Goodbye Origin

Sylvester

Vice Admiral
Damn, we've lost one of the Greatest Game Companies in history. They were part of the "Fabulous Trio" that made computer games in the 80's and 90's. The trio I am reffering to is Origin, Microprose (Who folded in 2001) and Interplay (Who someone owns."
 
Interplay? I don't know... Sierra On-Line or Electronic Arts itself were probably bigger influences on the industry in the eighties and nineties.
 
Castles isn't exactly regarded much as one of the greatest games of all time, but Interplay did (does?) have several very notable game series. I don't know where the "Fabulous Trio" title come from, but Interplay has made its mark.
 
Sierra and EA were great influences during the 80s and 90s. The orginal Kings Quest and Space Quest games, hell almost any game Sierra made was pretty damn good.
 
1068151679-00.gif
 
*Imitates the elvish hymn sung to mourn Gandalf after Moria.*

Interplay had Black Isle -> Planescape Torment. And they owned Volition -> Freespace 1/2. Let's not overlook those dumbasses... (Referring to those who decided to fire all but two of the Black Isle-team.)

It's a poor world for serious games...
 
Maaaaaan........ I'm really stating to hate EA. First they axe WestWood studios... and now this. I think I'm gonna cry......

Fare Thee well, Origin. May Wing Commander live on in the hearts of fans everywhere.
 
I beheld my first ever taste
Of Wing Commander; ported by Mindscape
But of Origin now we sing our songs

We delved our hands
Into many tasks in many lands
And midis to which we hummed along

Now lie you here, struck a blow
A mortal terror we now know
They spoke of its coming short and long

So take your blade we do and must
And in your memory, give a thrust
For Origin! For Origin! We shall suffer thee no wrong!

-Nick Blitz


The days for wishers of new WC titles have grown more dim. And for those of us who ever hoped for anything resembling Privateer Gold. Sing your dirges, friends; sing loud and long.
 
overmortal said:
The days for wishers of new WC titles have grown more dim. And for those of us who ever hoped for anything resembling Privateer Gold.

As loaf said on the front page, this could ironically boost the prospects for a new WC game. The situation was much worse in 2000 when they actually canceled WC and shut down WC development. Origin hasn't been working on WC in the interim, and the best preproduction indicators for a new WC game have been coming from LA for a couple years. Now with more of their resources consolidated, our chances for seeing a game in the next few years is more likely.
 
Mystery muppet said:
Interplay had Black Isle -> Planescape Torment. And they owned Volition -> Freespace 1/2. Let's not overlook those dumbasses... (Referring to those who decided to fire all but two of the Black Isle-team.)

It's a poor world for serious games...

Don't forget the Descent series (1, 2, and 3 plus expansions).

Also, don't think that WW and Origin were the only 2 companies axed by EA. Janes and Bullfrog are also casualties of the leaner EA (who's primary purpose, it seems, is to pump out Sims games and the EA sports line of games). I suppose all we can do is sing our songs and toast our toasts to the long departed game companies that we grew to love.
 
Janes was a brand - which EA licensed, and then had two of their development houses work on. (One of those was Origin - the Longbow games, F-15 and A-10 were all developed at the Austin studio.)
 
EA creating a new WC game is a nice idea, but it also kind of scares me. With today's current game philosophy of 0 learning curve, I would hate to see WC become something it is not.
 
Dundradal said:
EA creating a new WC game is a nice idea, but it also kind of scares me. With today's current game philosophy of 0 learning curve, I would hate to see WC become something it is not.

I'm not opposed to EA doing one in LA. C&C Generals is clearly influenced by the "leaner meaner" EA, but it's also probably the most fun I've had playing Command & Conquer in years.
 
But it's been said that storyline-wise C&C Abandoned completely the paths of the previous games, correct? I never played the game, however.

Let's hope that if they make a new game it doesn't have a bizarre story that hurts the rest of WCU.
 
C&C Generals is like Dark Reign in some aspects, like building stuff. Actually, it is more like a main stream RTS then it was before.

But I miss the old way!

And the story sucks. There are no live-action ceinimatics like in the others.
 
Delance said:
But it's been said that storyline-wise C&C Abandoned completely the paths of the previous games, correct? I never played the game, however.

It's a different timeline. Sort of like how Tiberian Sun and Red Alert 2 were clearly on divergent timelines. Generals takes place in the near future in the "real world." Geopolitics are more or less the same that we face in 2004 and it uses authentic modern military units. So yeah, Generals is on a new path.. but so was the last main C&C game that Westwood made, so that's not so much of an issue at all.

Iceblade said:
And the story sucks. There are no live-action ceinimatics like in the others.

That's where the Zero Hour expansion comes in. It's a like a whole new game. I loved Generals, but Zero Hour expands the game in every possible aspect.. including the addition of live action cinematics for the story. Generals is a lot of freakin fun.. if Wing Commander went the same way as the C&C series did, I would be very happy.
 
Back
Top