The Night the Lights Went Out In Vegas

This past weekend saw Creation Entertainment’s Official Star Trek Convention sweep through Las Vegas like a force of nature. Celebrities and fans alike flocked to Sin City in what was one of the largest celebrations of Trek Fandom in the world. It was four days of autographs, barter, and good old-fashioned camaraderie. I am proud to say Trek Radio received a slight extension of festivities as we were honored to cover a very special event on Sunday night, after the close of the convention proper.

Robert Picardo, everybody’s favorite Doctor from Star Trek Voyager and First Contact, hosted a charity auction at Tommy Rocker’s Southside Grill with all proceeds benefiting the San Gabriel Valley Habitat for Humanity. Habitat for Humanity is a nonprofit organization founded on the conviction that every man, woman and child should have a decent, safe, and affordable place to live. To date, Habitat for Humanity has built more than 500,000 houses, sheltering 2.5 million people worldwide.

Up for auction was memorabilia donated from the likes of Robert Picardo, Ethan Phillips, and John de Lancie. Signature lots included signed call sheets, scripts, photographs, framed posters, and even a piece of the now defunct Star Trek: The Experience.

Now, in life, nothing is ever easy and as Murphy would have it about 40 minutes into the event and shortly after Robert Picardo had taken the stage and begun the bidding another force of nature made its presence known in the form of a massive Monsoon which ripped through the area. Yes, we are talking unrelenting rain in the desert. An act of Q so large it knocked out power to several city blocks. We were left in the dark.

Yet, the show must go on.

Flashlights and cell phones soon illuminated the stage and the good doctor persevered, continuing to raise money for a good cause despite the darkness and encroaching heat. There were visits from the Alien Comic and even a magician was waiting in the wings, but the real magic came from a Star Trek legend we didn’t even know was in attendance.

Chris Doohan had donated a vial of set-used dilithium to the auction (We would expect nothing less from the son of a Chief Engineer). Robert Picardo had just begun to hold the dilithium fragments up to the makeshift spotlights when with a click and a whir the power was restored! Dilithium is potent stuff. Thank you Scotty. From that point on the auction resumed as normal and thousands of dollars were raised for a noble cause.

STLV – Star Trek Online Developers Panel

Last weekend Trek Radio and Massively hosted the Star Trek Online Discussion With the Developers Panel at the Official Star Trek Convention in Las Vegas. The DeForest Kelley Theater was packed with hundreds of enthusiastic and loudly gracious Star Trek fans, some of whom were being exposed to STO for the very first time.

Panel moderators Risa and Terilynn kicked off the festivities with a special presentation of the Free-to-Play Launch Trailer in full HD up on the big screen. STO had never looked so good! Soon after, the Cryptic Studio’s Development Team (Community Manager Brandon Felczer, UI Designer Thomas Marrone, Content Developer Jesse Heinig, and Executive Producer Daniel Stahl) took to the mics to answer a wide range of questions. From the warm reception of Season 6 to the story-inspired promise of Season 7 with a new playable sector and more Tholians, information was being tossed around faster than painstiks at an ascension ceremony.

Bigger. Better. More content. These were the buzzwords being used. Season 7 will be larger than 6. Season 8 will be larger still. We were told the development team has almost doubled since launch and will be taking on additional talent in the near future to accommodate the massive plans in store for Season 8.

There was talk about the Foundry. The uniqueness of this content tool was praised and we were told more assets and functionality were coming. Quality of life issues, such as being able to mark your favorite authors, are on the table. We were assured they are actively looking at ways to take the entire Foundry experience to the next level.

While timetables and release dates were hard to come by with most questions, we were pleased to hear Dan Stahl confirm the Vesta would be making an appearance much sooner than anyone had anticipated, perhaps as early as Season 7!

Many eager fans lined up to pick the minds of the Cryptic brain trust. While time did not allow for all the participants to ask their questions, a good many did. The conversations between fans and studio were truly something to witness. It’s this type of open dialogue and willingness to listen that will help propel STO past Season 8 and well on into the future.

Dev Panel Video (Fixed Audio)

Believe: STLV 2012

“DEAR EDITOR: I am 8 rotations old.
Some of my little friends say there is no STLV.
Papa says, ‘If you see it in TREK RADIO it’s so.’
Please tell me the truth; is there a Star Trek Las Vegas Convention?

VIRGINIA O’HANLON.
115 WEST NINETY-FIFTH STREET, EARTH.”

VIRGINIA, your little friends could not be more wrong. They have been affected by the skepticism of a skeptical age. They do not believe what they cannot see, or touch, or hear. If it is beyond their capacity of thought then it simply isn’t. All minds, Virginia, whether they be men’s, children’s, Romulan’s, Ferengi’s, or even Gorn’s… well especially Gorn’s, are small.

In this great universe of ours, Galactic Barrier notwithstanding, man is a mere insect, an ant, in his non-superior intellect, as compared with Khan and even the boundless world about him. We are measured by the intelligence capable of grasping the whole of truth and knowledge, not just what can be pulled up on a iPADD.

Yes, VIRGINIA, there is a Star Trek Las Vegas Convention. It exists as certainly as love and generosity and Horga’hns.

You know that they abound and give to your life it’s highest beauty and joy. (EDITOR’S NOTE: Especially that last one) Alas, my sweet little Human, how dreary would be the galaxy if there were no STLV. It would be as dreary as if there were no VIRGINIAS or Bloodwine! There would be no Pakledlike faith then, no poetry, no romance, no Kirk/Spock fan fiction to make tolerable this existence. We would have no enjoyment, except in sense and sight and neural implant. The external light with which childhood fills the world would be extinguished like the Vulcan Homeworld in so many a lens flare.

