Origin's WC3 3DO Chat Log

On July 10, 1995 Origin held a chat where people could ask questions about Wing Commander III on the 3DO. The following is a log of the event, as taken from this newsgroup posting.

Following is the log of todays meeting at the America Online 3DO conference center. The guests where several people from Origin systems. There have been more rumors about Origin, and 3DO in this newsgroup in the last few weeks than any other company. I hope this clears up most of them. They also explain the real reason the Ground Missions, and Capital Ship wreakage where not present in the 3DO version.

<ErinFritz2> shhhhh!!!!
<OSI> WE are really proud of Wing 3 3do and we are glad that everyone is enjoying it so
<OSI> Now that the cheese is out of the way, lets start with the questions! :)
<Stephen3DO> Our queue starts with Erin, LKoski and Firebird. You have the floor Erin.
<ErinFritz2> When can we expect WC4 on M2 and what types of improvements will it incoporate over the ....
<ErinFritz2> awesome WCIII?
<Stephen3DO> folks - we seem to be experiencing very s-l-o-w response tonight - be patient
<OSI> Ironicly we were just looking at the M2 technology today. But for now we are working on...
<OSI> a opera version of the game.
<OSI> GA
<Stephen3DO> for you folks that aren't familiar with the terms, Opera is the code word for the current 3DO system
<Stephen3DO> ok LKoski - speak up
<LKoski> I am aware of WIng Commander III's major cost to produce and was wondering exactly how much profit do
<LKoski> you make of each copy sold.
<OSI> Lets put it this way...you would need a fleet of dump trucks... :)
<OSI> Actually titles like this help us fund alot of our ventures....
<OSI> GA
<Stephen3DO> looks like Firebird left, so Shawn is up followed by Philip and Mike.
<ShawnRader> Will there ever be an Ultima game for the Opera, or M2? If there is I will buy it the day it's out.
<OSI> That would be a cewl idea but for now we do not have any Ultima games in developement for...
<OSI> the 3do platform..
<OSI> You never know what might happen in the future....
<OSI> GA
<ShawnRader> Darn
<Stephen3DO> ok Philip - speak up
<Philip2bi> The feature of a burnt up cap. ship after destuction was not in the 3do version. why?
<Stephen3DO> the queue is Mike, Erin, LKoski and Asum - be prepared
<Gregor7284i> Hi all
<OSI> There were several issues including memory and time. The big issue was time....
<OSI> We are working on it for Wing 4.
<OSI> GA
<Mike3DO> You said you saw the M2... How good is it, and do you think you (OS) will be supporting it?
<Stephen3DO> ok Mike3DO - your question
<Mike3DO> Question above... =)
<OSI> We looked at the technology today and it looked really promising... :) ..
<OSI> Several of our current products may be cut out perfectly for that technology...
<OSI> But we have not made any descisions on it yet...
<OSI> WE have some of our most experienced people evaluating M2 and they are very impressed...
<OSI> GA
<Stephen3DO> ok Erin - come on down
<ErinFritz2> Prowler was rumoured to be cancelled and then rumoured to be still on but put behind ...
<ErinFritz2> the priority of the PS version. What is the true story and if it is still on will it ...
<ErinFritz2> incorporate modem play? Are you looking at it for M2?
<OSI> Prowler is still under developement and no final discisions have been made...
<OSI> Prowler technology seems ideal for M2..and currently it is under development for multiple
<OSI> platforms....
<OSI> GA
<Stephen3DO> LKoski - you are up. Get ready Asum, Philip and then Slater.
<LKoski> Do you have any other titles in the works for the 3DO besides Prowler and Wing Commander 4?
<OSI> At much as I would love to tell you more. There is nothing that we can officially talk....
<OSI> about at this time....lets try to keep the discussion on Wing 3... :) Thanks...
<OSI> GA
<Stephen3DO> Ok - the other Andy Summers has the floor!
<Asum> if there is a game type that i would like to see more of, how is the best way to promote i
<Asum> how is the best way to promote it?
<OSI> Andy, lets try to keep this discussion on Wing 3. Thanks.... :)
<Stephen3DO> ok Philip your Wing 3 question please
<Philip2bi> Was it hard overcoming the 3do strectching of polygons?. What was the poly. diff. of the cap.
