• January 21, 2010

Through a deal with Atari, the Del Taco Mexican restaurant chain will offer free trial access to the new Star Trek Online game, scheduled for North American release on Feb. 2.

Customers who purchase a "macho-sized" drink at Del Taco will receive a free limited-edition Star Trek collector's cup bearing a code for free 48-hour access to Star Trek Online (at startrekonline.com/deltaco).

Customers who redeem the maximum four codes allowable (48 hours of game play with each code) will also be given a bonus 48 hours, for a total of 10 days' access.

In addition, consumers who opt to buy the game after their free trial(s) will receive a free Type-8 Shuttle "pet" virtual add-on for their virtual Trek starships, available exclusively from Del Taco.

Del Taco hopes to bring in new consumers who can be converted to regular customers, as well as increase sales volume. For Atari, the deal represents an opportunity to expand exposure for the game to mainstream audiences. --Karlene Lukovitz