Ch. 1 · Broderbund To LucasArts Transition

Star Wars: X-Wing (video game).

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Until 1992, Broderbund held the license for Star Wars computer games. When that license reverted to LucasArts in early 1993, designer Lawrence Holland decided to develop a new title. Holland brought prior experience from creating World War II air combat simulators to this project. He chose to build an engine using higher-detailed 3D polygonal graphics instead of bitmap sprites. This technical choice marked X-Wing as one of the first games to use such detailed three-dimensional models for spaceships. Edward Kilham's Totally Games also contributed to the design process during this transition period.

Keyan Farlander Tours Of Duty

Players take the role of Keyan Farlander fighting the Galactic Empire before and during the climactic battle of A New Hope. The story consists of three tours of duty containing twelve to fourteen operations each. These tours can be played out of order, but operations within each tour follow a linear path. Briefings, cutscenes, and in-flight messages advance the plot forward. A limited edition included a ninety-six-page novella called The Farlander Papers by Rusel DeMaria. That novella presents Keyan Farlander as the player character for most operations. The initial storyline concludes with the player flying as Luke Skywalker in his attack against the Death Star.

Power Management And Cockpit View

All flight takes place in space without gravity or atmospheric effects interfering with movement. The starfighters are equipped with recharging laser weapons and limited warheads. Players control power allocation between lasers, deflector shields, and engines simultaneously. Charging the lasers and shields slows the player craft down significantly. This effective power management system plays an important role in gameplay success. The game is played from inside the cockpit using a first-person perspective. Bars over the ELS text indicate current power allocations to engines, lasers, and shields at all times.

Interactive Music Streaming System

The game's MIDI musical score includes pieces from John Williams Star Wars score alongside original compositions. X-Wing became the first non-adventure game to use the iMUSE music system. Music designers Michael Land, Clint Bajakian, and Peter McConnell used familiar elements of Williams music to create cues. These musical cues respond to in-game events like the arrival of friendly or hostile ships. The system provides musical feedback that blends seamlessly with the rest of the soundtrack. Later CD-ROM versions replaced this dynamic MIDI soundtrack with looped audio recordings of the orchestral score.

Floppy Disk To Digital Reissues

X-Wing was originally released on floppy disks in February 1993. LucasArts released Imperial Pursuit and B-Wing expansion packs later that same year. A sixth tour of duty set during Rebel Alliance time at Echo Base remained unproduced. In 1994, the company launched the Collector CD-ROM Edition running on the TIE Fighter engine. This edition included both expansions plus redesigned cutscenes and voiceovers for mission briefings. The 1998 X-Wing Collector Series Edition updated graphics to run under Windows 9x rather than DOS. On the 28th of October 2014, the game appeared online for download for the first time.

Awards And Commercial Success

The launch shipment of one hundred thousand units sold out during its debut weekend. Nearly five hundred thousand units were ordered by retailers by December 1993. Computer Gaming World gave the game four stars out of five in a 1994 survey. Next Generation ranked X-Wing and Star Wars: TIE Fighter collectively as number twenty-three on their Top One Hundred Games list. PC Gamer US named it the fifth best computer game ever in 1994. PC Gamer UK called it the second best computer game of all time that same year. GameSpot described it as one of the best Star Wars games available.

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Common questions

Who designed the Star Wars: X-Wing video game released in 1993?

Lawrence Holland designed the Star Wars: X-Wing video game. He brought prior experience from creating World War II air combat simulators to this project.

What is the story of Keyan Farlander in the Star Wars: X-Wing video game?

Keyan Farlander fights the Galactic Empire before and during the climactic battle of A New Hope. The initial storyline concludes with the player flying as Luke Skywalker in his attack against the Death Star.

When was the Star Wars: X-Wing video game originally released on floppy disks?

The Star Wars: X-Wing video game was originally released on floppy disks in February 1993. On the 28th of October 2014, the game appeared online for download for the first time.

How does power management work in the Star Wars: X-Wing video game?

Players control power allocation between lasers, deflector shields, and engines simultaneously. Charging the lasers and shields slows the player craft down significantly.

Which expansion packs were included in the Star Wars: X-Wing Collector CD-ROM Edition released in 1994?

The Star Wars: X-Wing Collector CD-ROM Edition running on the TIE Fighter engine included both expansions plus redesigned cutscenes and voiceovers for mission briefings. LucasArts released Imperial Pursuit and B-Wing expansion packs later that same year.

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