<Philip2bi> ships compared with the 3do ver. and the pc version.?
<OSI> The big difference was that the face count of the 3do objects had to be reduced from the PC.
<OSI> counterpart...
<Philip2bi> And was flying inside a cap. ship given any thoughts?
<OSI> It was given some thought but there was not enough time to implement it properly....But we..
<OSI> are looking into it for Wing 4.... OSI GA
<Stephen3DO> Ok SLATER DOG - bark away. Then Erin, Shawn and Jeff.
<SLATER DOG> How did you come up with the storyline for the WING COMMANDER series?
<OSI> Chris Roberts has always been a fan of space opera...
<OSI> His creativity took care of the rest.....
<OSI> GA
<ErinFritz2> Why were the ground levels left out? Was it because many thought those were weak levels ...
<Stephen3DO> Erin - your ? please
<ErinFritz2> in the PC version?
<ErinFritz2> Or was it due to technical problems?
<OSI> The biggest thing was the time constraint. We though it was bettter to work on the space..
<OSI> engine instead....And we think that they turned out pretty good.... :)
<OSI> GA
<Stephen3DO> shawn - your Wing 3 question
<ShawnRader> Skip my question.
<ShawnRader> I don't have any questions abou WC3
<Stephen3DO> ok Jeff - you have the floor
<Jeff264> What's the story behind the removal of carrier landings and AI from WC3?
<Stephen3DO> a call for more questions for the great team of Wing 3 folks from Origin Systems.
<Jeff264> sorry if everyone's questions are about removals
<OSI> Again that goes back to the time constraint....we just didn't have time to implement them...
<OSI> Once again we thought that it would be best to focus on the playability of the space combat.
<OSI> GA
<Stephen3DO> Asum - come on down.
<Jeff264> well, we were all on your backs to release it quickly
<Asum> there was talk of a 'movie' movie deal, how would you guys feel bout that? do you think
<Asum> it would defeat the purpose of an interactive film??
<Asum> (great game by the way)
<Mike3DO> Woops, gotta go... Thanks OSI, I picked up WCIII 3DO Today! I'll read the rest on the log..
<OSI> Its something that we will always want to do, however we haven't figured out how to finance
<OSI> it yet.... Don't forget that a movie of this type would cost big big bucks...
<OSI> GA
<Stephen3DO> ok Shawn
<ShawnRader> Why the hell didn't you put Mark Hammel on a exercise program/diet before you filmed the game?:-)
<Stephen3DO> LOL!!
<Jeff264> heh
<OSI> WE did...he lost 50 lbs.. ;) Can't you tell??
<OSI> GA
<Stephen3DO> I have a question for the Origin team. Any fun stories about the filming of the game that you
<Stephen3DO> wish to share with us all?
<Stephen3DO> a call for more questions
<Stephen3DO> OSI- are considering my question about stories?
<OSI> Tom Wilson is absolutly hilarious... Jeff264 maniac?
<OSI> None of us were really there....Origins official guide for Wing 3 has the behind the screens.
<OSI> CD which contains alot of the bloobers that happened during the filming....
<OSI> GA
<Stephen3DO> ok LKoski - your question
<LKoski> I have not bought WCIII but have seen and played it on my friends computer, exactly what changes were
<LKoski> made for the 3DO version?
<OSI> recompressed movies, faster load times, Higher color of the movies (64K colors instead....
<OSI> 256), The audio is 16 bit stereo and it is in dolby surround, because we were able to ....
<OSI> use the larger 74 minute CD capacity of the 3do format we could add footage that was not....
<OSI> included in the PC version....
<OSI> GA
<Stephen3DO> nice answer. Ok, 2 more questions then trivia.
<Stephen3DO> Asum - your question.
<Asum> the ending titles look very impressive! how many people (appox) were involved in wc3?
<Asum> how does it compare to other games? like swc
<OSI> About 200 people were involved in production of Wing 3....
<OSI> GA
<Philip2bi> Was Chris Roberts as much an influence on wc3 as much as he was on wc1?
<Stephen3DO> that's a lot of peopl!
<Philip2bi> sorry!.
<Stephen3DO> Erin your question
<ErinFritz2> Do you know if any strategy guides for the 3do version of WCIII will be published?
<OSI> If time permits (Wing 4 is taking alot of the time) we might put a FAQ on the onlines and..
