but hey, thats starfleet for ya.

Having kids aboard the E-D is dumb, but whining about having poisonous plants and kids aboard the same ship is just pathetic, particulary when that ship is rutinely attacked, invaded, endangered by anything from malevolent deitys to Martians and and freak anomalies of the week.

Lt. Worf: "Three Romulan Warbirds have just decloaked of the starboard bow, they have raised their shields and powered their weapons."

Counselor Troi: "Oh no, we have children aboard!"

Cmdr. Riker: "There are quite a few poisonous plants aboard the Enterprise that might endangeres the life of the children should they eat any of them."

Cpt. Picard: "Yes, that is quite alarming. Lt. Worf, locate and dispose of all poisonous plants aboard before any of the children eat them."

Lt. Worf: "Captain, with all due respect, were are about to be attacked by three Warbirds, are you quite sure that this the right time to worry about... poisonous plants?"

LtCmdr. Data: "There are 3974 poisonous plants aboard the Enterprise at the moment, some of them are quite lethal. For example the Red Dagosian Wild Flower - are rare and exotic flower found only on the 3rd moon of the 5th planet of the Dagosia system - contains a deadly nerve poison that will..."

Cpt. Picard: "Thank you Data. It is clear that poisonous plants pose an imminent danger to the children, we must dispose of the immidiatly."

Lt. Worf: "Sir, there are THREE WARBIRDS attacking us, shouldn't we..."

Cpt. Picard: "Lietenant, I will NOT have my authority questioned while the children are exposed to mortal danger by poisonous plants, you have your orders, follow them!"

Lt. Worf: "Sir, yes, sir!"

Cmdr. Riker: "Qapla'!"

I think the major problem is that the Enterprise had to be everything.

If it was a research vessel intended for long hauls and long stints in orbit around strange new worlds, then sure, give it every piece of scientific aparatus and allow all the beards and beardettes to take their families along.

And it's missions could of reflected that. The Enterprise had a small crew of Starfleet types to run the ship and a huge civilian complement which did all the surveying.

Or it could of been a diplomatic vessel designed to impress fleging FTL civilisations that the Federation was the polity for you. In this case it is showy and big and contains the 24th century's equivalent of glass beads and blankets. A diplomatic corps would also be present representing the diversity of the Federation (so not just the ubiquitous humans) and they would bring their families to show the indigs what peaceful guys they were.

And it's missions could of reflected that too. Lots of new civilisations and negotiations with the occasional fight to sate the bloodlust of the audience. In this scenario the Enterprise would of had an escort of a combat rated warship whose hawkish captain and crew regulary comes to blows with the Enterprise.

Or it could of been the flagship of Starfleet and obstaintly tricked out for battle. The crew is entirely military (Wesley would in this case of been a middie and a nephew of Dr Crusher) and it's job is to maintain the peace in and about the Federation.

And it's mission would of been chosen to reflect this. The Enterprise is involved in tense negotiations, standoffs, rescues and the occasional battle. Lot like TOS really.

In any of the above scenarios the ship would of been recognised as 'the finest in Starfleet'.

Unfortunatly it was all of the above. Which is what results in the silliness. The Enterprise was obviously intended to be much smaller but the commitees desires to add even more features and mission roles made it the wierd chimera we have.

Uraniun235 wrote:

Because, for one reason or another, GR wanted a world where people didn't mind endangering kids to military and scientific dangers every week. Why did he want this again?

He was really, really hung up on that "Wagon Train to the Stars" idea of his.

And it really shows.

It comes across as the E-D being like a travelling city.

GR would be rolling in his grave (if he had one) if he ever found out about the "War Galaxies". BWHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!

ggs wrote:And it really shows.

It comes across as the E-D being like a travelling city.

I think that's what he wanted. Not that it's a good thing, just that I don't think that was unintentional.

Uraniun235 wrote:

Because, for one reason or another, GR wanted a world where people didn't mind endangering kids to military and scientific dangers every week. Why did he want this again?

He was really, really hung up on that "Wagon Train to the Stars" idea of his.

And it seems nobody was able to convince him of all the flaws in it.

Of all the things to have on the E-D, an arcade is the least objectionable...

Actually, wouldn't it be a better question to ask why they leave killer plants laying around where any idiot can grab them? If I remember correctly, they had to lock the kid up in a clean room to keep him from spreading the parasites around, and yet something this hazardous is apparently left out in the open.

Howedar wrote:What's wrong with an arcade? It takes up little space, it allows the crew to relax, and it's not so dangerously volatile as a holodeck. I'm sure the USN has a few video games on the carriers and things.

On the the Charleston, an amphibious cargo ship, we had a couple of arcade games during our med cruiser (around 1988-89) and a few crew members had their own game machines or computers which they played games on.

Related question: Who designed the war galaxy and is there any canon info on it?

Aya wrote:Related question: Who designed the war galaxy and is there any canon info on it?

war galaxy's just the Dom war refit of the galaxy. Nothing special except it's warp core doesn't destablilize, blow up, reverse the antimatter compression, or fire compressed tetryon beams killing the crew if you look at it sideways, it has a few more phaser arrays, and it's more of a real warship than a multipurpose movable space city.