That's a Capital Idea (February 28, 2007)

Bandit LOAF · 02-28-2007, 16:00

Electronic Arts is watching you... but in a good way! Wing Commander Arena lead Sean Penney has been following the talk on the forums, and noticed that fans were curious about how the capital ships in Arena came to be. Here's his explanation, with a number of the fan images they actually used to work on the design! He also promises that we're going to learn some more background about these ships very soon...

Quote:

Ben - reading through the forums there are a lot of questions about the battlecruisers - Attached are some of the inspirations for the cap ships.

The battlecruisers are modeled after the destroyer, but were modified a bit to accommodate game play.

We tried to take characteristics from other popular ships and work them into the designs since we couldn't model all of them.

We discussed frankensteining ships together, two halves of different ships, maybe with bombers "Welded" to the hull as additional engines and navigational thrusters - this was intended as a reflection of the way technology has been knocked back out on the frontier, but in the end went with an "inspired vision" that was more traditionally Wing Commander.

--
Original update published on February 28, 2007

Dyret · 02-28-2007, 16:50

Hehe, I remember asking about the battlecruiser on Wingnut a few days ago... It's an awesome looking craft!

Delance · 02-28-2007, 17:03

It was very nice of Sean Penney to give us this information. The capship battle was the first thing that really impressed me in Arena other than, of course, the very existence of the game.

Capship battles are a great thing in WC. Often they were an obscure aspect of the games. But I remember some great moments in WC2 and anti-matter weapons. One of the all time favorite missions on WCIV includes the Intrepid going mano a mano with a series of Confed ships. One minor disappointment on WCP and WCSO is that, although we have great new capships with big guns, capship combat wasn't very functional. It's just fantastic that Arena will focus and this aspect of WC. Even tough it's an arcade experience, we're looking at a great potential of strategic depth, especially considering it'll be multiplayer.

Vinman · 02-28-2007, 17:58

Quote:

Originally Posted by Delance

Capship battles are a great thing in WC. Often they were an obscure aspect of the games. But I remember some great moments in WC2 and anti-matter weapons.

Definitely, some of my favorite missions were the ones in Wing Commander III when you got to see Victory's escorts go off on their own to pound kilrathi capital ships.

Bandit LOAF · 02-28-2007, 18:06

Sean Penney seems like a really great guy -- he really cares about taking care of hard core fans... which is something he doesn't have to do. The majority of the people buying this games won't be longtime Wing fans -- they'll be casual gamers and ordinary Xbox gamers. EA doesn't *have* to do anything for us, and they're bending over backwards to help us out here.

I just hope that if -- when -- EA develops a big budget Wing title that Sean is put in charge.

Red Heartagram · 02-28-2007, 18:15

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bandit LOAF

Electronic Arts is watching you... but in a good way! Wing Commander Arena lead Sean Penney has been following the talk on the forums, and noticed that fans were curious about how the capital ships in Arena came to be. Here's his explanation, with a number of the fan images they actually used to work on the design! He also promises that we're going to learn some more background about these ships very soon

I think it's incredibly cool that the game creators are taking the time to see what the fans are saying about the game and actually talking back to them. I think if anyone still has misgivings about EA not caring about Wing Commander fans or the already established WC universe, this should finally ease there mind.

Delance · 02-28-2007, 18:58

I agree, Sean Penney is the right man for the job if and when EA decides to go big with WC. If they can do this with XBLA, imagnie what he can do with a full blown sequel.

There are lots of things that could go wrong with Arena, but the game appears to be fanastic. It's supposed to be a simple experience, but it already have layers of complex gameplay. With the right resources, we can only imagine what could be accomplished -- all that with a great degree of respect for the IP franchise. Things are looking great.

Ggmesquita · 03-01-2007, 07:38

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bandit LOAF

Sean Penney seems like a really great guy -- he really cares about taking care of hard core fans... which is something he doesn't have to do. The majority of the people buying this games won't be longtime Wing fans -- they'll be casual gamers and ordinary Xbox gamers. EA doesn't *have* to do anything for us, and they're bending over backwards to help us out here.

I just hope that if -- when -- EA develops a big budget Wing title that Sean is put in charge.

