News categories list
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01
Dec
Since the ambition behind Blackstar Fleet got significantly bigger, more time is needed to get all the work done. We currently make good progress, adding our newly created assets into the game, doing lots of fine tuning etc. but still can not tell exactly when the new Crossfire version will be ready.Instead of letting you wait without anything new (besides the two already released updates this year) we have the intention to release some of the already done new content early. And with early I mea -
01
Dec
Since the ambition behind Blackstar Fleet got significantly bigger, more time is needed to get all the work done. We currently make good progress, adding our newly created assets into the game, doing lots of fine tuning etc. but still can not tell exactly when the new Crossfire version will be ready.Instead of letting you wait without anything new (besides the two already released updates this year) we have the intention to release some of the already done new content early. And with early I mea -
01
Dec
LeHah spotted a wonderful addition to Malcolm McDowell's official online store. They now list an autographed Wing Commander 3 print for $65. That may not be casual spending money for most folks, but it's actually relatively competitive compared to going rates for professional autographs. The artwork available is also pretty nice - it's a Playstation-oriented sheet with some fun PSX screenshots. Unfortunately, no customization is available. You can order yours here!
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01
Dec
Christian Klein has added another phenomenal set to his collection this week. All of the Wing Commander games localized for South Korea come in really cool box shapes and sizes. WC4 has an especially tall and narrow package, and it manages to fit most all of the marketing copy into the smaller space by squeezing everything in. Everything down to the install guide and discs gets the Korean text overhaul. These are wonderful to see!
Here it is next to a more typical Wing Commander 4.
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30
Nov
…*Pilots' Federation ALERT*
Systems in the California, Coalsack, Pleiades and Witch Head Nebulas are under sustained assault by the Thargoids.
Vox Galactica featured this report from freelance war correspondent Ernesto Rios:
"Multiple starports have been crippled by Thargoid attacks in recent weeks, with anti-xeno squadrons struggling to protect them. Many Commanders told me that this latest wave is proving unusually difficult to repel, with a steady stream of reinforcements replacing those alien vessels destroyed in battle."
"In normal times Aegis would coordinate the defence effort, but its operations remain suspended due to the Baumann inquiry. Today, it is clear that many of the superpowers' leaders have more faith in Salvation after his triumph in the Cornsar system, believing that he holds the key to defeating the Thargoids."
"Both the Imperial Navy and the Alliance's Council of Admirals -
29
Nov
…Admiral Aden Tanner and the crew of the Musashi megaship will be placed on trial for attacking Salvation's allies.
The admiral disobeyed orders by attempting to gain access to Hind Mine starport, the headquarters of Taurus Mining Ventures. After failing to achieve this, most of the Musashi's crewmembers were detained and repatriated to their respective home systems to face civil or military charges.
The Federal Navy has published this official notice:
"Admiral Tanner is formally accused of mutiny and unlawful military action while in command of the Musashi. He will stand trial in a general court-martial. If found guilty, he will be dishonourably discharged and imprisoned for life."
Dr Paul Baumann, chair of the independent board of inquiry into Aegis, commented:
"Recent events in the T Tauri system clearly fall within the scope of our investigation. For Aegis's chief military liaison to launch -
29
Nov
…The WC4 Fan Remake team is back with a new report on the steady progress they have been making in recent months. DefianceIndustries has implemented a fantastic update to the Caernaven frigate - just look at that thing! Pedro has also upgraded the game's physics engine, better integrated menu updates and added improved video features. You can read all about these updates and the path towards a playable demo in their new WCRespace article here.
Until now we had been in what I would describe as pre-production. When we wanted to show off a new ship I would make a new entity definition by hand, completely ignoring the ship stats, missile stats, manually setting what classic model to use.
Now I intend to turn that process on its head and start dynamically generating entity definitions based on the data when you load the game. This is an involved process but if goes to plan it should mean that the manual
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28
Nov
Today we have a vintage 3DO advertisement that Takodan recently reposted. It's pretty classic art that we see in a lot of promotional material for Wing Commander 3, but a few subtle items are unusual compared to most ads. Instead of having its screenshots to the left side, right side or bottom, it splits the images on both sides. The lower right shot features an Arrow over the triangular Kilrathi transport that was cut from the game. There's also a little-used "Origin interactive movie" logo that seems to have roots in this marketing sell sheet. There's lots to love here!
Peep that weird version of Origin’s interactive movie logo!
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27
Nov
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We're into the holiday season now, so here's a roundup of various gifts and discounts available to Wing Commander fans. A new addition this year are a pair of Cobalt 60 albums that LOAF just found on iTunes. The original Prophecy four-track EP as well as an album with Prophecy bonus tracks are available at the store. It looks like they're also available to stream on Apple Music, so no purchase is necessary if you'd just like to enjoy several minutes of techno screaming.The GOG digital games are also on sale at their customary 75% off at $1.49. This is an absolutely steal and can't come more highly recommended. The Academy DVDs seem to have been restocked and have returned to their $8 price. It can be unpredictable when copies are available, and it's always possible that the show could disappear from Peacock, so $8 is critical insurance to make sure you always have access to the show.
The CIC
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26
Nov
…*Pilots' Federation ALERT*
The second phase of the Colonia Bridge project is complete, with Brewer Corporation confirming details for phase three.
