(GASP!) What has EA done to Wing Commander!
by James Ransom-Wiley 
{ Feb 23rd 2007 at 5:59PM }
Wow. What the frack did EA do to Wing Commander? Arena is a joke.
When word broke that EA was preparing to resurrect Origin's classic franchise after nearly a decade-long hiatus, fans were understandably thrilled. "This has pretty much sold me on my decision to buy a 360 instead of a nice video card," boldly stated one Joystiq commenter. "Simply awesome," mused another. Please, we encourage you to revise your statements below ...
Gallery: Wing Commander Arena
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
Otakuon @ Feb 23rd 2007 6:04PM
Um...it looks like a 3D version of Asteroids....
Intentless @ Feb 23rd 2007 6:03PM
Work doesn't have the plugins!!! What have they done someone describe it please!
Rubang B @ Feb 23rd 2007 6:04PM
In other news, Sega has announced 4 new games for the VC, Nintendo has announced 2 new consoles that will be added to the VC, and Ocarina of Time will be available for download on Monday.
Zertoss @ Feb 23rd 2007 6:04PM
EA must be taking franchise revival notes from Sonic Team. Remember the little Asteroids-style level from Battletoads & Double Dragon? That's the first thing that popped into my mind.
reptilicus @ Feb 23rd 2007 6:06PM
This is terrible. Who approved this atrocity?
CaptNink @ Feb 23rd 2007 6:06PM
Awwwwww.....WTF!!!!!
Karmakin @ Feb 23rd 2007 6:09PM
...
That's the worst thing I've seen in a long time. That's the worst gameplay I've seen in a really long time.
Where to start?
First, IT'S NOT A SPACE COMBAT SIM. It's a simple 3rd person ship action game. It's like Subspace (oh if we could only be so lucky) with a psudo-3d perspective.
Second, you turn so fast that there's no strategy to movement. It's just aim and shoot. No possibilty of technique, or any skiull.
AND IT'S ON A 2D PLANE!!!!!!!!!
This is bad. Really bad. Maybe they game will be pretty good. But that they're doing this to the Wing Commander name? I weep, my tears staining my keyboard.
Adam Sutherland @ Feb 23rd 2007 6:06PM
It really does look like some crappy 3D asteroids. Way to go EA.
Dave @ Feb 23rd 2007 6:22PM
This is definitely not what I expected. The worst part is that I'll probably buy it anyway.
CaptNink @ Feb 23rd 2007 6:10PM
I never comment twice, but I have to vent my utter dissapointment and frustration with this development!!!
What grade of crack is EA smoking over there?! F*** this bullsh*T! I thought we were getting Wing Commander, not flippin' "Asteroids"!
Another franchise killed by EA. Thanks.
Rubang B @ Feb 23rd 2007 6:19PM
They could AT LEAST let you move UP and DOWN so it could be a shitty knockoff of Descent or Forsaken 64, but now it's just a shitty multiplayer Asteroids 2007.
And @Zertoss, that level in Battletoads & Double Dragon always reminded me of a busted-ass Solar Jetman. But yeah, that level sucked.
And Subspace was/is the bomb.
Utopioneer @ Feb 23rd 2007 6:20PM
Should have turned this into a Subspace style multiplayer game, that would be a hit.
KrazyIan @ Feb 23rd 2007 6:20PM
All I can say is ouch, that hurt to watch. Almost as bad as the Wing Commander movie.
Wing Commander I - IV were stone cold classics that deserve to be revered. This is just a Asteroids game with the WC name tacked on.
silkylove @ Feb 23rd 2007 6:20PM
I just died a little inside:(
AirIntake @ Feb 23rd 2007 6:21PM
Looks like absolute crap from a Wing Commander standpoint. If they want to release this game, they should call it something other that Wing Commander. Wing Commander is and was all about piloting a space fighter in 3D.
Matt @ Feb 23rd 2007 6:21PM
Wow, from the description yesterday, I was expecting something arcady, but not this. At the very least they should put it in 3D.
Dracula Jones @ Feb 23rd 2007 6:22PM
I never played the Wing Commander games. I was too busy saving the world (or at least a sasquatch) in LucasArts games. So I'm basing my opinion on nothing but the video posted.
It looks like Geometry Wars 3D. And that could maybe be pretty fun. I'm at least interested to play the eventual demo.
Supino @ Feb 23rd 2007 6:23PM
They just used the name to earn money? that is low EA.
