Point of Origin: Vol. 1, No. 7

This is part eight of our series highlighting archived copies of Point of Origin, Origin Systems' internal newsletter. Christmas is coming up and the first localized versions of Wing Commander 2 are hitting Europe. At home, development continues on Strike Commander, Ultima VII and a range of FM Towns and other ports. Plus, the newsletter has a new logo!

A very special thanks to Joe Garrity of the Origin Museum for making this resource available and to Electronic Arts for sending them to him in the first place!

Here's the breakdown for Wing Commander:

• Wing 2 the Toast of Paris says that... well, you can figure it out:

  When Jennie Evans, our Brand Manager at Mindscape/Europe, jetted to Paris this week for the Tilt Magazine awards, she had no idea what was ahead. By the end of the evening, Wing 2 was honored twice: as 'Best Cinematic/Realistic/Creatie Game' (an approximate literal translation) and, even more impressive, as 'Game of the Year.'

  The winners were picked by Tilt readers and viewers of its television program, 'MicroKids.' Wing 2 picked up more than 50% of the votes cast. That's quite a feat, considering that much of the European market is still ST and Amiga. Jennie says, 'Many people voted for Wing 2 even though they didn't own PC's!

  'When I arrived at the ceremony, there was a large group of French seated near us. When (Wing 2) was announced as a nominee for Best Game, everybody in the group just noddded and said, 'There's the winner.''

  In the Best Game category, Wing 2 edged out Lemmings (Amiga), Vroom (ST), Crosiere pour un cadavre (Amiga), Sonic and Super Mario 3 (both Amiga translations). In the Cinematic/Realistic/Creative Game category, Another World and Crosiere (both Amiga) shared the runner-up spots.

  The awards ceremony was carried live on French television an dthe timing couldn't have een better. Wing 2 in French is almost ready for rollout and the first order is 3,000 pieces (and may be going up fast now).

• Chart-Buster has good news for sales of both Wing Commander games: "Computer Gaming World will hae to revamp the graphics on its readers' poll. Wing Commander II flew off the chart! It's followed closely by Wing 1. Congrats to both teams. That's the best advertising of all."
• Picking Up Paychecks adds two new employees for the Wing Commander FM Towns project: "Duane Voth is aboard after doing some research time at MCC. He and fellow programmer Rob Broussard, formerly of Phyto Resource Research, will be working on the FM-TOWNS version of Wing Commander."
• High Profile rounds up the worldwide press:

  The January issue of Popular Electronics includes Wing Commander in its 'Fun Software' column. Fred lechman calls it the 'Cadillac of space combat simulators.' Iam Murphy played through Wing 2 for the current issue of Imagination. His thoughts? 'It surpasses the original by a long, long way. ... If you have the machine and the money, I would seriously recommend this game as a must.'

  'Greg Keizer is everywhere! In the December issue of PEnthouse, he say, 'Smoother graphics and stronger story line make WC2's revenge theme even more addictive!' And in OMNI, he calls Wing 2 a 'sophisticated space-flight simulator in a science-fiction jacket lined with romance, treason, and fighter-jock egos.

  And finally, my personal favorite. At the last Happy Hour, I told you about the flight simulator articlein PC Games. In it, Interpaly Production's new Star Trek: The 25th Anniversary is touted as the firs t Trek to have a chance at beign a genuine success. How does Interplay describe its own state-of-the-art project? 'Wing Commander meets Sierra.'

• Test Pattern reports on the latest from Quality Assurance: "Meanwhile, the low-density version of Special Ops is signed-off and out the door to Europe, as is the CD version of Wing/Secret Missions for Software Toolworks release worldwide."

Point of Origin
Vol. 1, No. 7 - December 6, 1991

Contents
Post-Christmas Cash
Log On and Punch In
Wing 2 the Toast of Paris
Chart Buster
Christmas Party
Happy But Not Social
Door Prizes
Wild Basin Wilderness
Free Weights
Picking Up Paychecks
Bright I.D.!
Extra Pay in 401(k)
Neither Rain, Nor Sleet...
Test Pattern
Shirt Tales
What Influences Us?
High Profile
Dear Point Man