wcIII FAQ (2/5)

Stas A. Golovin написал(а) к All в Aug 94 21:04:00 по местному времени:

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■ Forwarded by Stas A. Golovin (2:50/322.25)
■ Area : SU.GAME (SU.GAME)
■ From : Eric Fletcher, 2:5000/10 (Fri Aug 12 1994 04:27)
■ To : All
■ Subj : wcIII FAQ (2/5)
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Нello All!



1.5. Acronyms
================

The following acronyms will be used throughout the FAQ, some more often than
others:

FAQ: Frequently Asked Questions list
OSI: Origin Systems, Inc.
WC: Wing Commander
WC1/2/3: Wing Commander 1, 2, or 3
SM1/2: Secret Missions 1 or 2
SO1/2: Special Operations 1 or 2
WCA: Wing Commander Academy
Armada: Wing Commander Armada (I know, it's not an acronym; so sue me)


1.6. Obtaining the latest version of the FAQ
================================================

The FAQ has six official distribution sites, at which the latest version will
always be available for downloading:

* The Origin BBS -- (512) 331-4446. Modem settings are 300-14400 baud,
no parity, eight data bits, and one stop bit.

* America Online, in the Origin support base (keyword ORIGIN).

* CompuServe, in the Game Publisher's Forum A (GO GAMAPUB), section 12
(Origin Systems).

* GEnie, at Scorpia's roundtable (type "M805;" at any "?" prompt), section
16.

* On the internet: The wuarchive.wustl.edu FTP site, in the
/pub/msdosuploads/gamefaq directory.


**********************************
2. Background of Wing Commander III
**********************************

Admittedly, if you're reading this FAQ, you've probably already played the
other Wing Commander games and know pretty much what they're about; but
there's probably some Wing Commander newbies out there, too. Besides, even
if you are a veteran of the Wing Commander world, a short refresher course
can never hurt... :-)


2.1. What's this whole "Wing Commander" thing about?
=======================================================

Wing Commander, first released in 1990 by Origin Systems, is a simulation-
style action game interwoven with a cinematic storyline set in the 27th
century. It does not attempt to model real-world physics with a completely
accurate simulation of space flight, but concentrates instead on providing a
fun, intense, first-person space dogfighting experience. Several things
distinguished it from other games upon its initial release: the graphics,
music, and sound were all revolutionary, surpassing most (if not all) other
competing products in the industry at the time. The storyline, of which a
short segment unraveled after each mission the player flew, had many plot
devices rarely used before in a computer game of its type: character
development, interpersonal conflict, ethics, and more. To date, the series
has sold a total of over 1.5 million units worldwide.


2.2. What were the previous Wing Commander products?
=======================================================

2.2.1. Wing Commander I
------------------------

Wing Commander I is the game that started it all. In this, the player
takes the role of a young Lieutenant who has just been assigned to the
carrier ship Tiger's Claw, the pride of the Confederate Navy. The main
plot of WC1 is the Confederation's campaign to take Vega Sector from the
Kilrathi, which eventually succeeds.

WC1 had two add-on disks -- Secret Missions 1 and 2. SM1 focused on a
new Kilrathi secret weapon, and the Claw's attempts to hunt down and
destroy it. SM2 told the story of how the Confederation made an alliance
with the avian Firekkan species, and also introduced two new characters:
Doomsday and Jazz.


2.2.2. Wing Commander II
-------------------------

The game begins with the Tiger's Claw being destroyed by three Kilrathi
stealth (cloaked) fighters, and you are accused of allowing the carrier
to be destroyed because of your negligence. Your claims about the
stealth fighters go unbelieved, your career is ruined, and you are
assigned to a space station in the backwaters of the known galaxy.

Ten years later, through a strange series of events, you end up on the
flagship of the Confederate fleet (imagine that), the Concordia, where you
meet up with some of your old pals who survived the destruction of the
Claw -- Angel, Spirit, Paladin, Doomsday, and Jazz. Eventually, you defeat
the heir to the Kilrathi throne in a one-on-one dogfight (though he ejects
to survive to fight again another day), destroy the Kilrathi headquarters
in the sector, and find proof that the stealth fighters exist, proving
your innocence and restoring your career.