<OSI> WEB page.....
<OSI> GA
<ShawnRader> Strategy guides are for wimps.=)
<Stephen3DO> ok lets take Philips question then we'll go to trivia.
<Philip2bi> Was Chris Roberts as much an influence on wc3 as he was on wc1?
<ErinFritz2> I like them becuase they usually give more background information on games.
<Philip2bi> And disregard the crazy rating of 6.5 that e.g.m gave wc3!!.
<OSI> He is involved with every single product that he does. He was especially excited to bring.
<OSI> Wing 3 to the 3DO platform and he was personally involved in the development...
<OSI> GA
<Stephen3DO> Alright folks - put on your Wing 3 trivia hats. OUr question tonight is directly from the people...
<Stephen3DO> at Origin tonight - so it may be a toughie. Ok, Origin gang - what's tonights trivia question?
<Stephen3DO> first correct answer wins - final decision by Origin Systems!
<OSI> What are the names of the two Confederation Refuelling Depots found in...
<ShawnRader> Tom and Jerry
<OSI> Scene 15 Missions 2 & 3?
<OSI> GA
<ErinFritz2> Regula 1 and Hawkins depot!
<ShawnRader> I HAVN"T GOTTEN THAT FAR!!!!
<Arcade man> Refueling depot's 1 and 2
<Jeff264> can't remember!
<Arcade man> hehe
<ShawnRader> Joe and Curly
<CNazareth> A and B
<ErinFritz2> Mo
<soupboy1> Wait I'm in the Debug mode now.
<ShawnRader> Michal Jackson and Lisa Mari.
<Philip2bi> that's not fair , many of us want to take our time at the game plus those are SPOILERS!
<Arcade man> Beavis and Butthead
<Asum> soupboys cheating!!!!! :^)
<Jeff264> the names aren't spoilers
<ShawnRader> alpha betta
<ErinFritz2> Don't underestimate the power of Soup!
<Philip2bi> Ask a trivia gueation more closer towards the beginning!. Please!
<Jeff264> too trivial
<Brian 3DOi> Great question.
<Arcade man> lala
<Demonhell> do trivia about Ginger Lynn movies
<Asum> lady of the universal tempature house depot & larry's place?????
<Stephen3DO> hmmm, could be a stumper. Any hints?
<ShawnRader> Jack andJill
<ErinFritz2> went up the hill
<OSI> That one is pretty difficult so we are going to ask a different one...OK?
<ShawnRader> cat and paw
<ShawnRader> Sonny and Cher
<Jeff264> ok
<Arcade man> Maurey povich and connie chung?
<CNazareth> Thank God!
<ErinFritz2> yes new question!!!!
<ShawnRader> Oh I almost had that one, I know it!
<Philip2bi> Not difficult just not at last mission yet!.
<Stephen3DO> new question - but give us the answer first!
<soupboy1> There is none in 15-3.
<soupboy1> Do I win?
<soupboy1> 15-3 is to go just to a jump point
<Arcade man> uh oh
<Jeff264> no fair using the debug!
<Asum> ouch! i believe him....
<OSI> TRIVIA : The bioweapons in Series 4 mission 2 are heading for what planet?
<ErinFritz2> new question is...
<ErinFritz2> Earth
<LKoski> Earth
<ErinFritz2> Venus
<ShawnRader> The brown one
<Arcade man> Mars?
<Demonhell> mars
<LKoski> Saturn
<Jeff264> Areiolis
<Arcade man> Uranus?
<LKoski> Pluto
<LKoski> Mercury
<Asum> lanthathph?
<soupboy1> V4 Demonhell jupiter
<LKoski> Neptune
<ErinFritz2> Trip Hawkins
<Arcade man> Sun
<Demonhell> pluto
<ErinFritz2> Youranus
<Arcade man> heheh
<Asum> landthaphs (spelling wrong)
<Philip2bi> Damn forgot the stupid name!
<Jeff264> Areolis IV
<ErinFritz2> ooops I mean Uranus
<LKoski> Romulas
<Arcade man> Mercury
<ErinFritz2> Baldor
<Philip2bi> Saturn!
<LKoski> Tatoine
<ErinFritz2> Proxima Centuri 5
<Arcade man> Star ship enterprize?
