Kotaku: wing commander

Spacetime Rescues Blackstar From NCsoft

Mike Fahey — Thu, 08 May 2008 10:20:00 MDT

What exactly is The Blackstar Chronicles? Blackstar is a futuristic massively-multiplayer game that features both ground -based character combat as well as space-based ship combat on a massive scale. The developers at Spacetime Studios say it's based on the single-player traditions of "Wing Commander" and the multiplayer feel of "Descent." Lofty goals, but when your team is packed with Wing Commander and Privateer veterans you've got a good shot at getting it right. The IP fell into a bit of trouble after a 2006 publishing agreement with NCsoft fell through earlier this year, but the team at Spacetime has just announced that they've acquired the rights from NCsoft to soldier on, and that's a damn good thing. I would have hated to discover that the amazing character designs seen above and at their official website were never going to come to fruition. This is exactly the type of game I've been craving since the disappointment that was EA's Earth and Beyond.

Spacetime Studios Acquires Blackstar IP from NCsoft®
Blackstar is a highly stylized science-fantasy universe from developers of Wing Commander, Privateer, and Star Wars: Galaxies

AUSTIN, Texas - May 8, 2008 - Spacetime Studios, LLC announced today it has acquired the rights to the Blackstar IP from its previous publisher NCsoft. Spacetime Studios, an independent game development studio made up of industry veterans, now fully owns all the tools, technology and intellectual property from their previous publishing deal.

Set in the far future, Blackstar is a fresh universe full of wildly original space fighters, horrifying demonic enemies and epic drama. "The IP lends itself to almost any kind of gameplay that one could ask for, and was specifically designed to be a long-term franchise," said Cinco Barnes, creative director and co-founder of Spacetime Studios. "It's a nice sweet spot when you own all the puzzle pieces and we now have extraordinary flexibility in where to take the game universe next."

"After two years of development, the Blackstar universe is quite near and dear to our hearts" said Gary Gattis, executive producer and co-founder of Spacetime Studios. "Owning the IP as well as the engine and tool set puts a tremendous amount of potential in our hands. With all the developed components under the Spacetime team's control, the options for the IP are diversified."

The new "Blackstar Chronicles" development underway is a space fantasy combat game based on the single-player traditions of "Wing Commander" and the multiplayer feel of "Descent." "The Blackstar Chronicles is a very powerful product," said Jake Rodgers, art director and co-founder of Spacetime Studios. "The Blackstar universe has the potential to be something special and it's great that we are able to bring the IP to fruition."

Download a PDF about the IP at http://www.spacetimestudios.com/downloads/brochure_LoRes.pdf
More information about the studio can be found at http://www.spacetimestudios.com.

Best Wing Commander Contest Ever

Brian Crecente — Tue, 24 Jul 2007 13:00:52 MDT

Game developers and publishers are endlessly running contests to promote their games, but it's rare that you see what that is so, I don't know, grassroots? To promote their upcoming XBLA title Wing Commander Arena, Electronic Arts is giving away every Wing Commander game ever released. Better still, they're giving away every system you will need to play it on. That's right, I'm talking 3DO, Super NES, Sega Genesis with Sega CD... and the list goes on. EA, I approve. Hit the jump for the full run down of prizes and how to enter:

1 Sega Genesis w/Sega CD
- 2 Controllers
- 4 way Controller Adapter
- Wing Commander Sega CD

1 Super Nintendo
- 1 Controller
- Wing Commander SNES
- Wing Commander: Secret Missions SNES

1 Playstation Console
- 1 Controller
- Wing Commander III: Heart of the Tiger Playstation
- Wing Commander IV: The Price of Freedom Playstation

One Panasonic 3DO
- 2 Controllers
- Wing Commander III: Heart of the Tiger 3DO
- Super Wing Commander 3DO

Game Boy Advanced
- Wing Commander Prophecy

Gateway 2000 Pentium One PC w/Windows '95
- 1 CRT Monitor
- 1 Mouse
- 1 Keyboard
- 1 Set of Speakers
- Wing Commande
- Wing Commander: Deluxe Edition
- Wing Commander II: Vengence of the Kilrathi
- Wing Commander II: Vengence of the Kilrathi Deluxe Editio n
- Wing Commander III: Heart of the Tige
- Wing Commander IV: The Price of Freedom
- Wing Commander Academy

PLUS
Xbox 360 Elite Hardware + 11,200 Microsoft Points (not pictured)

Two runners up will receive 11,200 points for Xbox Live!

To enter you just need to sign up for the EA Arcade Newsletter.

Classic Compilations for PSP Confirmed

egauger — Wed, 06 Sep 2006 20:40:38 MDT

More glad tidings from the land of PSP! Electronic Arts has confirmed its EA Replay collection, which will be a nice budget series of adventures for the nostalgic.

EA noted that the collection will include a total of 14 games from a number of the company's fondly remembered franchises, such as the Strike series, Road Rash, and Wing Commander. Specifically, EA Replay will include Syndicate, Ultima VII: The Black Gate, Road Rash I-III, Wing Commander, and Wing Commander: The Secret Missions.
Other titles confirmed include B.O.B., Budokan, Desert Strike, Jungle Strike, Haunting Starring Polterguy, Virtual Pinball, and Mutant League Football. In addition, some titles in compilation will include a number of newly introduced features, such as head-to-head multiplayer, unlockable original game art, and the ability to save the game at any point.

Not mentioned: graphical upgrades. I'm wondering how good Wing Commander is really going to look on a PSP. Probably pretty crappy. But I'm hoping for Privateer! Eliza "Maniac" Gauger

More Here [Gamasutra]

EA Retro Pack Brings Syndicate, Wing Commander, Ultima VII To PSP

brownlee — Tue, 15 Aug 2006 11:40:27 MDT

There's some decent games coming in the upcoming EA retro compilation for the PSP... some decent games slopped together in some of the worst ports in gaming history.

Coming October 3rd, the EA Replay back for the PSP will feature some truly excellent games like Syndicate, Wing Commander and Ultima VII? The problem? Syndicate is the Jaguar version (I wouldn't want to try to play this game without a mouse) and the Wing Commander games and Ultima VII are the SNES ports.

But there's one title that makes this compilation a much purchase. Yes, Mutant League Football is coming to the PSP. That's worth $29.99 by its lonesome. Florian Eckhardt

Retail Radar: PSP to get EA retro comp [Gamespot]