Display MoreThe topic of Wing Commander I's save slots came up on Discord this evening and I jumped at the chance to escape to 2654 for a little bit and look at the barracks in different ports. And so, here's the Wing Commander bed time post!
The save system in Wing Commander I is one of those famous Chris Roberts immersive touches. Instead of a save menu you have bunks and when you save your game a sleeping wingman appears! And instead of alt-x'ing to DOS, you open the airlock, etc. This is the PC version:
The environment is also amazing at bringing you into the world, from the low tech dripping bucket to the clearly-inspired-by-2001 vital signs monitoring the pilots (but only when one is present!).
In Secret Missions 2, you can even click on the pin-up and get... this. (And who put up the headless one?! I mean, I guess obviously it was Maniac.)
Anyway, let's look at the different ports! These three are extremely similar, MS-DOS, Amiga CD32 and FM Towns:
MS-DOS VGA, that is! Here are the EGA and Amiga versions:
Here are the SNES and PSP (EA Replay) versions. This version of the game uses a password system so this is mostly an appendix, the beds don't do anything. The room is removed entirely in the Secret Missions SNES port.
And here's one I love: the Sega CD port has only four beds if you're playing with the default hardware... but if you've got a RAM cartridge in your Genesis slot you get four more saved games!
Here are the 3DO and Macintosh versions for Super Wing Commander. The characters look up from what they're doing when you mouseover them! I was also really surprised by the difference in the image between the ports...
Now, on Wing Commander Academy the Tiger's Claw pilots seem to have their own cabins. Here's Blair's, first seen at the start of The Last One Left.
In the movie, Blair and Maniac share quarters (Blair's bed is to the right, Maniac to the left).
They even have a pinup! The text reads "do it for me, boys". I suspect but have never been able to confirm that this is intended to be actress Saranya Carr from the TCSO show mentioned in Claw Marks.
The movie sequel novel Pilgrim Stars even tries to explain the difference in sleeping arrangements, with the Tiger Claw having changed to more private quarters at the last refit.
Where are the pilot quarters? Based on the airlock they must be along the hull and from the movement of stars in the window in Blair's quarters on Academy his must be on the port side of the ship...
... which is actually supported by both our Tiger Claw cutaway sources which both place pilot quarters on the upper decks amidship (above the crew and marine detachment).
