Category:Wing Commander IV: The Price of Freedom

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Wing Commander IV: The Price of Freedom
Wc4sleevehigh.jpg
Platform MS-DOS
Windows 95 (DVD)
Macintosh
Playstation (PSX)
Engine RealSpace
Release Date February 4, 1996
October 14, 1997 (DVD)
April 3, 2012 (GoG)
Language English
German
Rating ESRB: M


Description

Wing Commander IV is a computer game released on February 4, 1996. It is a direct sequel to Wing Commander III: Heart of the Tiger. It was followed by Wing Commander Prophecy which was released on December 12, 1997.

Box Back Cover

Believe it - the BEST interactive movie has just gotten BETTER!

The Kilrathi war may be over, but back home nothing is the same. There's trouble in the Border Worlds. Civil War seems imminent. You have to decide how to save the Confederation — or if it should be saved at all!

The latest epic adventure in the Wing Commander saga applies improved cinematic techniques and photo-realistic graphics to a story of intrigue, betrayal and death. Never before has Hollywood been so completely under your control.

  • Ensemble cast of favorites, including Mark Hamill, Malcolm McDowell, John Rhys-Davies and Tom Wilson (as Maniac)
  • Enhanced movie quality, including panning camera and detailed Hollywood studio sets
  • Shot on film!
  • Runs under Win 95 with a DOS reboot
  • Completely woven story featuring old friends and new comrades
  • Photo-realistic textures on all ships
  • Enhanced interactivity both in and out of the cockpit — plus greater control of missions and drama
  • Digital music throughout the game
  • 16-bit movies with Dolby® surround sound
  • Better-than-ever gameplay
  • Full screen view for enhanced visibility

System Requirements

Computer. Wing Commander IV requires at least an IBM 486 DX/2 66+MHz or 100% compatible system, and MS-DOS version 5.0 or higher. Pentium™ machines are recommended for SVGA spaceflight.
Video Card. VESA-compliant SVGA (640x480). A local bus or PCI video card is required.
Hard Drive. You must have a minimum of 30 MB free on your hard drive to install and play this game.
CD-ROM Drive. You must have at least a double-speed CD-ROM drive with a transfer rate of 300,000 bytes/second or higher.
Mouse. Wing Commander IV requires a Microsoft or 100% compatible mouse using Microsoft software driver version 7.0 or higher or 100% compatible software driver.
Memory. Wing Commander IV uses 360K (368,640 bytes) of conventional RAM (base memory) and 7000K (7,168,000 bytes) of either extended memory (XMS) or expanded memory (EMS). You must have a minimum of 8 megabytes of RAM installed in your machine. We recommend using an XMS setup for machines with only 8 megs RAM.

Box Contents

MS-DOS

English

  • (6) CDs (your game!)
  • Wing Commander IV Introduction (40 pp.) with basic installation instructions, Tutorial, Option Screen information, detailed Installation Help, directions for Creating a Boot Disk (p. 11) and Troubleshooting answers to possible problems (p. 32)
  • The Price of Freedom (48 pp.) giving you an expanded version of what happened between Wing Commander III and Wing Commander IV.
  • Playguide (32 pp.) telling you how to play the game and set game options.
  • Reference Card (4 pp.) listing all keyboard, mouse and joystick commands in the game.
  • Registration Card — we'd love to know who you are!
  • Catalogs and other advertising, describing the worlds of gaming opportunities EA provides.