An additional 26 megaships have taken up stationary positions in systems between Alcor and Colonia. Along with the existing 30 megaships, these will provide convenient rest, refuel and repair facilities to those travelling to and from the distant Colonia region.
A press release from Brewer Corporation addressed the next steps:
"The galactic community has made enormous contributions to establishing the Colonia Bridge. Encouraged by this, we have revised our plans and increased investment in the project."
"The next phase is scheduled to commence on the 6th of January 3308, and will add starports to key locations along the route. These will provide further services and opportunities to pilots, as well as forming permanent micro-communities between the -
26
Nov
…Hello everyone,
Thank you to everyone playing the Expeditions Revisited Update, especially those taking the time to report any issues they encounter via Zendesk or console crash reporting.
We are listening closely to your feedback, and have identified and resolved a number of issues. These fixes are included in patch 3.74, which will be live on all platforms soon.
Bug fixes
- Fixed a crash related to memory allocation.
- Fixed an issue that prevented expedition milestones to visit specific coloured stars from completing if the player did not first have the expected hyperdrive upgrade.
- Fixed an issue that could cause players to fall through the floor of their freighter base when loading a save made aboard the freighter.
- Fixed a number of snapping issues with the new contextual Pipe base building part.
We will continue to release patches as issues are identified and resolved. If you experience any issues, let us know by
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26
Nov
…Happy Thanksgiving to our readers located in the US! We hope you're able to make the most of this holiday if you celebrate. Like many of you out there, I'm still recovering from the loss of a close relative who should have been coming to dinner tonight. Times are still rough and we're still facing a challenging situation. So if that means continuing to stay apart from your loved ones in order to stay safe, you're more than welcome to visit us on Discord to commemorate among friends.
On a more lighthearted note, Thanksgiving has become decidedly less focused on the historical Pilgrims as we learn more of our history there, but there's still a fun Pilrgrim story you can enjoy! This year marks a full decade since we were able to share Wing Commander Pilgrim Truth, Peter Telep's third and canceled novel in the Wing Commander movie novelization series. Fortunately, he graciously allowed us to host the
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25
Nov
…*Pilots' Federation ALERT*
The Scriveners Clan dredger has been fully repaired, following twin initiatives in the HIP 43670 system.
A campaign by supporters of the Scriveners Clan delivered emergency power cells, power converters and power transfer buses to the Alliance of HIP 42371 at Oramus Terminal. A spokesperson for the group announced:
"As a result of our efforts, the dredger has received sufficient supplies to effect repairs. Most importantly, the new power systems mean it will shortly be able to bypass Orion University's override codes and be free to travel the galaxy once more."
A parallel campaign by Orion University's partner Independent HIP 43670 Labour requested deliveries of anomalous bulk scan data, unusual encrypted files and unidentified scan archives to Shaara Gateway in HIP 43670. However, these were not sufficient to convince the nomadic tribe to agree to its offer of -
25
Nov
…*Pilots' Federation ALERT*
The Neo-Marlinist Order of Mudhrid and the Epsilon Fornacis Empire Group have declared war in the Mudhrid system.
The Steel Majesty megaship is serving as the base of the Neo-Marlinist forces. These include many surviving NMLA terrorist cells that gathered to overtake the vessel from the Marlinist Colonies.
Also in the system is the Far God cult megaship Sacrosanct, where the NMLA's de facto leader Theta Seven and the remnants of Theta Group have been in hiding for months. They recently took control of the vessel and are holding thousands of cultists hostage.
The Neo-Marlinist Order of Mudhrid have offered a uniquely augmented enzyme missile rack to its highest contributors if certain objectives are met. Margrave Corentin Delacroix broadcast a call to arms:
"All those who seek to topple the Duval dictators must fight alongside us here and now. Neo-Marlinism has no -
25
Nov
…Today is Goku's birthday. I'm not sure what you got him, but he got something for you! A couple months ago we reported on a clever script automation that helped players streamline the installation of Prophecy on Linux systems. He's now finished running through the rest of the GOG catalog and building similar scripts for each of the DOS Wing Commander games. Kilrathi Saga is also in work. If you own a copy of the GOG Wing Commander games and haven't gotten around to setting them up on your Linux rig, now's the perfect opportunity to give this a try. Download each program from the CIC Forums here and let him know how it goes! And Happy Birthday Goku!
Got around to doing the rest of the series. Please try them out and let me know how it goes. They are written specifically for the GOG versions of the games. The DOS games have a custom interface to allow for multiple options and ease of use. Working
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25
Nov
…We've shared lots of great pictures of Dennis Mull's Wing Commander collectibles as he's added to the hoard piece by piece. He's arranged a few new shots recently that show off how he's managed to track down different versions of some items. This can be a really daunting task, and I truly applaud the fans willing to go through the effort to hunt down editions available in different countries or languages. He starts off with some nice Privateer 2 and Prophecy spreads:
Privateer 2 German, English, Italian, Spanish, Greek, Polish and Special Edition Release:
He's also got United States and Australian Kilrathi Sagas as a whole bunch of Hit Squad WC1 releases.
He's even got a nice variety of Chris Roberts' Starlancer made by Digital Anvil. I love how they're such different shapes and sizes. Lastly, I wanted to be sure to include this lineup of Brute Force copies. Brute Force was a Halo-style first
