Shoulda Been A Contender

Wing Commander Armada was the first space combat game that allowed players to fight one another, rather than just the computer AI. To this date it is still the only game set in the Wing Commander universe to support multiplayer at all. The original mated a rather pathetic strategy game with in the cockpit flying that you could participate in.

But the real fun was tangling over a modem or a serial connection with a friend. I spent literally hundreds of dollars in long distance phone charges flying against people all over the United States. The flight model was pure Wing Commander but the variety of ships, the pacing of the game, and the sheer adrenaline rush of the kill stay with me to this day. Indeed, even with high tech marvels like Freespace 2 and X-Wing vs. TIE Fighter, the ancient Wing Commander Armada remains the most fun I have ever had in a multiplayer game.

It's incredible to me that in the six years since the release of Wing Commander Armada there has yet to be another game from Origin that allowed gamers to face off against one another. Rumors of a massively multiplayer Wing Commander game persist, but what I really want to see is an upgrade of this classic, with 1999 graphics, an enhanced strategic game and the same seat of the pants, fast and furious, missiles flying, boom and zoom multiplayer game play.

Origin, my $50 is waiting...

Another Drink, Shotglass

For no apparent reason, here's LOAF's List of Wing Commander Drinks. Be sure to add anything else you know of!

Correction

Tiberian Sun is no Wing Commander

The in-game movies, as in the previous games, combine high-class computer graphics with video schlock. TIBERIAN SUN may not represent the low point of Michael Biehn's 15-year post-Terminator career slump, but his jaw-flexing performance as the Commander McNeil isn't going to move him to Hollywood's A-list anytime soon. The best that can be said about Jones' performance is that you rarely catch him checking his watch. The villains fare somewhat better, with Joe Kucan a vigorously hammy Kane and B-movie vet Frank Zagrino appropriately zealous as second-banana Slavik. The plot sure ain't Shakespeare - heck, its not even WING COMMANDER - but it certainly has enough cheesy zest to keep you awake. It's bad, all right - but in a good way.

Wing Commander Movie Poll

I'm Just Going to Implant my Brain!

A savage indictment by Sarah Blurp. CIS officials on Karatikus were distraught last night as they prepared for the beginning of the annual VidVert conference, an event which attracts thousands of Vid-stars, AdvertXecs and other scum to the unfortunate host planet. Chief among the worries is the huge increase in the Brain Implant trade that notoriously accompanies the event. Extra patrols are being posted all around the planet's atmosphere, in an attempt to restrict the huge influx of smugglers that will undoubtedly be arriving. Lets just hope that some of those arrogant Vid-types get their comeuppance as well, eh?