But Is It Ours? (February 27, 2007)

Bandit LOAF · 02-26-2007, 16:00

The professional opinion seems to be that Wing Commander Arena is a fun game... but many hardcore Wing Commander fans are worried that it won't make proper use of the classic series' extensive continuity. Producer Sean Penney was kind enough to answer a few questions, giving us a glimpse at the kind of work and research Electronic Arts has put into making this a true 'Wing Commander' game. Watch for references to everything from Secret Missions 2 to Chris Roberts' Wing movie!

Quote:

Q. Have you had previous experience with Wing Commander, either as a developer or as a gamer?
A. My previous experiences with Wing Commander were as a player and fan. Being part of the Star Wars generation (aren't we all, really?) I couldn't get enough sci-fi and the WC franchise was a long time companion. I played them and went through more than a few joysticks.

Q. How will Arena appeal to existing Wing Commander fans?
A. This was a question we asked ourselves a lot during development as we wanted to ensure we did the IP justice. We balanced that with a desire to introduce the WC universe to new players. We were careful in our selection of ships and queried the WC community on our choices. The ships we used are favorites from across the series, and they are true to the IP in more than just form - function and balance were important considerations. Our goal was to offer a fast-paced fun arcade space combat game to WC fans that would also have broad appeal. And being able to fly Kilrathi ships has me excited as a fan too. It's an Arcade title - so think of Wing Commander Arena as a slice of the Wing Commander experience.

Q. Will the game include any familiar Wing Commander elements -- ships, history or the like?
A. Oh yes of course - we've advanced the history in a minor way, and the ships are drawn from across the WC universe, and will be familiar to WC fans. We've updated some to fit in with the frontier-like atmosphere of Arena. For Example:

The A-17 Broadsword Executioner: The Broadsword was first constructed for planetary bombing raids during the Pilgrim War, and was soon adapted to carry torpedoes. Lightly armored but sporting heavy weapons and good missiles as well as a deployable turret and a tractor beam, this bomber is perfect for taking on small, quick fighters.

And

The Dralthi IX Rhino: By far the heaviest Dralthi ever constructed, the Rhino is the equal of the Vaktoth or the Hhriss. Heavily armored and armed, with moderate speed and maneuverability, the Rhino hits hard and keeps on hitting.

Q. When and where in the Wing Commander universe is the game set?
A. The Epsilon Sector, 2701. The Terran Confederation and the Kilrathi Assembly of Clans have beaten back the Nephilim hordes, but at a terrible cost. As the shattered governments focus on rebuilding the core worlds, the frontier has descended into lawlessness. Regional governors hold power through force of arms, as humans and Kilrathi alike fight amongst themselves using the weapons of the last war. Privateers, outlaws and worse take advantage of the situation, eager to make a quick credit in the galaxy's most volatile arena...

Q. Can we expect to see any promotional tie-ins with Arena... web presence, Gamer Pics, XBox themes, etc.?
A. All good ideas

--
Original update published on February 27, 2007

Pedro · 02-27-2007, 05:48

All those details truly made me salivate for a full blown title. The described scenario would make for a fantastic sequel, the nephilim have only been described as having been pushed back, and there is some great setup for interesting tales. Rather than Wing Commanders more classic good versus evil (no bad thing, obviously but explored already) it fills me with hope that a new energy could be injected into a a new title, rather than a simple ressurrection.

LeHah · 02-27-2007, 06:10

I was actually going to buy the Star Trek: Legacy X-Box theme, but hesitated in hope that a Wing Commander one is put out with Arena.

gwydion · 02-27-2007, 07:05

it's been mentioned a few times that you haven't been able to fly Kilrathi ships in the past - which is ALMOST true. A simple cheat typed in the WCP simulator and you could fly a couple... even in multiplayer.

Bandit LOAF · 02-27-2007, 07:10

Yeah, Sean was in #WingNut last night -- he said he felt bad about not remembering Armada when he did the interview with Gamespot.

gwydion · 02-27-2007, 07:28

ohh yes Armada too, forgot about that myself. First time you could fly cloaked ships if I remember correctly.

Bandit LOAF · 02-27-2007, 07:38

That's right (well, we used to hack Wing Commander 2 and fly the Strakha before that, but that doesn't really count...).