<Asum> The Gap on 53rd & 5th ave?
<Demonhell> kilathri planet
<ErinFritz2> The man with no butt!!
<OSI> Ok....you all need to log some more time in the simulator.. :)
<Stephen3DO> geesh, I thought you guys were experts on this game!
<Philip2bi> Planet hollewood?
<LKoski> kilrathi homeworld
<ShawnRader> You guys should make ULtima for the 3DO just because these quesions are so hard.
<Philip2bi> O.j.?
<Demonhell> easy trivia
<ErinFritz2> I don't have it yet!!! I am on a students budget!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
<OSI> A different question........
<Demonhell> please
<Arcade man> weeeeee
<Jeff264> the game was too long to remember details!
<LKoski> Yeah, me either!!!
<ErinFritz2> yes
<ErinFritz2> easy one
<Asum> what was the answer??
<Arcade man> who knows
<ShawnRader> You should give exclusive support for the 3DO because this question is so hard.
<ErinFritz2> what's the question!
<CNazareth> Shawn has got it right where is Ultima!!!
<OSI> What is Hobbes' real name? (you had better get this one ):)
<soupboy1> I know its something 4. Because they named babies after me after I saved
<Arcade man> Hobbes
<ErinFritz2> Cat
<Arcade man> mark hammil
<Arcade man> hehe
<LKoski> Calvin
<Demonhell> kilathries
<Jeff264> Col. Ralga Hobbes
<soupboy1> He has a long name
<LKoski> Cowardly Lion
<Jeff264> Col. Ralga J. Hobbes
<ErinFritz2> Tasha Yar
<Arcade man> ???
<ErinFritz2> Trip Hawkins
<Philip2bi> john schurk
<Arcade man> Darth vader
<Jeff264> Ralgar Hobbes
<OSI> Jeff is pretty close..... :)
<ErinFritz2> Rastan
<Arcade man> Ralga james hobbes
<LKoski> Ralga J. Hobbes
<soupboy1> Ralga Thrakkan
<ErinFritz2> Raalgar Hobbs
<Asum> (they dont think i even have the game)
<ErinFritz2> Ralgaar Hobbes
<LKoski> Ralga Jake Hobbes
<LKoski> Ralga K. Hobbes
<Demonhell> thomas f,wilson
<ErinFritz2> Ralgar Lancelot Hobbes
<Arcade man> aaaaaaah!
<ShawnRader> Rastan Hobbes
<Asum> Ralga james hobbes<<< JAMES??? for a cat?
<ShawnRader> Calvin and Hobbes
<Jeff264> that's as close as I get!
<Demonhell> malcolm mcdowell
<ErinFritz2> Rasmustan Hobbes
<soupboy1> It's not written anywhere and I can't type in what he says.
<ErinFritz2> Hobbes Ralgar
<ShawnRader> serlhjqweposifvnweofwef
<Demonhell> mark hammil
<Demonhell> john rhyes davies
<ErinFritz2> Meow
<Arcade man> hehe
<ErinFritz2> Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!!
<Arcade man> this is stumper day!!!!!!!!!!
<Asum> hehe? for a cat? really now!
<Arcade man> 3 in a row!!!!!!!!!
<Arcade man> hehee
<Arcade man> james the cat
<Philip2bi> colonel ralgha nar hhallas
<LKoski> Lucifer
<Arcade man> weeee
<Demonhell> Thomas F Wilson
<OSI> Philip you are the winner....
<Arcade man> what the?!
<Arcade man> hhallas?
<Stephen3DO> no, really? Unbelieveable!~
<LKoski> Bah, I was just gonna say that.
<soupboy1> Bhuk nar Hhallas
<Arcade man> hmmm
<Jeff264> I thought I heard Ralgha nar Hobbes!
<Asum> he went to look in the manual......
<Arcademan> eheh
<LKoski> Ralgha Nar Hallas.
<Stephen3DO> Wow -that was pretty painful.
<Jeff264> how did you remember philip?
<Philip2bi> the pc version!
<LKoski> There aren't two Hs
<Jeff264> cheater!
<Stephen3DO> Philip, please send your name and address to screen name OSI and they will get you a nice prize.
<Philip2bi> played it more.
<OSI> LKoski gets a prize for spelling it right..... :) Now that's all....