That’s exactly what I think.
This will be a great attempt to see whether this new generation of gamers will buy Wing Commander. I mean, it’s been almost 10 years now. And assuming that most of the Xbox gamers must be around 15yo (just assuming), EA is cautious, they want to know if current gamers will like it and buy it as we did back than.
Go on kids, buy it, buy it and buy it!

Red Heartagram · 03-01-2007, 07:49

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ggmesquita

That’s exactly what I think.
This will be a great attempt to see whether this new generation of gamers will buy Wing Commander. I mean, it’s been almost 10 years now. And assuming that most of the Xbox gamers must be around 15yo (just assuming), EA is cautious, they want to know if current gamers will like it and buy it as we did back than.
Go on kids, buy it, buy it and buy it!

I'm not sure most XBOX gamers are around 15. Most of my friends have xbox's and their between the ages of 23- 32. It's not just for kids anymre

Ggmesquita · 03-01-2007, 08:01

Yeah, I might be wrong about that...
Maybe there is offical data on this somewhere.

But they are testing waters, that's for sure.

Delance · 03-01-2007, 08:31

They are certainly testing the waters. It seems to me that a company like EA don't bring a big franchise like WC back if they're not thinking ahead. Just check how EA treated the C&C franchisefor example.

StarSlayer · 03-01-2007, 09:14

I think you guys ought to run that "What kind of a year will 2007 be for Wing Commander" poll again....I think the results will be significantly different this time around...finally

Delance · 03-01-2007, 09:29

Yeah, and it`s time this new informations is reflected by the poll. What about a poll about the most exciting aspect of WC Arena?

IPhoenixI · 03-01-2007, 09:46

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bandit LOAF

Sean Penney seems like a really great guy -- he really cares about taking care of hard core fans... which is something he doesn't have to do. The majority of the people buying this games won't be longtime Wing fans -- they'll be casual gamers and ordinary Xbox gamers. EA doesn't *have* to do anything for us, and they're bending over backwards to help us out here.

I just hope that if -- when -- EA develops a big budget Wing title that Sean is put in charge.

I was just thinking of the same thing while reading the news this morning. Sean seems to be taking the high road with this hole experience. I wish more people in the industry where like him. I really appreciate how he's tying in us "the fans". I've always felt that if you lission to your hard core fans with any type of production and took it food for thought with your work, it usually has the potential to give great results.

When I first heard about WC Arena I was excited that there was going to be a new game for us. Then once I read into what it was going to be I kinda felt worried that it was going to be some kind of mindless game with WC ships plugged into it. Though, with what Sean has said about it, I'm looking forward to getting my hands on a 360 and the game when I can afford it

.

I agree, Let's hope all goes well with Arena and in the future we'll have a new "classic style" WC game.

Dundradal · 03-02-2007, 11:56

If we are lucky maybe we'll get a bunch of new WC games instead.

This is turning out to be an exciting year. First, C&C3 which is already amazing and now Arena.

I'd kind of gotten used to the slower pace of the CIC in the last few years, but now seeing the forums hotter than ever and the news updated multiple times, at first it was overwhelming and I know it hasn't even started yet soon enough they'll be hundreds of new wingnuts jumping in.

It's been worth the wait.

Bring on the battlecruisers.

ChrisReid · 03-03-2007, 15:10

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dundradal

I'd kind of gotten used to the slower pace of the CIC in the last few years, but now seeing the forums hotter than ever and the news updated multiple times, at first it was overwhelming and I know it hasn't even started yet soon enough they'll be hundreds of new wingnuts jumping in.

Yeah, I think there's a huge chunk of the gaming population that never reads gaming news sites or visits forums. They won't find out about WC Arena until they turn on their XBox this summer and there's a nice big dashboard advertisement saying that it's been released. I think we'll start to see the biggest boost then.

Quote:

Originally Posted by StarSlayer

I think you guys ought to run that "What kind of a year will 2007 be for Wing Commander" poll again....I think the results will be significantly different this time around...finally

Yup.. and anybody who isn't excited about 2008 at this point is crazy.

