Spock and the Kobayashi Maru (spoilers)

[EJA]

The new movie states that it was Spock who first came up with the idea for the Kobyashi Maru test in 2254. I'm just wondering, did it still happen that way in the original timeline? Of course, in the original timeline Spock went to serve on the Enterprise under Pike in that year, but could he have given his program to the Academy to develop? Kirk takes and cheats on the test in 2258 in the new timeline, but when exactly did he take it in the original? I've read some non-canon accounts place it in 2254 which, incidentally, would've been around the time it was first introduced.

 

[El Chupacabra]

I'd say that Prime Spock never developed the program as otherwise his line in TWOK about never having taken the Kobayashi Maru before then would have been a bit pointless.

 

[An Officer]

Was it ever stated in the original series what the test actually involved?

 

[ockhamsrazor]

It wasn't stated that he came up with the test, it was only mentioned that he programmed it the last four years. The Kobayashi Maru test looks like a test with a longer history than 4 years (at the time of Star Trek XI, that is 2258) to me.

 

[EJA]

I'd say that Prime Spock never developed the program as otherwise his line in TWOK about never having taken the Kobayashi Maru before then would have been a bit pointless.

I see your point. However, it could be inferred that the reason Spock never actually took the test in the prime timeline was that he created it.

 

[Sky]

I see your point. However, it could be inferred that the reason Spock never actually took the test in the prime timeline was that he created it.

This is how I interpreted it. Would've been pointless for him to take the test he himself designed.

 

[EJA]

It wasn't stated that he came up with the test, it was only mentioned that he programmed it the last four years. The Kobayashi Maru test looks like a test with a longer history than 4 years (at the time of Star Trek XI, that is 2258) to me.

I'm not sure. I kind of got the impression he had been very closely involved with its conception. There's a moment when a guy refers to it as Spock's "baby", which in my eyes would cement this approach.

 

[ST-One]

It wasn't stated that he came up with the test, it was only mentioned that he programmed it the last four years. The Kobayashi Maru test looks like a test with a longer history than 4 years (at the time of Star Trek XI, that is 2258) to me.

This ^

 

[ST-One]

It wasn't stated that he came up with the test, it was only mentioned that he programmed it the last four years. The Kobayashi Maru test looks like a test with a longer history than 4 years (at the time of Star Trek XI, that is 2258) to me.

I'm not sure. I kind of got the impression he had been very closely involved with its conception. There's a moment when a guy refers to it as Spock's "baby", which in my eyes would cement this approach.

No, he says 'how could he beat your test' not 'baby'.

 

[EJA]

I see your point. However, it could be inferred that the reason Spock never actually took the test in the prime timeline was that he created it.

This is how I interpreted it. Would've been pointless for him to take the test he himself designed.

Exactly. To clarify things, my theory is that while Spock did come up with the basic idea for the scenario in the prime timeline, he most likely wouldn't have been quite so closely involved in overseeing it, seeing as he was away on Enterprise in the time it was being run.

 

[EJA]

Anyone else care to offer their opinions on this topic?

 

[captcalhoun]

yes. Spock programmed the test in nuTrek the last few years. no one says he invented it. it probably gets periodic reprogramming to make sure it can still keep people on their toes. or maybe it got reprogrammed for new hardware or something...

 

[Trekker4747]

Was it ever stated in the original series what the test actually involved?

The first we hear, and see, of it was in The Wrath o Khan where Savvik is taking the test in the opening and it happens pretty much the same as in this movie.

Freighter is stranded in Klingon space and you can either go and save it (and die at the hands of the Klingons) or not save the ship (killing her crew.)

The paticulars are different in this movie -they're ordered to save the ship which seems silly. The point is to see whether the cadet decides to go save the ship, risking his life and crew.

Kirk admits to having cheated to "win" the test as he doesn't believe in no-win scenarios.