While the initial format was small, and the number of ships limited, the game was still not "simple". This was dictated in part by a desire to do the "definitive Star Fleet game". This meant that it included as much detail as possible from all the source material available. In the mid-70s, this meant the original two series and a number of fan publications. Except for "The Original Series" itself, none of these materials are considered canon today, but at the time, they were all considered fairly authoritative, especially the "Star Fleet Technical Manual" by Franz Joseph, which had originally been blessed by Gene Roddenberry, and from whom Steve Cole got the license to do a "Star Trek" game.