logo Sign In

Wing Commander - Privateer

Author
Date
Author
Time
Post link
Older forum members probably remember the game Privateer, a spinoff to the famous Wing Commander series. Younger generation probably have seen the Wing Commander movie. Back in 1993, when Origin released Privateer, the Wing Commander II was one of the first games I bought for my "new" PC
Learn about the old game.

Privateer is a "space flight simulator" (well, more like an arcade shooter ) with strong adventure elements - you can roam anywhere, the freelancing part adds greatly to the gameplay. You may become a space mercenary, pirate, smuggler, merchant... and you don't "select your profession", you just do what you want Escort that fat freighter and defend if from pirates to get $, or blast it with your lasers and collect its cargo, debris and crew (!) to sell it later on the black market... even older gamers will naturally remember Elite or Frontier, younger ones may see similarities to contemporary MMOGs or games like X-Beyond the Frontier.

I had trouble running the said game on my old Win98 system few years ago, let alone now. But now we're given a new possibility:

A remake

Yes, a bunch of maniacs... err.. I mean talented and laborious people have resurrected a 1993 game using modern engine from the game Vega Strike (similar one to Privateer). The Privateer Remake was born. As it featured some more or less drastic changes/additions to the original, another group of "purists" created "a mod to a mod" which aims to recreate the old game even more closely: Privateer - Gemini Gold.


I have discovered it only several hours ago - I've just installed it and flew a bit. The biggest difference - and on the positive side - is the fact that all objects are 3D now, instead of original 2D sprites. This allows for more "realistic" space dogfight, as you can observe enemy's flight trajectory and make leading shot, while previously you never knew when are they going to make another 45-degree turn (limited animation frames).

Just take a look at the Privateer in new clothes:

http://wcnews.com/newestshots/full/ggconst2.jpg

http://wcnews.com/newestshots/full/geminigold09.jpg


Sorry, gotta fly now!




Wing Commander Universe
http://sourceforge.net/projects/wcuniverse

Wing Commander Combat Information Center
http://www.wcnews.com
I saw the original theatrical release of the Old Trilogy on the big screen and I'm proud of it...
How did I accomplish that (considering my age) is my secret...
Author
Time
Post link
My memories of Wing Commander will forever be dominated by two things:

The gross scientific innacuracies of the movie that even a 12-year-old could detect.

Mark Hamill... with a beard.

4

Author
Time
Post link
Originally posted by: Darth Chaltab
...The gross scientific innacuracies of the movie that even a 12-year-old could detect.

Then how can you like Star Wars?


I never liked the WC universe - ie: the Kilrathi thing (big cats in space? c'mon!), the "more movie than game" feeling from WC3 upwards, the movie sucked major time...
But I have soft spot for WC2 and Privateer was always one of my all-time fav games - I just love the freelancing aspect in any game (generated vs scripted, branched vs linear, repetitive vs random).
I saw the original theatrical release of the Old Trilogy on the big screen and I'm proud of it...
How did I accomplish that (considering my age) is my secret...
Author
Time
Post link
Originally posted by: RRS-1980
Originally posted by: Darth Chaltab
...The gross scientific innacuracies of the movie that even a 12-year-old could detect.

Then how can you like Star Wars?



At least Star Wars doesn't have them using MACHINE GUNS in OUTER SPACE. Besides, there has been an explanation for pretty much everything Star Wars deviates from physics on. They don't really fire lasers, they are bursts of charged gas; Hyperspace is another dimension where matter can travel faster than light; there is a forcefield that keeps the air from blasting out of the open docking bays; sound doesn't really travel in space--the comuter synthesises the noises for the benefit of pilots.

4

Author
Time
Post link
Originally posted by: Darth Chaltab
Originally posted by: RRS-1980
Originally posted by: Darth Chaltab
...The gross scientific innacuracies of the movie that even a 12-year-old could detect.

Then how can you like Star Wars?



At least Star Wars doesn't have them using MACHINE GUNS in OUTER SPACE. Besides, there has been an explanation for pretty much everything Star Wars deviates from physics on. They don't really fire lasers, they are bursts of charged gas; Hyperspace is another dimension where matter can travel faster than light; there is a forcefield that keeps the air from blasting out of the open docking bays; sound doesn't really travel in space--the comuter synthesises the noises for the benefit of pilots.


Yeah GL just makes a explaination for anything wrong. Like when when Hamil yell CARIE!!!!!!!!! at the end of IV they denouced that too!!
Author
Time
Post link
Originally posted by: sean wookie
Originally posted by: Darth Chaltab
Originally posted by: RRS-1980
Originally posted by: Darth Chaltab
...The gross scientific innacuracies of the movie that even a 12-year-old could detect.

Then how can you like Star Wars?



At least Star Wars doesn't have them using MACHINE GUNS in OUTER SPACE. Besides, there has been an explanation for pretty much everything Star Wars deviates from physics on. They don't really fire lasers, they are bursts of charged gas; Hyperspace is another dimension where matter can travel faster than light; there is a forcefield that keeps the air from blasting out of the open docking bays; sound doesn't really travel in space--the comuter synthesises the noises for the benefit of pilots.


Yeah GL just makes a explaination for anything wrong. Like when when Hamil yell CARIE!!!!!!!!! at the end of IV they denouced that too!!

YEAH!
Author
Time
Post link

The Wing Commander games were a huge part of my childhood.  What EA did to them and Ultima is a big part of why I hate that company with a passion of a thousand suns.