Crazy Cockpits Compressed

We've updated the Cockpit Reference to include the redrawn versions of the four original Wing Commander ships as they appeared in the Super NIntendo (SNES) port of the game! If you've only played one or the other, you might be surprised by how different the other looks beyond having distinct aspect ratios… the Scimitar's layout in particular is totally rearranged! We've put together a 'normal' and 'alarms active' version for each of the ships.

I also made some new notes about differences between the two platforms:

• The SNES version does not have damage states; your cockpit never sparks or scars, there are no exposed wire or scorched panel graphics.
• The hit indicators and the fuel warning lights are either non functional or removed entirely in the SNES version.
• The 'sides' of the Hornet cockpit aren't actually clear; you can't see the skybox through them.
• The afterburner speeds are significantly reduced for the SNES version and the ships can't display values higher than three digits. Hornet 1240 kps to 970 kps, Scimitar 1120 kps to 975 kps, 1200 kps to 975 kps and Rapier 1300 kps to 969 kps (nice).

The SNES port does not have bespoke rear or side views for any of the ships. When you eject or are killed, the ensuing cutscene always uses a Hornet rear view (extended upward in the case of the eject cutscene because the following first person shot is cut).

The nav map is also redrawn for the different screen area required by the console:

Another discovery I made while putting these new reference cockpits together was that the SNES version 'fixes' the Hornet cockpit seen in the takeoff and landing cutscenes. The original Hornet art was made significantly before the other ships (for the rolling demo which announced the game) and featured a 'frosted' cockpit instead of a clear one you could see the pilot through. The SNES updates the Hornet so it matches the other ships!