WC2 also had two expansion disks -- Special Operations 1 and 2. SO1
introduced the character of Bear, the protagonist in the second two
Wing Commander novels. SO2 reunites you with Maniac, with whom you team
up to destroy Ayer's Rock, an asteroid which a band of human traitors are
using as a base.


2.2.3. Privateer (SPOILER)
----------------------------

Privateer puts you in the shoes of a different character -- a privateer.
This game, which takes place in the Gemini sector, is essentially
unrelated (in terms of plot) to the main Wing Commander games. As a
freelance trader and mercenary, you undertake various missions to earn
yourself enough credits to upgrade your ship and advance in the plotline.
Eventually, you discover an old alien derelict, and take a working cannon
from it and mount it on your ship. After this, an alien drone begins
to chase you; in the end, you team up with Confederate ships to destroy
the threat the drone presents to the sector.

One expansion disk has been released for Privateer -- Righteous Fire.
This begins with your alien gun being stolen form your ship, and
concentrates on your attempts to retrieve it.


2.2.4. Wing Commander Academy
------------------------------

A game with no plotline whatsoever, WCA was designed to appeal to the
straight-out action gamers who prefer the dogfighting over the storyline.
With all the ships from WC2 plus a couple of new ones and a mission builder
included, this product is a great way to pass time while waiting for the
next installment in the Wing Commander series. :)


2.2.5. Wing Commander novels
-----------------------------

Three novels set in the Wing Commander universe have been written to date:
Freedom Flight, by Mercedes Lackey and Ellen Guon (the head writer for
WC2), takes place during SM2, and has Paladin and Нunter as the main
characters. The novel goes into detail on the Kilrathi defectors who were
briefly mentioned in SM2 (and of which Нobbes from WC2 was the leader of),
and gives the reader a good look at Firekkan culture.

End Run, by Christopher Stasheff and William R. Forstchen, features
Jason "Bear" Bondarevsky (SO1) as the protagonist and tells the story
of how he is assigned to a new ship, the Tarawa, which is sent on a
suicide mission into Kilrathi space. Other WC figures which are major
characters in the novel are Paladin, Нunter, Sparks, and Admiral Tolwyn.

Fleet Action, written by William R. Forstchen, is a direct sequel to
End Run, picking up where its predecessor left off. The Kilrathi launch
a major counteroffensive against the Confederation, who must come up with
a last-ditch plan to try to avoid annihilation.


2.3. Who's this "Bluehair" guy?
==================================

Bluehair is the name by which Origin originally referred to the character
the player takes the role of in the Wing Commander games... it comes from
the fact that the character has dark blue hair (hence the name). Since
then, it has become a common term that gamers of the online community use
to refer to the main character in the first two Wing Commander games.


*********************
3. Technical questions
*********************

3.1. What are the estimated system requirements for Wing Commander III?
==========================================================================

Please note that these are only ESTIMATES -- the best guesses that can be
made at this stage in the game's development. These specs may very well
change upon the game's release.


3.1.1. Нow fast will my processor need to be?
----------------------------------------------

A 486/33 will probably be the slowest processor which will run the game
> ^^^^^^ ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
at a playable pace in VGA mode.


3.1.2. What kind of video card do I need?
----------------------------------------------

The game should technically run on any VGA-compatible graphics card,
though a fast VESA or PCI local bus card will help matters greatly. Of
> ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
course, an SVGA card is required to play the game in SVGA mode.


3.1.3. Нow much RAM do I need?
----------------------------------------------

8 megs are required; anything above that is optimal.
> ^ ^^^^^^^^

3.1.4. Do I need a CD-ROM drive? Нow fast?
----------------------------------------------

Since Wing Commander III will be a CD-ROM only release (no floppy version
is planned, either before or after the CD-ROM release), yes, a CD-ROM
drive is required. It's not suggested to even try the game on a single
> ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
speed drive; you'll want a doublespeed or higher to play it at an
acceptable pace.

/Eric

-+- GoldED/2 2.50.A0531+
+ Origin: Fatal Connection Russian НQ (2:5000/10)
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Нi, All!



Stas

--- GoldED 2.42.G0614+