Display MoreCan you believe summer is here? And it isn't really summer without a deep dive into some very esoteric references in 1994's Wing Commander Armada! Before there was a Wing Commander Universe map, Armada had 11 pre-set maps of human and Kilrathi space for its campaign mode… plus a number of other star systems that it uses to randomly generate Armada sectors. Are they canon? Yes, stop asking. We've poured through these star systems and picked out several that reference a whole lineup of TV shows from the 70s, 80s and 90s… and then we've used that to create today's marathon! And if Armada systems are your thing we've put together a spreadsheet of all 704 star systems if you'd like to learn more!
The Mary Tyler Moore Show (s6e07): This month's pre-show is a famous episode of The Mary Tyler Moore reference that Warren Spector quoted back in 1991 in Wing Commander I & II: The Ultimate Strategy Guide's making of section. 1975 was before even my time, but this episode won an Emmy!
Are They Really Making Interactive Movies?
Warren Spector, who co-produced Wing Commander I, has a different perspective. His background is in film history, theory, production and criticism. "I look at what we're doing at Origin and I keep saying, hey, this happened in the film business in 1910, and that happened in 1920," Spector explained. "When I came to Origin two years ago, we were wrestling with many of the things the movie business was trying to do in 1912. Now, we're already up to 1926, when sound was coming in, and we're doing partial talkies just the way they did."
Spector noted that Chris Roberts was the game designer who put a finger on the fact that the industry could tell a story, move people, and touch their emotions. "I think we're still learning how to tell stories on the computer, though," Spector noted. "We're figuring out where we can be cinematic, and where trying to be cinematic just flat doesn't work. We're finding out where you want interaction, and where you want the player to sit back and watch the action."
"In the future, people are going to be scared in games, laugh in games, and cry in games," Spector said. "We're creating whole new worlds, and it's not just beep, beep, beep, zap, zap, zap, kill the monster anymore. What's that line from Mary Tyler Moore? A little song, a little dance, a little seltzer down your pants. We're doing that now. We're telling stories and we're letting the player actually take part in it . . . and that's a whole new ballgame."Delvecchio (s1e01): Continuing into the 1970s, we've got the pilot of a short lived (but apparently much loved) cop show called Delvecchio. It's in honor of the DILVEKO system in Armada's Sector 7.
Monty Python's Flying Circus (s2e12): Do you remember a time when 'spam' didn't mean junk email? Us either, but we do remember Monty Python's classic "Spam" sketch. Which we'll be watching today in honor of the SPEM system found in Armada's Sector 8.
Red Dwarf (s01e01): And then it's comedy in space with the first episode of the classic British science fiction show Red Dwarf… in honor of the LISTER system in Armada's Sector 7.
Beavis and Butthead (s04e31): Then it's back to America and the 90s pop culture we know with an episode of MTV's Beavis and Butthead. It's the origin of Cornholio in honor of Armada's CORNHOLIUS system (these final two systems are from the Armada system bank instead of Campaign sectors).
Mystery Science Theater 3000 (s02e04): And finally settle in for another classic episode of MST3k as a nod to Armada's TSERVO system. Naturally, we've chosen an episode with a notable musical number from Tom Servo.
So JOIN US on Saturday, May 16th noon Eastern when we'll explore the depths of old television together! Feel free to drop in and out (or just stop by to talk Wing Commander).
We've uploaded a zip of all four stories together locally that you can grab in advance if you would prefer to play them locally. You can get that here.
How do we watch the shows together?
It's pretty low tech! Simply join the Wing Commander CIC Discord on Saturday and we will be chatting (in text) along with the shows in the main channel. Everyone who wants to join in should download their own copies from the CIC and we will count down to play them one at a time together starting with the short at noon EST on Saturday. Everyone is welcome and we encourage you to join in the conversation; sharing your thoughts helps make the experience better for everyone!
Will there be custom certificates made for the attendees this time?
Yes.
Wow we've got like, what, 1.4 cartoons in there?
Yes.
I love these events but want to do better long term planning. Do you have any others coming up?
We do! Here's the upcoming schedule. And if you have any idea for a future lineup, please feel free to suggest it on the forums!
- Marathon 11 - Back in the 90s - June 13
- Marathon 12 - Earth's Last Best Hope - July 18