The problem with cloaking is that, as they found in WC3 and 4, is that it just isn't much *fun* against an AI. In a game where you want to go around blowing stuff up, a flag to make the action pause just falls flat... those games ended up having to come up with reasons to trick you into doing it at all.

Armada, and now Arena, are different... because decloaking right in front of a real person is a heck of a lot more satisfying.

TheFraix · 02-27-2007, 07:55

Well, from the looks of it WC Arena seems to have little story (aside from the background one) and to me... it seems so much...

Idunno, reminds me too much of Armada perhaps.

Bandit LOAF · 02-27-2007, 08:03

What?

Edfilho · 02-27-2007, 08:30

I liked the story they made. It's lite, leaves space for a WCP/SO continuation, and it's IN THE FUTURE!

Obee · 02-27-2007, 09:10

Do not forget the Dralthi in SM and this prototype-fighter in Academy

.

Bandit LOAF · 02-27-2007, 09:12

We actually pointed those out last night -- they're humans flying Kilrathi ships, though.

IPhoenixI · 02-27-2007, 09:46

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bandit LOAF

Yeah, Sean was in #WingNut last night -- he said he felt bad about not remembering Armada when he did the interview with Gamespot.

Aww damn. I was going to come onto Wingnut last night but the combo of Work, School, and sick fiancé kept me busy.

(I apologize I know this is way off topic..but sense I've been away for some time I just got engaged a few months ago.

)

Bandit LOAF · 02-27-2007, 10:29

Congratulations, that's great news!

Now convince your fiancee to let you get an Xbox...

gevatter Lars · 02-27-2007, 10:32

The storybackround sounds familiar. Wasn't their something similar in one of the concepts for Privateer3/online?
If they picked that up it could be interesting to see if they will follow that guide for another game...just a thought.

Frosty · 02-27-2007, 10:43

Quote:

Q. When and where in the Wing Commander universe is the game set?
A. The Epsilon Sector, 2701. The Terran Confederation and the Kilrathi Assembly of Clans have beaten back the Nephilim hordes, but at a terrible cost. As the shattered governments focus on rebuilding the core worlds, the frontier has descended into lawlessness. Regional governors hold power through force of arms, as humans and Kilrathi alike fight amongst themselves using the weapons of the last war. Privateers, outlaws and worse take advantage of the situation, eager to make a quick credit in the galaxy's most volatile arena...

That's pretty fantastic. This is exactly what I've been talking about in my other posts, about attention to detail, and care for Wing Commander as a whole. Some people seem to feel cheated that they're getting a brand new game that they can play with all their friends, but I'm pretty awed by all of it.

What would be even cooler is if we got another game after Arena that was set during the Nephilim War again, and filled in that massive blank left by "...beaten back the Nephilim hordes, but at a terrible cost."

floundericiousMI · 02-27-2007, 10:53

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bandit LOAF

Armada, and now Arena, are different... because decloaking right in front of a real person is a heck of a lot more satisfying.

Don't you mean decloaking right BEHIND a real person?

LeHah · 02-27-2007, 11:04

Quote:

Originally Posted by Frosty

What would be even cooler is if we got another game after Arena that was set during the Nephilim War again, and filled in that massive blank left by "...beaten back the Nephilim hordes, but at a terrible cost."

Maybe I'm reading too much into it - but that "terrible cost" part has really got my imagination going. It could be taken any number of ways...

IPhoenixI · 02-27-2007, 11:12

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bandit LOAF

Congratulations, that's great news!

Now convince your fiancee to let you get an Xbox...

Thanks Loaf.

I do need a 360...hmmm...wedding present.

Arena looks pretty cool. Though I know I'm going to miss cockpit view if I do end up getting it.

Dougly · 02-27-2007, 12:26

Quote:

The A-17 Broadsword Executioner: The Broadsword was first constructed for planetary bombing raids during the Pilgrim War

A reference to the WC movie. And, it's likely to end up in an actual WC game.

Thus should end the longstanding debate over whether or not the WC movie is "canon."

Delance · 02-27-2007, 12:36

The story for this game is just fantastic. It gives us a general idea about what happened after WCSO, and still leaves a lot to be developed by other games. It works perfectly.

