This although mundane, was pretty exciting stuff back in '95. Being able to interact directly with the vendor of games and consoles was revolutionary stuff.
I've snipped this a little because it's just banter towards the end. What's interesting is the talk about unreleased games for 3DO by EA.
Read it all here:
https://groups.google.com/group/rec.gam ... 722398e7b9
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Following is the log of todays meeting at the AmericaOnline3DO conference center. The guests where several people from Origin systems.
There have been more rumors about Origin, and3DO in this newsgroup in the last few weeks than any other company. I hope this clears up most of them. They also explain the real reason the Ground Missions, and Capital Ship wreakage where not present in the3DOversion.
ErinFritz2: shhhhh!!!!
OSI: WE are really proud of Wing 3 3do and we are glad that everyone is enjoying it so OSI: Now that the cheese is out of the way, lets start with thequestions!
Stephen3DO: : Our queue starts with Erin, LKoski: and Firebird. You have the floor Erin.
ErinFritz2: When can we expect WC4 on M2 and what types of improvements will it incoporate over the ....
ErinFritz2: awesome WCIII?
Stephen3DO: folks - we seem to be experiencing very s-l-o-w response tonight - be patient OSI: Ironicly we were just looking at the M2 technology today. But for now we are working on... OSI: a opera version of the game. OSI: GA
Stephen3DO: for you folks that aren't familiar with the terms, Opera isthe code word for the current 3DO system
Stephen3DO: ok LKoski: - speak up
LKoski: I am aware of WIng Commander III's major cost to produce and was wondering exactly how much profit do
LKoski: you make of each copy sold.
OSI: Lets put it this way...you would need a fleet of dump trucks...
OSI: Actually titles like this help us fund alot ofour ventures....
OSI: GA
Stephen3DO: looks like Firebird left, so Shawn is up followed by Philip and Mike.
ShawnRader: Will there ever be an Ultima game for the Opera, or M2? If there is I will buy it the day it's out. OSI: That would be a cewl idea but for now we do not have anyUltima games in developement for... OSI: the 3do platform..
OSI: You never know what might happen in the future....
OSI: GA
ShawnRader: Darn
Stephen3DO: ok Philip - speak up
Philip2b: The feature of a burnt up cap. ship after destuction was not in the3doversion. Why?
Stephen3DO: the queue is Mike, Erin, LKoski: and Asum: - be prepared
Gregor7284 Hi all
OSI: There were several issues including memory and time. The big issue was time....
OSI: We are working on it for Wing 4. OSI: GA
Mike3DO: You said you saw the M2... How good is it, and do you think you (OS) will be supporting it?
Stephen3DO: ok Mike3DO: - your question
Mike3DO: Question above... =)
OSI: We looked at the technology today and it looked really promising...
.. OSI: Several of our current products may be cut out perfectly for that technology...
OSI: But we have not made any descisions on it yet...
OSI: WE have some of our most experienced people evaluating M2 and they are very impressed...
OSI:
Stephen3DO: ok Erin - come on down
ErinFritz2: Prowler was rumoured to be cancelled and then rumoured to be still on but put behind ...
ErinFritz2: the priority of the PS version. What is the true story and if it is still on will it ...
ErinFritz2: incorporate modem play? Are you looking at it for M2?
OSI: Prowler is still under developement and no final discisions have been made...
OSI: Prowler technology seems ideal for M2..and currently it is under development for multiple
OSI: platforms....
Stephen3DO: LKoski: - you are up. Get ready Asum: , Philip and then Slater.
LKoski: Do you have any other titles in the works for the3DO besides Prowler and Wing Commander 4?
OSI: At much as I would love to tell you more. There is nothing that we can officially talk....
OSI: about at this time....lets try to keep the discussion on Wing 3...
Thanks... OSI: GA
Stephen3DO: Ok - the other Andy Summers has the floor! Asum: if there is a game type that i would like to see more of, how is the best way to promote I Asum: how is the best way to promote it?
OSI: Andy, lets try to keep this discussion on Wing 3. Thanks....
Stephen3DO: ok Philip your Wing 3 question please
Philip2b: Was it hard overcoming the3dostrectching of polygons?. What was the poly. diff. of the cap.
Philip2b: ships compared with the3dover. and the pc version.?
OSI: The big difference was that the face count of the3doobjects had to be reduced from the PC.
OSI: counterpart...
Philip2b: And was flying inside a cap. ship given any thoughts?
OSI: It was given some thought but there was not enough time to implement it properly....But we..
OSI: are looking into it for Wing 4.... OSI: GA
Stephen3DO: Ok Slater Dog - bark away. Then Erin, Shawn and Jeff.
SLATER DOG: How did you come up with the storyline for the WING COMMANDER series?
OSI: Chris Roberts has always been a fan of space opera...