Chessasaur @ Feb 23rd 2007 6:25PM
As someone who bought a 386 back in the "day" with a SoundBlaster card specifically because of Wing Commander, I have to say....WHAT IS THIS SH*T?!?!?!
Poisoned Al @ Feb 23rd 2007 6:28PM
THIS is the reason why I was SO glad EA gave away the rights to System Shock. EA, please stick to making crap sports games for beer guzzling f**k-tards that wouldn't know a good game if it pissed in their mouth!
Bill @ Feb 23rd 2007 6:31PM
"They just used the name to earn money? that is low EA."
Properties are bought up all the time Why?
"The worst part is that I'll probably buy it anyway."
Because it works.
Until consumers start voting with their dollar, EA will only grow larger and larger on the backs of franchises that, while once great, have sagged, because why bother, when your name alone will get you there.
Next (current) gen, NBA Live and Madden anyone?
This will continue until more people lay down the gauntlet and simply say: "No."
But unfortunately most people who buy EA games are mainstream gamers who will just buy it without a second thought because of the name.
stephentur @ Feb 23rd 2007 6:30PM
It's a XBLA game right? No one is going to pay $60 for a game that looks like it can be played on Nintendo 64.
MosquitoControl @ Feb 23rd 2007 6:29PM
It looks like it could be fun single player.
But did you see that dogfight? It was more akin to jousting. They just rushed at each other, crashed, bounced, turned, etc. Lame.
Still might have a few minutes of fun in it. But not compared to what a XBLA game similar to X-Wing v. Tie-Fighter would have been. A true 8 player space sim, even with poor graphics, would have been awesome.
Awesome.
We all expected Crimson Skies in space. Maybe a bit deeper, maybe.
Instead we get something akin to that free MMO action game from like 10 years ago.
Spore @ Feb 23rd 2007 6:30PM
More like Ass Commander..... I'm going to egg the EA building on my way home tonight.
SourceDecay @ Feb 23rd 2007 6:32PM
it may not look or feel like the awesomeness of the old wing commander games, but it looks like it could be fun. and i don't see any problem with that.
but EA still sucks. always and forever.
Game Artist @ Feb 23rd 2007 6:34PM
This is as bad as what Mech Assault did to the Mech Warrior series. :( Why oh why must they tease us with a new release in our favorite series and then release this arcade crap?
Levi @ Feb 23rd 2007 6:39PM
I guess this is what they meant when they said that there would be several different maps released.
I had my suspicions when the press release said that.
shawn @ Feb 23rd 2007 6:41PM
oh what the hell is this garbage..EA you dumb fools you ruined the franchise..rename this damn game to asteroids revival or something dont name this wing commander what the hell is the matter with you...they just killed wing commander thanks alot EA...
ManOwaR @ Feb 23rd 2007 6:44PM
When I first heard WING COMMANDER was coming to XBLA I was really looking forwartd to it. But now, after seeing the video, I bummed.
That IS NOT Wing Commander - I don't know WHAT it is, but it sure ain't the Wing Commander I grew up playing. I think this is further proof that EA really knows how to destroy a franchise. First MADDEN, then NBA LIVE, then FIFA now this!
What franchise will EA destroy next?
steve17 @ Feb 23rd 2007 6:43PM
"They just used the name to earn money? that is low EA."
that IS EA!!!
this is pretty terrible. they tried to hard with some decent (maby ps1.5) backround graphics while giving u a dinky little pindot of a ship with the gameplay depth of pong.
Jonah Falcon @ Feb 23rd 2007 6:45PM
Um, it looks like a good XBLA title to me. What were you expecting for more than 50 MB?
Oh, wait. James "I HATE THE XBOX!" Ransom-Wiley posted this article. Yet another hate article by someone trying to put a dark lining on a silver cloud.
AoE @ Feb 23rd 2007 6:52PM
Wow.... I wasn't expecting good things, but boy did they screw the pooch on this one.
Would now be the appropriate time to point out that if you purchase an EA game, even the ocassional decent one they accidentally release, you're encouraging them to continue down thier current path? Let's stop encouraging this kind of behaviour... Don't buy any EA games at all, don't even play them.... and if you must, make sure you pirate them.
Joshua @ Feb 23rd 2007 6:53PM
I've never played Wing Commander before seeing this...Anyone have any videos of the originals, so I can see them in motion?
