Wing Commander Arena

Infobox VG
title = Wing Commander Arena


developer = Gaia Industries
publisher = Electronic Arts
released = July 25, 2007
genre = Space combat simulator
modes = Single player, Multiplayer
ratings= ESRB: Everyone (E)
platforms = Xbox 360 (XBLA)
media = Download

"Wing Commander Arena" is a space combat video game developed by independent software developer Gaia Industries for the Xbox 360's Xbox Live Arcade service. It is a spin-off of the popular "Wing Commander" series of games.cite news | first=Alex | last=Handy | coauthors= | title=EA's Sean Penney On "Wing Commander's" Comeback | date=2007-02-23 | publisher=Gamasutra | url =http://www.gamasutra.com/php-bin/news_index.php?story=12872 | work =Gamasutra | pages = | accessdate = 2007-08-04 | language = ] The game was released on July 25, 2007,cite news | first=Dustin | last=Burg | coauthors= | title="Wing Commander Arena" flies in next week | date=2007-07-21 | publisher=XBOX 360 Fanboy | url =http://www.xbox360fanboy.com/2007/07/21/wing-commander-arena-flies-in-next-week/ | work =XBOX 360 Fanboy | pages = | accessdate = 2007-08-04 | language = ] and costs 800 Microsoft Points (US$10).cite news | first=Ben | last=Lesnick | coauthors= | title=Arena Pricing Announced | date=2007-05-25 | publisher=WCNews | url =http://wcnews.com/news/update/7908 | work =WCNews | pages = | accessdate = 2007-08-04 | language = ]

Gameplay

Players engage in dogfights that take place in one of nine environments, and they are able to choose from 18 ships, half being Terran, and the other half Kilrathi. There can be up to 16 players in a single match.cite news | first=Andy | last=Eddy | coauthors= | title=Wing Commander Arena Hands-On Preview (Xbox 360) | date=2007-02-23 | publisher=Team XBOX | url =http://previews.teamxbox.com/xbox-360/1537/Wing-Commander-Arena/p1/ | work =Team XBOX | pages = | accessdate = 2007-08-04 | language = ]

The game is separated into single-player and multiplayer modes. Multiplayer modes include eight-on-eight teamplay or 16 player free-for-allcite news | first=Billy | last=Berghammer | coauthors= | title=Wing Commander Arena: The Sean Penney Interview | date=2007-05-08 | publisher=Game Informer | url =http://www.gameinformer.com/News/Story/200705/N07.0508.1727.17945.htm | work =Game Informer | pages = | accessdate = 2007-08-04 | language = ] , capship battles allowing two teams to launch an organized assault on each other's ship while defending their own,cite news | first=Emily | last=Balistrieri | coauthors= | title=Previews: Wing Commander Arena | date=2007-05-11 | publisher=1Up | url =http://www.1up.com/do/previewPage?cId=3159432 | work =1Up | pages = | accessdate = 2007-08-05 | language = ] "Satellite", which is a variation of capture the flag,cite news | first=Emily | last=Balistrieri | coauthors= | title=Previews: Wing Commander Arena | date=2007-05-11 | publisher=1Up | url =http://www.1up.com/do/previewPage?cId=3159432 | work =1Up | pages = | accessdate = 2007-08-05 | language = ] and one-on-one duels.cite news | first=Emily | last=Balistrieri | coauthors= | title=Previews: Wing Commander Arena | date=2007-05-11 | publisher=1Up | url =http://www.1up.com/do/previewPage?cId=3159432 | work =1Up | pages = | accessdate = 2007-08-05 | language = ] There is also a "Bearpit" where one-on-one duels can be watched from the sidelines by other players who can take potshots at the duelers.cite news | first=Ben | last=Lesnick | coauthors= | title=Video Interview Transcript | date=2007-02-26 | publisher=WCNews | url =http://www.wcnews.com/news/update/7696 | work =WCNews | pages = | accessdate = 2007-08-04 | language = ]

Single player modes include Asteroids, Training Modes and Melees. Playing through the single player modes will unlock the various ship types.cite news | first=Ben | last=Lesnick | coauthors= | title=Video Interview Transcript | date=2007-02-26 | publisher=WCNews | url =http://www.wcnews.com/news/update/7696 | work =WCNews | pages = | accessdate = 2007-08-04 | language = ]

Relation to previous "Wing Commander" games

"Arena"'s gameplay differs from previous "Wing Commander" installments.cite news | first=Billy | last=Berghammer | coauthors= | title=Wing Commander Arena: The Sean Penney Interview | date=2007-05-08 | publisher=Game Informer | url =http://www.gameinformer.com/News/Story/200705/N07.0508.1727.17945.htm | work =Game Informer | pages = | accessdate = 2007-08-04 | language = ] Rather than using a first-person perspective cockpit used throughout the series, "Arena" is played from a top-down perspective on a 2D plane with the third axis reserved for special maneuvers, using a control scheme that resembles a first-person shooter.cite news | first=Billy | last=Berghammer | coauthors= | title=Wing Commander Arena: The Sean Penney Interview | date=2007-05-08 | publisher=Game Informer | url =http://www.gameinformer.com/News/Story/200705/N07.0508.1727.17945.htm | work =Game Informer | pages = | accessdate = 2007-08-04 | language = ]

While some fans have been vocal about the departure from previous games,Fact|date=June 2007 the developers of "Arena" have designed the game with long time "Wing Commander" fans in mind. The producer, Sean Penney, is himself a long time fan of the franchise cite web|url=http://wcnews.com/news/update/7698|title=But Is It Ours? | publisher=WCNews | work=WCNews | author=Ben Lesnick | accessdate=2007-08-04] and that early in the development, he had tried to seek input from members of the original "Wing Commander" development team, such as Chris Roberts.cite news | first=Chris | last=Remo | coauthors= | title=Preview: "Wing Commander Arena" | date=2007-02-23 | publisher=Shacknews | url =http://www.shacknews.com/laryn.x?story=45882 | work =Shacknews | pages = | accessdate = 2007-08-04 | language = ]

See also

* Wing Commander franchise

External links

* [http://www.gaming-age.com/news/2007/2/22-50 Official Press Release Announcement]
* [http://www.ea.com/arcade/game.jsp?game=wing Official Web site]
* [http://gaiaindustries.com/ Gaia Industries]
* [http://www.wcnews.com/ Wing Commander CIC]

References