Russian

Windows

Sony PlayStation

Credits & Cast

Team

Cast
Col. Christopher Blair - Mark Hamill

Admiral Tolwyn - Malcolm McDowell

Senator James “Paladin” Taggart - John Rhys-Davies

Capt. William Eisen - Jason Bernard

Maj. Todd “Maniac” Marshall - Tom Wilson

Seether - Robert Rusler

2nd Lt. Troy 'Catscratch' Carter - Mark Dacascos

1st Lt. Velina Sosa - Holly Gagnier

Lt. Winston “Vagabond” Chang - Francois Chau

Col. Jacob 'Hawk' Manley - Chris Mulkey

Col. Tamara 'Panther' Farnsworth - Elizabeth Barondes

Lt. Col. Gash Dekker - Jeremy Roberts

Chief Technician Robert 'Pliers' Sykes - Richard Riehle

Vice Admiral Daniel Wilford - Peter Jason

Capt. Hugh Paulsen - John Spencer

2nd Lt. Drew Naismith - William Youmans

Melek - Christopher Bergschneider

Confed Redshirt #1 - Richard Kaszonyi

Confed Redshirt #2 - Chris Conrad

Confed Redshirt #3 - Casper Van Dien

Confed Redshirt #4 - Suzanne Ircha Johnson

Dr. Brody - Jessica Tuck

Telamon Female Comm Officer - Kirsten Severson

Telamon Citizen - Joel Polis

Telamon Doctor - Michael Cavanaugh

Canteen Bartender - Dylan Bruno

Canteen Vet - Peter Marquardt

Canteen Man - Dean Tarrolly

Border Worlds Pilot #1 - Mauricio Mendoza

Border Worlds Pilot #2 - Lester Barrie

Border Worlds Pilot #3 - Walton Goggins

Vesuvius Helmsman - Aaron Kuhr

Vesuvius Comm Officer - Wanda Acuna

Transport Pilot - Jane A. Rogers

Barbara Miles - News Anchor - Barbara Niven

Senator #1 - Dean Sommers

Senator #2 - Ed Bernard

Senator #3 - Roger Mercurio

Senator #4 - Shirlee Reed

Shuttle Pilot - Dylan Haggerty

Confed Marine - Derik Hixson

Border Worlds Lt. - Carl Banks

Bluepoint Traffic Control - Todd Covert

Helmsperson - BWS Intrepid - Beverly Castaldo

Circe V Comm Specialist - Saxon Trainor

BWS Carrier Officer #1 - Allen Cutler

BWS Carrier Officer #2 - Joe Fiske

Confed Pilot - Michael Wachtel

Com Base Guard #1 - Tim Meredith

Com Base Guard #2 - Dan Bell

Com Base Guard #3 - Scott McElroy

Convoy Comm Officer - Morgan Englund

Pirate - Todd Kimsey

Melek (voice) - Barry Dennen

Generic Cap #1 - Charles Esten

Generic Cap #2 - Michael Haplin

Generic Cap #3 - Cookie Carosella

Generic Cap #4 - Jeff Arbaugh

Slapping Woman - Kirsten Maryott

Medical Tech - Darin Mangan

Russo - Chris Olson

Black Lance officer at trial - Chris Roberts

Advertising

PC

WC4 full page ad from Computer Gaming World nr 139, Feb 1996.

Mark Hamill interview in PC Power Play magazine, may 1996 issue.

Full-page ad from Pc Zone issue 35, Feb 1996

In 1995, Origin created several beautiful magazine covers to promote Wing Commander IV. Rather than simply capture screens from the game itself, these renderings were unique works of art. Now you can see the original resolution images, as they were created before being sent off to the magazine editors! A fourth image was created for [Electronic Entertainment], although the source file has not been located.

Previews

PC

Computer Games Strategy Plus 61 December 1995

Playstation

Playstation Plus (UK), October 1996 (Vol. 2, No. 1)

Reviews

PC

Computer Gaming World 141, april 1996

Playstation

Playstation Plus (UK), May 1997 (Vol. 2, No. 8)

Versions

DOS / Windows 95 CD

Windows 95 DVD (single sided)

Same as the PC Windows 95 version, still uses the high compression Xan movie.

Ports

DVD (double sided)

Created for bundling with a Creative Labs Encore DVD kit. Same as the PC (Win95) version, but with high quality video sequences - as clear as a real movie rather than higher compression Xan movie.

Macintosh

Identical to the initial PC release.

Playstation

Cuts out a significant amount of video and missions (no Circe Series, for instance). Ground missions replaced with new space-based missions with similar objectives. Briefing videos altered slightly to represent this.

Strategy Guides

Re-Releases

Screenshots

Development

Patches / Addons

Origin

Fan Made

Editing Tools

Miscellaneous Files

Music

High quality background music

Thanks to Mad Hatter. (Details, more)

Various tracks

Cheats

PC

  • In flight, press Alt-O.
    Select invincibility.
  • Start the game with "wc4 -chicken" at the command line to enter debug mode. You should see the message "Chicken mode: [ON] Boc Boc!" during game start-up.
  • Ctrl-W destroys your target. Ctrl-Alt-W destroys all enemies on the radar. Alt-F displays framerate.
  • Start the game with "wc4 -mitchell" at the command line to get the message "Mitchell don't work here no more. He work for Bazooka Joe now." during game start-up.
  • Start the game with "wc4 -mitchell2" at the command line to get the message "I told you he don't work here no more! You call Bazooka Joe! during game start-up."
  • Start the game with "wc4 -test" at the command line to get the message "Test okay!!!" during game start-up. The game then crashes.