<Stephen3DO> And thanks for taking us out of our misery Philip!
<Asum> very good phil....
<ErinFritz2> Brian3DO: I didn't get any of your messages just beeps again. :(
<LKoski> I get a prize?
<Philip2bi> when now?
<soupboy1> I still think I got the 1st ? right (sore loser)
<Stephen3DO> We would like to thank our guests tonight - the great crew behind Wing Commander 3 for 3DO.
<OSI> You guys should know the trivia for Wing 4 better than this.... :)
<Jeff264> we'll study
<Asum> get it out for 3do, and we will!
<Jeff264> thanks OSI
<Stephen3DO> Eric, Andy, Toddy, Peter, Brent, Joye, Sean, Chico and Chris.
<LKoski> Thanks OSI
<Stephen3DO> Let' OSI It was great chatting with all of you..... Enjoy the game....
<soupboy1> Thw Wonderful Wizard Of
<OSI> ...andy sommers----------------->that makes three of us, great name
<ShawnRader> Thanks OSI, MAKE ULTIMA!!!!!!!!
<Philip2bi> Thanks osi , hope all 3do software companies will do the same!
<Stephen3DO> Lets wrap this up for tonight. Our next chat will be Tuesday July 18th at 8:00 EST.
<Jeff264> I've played it twice and it still rules!
<SLATER DOG> thanks osi
<Stephen3DO> Good night all and thanks again Origin. Love the game!
<Brian 3DOi> Have a great night everyone.
<soupboy1> See ya Tuesday! Same chat time, same chat channel
<OSI> Thanks again and good nite... :)
<CNazareth> Thanks! Looking forward to seeing the Avatar on 3DO!
<LKoski> Seya
<ShawnRader> If you make Ultima for the 3DO I will change my sig to "Eric, aAndy, Toddy, etc are gods".
<Brian 3DOi> Erin, did you get my IMs?
<soupboy1> I gotta win a trivia sometime. Hopefully.
<ErinFritz2> Brian: No just beeps. Do you want me to call?
<LKoski> Stephen, do I really get a prize?
<Jeff264> steven's gone
<ShawnRader> Lets go post a bunch of crap in the Origin folders and tell them to make more 3DO stuff.
<Brian 3DOi> Erin, give me a call tomorrow sometime.
<LKoski> Oh yeah, there he is on the Bye list. That sucks.
<Tie Jock> I need help with syndicate bad!!!!
<ShawnRader> Keyword: Origin
<ErinFritz2> sure thing.
<LKoski> I'm there.
<Jeff264> what's your problem with syndicate?
<ErinFritz2> Thanks Brian. One more thing
<Jeff264> I have it on the Mac
<CNazareth> Did they say if there were any "NEW" titles in the works for 3DO?
<Tie Jock> atlantic accelerator mission - my team gets turned into swiss cheese!
<ErinFritz2> I would like you to preview my WEB page if you could.
<Jeff264> Fill them all up with lasers and put them in panic mode
<ErinFritz2> Do you have access to Netscape or similar browser?
<Jeff264> that's how I did it
<Tie Jock> good idea. i'll try anything right now.
<Asum> erin: what is your http?
<Tie Jock> where origin?
<Jeff264> they left
<Brian 3DOi> Erin, Sure do, email me the address
<Tie Jock> Where's Origin?
<Brian 3DOi> good night
<Jeff264> Texas
<Tie Jock> Any cool titles in the works?
<Jeff264> WC4 and Prowler I think
<LKoski> Your late, man.
<&TieJock> That's it. Neal was hinting at more!
<Jeff264> what's it?
<ErinFritz2> Assum: http://www.public.iastate.edu/~fritz
<Philip2bi> hey guys how do i collect the prize?
<Tie Jock> thanks for the tip jeff, I'll try it.
<ErinFritz2> Guys: Did it seem that they had nothign good to say at all?!?!?!
<Asum> thanks i will try to check it out erin.....agree erin..sorta bitter, huh?
<ErinFritz2> Yeah, and no new titles.
<ShawnRader> Philip: Send your address to Stephen3DO, and OSI
<Asum> ok i am going...anyone doing a countdown tell ross leaves???? :^)
<ErinFritz2> You know I heard that WC4 was already confirmed on M2 by an OSI employee on AOL.