Dougly · 02-27-2007, 13:03

Part of me was a little wary of this game at first. But, as I hear more, I become increasingly excited. Not only do they go to the trouble of advancing the WC storyline a bit, but it also seems to me as though they've come up with an excuse (fighting the Nephilim has sapped military strenght) for allowing people to use "older" style fighters (Rapier, Broadsword).

Sadly, I probably won't be able to play it. I haven't had much luck finding steady work since I graduated from college. I don't have enough money for my own place, and I can barely keep up with my student loans, let alone come up with the money I'd need to buy an X-Box (and everything else Arena will require), just for one WC game.

Maybe it will be ported to PC some day? Buying a PC version might be a little more "doable" given my current budget.

Death · 02-27-2007, 14:16

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dougly

A reference to the WC movie. And, it's likely to end up in an actual WC game.

Thus should end the longstanding debate over whether or not the WC movie is "canon."

Optimist.

Red Heartagram · 02-27-2007, 15:06

What type of capital ships are in the game? I know I've seen it mentioned that the ConFed side gets the Midway class but what do the Kilrathi get. Since all the other ships in the game are from earlier games I'm assuming it's a ship we've seen before.

Pedro · 02-27-2007, 15:16

Quote:

Originally Posted by Death

Optimist.

I dunno its pretty irrefutable now. Personally I'm disappointed, franchises with better received movies such as Resident Evil felt no need to incorporate the movies; and whilst I know the feelings of many of the mods here on the matter I fully believe there is no reason you can't have two parallel but different canons for a franchise.

02-27-2007, 06:10	#3
LeHah 212th Special Ops, "The Old Man's Eyes And Ears" Join Date: May 2000 Location: Blackmane System Posts: 7,213	I was actually going to buy the Star Trek: Legacy X-Box theme, but hesitated in hope that a Wing Commander one is put out with Arena. __________________ Gleaming shell of an outworn lie; fable of Right divine -- You gained your crowns by heritage, but Blood was the price of mine. The throne that I won by blood and sweat, by Crom, I will not sell For promise of valleys filled with gold, or threat of the Halls of Hell!

02-27-2007, 07:10	#5
Bandit LOAF It wears the skull of its dead mother on its head. When it becomes lonesome, it is said to cry loudly. Join Date: Jan 2000 Location: Ashton, MD, USA Posts: 23,952	Yeah, Sean was in #WingNut last night -- he said he felt bad about not remembering Armada when he did the interview with Gamespot. __________________ Long live the Confederation, Ben "Bandit" Lesnick, LMG. "You go, Loaf! Get some!" -JPG

02-27-2007, 07:38	#7
Bandit LOAF It wears the skull of its dead mother on its head. When it becomes lonesome, it is said to cry loudly. Join Date: Jan 2000 Location: Ashton, MD, USA Posts: 23,952	That's right (well, we used to hack Wing Commander 2 and fly the Strakha before that, but that doesn't really count...). The problem with cloaking is that, as they found in WC3 and 4, is that it just isn't much fun against an AI. In a game where you want to go around blowing stuff up, a flag to make the action pause just falls flat... those games ended up having to come up with reasons to trick you into doing it at all. Armada, and now Arena, are different... because decloaking right in front of a real person is a heck of a lot more satisfying. __________________ Long live the Confederation, Ben "Bandit" Lesnick, LMG. "You go, Loaf! Get some!" -JPG

02-27-2007, 08:03	#9
Bandit LOAF It wears the skull of its dead mother on its head. When it becomes lonesome, it is said to cry loudly. Join Date: Jan 2000 Location: Ashton, MD, USA Posts: 23,952	What? __________________ Long live the Confederation, Ben "Bandit" Lesnick, LMG. "You go, Loaf! Get some!" -JPG

02-27-2007, 09:12	#12
Bandit LOAF It wears the skull of its dead mother on its head. When it becomes lonesome, it is said to cry loudly. Join Date: Jan 2000 Location: Ashton, MD, USA Posts: 23,952	We actually pointed those out last night -- they're humans flying Kilrathi ships, though. __________________ Long live the Confederation, Ben "Bandit" Lesnick, LMG. "You go, Loaf! Get some!" -JPG

02-27-2007, 05:48	#2
Pedro Swabbie Banned Join Date: Jan 2000 Location: England Posts: 1,346	All those details truly made me salivate for a full blown title. The described scenario would make for a fantastic sequel, the nephilim have only been described as having been pushed back, and there is some great setup for interesting tales. Rather than Wing Commanders more classic good versus evil (no bad thing, obviously but explored already) it fills me with hope that a new energy could be injected into a a new title, rather than a simple ressurrection.