OSI: His creativity took care of the rest.....
OSI: GA
ErinFritz2: Why were the ground levels left out? Was it because many thought those were weak levels ...
Stephen3DO: Erin - your ? please
ErinFritz2: in the PC version?
ErinFritz2: Or was it due to technical problems?
OSI: The biggest thing was the time constraint. We though it was bettter to work on the space..
OSI: engine instead....And we think that they turned out pretty good....
OSI: GA
Stephen3DO: shawn - your Wing 3 question
ShawnRader: Skip my question.
ShawnRader: I don't have any questions abou WC3
Stephen3DO: ok Jeff - you have the floor
Jeff264: What's the story behind the removal of carrier landings and AI from WC3?
Stephen3DO: a call for more questions for the great team of Wing 3 folks from Origin Systems.
Jeff264: sorry if everyone's questions are about removals
OSI: Again that goes back to the time constraint....we just didn't have time to implement them...
OSI: Once again we thought that it would be best to focus on the playability of the space combat.
OSI: GA
Stephen3DO: Asum: - come on down.
Jeff264: well, we were all on your backs to release it quickly
Asum: there was talk of a 'movie' movie deal, how would you guys feel bout that? do you think Asum: it would defeat the purpose of an interactive film??
Asum: (great game by the way)
Mike3DO: Woops, gotta go... Thanks OSI: , I picked up WCIII3DOToday! I'll read the rest on the log..
OSI: Its something that we will always want to do, however we haven't figured out how to finance
OSI: it yet.... Don't forget that a movie of this type would cost big big bucks...
OSI: GA
Stephen3DO: ok Shawn
ShawnRader: Why the hell didn't you put Mark Hammel on a exercise program/diet before you filmed the game?:-)
Stephen3DO: LOL!!
Jeff264: heh
OSI: WE did...he lost 50 lbs..
Can't you tell?? OSI: GA
Stephen3DO: I have a question for the Origin team. Any fun stories about the filming of the game that you
Stephen3DO: wish to share with us all?
Stephen3DO: a call for more questions
Stephen3DO: OSI: - are considering my question about stories?
OSI: Tom Wilson is absolutly hilarious... Jeff264: maniac?
OSI: None of us were really there....Origins official guide for Wing 3 has the behind the screens.
OSI: CD which contains alot of the bloobers that happened during the filming....
OSI: GA
Stephen3DO: ok LKoski: - your question
LKoski: I have not bought WCIII but have seen and played it on my friends computer, exactly what changes were
LKoski: made for the3DOversion?
OSI: recompressed movies, faster load times, Higher color of the movies (64K colors instead....
OSI: 256), The audio is 16 bit stereo and it is in dolby surround, because we were able to ....
OSI: use the larger 74 minute CD capacity of the 3do format we could add footage that was not....
OSI: included in the PC version....
OSI: GA
Stephen3DO: nice answer. Ok, 2 more questions then trivia.
Stephen3DO: Asum - your question.
Asum: the ending titles look very impressive! how many people (appox) were involved in wc3?
Asum: how does it compare to other games? like swc
OSI: About 200 people were involved in production of Wing 3....
OSI: GA
Philip2b: Was Chris Roberts as much an influence on wc3 as much as he was on wc1?
Stephen3DO: that's a lot of peopl!
Philip2b: sorry!.
Stephen3DO: Erin your question
ErinFritz2: Do you know if any strategy guides for the3doversion of WCIII will be published?
OSI: If time permits (Wing 4 is taking alot of the time) we might put a FAQ on the onlines and..
OSI: WEB page.....
OSI: GA
ShawnRader: Strategy guides are for wimps.=)
Stephen3DO: ok lets take Philips question then we'll go to trivia.
Philip2b: Was Chris Roberts as much an influence on wc3 as he was on wc1?
ErinFritz2: I like them becuase they usually give more background information on games.
Philip2b: And disregard the crazy rating of 6.5 that e.g.m gave wc3!!.
OSI: He is involved with every single product that he does. He was especially excited to bring.
OSI: Wing 3 to the3DOplatform and he was personally involved in the development...
OSI: GA
Stephen3DO: Alright folks - put on your Wing 3 trivia hats. OUr question tonight is directly from the people...
Stephen3DO: at Origin tonight - so it may be a toughie. Ok, Origin gang - what's tonights trivia question?
Stephen3DO: first correct answer wins - final decision by Origin Systems!
OSI: What are the names of the two Confederation Refuelling Depots found in...
ShawnRader: Tom and Jerry
OSI: Scene 15 Missions 2 & 3?
OSI: GA
ErinFritz2: Regula 1 and Hawkinsdepot!
ShawnRader: I HAVN"T GOTTEN THAT FAR!!!!
Arcade man: Refueling depot's 1 and 2
