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Another Call for Space Trading Combat Comeback
There were a number of classic game remakes announced at E3 this week, but space sims were noticeably lacking. PSP World seems to agree, and they've written an article about space traders and other games that need to be made. They particularly zero in on single player games too. These updates can get a little repetative, but the message is clear and important to spread around!
Apparently there was a story to Wing Commander: Privateer, but we forgot what it was because we were too busy trading with Pirates and running contraband to New Detroit. The concept of these games is simple, but incredibly compelling: The player is given a ship with guns on the front and storage bays in the back. Sent out into the vastness of space, the player interacts with alien races both friendly and not, while trading commodities between systems to improve their ship and equipment. Outside of MMOs like Earth and Beyond, there really haven't been any good single-player entries in the genre since pre-2000, and yet the definitive example has certainly yet to be made. Here's an example where current-gen hardware could really be put to work. Imagine if Mass Effect gave players total freedom to travel between planets, trade with them, and pilot their own fighter, in addition to the detailed RPG elements. Sure, the final product would probably need to ship on 4 separate disks, but it would be worth it.
[ChrisReid] [# 9486] [Show comments]  
Making the Game: Special Effects
Special Effects is another brainstorming 'wishlist' type document, explaining exactly what the team will need to develop in order to wow players in the final game. A lot of these are very simple today (particularly various lighting effects) but were groundbreaking at the time. One interesting note: "11. Chaff will be a bright orange light, much like the Academy cartoon." Interesting, if unusual, reference!
These updates are thanks to John "Captain Johnny" Guentzel, who provided several CD image archives of material used by the Wing Commander Prophecy development team!
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Special Effects
Download (18 kb)
Date: March 25, 1997
Project: Wing Commander Prophecy
Donated By: John Guentzel
Pages: 4
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[LOAF] [# 9491] [Show comments]
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