[KeldorKatarn]

I'd like to ask you guys to maybe re-thing what you are doing here.

This project is about re-creating the look and feel of the universe and the games but it is NOT about re-engineering one of EA's games. That is on the fringes of being illegal and EA has a history of shutting such projects down... for good reason.

Creating your own interpretation of things and using their universe and design to do it, to show them their stuff is still loved very much is one thing. And even that they have a right to shut down. But recreating one of their products... that is not exactly what I think they'd like very much. it doesn't put any of your own creativity into action and instead takes away from their creation.

This isn't meant as any offense to anyone creating a "remake campaign" in here, but maybe something to think about. Maybe you should rather make a campaign about the Epsilon Sector Campaign or about the nephilim war or whatever instead of just recreating someone else's game...

The Saga team doesn't exactly feel very positive about those kinds of projects...

[Dragon]

Considering that WC1 and WC2 are really, really old and not even meant for Windows, I don't think that EA will notice these campaigns. Though one could argue that remakes are a bit pointless, because FSO engine isn't suited for remaking Wing Commander games, especially WC1 (you just can't remake WC1 bar scenes, which tell a big part of WC1 story).
And of course, I fully support the idea of Epsilon Sector Campaign or something from Nephilim war (or beyond), just because WC1 and WC2 already exist, and those would be something new.

[The E]

Considering that WC1 and WC2 are really, really old and not even meant for Windows, I don't think that EA will notice these campaigns. Though one could argue that remakes are a bit pointless, because FSO engine isn't suited for remaking Wing Commander games, especially WC1 (you just can't remake WC1 bar scenes, which tell a big part of WC1 story).
And of course, I fully support the idea of Epsilon Sector Campaign or something from Nephilim war (or beyond), just because WC1 and WC2 already exist, and those would be something new.

Considering that this is EA we're talking about, I wouldn't bet on that.

Also, consider that these are the expressed feelings of the WCS team on the matter. Telling them that they shouldn't worry so much when they've obviously put some thought into the matter is not exactly a good idea.

[FekLeyrTarg]

(you just can't remake WC1 bar scenes, which tell a big part of WC1 story).

That's why I came up with the idea of telling them in prose instead.

Legality questions were also one of the reasons why we didn't want to reuse the original WC2 cutscenes in the Remake.

No offense either KeldorKatarn, I do fully understand your concern, but it does suprise me that EA hasn't shut down Remake Projects, which have been around for years, yet, like the Privateer Remake, Privateer Gemini Gold, Tiberian Dawn (the Mod for C&C3), Tiberian Dawn Redux, Tiberian Sun Redux, Tiberian Sun Rising, The Red Alert, Condition Red, etc. Yes, in a few of the cases, I don't think that EA will shut those down since the first 3 C&C-games have been released as freeware by them.

[Commander Zane]

Yes, in a few of the cases, I don't think that EA will shut those down since the first 3 C&C-games have been released as freeware by them.

Those have, but none of the WC games are Freeware.

Why does it matter anyway if they're not being made for profit? A little too stuck-up if non-profiteering projects are getting curbstomped if you ask me.

[KeldorKatarn]

Renaming it and making clear it's your own interpretation is probably a very good idea.

It is true that there are remakes around which haven't been shut down. but it is also true that there have been games which have been shut down because they resemble the original too much.

There is a team for example who are doing "night of the meteor". it is a "remake" of Maniac Mansion, but basically redesigning the entire game, dialogues, quests etc etc. So that is something different... and they probably decided not to call is "maniac mansion remake" for a reason. Especially since there have been Lucas arts game remakes who have been shut down.

So all I'm saying is that it is probably not a good idea to say here that "We are remakeing Wing Commander 1 / 2 / whatever". Those games belong to EA and only they have the right to release them in any form.

I'm not TELLING anyone to do anything, just thought I'd mention this.

[Aginor]

To those who think the WC games are that old that EA doesn't make money with them, so they would not care about remakes:

EA knows that Wing Commander was a very well-known and popular series of games.
EA is very likely to re-release old games compatible with windows 7 or who-knows-what-comes-next and get some of the old fans to buy them again, because you know: The old fans from back in  the days are now 25+ years old and during 25 and 40 years you get a lot of nostalgia going on in your mind. So those are actually quite likely to buy the games because, you know "I can hardly remember that, it was sooo long ago" or "I want to show my children what great games there were when computers just got color screens."

Also the new portable devices spawn a lot of those possibilities. Take the mobile phones for example: playing WC1-5 on the iPhone (or something similar)? HELL YEAH! I alone know a few dozen guys who would buy that.
EA won't throw that money away. Perhaps C&C was made availale for free because you actually can't play it well without a mouse or something like that, and the screens are too small, so it isn't suitable for those devices.
But action games? those rock! We had WC-Prophecy on GameBoyAdvance and it was ok.