02-28-2007, 16:50	#2
Dyret Super Carrot! Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Norway Posts: 2,155	Hehe, I remember asking about the battlecruiser on Wingnut a few days ago... It's an awesome looking craft! __________________ Glory to the many

02-28-2007, 17:03	#3
Delance Victory, you say? Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: São Paulo, Brazil Posts: 4,220	It was very nice of Sean Penney to give us this information. The capship battle was the first thing that really impressed me in Arena other than, of course, the very existence of the game. Capship battles are a great thing in WC. Often they were an obscure aspect of the games. But I remember some great moments in WC2 and anti-matter weapons. One of the all time favorite missions on WCIV includes the Intrepid going mano a mano with a series of Confed ships. One minor disappointment on WCP and WCSO is that, although we have great new capships with big guns, capship combat wasn't very functional. It's just fantastic that Arena will focus and this aspect of WC. Even tough it's an arcade experience, we're looking at a great potential of strategic depth, especially considering it'll be multiplayer. __________________ "The true soldier fights not because he hates what is in front of him, but because he loves what is behind him." -- Chesterton

02-28-2007, 18:06	#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	Sean Penney seems like a really great guy -- he really cares about taking care of hard core fans... which is something he doesn't have to do. The majority of the people buying this games won't be longtime Wing fans -- they'll be casual gamers and ordinary Xbox gamers. EA doesn't have to do anything for us, and they're bending over backwards to help us out here. I just hope that if -- when -- EA develops a big budget Wing title that Sean is put in charge. __________________ Long live the Confederation, Ben "Bandit" Lesnick, LMG. "You go, Loaf! Get some!" -JPG

02-28-2007, 18:58	#7
Delance Victory, you say? Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: São Paulo, Brazil Posts: 4,220	I agree, Sean Penney is the right man for the job if and when EA decides to go big with WC. If they can do this with XBLA, imagnie what he can do with a full blown sequel. There are lots of things that could go wrong with Arena, but the game appears to be fanastic. It's supposed to be a simple experience, but it already have layers of complex gameplay. With the right resources, we can only imagine what could be accomplished -- all that with a great degree of respect for the IP franchise. Things are looking great. __________________ "The true soldier fights not because he hates what is in front of him, but because he loves what is behind him." -- Chesterton

03-01-2007, 08:01	#10
Ggmesquita Cadet Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Sao Paulo, Brazil Posts: 8	Yeah, I might be wrong about that... Maybe there is offical data on this somewhere. But they are testing waters, that's for sure. __________________ Rebirth!

03-01-2007, 08:31	#11
Delance Victory, you say? Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: São Paulo, Brazil Posts: 4,220	They are certainly testing the waters. It seems to me that a company like EA don't bring a big franchise like WC back if they're not thinking ahead. Just check how EA treated the C&C franchisefor example. __________________ "The true soldier fights not because he hates what is in front of him, but because he loves what is behind him." -- Chesterton

03-01-2007, 09:14	#12
StarSlayer Cadet Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: Massachusetts, USA Posts: 21	I think you guys ought to run that "What kind of a year will 2007 be for Wing Commander" poll again....I think the results will be significantly different this time around...finally

03-01-2007, 09:29	#13
Delance Victory, you say? Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: São Paulo, Brazil Posts: 4,220	Yeah, and it`s time this new informations is reflected by the poll. What about a poll about the most exciting aspect of WC Arena? __________________ "The true soldier fights not because he hates what is in front of him, but because he loves what is behind him." -- Chesterton

03-02-2007, 11:56	#15
Dundradal TCS Tarawa (CVE-8) "Plank Owner" Join Date: Jan 2000 Location: Confederate Archives, Confed HQ, Sol System Posts: 3,869	If we are lucky maybe we'll get a bunch of new WC games instead. This is turning out to be an exciting year. First, C&C3 which is already amazing and now Arena. I'd kind of gotten used to the slower pace of the CIC in the last few years, but now seeing the forums hotter than ever and the news updated multiple times, at first it was overwhelming and I know it hasn't even started yet soon enough they'll be hundreds of new wingnuts jumping in. It's been worth the wait. Bring on the battlecruisers. __________________ "To you, we are deeply grateful, and release what little hold we might, as Durandal, have had on your soul. Go." - Final Terminal Message Marathon Infinity

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