02-27-2007, 07:05	#4
gwydion Cadet Join Date: May 2005 Location: Melbourne, Australia Posts: 59	it's been mentioned a few times that you haven't been able to fly Kilrathi ships in the past - which is ALMOST true. A simple cheat typed in the WCP simulator and you could fly a couple... even in multiplayer.

02-27-2007, 07:28	#6
gwydion Cadet Join Date: May 2005 Location: Melbourne, Australia Posts: 59	ohh yes Armada too, forgot about that myself. First time you could fly cloaked ships if I remember correctly.

02-27-2007, 07:55	#8
TheFraix Lieutenant Colonel Join Date: Apr 2000 Location: Jakarta, Indonesia Posts: 764	Well, from the looks of it WC Arena seems to have little story (aside from the background one) and to me... it seems so much... Idunno, reminds me too much of Armada perhaps.

02-27-2007, 08:30	#10
Edfilho Cry some more! Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Rio de Janeiro - Brazil Posts: 3,522	I liked the story they made. It's lite, leaves space for a WCP/SO continuation, and it's IN THE FUTURE!

02-27-2007, 09:10	#11
Obee 2nd Lieutenant Join Date: Jul 2001 Posts: 83	Do not forget the Dralthi in SM and this prototype-fighter in Academy .

02-27-2007, 10:29	#14
Bandit LOAF It wears the skull of its dead mother on its head. When it becomes lonesome, it is said to cry loudly. Join Date: Jan 2000 Location: Ashton, MD, USA Posts: 23,952	Congratulations, that's great news! Now convince your fiancee to let you get an Xbox... __________________ Long live the Confederation, Ben "Bandit" Lesnick, LMG. "You go, Loaf! Get some!" -JPG

02-27-2007, 10:32	#15
gevatter Lars Colonel Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Hamburg Germany Posts: 1,146	The storybackround sounds familiar. Wasn't their something similar in one of the concepts for Privateer3/online? If they picked that up it could be interesting to see if they will follow that guide for another game...just a thought. __________________ I give suggar in my coffee, and the coffee just gets totaly depressed, because I can't accept him, as he is.

02-27-2007, 12:36	#21
Delance Victory, you say? Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: São Paulo, Brazil Posts: 4,220	The story for this game is just fantastic. It gives us a general idea about what happened after WCSO, and still leaves a lot to be developed by other games. It works perfectly. __________________ "The true soldier fights not because he hates what is in front of him, but because he loves what is behind him." -- Chesterton

02-27-2007, 13:03	#22
Dougly 2nd Lieutenant Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Pennsylvania, USA Posts: 130	Part of me was a little wary of this game at first. But, as I hear more, I become increasingly excited. Not only do they go to the trouble of advancing the WC storyline a bit, but it also seems to me as though they've come up with an excuse (fighting the Nephilim has sapped military strenght) for allowing people to use "older" style fighters (Rapier, Broadsword). Sadly, I probably won't be able to play it. I haven't had much luck finding steady work since I graduated from college. I don't have enough money for my own place, and I can barely keep up with my student loans, let alone come up with the money I'd need to buy an X-Box (and everything else Arena will require), just for one WC game. Maybe it will be ported to PC some day? Buying a PC version might be a little more "doable" given my current budget.

02-27-2007, 15:06	#24
Red Heartagram 2nd Lieutenant Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Hot Springs, Arkansas Posts: 101	What type of capital ships do we get? What type of capital ships are in the game? I know I've seen it mentioned that the ConFed side gets the Midway class but what do the Kilrathi get. Since all the other ships in the game are from earlier games I'm assuming it's a ship we've seen before.