The space station in "The Ultimate Computer", reamstered

[Wingsley]

In the original original series, the space station seen in "The Ultimate Computer" used the same image as Space Station K-7 from "The Trouble with Tribbles". I liked this; is was a nice, economical re-use of the K-7 image that probably cost little or nothing. It was also nice to see the K-7 image used again so we can see it wasn't unique in the TOS Universe. It was also interesting to see the image of the S.S. Botany Bay from "Space Seed" re-used as the "freighter" Woden. I wasn't a huge fan of this recycling, but it worked.

For "The Ultimate Computer" remastered, the "space station" was replaced with a "Vanguard" knockoff dubbed Starbase Six. The characters refer to the station as just that: a space station. If it were also a Federation Starbase, I would expect Kirk and Uhura to refer to it accordingly. I also noticed that the Woden became a TAS cargo drone knockoff ("The Trouble with Tribbles"). The new Woden I can sorta live with. (I'm not the biggest fan of the TAS freighter ships, but they are an interesting placeholder.) But where did that Vanguard idea come from?

I'm not asking out of any objection to it, I'm just curious as to how the decisions were made to replace both the station and the DYellow Submarine. Who gave the order? It's nothing personal; it's strictly business.

 

[ZapBrannigan]

For "The Ultimate Computer" remastered, the "space station" was replaced with a "Vanguard" knockoff dubbed Starbase Six. The characters refer to the station as just that: a space station.

My memory of the remaster is foggy and I don't want to pull out the DVD. Does the CGI space station say Starbase on it?

Also, what Vanguard are you referring to?

 

[CrazyMatt]

This is one of my favorite episodes and frankly the remastering does not make it look any better than the original. Again, the ships look cartoonish, which is a shame given the content of the episode; so much good could have been done!

 

[F. King Daniel]

For "The Ultimate Computer" remastered, the "space station" was replaced with a "Vanguard" knockoff dubbed Starbase Six. The characters refer to the station as just that: a space station.

My memory of the remaster is foggy and I don't want to pull out the DVD. Does the CGI space station say Starbase on it?

Also, what Vanguard are you referring to?

The titular station from the Vanguard novel series. It's one of those rare occasions where something from the tie-ins is later canonized.

As for the station, and why the change was made, details here: http://en.memory-alpha.org/wiki/Starbase_6_model

 

[MarsWeeps]

I'm not asking out of any objection to it, I'm just curious as to how the decisions were made to replace both the station and the DYellow Submarine. Who gave the order? It's nothing personal; it's strictly business.

I'm not sure who made the decision to replace the station and the cargo ship but I think the reason is fairly obvious. You said it yourself, in the original episodes, they simply re-used the footage of the K7 station and Khan's ship. It was the perfect opportunity to "correct" that cost saving decision.

Oh, when you make posts like this, it really helps to have pictures:

Space Station comparison pics, original footage vs. remastered footage:




Cargo ship comparison pics, original footage vs. remastered footage:

 

[Metryq]

Gads. Not to beat a thoroughly pulped horse, but those comparison shots really underscore the "first generation CGI" quality of the work in TOS-R. Smooth and plastic-like. (Shudder.)

 

[feek61]

Gads. Not to beat a thoroughly pulped horse, but those comparison shots really underscore the "first generation CGI" quality of the work in TOS-R. Smooth and plastic-like. (Shudder.)

I think the word you are looking for is "terrible"

 

[Metryq]

Gads. Not to beat a thoroughly pulped horse, but those comparison shots really underscore the "first generation CGI" quality of the work in TOS-R. Smooth and plastic-like. (Shudder.)

I think the word you are looking for is "terrible"

"It was terrible!" (39:02)

 

[ZapBrannigan]

I'll never get over it as long as I live!

 

[Relayer1]

Gads. Not to beat a thoroughly pulped horse, but those comparison shots really underscore the "first generation CGI" quality of the work in TOS-R. Smooth and plastic-like. (Shudder.)

I think the word you are looking for is "terrible"

Don't you think there was a decision made to keep something of the style and look of the show whilst upgrading the detail, resolution and sometimes the design ?

I'm sure they COULD have done something more in keeping with modern shows should they have wished.

 

[Metryq]

Don't you think there was a decision made to keep something of the style and look of the show whilst upgrading the detail, resolution and sometimes the design ?

This has been discussed many times at great length, hence the "thoroughly pulped horse" comment. In short, many feel that the "matte paintings" are an improvement, but that the CGI "miniature work" (spaceships and such) look very out of place because they don't match the style of the show. Going with "simpler" CGI did not help, it hurt.

 

[CrazyMatt]

Everytime I see "In A Mirror, Darkly" and marvel at the wonder of A CGI Constitution-class starship done properly, my appraisal of TOS-R sinks even further.

 

[Warped9]

Everytime I see "In A Mirror, Darkly" and marvel at the wonder of A CGI Constitution-class starship done properly, my appraisal of TOS-R sinks even further.

Sorry, but this doesn't have TOS' aesthetic either. It's just more contemporary style cgi.

 

[plynch]

True; but if I didn't know better and were told it was a lighted miniature I could believe it. Which is something, anyway.

 

[Wingsley]

If the studio could do a visibly better job showing us the CGI Defiant in "In a Mirror, Darkly", why couldn't they do the same with TOS-R?

 

[Relayer1]

Don't you think there was a decision made to keep something of the style and look of the show whilst upgrading the detail, resolution and sometimes the design ?

This has been discussed many times at great length, hence the "thoroughly pulped horse" comment. In short, many feel that the "matte paintings" are an improvement, but that the CGI "miniature work" (spaceships and such) look very out of place because they don't match the style of the show. Going with "simpler" CGI did not help, it hurt.

Ah, this is a first time venturing into this topic for me - thanks for bringing me up to speed !

 

[plynch]

If the studio could do a visibly better job showing us the CGI Defiant in "In a Mirror, Darkly", why couldn't they do the same with TOS-R?

I think b/c 79 eps with a preannounced schedule to release by. I'm not a TOS-R expert by any means. VIVA clamshells.

 

[Maurice]

And because it wasn't the same vendor making the effects.

 

[Wingsley]

So, the people making the ENT Defiant were known for doing a better job at CGI than the ones who "remastered" TOS?

 

[Shawnster]

While I think it makes sense for the "Space Station" to be a similar (ok, identical) design to K-7, I always rolled my eyes at the reuse of the Botany Bay. K-7 would be a contemporary station with this "Space Station" from Ultimate Computer. However, the Botany Bay was a 200 year old sublight sleeper ship and in no way a contemporary to a warp powered robot freighter.