Not believe in Star trek Las Vegas? You might as well not believe in DragonCon! You might get your papa to hire MACOS to watch the whole of the Las Vegas Strip, but even if they did not see the Cosplayers descending, what would that prove? Nobody sees STLV, it is an experience. The most real things in the world are those that neither children nor Nausicaans can see. Did you ever see Gorn dancing on the lawn? Of course not, but that’s no proof they are not there. Nobody can conceive or imagine all the wonders there are unseen and unseeable in the world.

You may tear apart the communicator pin and see what makes the noise inside, but there is a veil covering the final frontier which not the strongest man, nor even the most single-minded Borg Drone could tear apart. Only faith, fancy, poetry, love, and Anovos can push aside that curtain and view all the supernatural glory behind.

Is it all real? Ah, VIRGINIA, in all this galaxy there is nothing else real and abiding.

No STLV! Thank Q! it lives, and it lives forever. A thousand years from now, Virginia, nay, ten times ten thousand years from now, it will continue boldly going, making glad the hearts of all.

Trekking with the Stars

Star Trek fans and Trek Radio staff are making final preparations and gearing up for Creation Entertainment’s 2012 Star Trek Las Vegas convention. While many of us are looking forward to seeing our favorite Trek stars on stage and meeting them in the Vendor’s Room, we are here to tell you it is not always necessary to attend a convention to meet our favorite celebrities and Trek friends.

Throughout the week surrounding STLV fans will have the opportunity to meet and socialize with several prominent figures in the Star Trek community. They will be having fun touring Star Trek filming sites with Geek Nation Tours, partying in the Rio, and making a difference with Robert Picardo.

LARRY NEMECEK & GEEK NATION TOURS

Starting on August 4th, Geek Nation Tours began a tour of famous locations involved in the filming of Star Trek episodes and films with the “Exploring Trek Sites: Hollywood to Vegas with Larry Nemeeck” tour. Departing from Los Angeles, Larry Nemecek joined GNT’s Teras Kassidy and a bus load of Trekkies to journey from Hollywood, CA to Las Vegas, NV stopping at iconic filming locations such as the Vasquez Rocks (where Kirk fought the Gorn). The fun continues with the “Trekking Out in Vegas” tour which will explore the fun sites and sounds of Las Vegas and the STLV convention.

If you missed your chance to book a spot in these tours, you can still enjoy an evening with Larry Nemecek on Wednesday (9pm PT) at the second annual Party Like a Spock Star Game and Trivia Night sponsored by our friends at DVD Geeks and TrekNews.net in the Rio Hotel’s Masquerade Bar, and on Thursday (6pm PT) at Trek Radio’s very own Masaka is Waking party at the Rio’s Village Bar. In addition to partying, Larry will no doubt be discussing his continuing efforts on his passion project, The Con of Wrath.

ROD RODDENBERRY & TREK NATION

In addition to co-hosting a panel presentation at STLV about his father’s philosophy behind Star Trek, Rod Roddenberry will be hosting a complimentary Free-to-All screening of his critically-acclaimed documentary Trek Nation. Rod will be on hand screening the film Thursday and Friday at 8pm in the Rio Hotel’s Brasilia Ballroom. We encourage everyone to attend and enjoy this amazing, touching film and show your support for Rod and Trek Nation. Rod will also be manning the Roddenberry booth at STLV throughout the convention, interacting with fans and signing autographs for free.

ROBERT PICARDO & HABITAT FOR HUMANITY

After the conclusion of the STLV convention, the festivities continue on Sunday the 12th (8:30PM – 12AM) with Robert Picardo’s 6th Annual Habitat for Humanity charity auction at Tommy Rocker’s Southside Grill in Las Vegas. Robert Picardo will host the live auction which benefits San Gabriel Valley’s Habitat for Humanity. Fans can meet Robert Picardo in person while enjoying entertainment and good food. In previous years, Robert sang songs and special surprise guests joined in on the fun. A $35 donation replaces tickets at the door. Attendees are responsible for purchasing their own food and drinks.

Stay tuned to Trek Radio all weekend long for continuing coverage of these special events and everything going on at the Star Trek Las Vegas convention.

Trek Radio supporting Robert Picardo’s Annual Charity Auction

Trek Radio is proud to be supporting Robert Picardo’s annual charity auction this year in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Complimenting Creation Entertainment’s huge Star Trek convention in Las Vegas later this week (although not officially affiliated with the convention), on Sunday August 12th at 8:30pm, Robert Picardo will be hosting his 6th Annual Charity Auction at Tommy Rockers Southside Grill. All proceeds will go to the San Gabriel Valley Habitat for Humanity.

You can visit www.robertpicardo.com for more information or contact Pat Arthur at webmaster@robertpicardo.com

Trek Radio will be in attendance showing its support for Robert Picardo during this event, so be sure to look out for us!

Shore Leave 34

Trek Radio Takes Some Shore Leave, and you are all invited!

Join Doc and Gettysburg7 as they enjoy some well deserved Shore Leave. That’s right, it’s time once again for Shore Leave, one of the oldest and best fan run science fiction conventions on the planet! Shore Leave 34 takes place this weekend, August 3rd-5th in Baltimore Maryland, at the storied Hunt Valley Inn.

Here’s your chance to rub shoulders with the likes of Kate Mulgrew, LeVar Burton, Musetta Vander, Jane Wiedlin, Vic Mignogna, and more! Can’t make it to the convention… fear not! You can catch all the latest news and information as it’s broadcast live on Trek Radio, tweeted from @TrekRadio, or posted on the Official Trek Radio Facebook Page.

So beam on down this weekend for a little Shore Leave. (Picard Speedos are optional)