Freki @ Feb 23rd 2007 6:57PM
Fuck you EA - Wing Commander was one of my favorite franchises of all
time......and you killed it...
LR @ Feb 23rd 2007 6:57PM
This is nothing like Wing Commander. Wing Commander is a really cool 3-dimensional space flight action game, where you're main view is the cockpit you're sitting in.
http://media.arstechnica.com/articles/paedia/gaming-evolution.media/wc3-1994.gif
EA's space game that happens to share the Wing Commander name is more like Time Pilot, where you're you have a plane in the middle of the screen and you shoot things around you. Although for a Time Pilot game, the graphics are much better.
A E, I O U... Y @ Feb 23rd 2007 7:03PM
The world needs some 'XWing vs. Tie Fighter HD' love.
saboola @ Feb 23rd 2007 7:04PM
Courtesy of Wikipedia's SubSpace entry:
"The server software had been distributed with the commercial release. Once VIE went under in 1998, many of its remaining US assets were purchased by Electronic Arts, but the SubSpace license was not. "
Regardless of the license being bought or not, EA owns the assets to VIE, who could have been working on this. They slapped a new name on it to milk a brand and called it a day.
Norm @ Feb 23rd 2007 7:06PM
I had a neighbor that used to love Wing Commander. I remember talking cats and spaceships exlploding. I know you guys couldn't disagree more, but it just seemed rediculous and boring to me. Then again, I still go to arcades to play fighting games, so I guess I'm a little out of touch here.
AND
I thought that video seemed kind of cool. Looked kinda fun to me.
Philip Fulcher @ Feb 23rd 2007 7:19PM
Oh noes! A corporation did something different with a franchise!
Get over it, guys. Just because this doesn't adhere to the old style, doesn't mean it can't be a great game. Maybe if this is popular, it'll open up the door for a "real" Wing Commander.
But no, I can see you've already made up your minds from ONE gameplay video.
josh @ Feb 23rd 2007 7:08PM
"Um, it looks like a good XBLA title to me. What were you expecting for more than 50 MB?"
The original Wing Commander offered gameplay far deeper than this and it fit on several floppies... much smaller than 50 MB.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wing_Commander_game_series
Ben Tremblay @ Feb 23rd 2007 7:08PM
what's up with you guys? It's just an XBL ARCADE game. If you're not happy with it, don't buy it. You can't expect a full fledge space sim on XBLA, there's too many restraining parameters.
Eric @ Feb 23rd 2007 7:08PM
Butbutbut... It's 2D!!!
Trazal @ Feb 23rd 2007 7:16PM
Chris Roberts must be rolling in his grave..
Well, if he were dead that is..
mojama @ Feb 23rd 2007 7:19PM
this is disappointing for people like me, who were expecting something more akin to the originals; with that said, imagine how badass a star control melee remake would be if it were like this.
luke @ Feb 23rd 2007 7:18PM
This could be ok, but there's absolutely no way the wing commander name should be attached to it. That's just terrible.
William @ Feb 23rd 2007 7:18PM
This is XBLA? Seems cool to me. I think what you yelling asses need to remember is that even if this has "Wing Commander" as the name, space sims are, well how shall I put this, NOT UNDER THE HOOD OF ONE GREAT FRANCHISE. Someone can make a game LIKE Wing Commander and name it Fighter Fires, and no one will complain. There is no big time history of characters and shit with Wing Commander, just get over it. Someone'll make a game like Wing Commander eventually. It isn't like all space sims are ruined forever because of this, because space isn't an owned genre like madden, mario, zelda, sonic, and stuff like that.
REUYL @ Feb 23rd 2007 7:18PM
WHAT THE F*@#&$^@#&?!
I knew EA sucked, but I will never forgive them for this. Never.
I hope EA burns forever.
Leshrac @ Feb 23rd 2007 7:27PM
Looks like it could be kind of fun... for a few minutes. Definitely doesn't remind me of Wing Commander though. I guess we'll have to see if the BSG game can deliver some good online space action.
lk @ Feb 23rd 2007 7:36PM
It looks like EA fanboys/paid shills are quick on the damange control. They should know you never mess with gamers' hearts especially when it involves nostalgia/cult-hit status.
But then again, we are talking about EA. Their minions should be equally heartless.
Danny @ Feb 23rd 2007 7:36PM
DAMMITDAMMITDAMMITDAMMITDAMMIT