So please keep that in mind.
Besides: A lot of people here have the original games and like them, so they would be more interested in playing something new.

[FekLeyrTarg]

I've just read it. A very interesting take on the post-Secret Ops era.

Spoiler:

Too bad they killed off Casey and Stiletto but I hoped that they would be getting married.

[KeldorKatarn]

Spoiler:

In the official timeline Casey is alive and kicking

[FekLeyrTarg]

Spoiler:

And he and Stiletto are Colonels and she's a Vampire Ace. Yes, I've read Star*Soldier. Also interesting. And also interesting are the hints in Star*Soldier and Privateer Online that Privateer 2: The Darkening is a Fiction written by a person within the WC-Universe named Rein Ertrobs (obviously an amalgram for Erin Roberts)

Yes, I agree that there are lots of holes to fill within Wing Commander. I'm very interested to see what might've happened before, between and after the games and novels.

[gevatter Lars]

Star Soldiers is the official timeline as Privateer Online was never released. Same goes for all other sources. Whats been released/was buyable is official.

[Mikes]

Considering that WC1 and WC2 are really, really old and not even meant for Windows, I don't think that EA will notice these campaigns.

Wing Commander 1 + Dosbox + Android Phone = WIN
Ordered a copy of wing commander 2 yesterday since my original discs didn't work anymore LOL.

If you want to relive the original game...  why not try playing it on your cellphone
(The sad  part is that it actually runs much better than on the computer I had as the game came out LOL + the graphics/resolution actually looks pretty good on the smaller screen.)

[fightermedic]

i for one am i huge fan of remakes as closely sticking to the original as possible and would love to play them
and no, i don't think EA does care - there are  e.g. various (some allready released) ultima remakes out there, and it was long ago when EA shut down a remake of any game
at least up to wing commander 4, remakes shouldn't be much of a problem
just sayin

[Mikes]

i for one am i huge fan of remakes as closely sticking to the original as possible and would love to play them
and no, i don't think EA does care - there are  e.g. various (some allready released) ultima remakes out there, and it was long ago when EA shut down a remake of any game
at least up to wing commander 4, remakes shouldn't be much of a problem
just sayin

"Long ago" like March 30, 2011?: http://www.gamasutra.com/view/news/33791/EA_Cracks_Down_On_Ultima_IV_Fan_Remakes.php

[GT-Keravnos]

Interplay is not EA.
Can't happen here.
Unless it does sometime In the future.

[Mikes]

Interplay is not EA.
Can't happen here.
Unless it does sometime In the future.

I'm not worried about Freespace. Wing Commander is EA territory though.

[Zombimode]

i for one am i huge fan of remakes as closely sticking to the original as possible and would love to play them
and no, i don't think EA does care - there are  e.g. various (some allready released) ultima remakes out there, and it was long ago when EA shut down a remake of any game
at least up to wing commander 4, remakes shouldn't be much of a problem
just sayin

"Long ago" like March 30, 2011?: http://www.gamasutra.com/view/news/33791/EA_Cracks_Down_On_Ultima_IV_Fan_Remakes.php

Remakes that are original software projects are typically the ones that draw the attention of the company lawyers. Thats because as original software projects they could be sold and than it would be a clear copyright infringement.
Now mods on the other hand cant be sold by definition and the issue disappears. So things like the flash Ultima IVs get the flak, while Ultima V Lazarus, Ultima VI Prophecy, the Ultima VII Pt.2 remake for Oblivion etc. are fine.
Mods often work as free advertising. Projects like Lazarus helped the name "Ultima" to remain in the general memory and to draw even new people to the series.

Bottom line: Since the WC remakes based on WC Saga are still Freespace mods they are fine.

That said I like remakes. I enjoyed Ultima VI Prophecy very much, which is very close to the original, and I am thankfull for such projects.
As for not putting your own creativity in it: well yes, kinda. A remake is obviously not an original story. Now, I dont see why everthing has to have an original story. Sometime I just want to play a classic old game, but on an engine that doesnt suck as much, has better graphics, better controlls etc. And for this remakes are gold.

So I think the Saga team should relax

[fightermedic]

i for one am i huge fan of remakes as closely sticking to the original as possible and would love to play them
and no, i don't think EA does care - there are  e.g. various (some allready released) ultima remakes out there, and it was long ago when EA shut down a remake of any game
at least up to wing commander 4, remakes shouldn't be much of a problem
just sayin

"Long ago" like March 30, 2011?: http://www.gamasutra.com/view/news/33791/EA_Cracks_Down_On_Ultima_IV_Fan_Remakes.php

interesting, didn't know that one i have to admit
but is indeed striking that those 2 were not mods but flash games,