Making the Game - Part 8 (May 13, 2008)

[Bandit LOAF]

The organization of the game continues! Today we see a collection of documents laying out the goals and organization for the Wing Commander V Playstation team. The project was headed by Billy Cain... and it shows! Just check out the mission statement: "Our mission is to make Wing Commander 5 PSX the #1 selling version of Wing Commander, ever, on any platform (not including WC5 PC, because we would hurt their feelings)." The plans for Prophecy PSX were unique - it was to be the first time that a console version of a Wing title was developed alongside the PC project.

Wing Commander V Playstation Bible
Download (4.8 MB)

Date: April 30, 1996
Project: Wing Commander Prophecy
Donated By: Billy Cain
Pages: 11

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Original update published on May 13, 2008

 

[Mekt-Hakkikt]

It's more funny to read, that's for sure.

I don't know much about the PSX - what where there as relevant peripherals that WCP could support? (Wish list, p. 3)

 

[Bandit LOAF]

I don't know much about the PSX - what where there as relevant peripherals that WCP could support? (Wish list, p. 3)

I suppose this means different joysticks and other controllers - and possibly other addons, although I don't know of any specifically for the original PSX (hard drives and the like). One of the great features of Wing Commander IV PSX is that it has specialized control schemes for various joysticks -- including an enormous Sony joystick-and-throttle setup that makes the game feel just perfect.

 

[Capn Johnny]

Yeah, that dual analog stick controller for the Playstation1 was friggin ginormous!

-J

 

[Capn Johnny]

Behold! The Dual Analog Flight Stick!

I believe each stick is about the same height as full grown Kilrathi!

For some reason, I seem to remember us working with a PS1 version of a CH Flight stick.. but I may be thinking of the one for Wing3 3DO...

 

[Mekt-Hakkikt]

Wow, I didn't know the PS 1 got such kind of peripherals. Not bad at all. Could you also plug in regular PC joysticks or only specific PS stuff?

 

[Bandit LOAF]

I don't remember a PS1 CH 'stick, but it's certainly possible it existed. If they did it for the 3DO, it stands to reason they would have done it for a succesful console. The 3DO one is very, very nice (and makes Wing Commander III a breeze to play.) In both of these cases, the real shame is that the super special neato joysticks *didn't* work perfectly with the earlier Wing games on their respective systems.

I don't think you can plug ordinary PC peripherals into a PS1/PSX/whatever (where did "PSX" come from, anyway?). If you look at the connector in Johnny's picture you'll see that it doesn't look anything like a contemporary PC plug... and if you look at the unit itself you'll see that as strange and giant as it is, it still has all the particular Playstation buttons on it (circle/square/whatever).

 

[Mekt-Hakkikt]

You're probably right, I don't even know what kind of connectors the PS1/X featured.

I never had any fancy joystick setup like that. I had a very durable CH flightsick but it didn't feature anything besides the standard two buttons and a small wheel for increasing speed.

 

[MannPower]

The 'X' in PSX refers to the PS1's development. It was originally supposed to be a CD-Rom & SNES 'combo' system, before Nintendo killed the project. After that, Sony decided to make it a stand-alone, and the prototype phase was called "Playstation Experimental." I remember seeing the 'PSX' reference in early ad materials.

Nowadays, PSX should no longer refer to the PS1, because the PSX is now a totally different system; Sony's PS2/Media Center hybrid from a few years back.