PlayStation

  • At the Wing Commander copyright screen, press Up, Down, Down, Up, R2.
    Press R1 or R2 to select a game level.

Manuals and Game Documentation

Controls

PC & Macintosh

Afterburner				Tab
Toggle Afterburner			`
Fire Guns				Space
Fire Missile				Enter
Accelerate				+
Decelerate				-
Full Speed				~
Full Stop				Backspace
Match Target Speed			Y
Look Left				F2
Look Right				F3
Look Forward				F1
Look Behind				F4
Display Rear Turret in Left VDU		Ctrl + F4
Chase View				F5
Battle View				F6
Tactical View				F7
Missile Camera				F8
Victim Camera				F9
Track Camera				F10
Cycle Weapons				M
Cycle Guns				G
Full Guns				F
Drop Decoy				E
Synchronize Guns			Ctrl + G
Special Guns/Rear Turret Tractor Beam	H
Select All Hardpoints			B
Cycle Targets				T
Cycle Turrets				R
Jump					J
Cloak					Ctrl + C
Toggle Auto-Tracking			Ctrl + A
Toggle Smart-Targeting			Ctrl + S
Auto-slide				Caps Lock
Toggle Auto-slide			/
Lock Target				L
Damage HUD				D
Shield HUD				S
Weapons HUD				W
Autopilot				A
Comms select				C
Nav Map					N
Power menu				P
Decrease Power to Selected Component	[
Increase Power to Selected Component	]
Lock Power to Selected Component	Ctrl + ]
Set Selected Power to Maximum		Shift + ]
Reset all Power Settings 		Shift + [
Eject					Ctrl + E
Options Menu				Alt + O

Playstation

Digital Control

Ship Movement					D-Pad
Roll Left/Right					L2 + D-Pad
Afterburner					R1 + R2
Cycle Camera Views				L2 + R1
Fire guns					Square
Fire missile					X
Accelerate					R1
Decelerate					R2
Maximum Speed					L1 + R1
Full Stop					L1 + R2
Cycle weapons					L1 + X
Cycle guns					L1 + Square
Rear Turret					L1 + Select
Cycle Targets					Triangle
Smart Targeting					L1 + Triangle
Decoy						Circle
Match Speed					R1 + Triangle
Autopilot					Select
Comms select					Select + Left/Right
Nav Map/Exit Nav Map				Start
Eject						L1 + L2 + R1 + R2 + Select + Start
Cloak						L1 + L2 + R1 + R2
New Game					Hold Select + Start for 2 seconds
Taunt						Select + Square
Break and Attack				Select + Triangle
Cycle Comm Option 				L2
Select Comm Option 				L1 (Quick Select Comm ON)
Viewscreen 					L1 + D-Pad (Quick Select Comm OFF)
Rotate Nav Map					D-Pad
Zoom In Nav Map					R1
Zoom Out Nav Map				R2
Cycle Nav map targets				Triangle
Options Menu 					X (while in nav map)



Analog Control

Ship Movement					L Stick
Roll Left/Right					R Stick Left/Right
Afterburner					R3
Cycle Camera Views				L1 + L2
Fire guns					R1
Fire missile					R2
Accelerate					R Stick Forward
Decelerate					R Stick Back
Maximum Speed					Disabled
Full Stop					Disabled
Cycle weapons					L1 + R2
Cycle guns					L1 + R1
Smart Targetting				L2 + Triangle
Rear Turret					R1 + Select
Cycle Targets					Triangle
Decoy						Circle
Match Speed					L1 + Triangle
Autopilot					Select
Comms select					D-Pad
Nav Map/Exit Nav Map				Start
Eject						Start + Select + L1 + L2 + R1 + R2
Cloak						L1 + L2 + R1 + R2
New Game					Start + Select hold
Taunt						L1 + Square
Break and Attack				L1 + X
Cycle Comm Option (Quick Select Comm ON)	D-Pad
Select Comm Option (Quick Select Comm ON)	D-Pad
Viewscreen (Quick Select Comm OFF)		D-Pad
Rotate Nav Map					L Stick
Zoom In Nav Map					R Stick Back
Zoom Out Nav Map				R Stick Forward
Cycle Nav Map Targets				Triangle
Options Menu (while in Nav Map)			X
Exit Game (while in Nav Map)			Select
Toggle Vibration				L3 + R3

Cutscenes

Behind The Scenes Of WCIV Carlos Mendonça found something really neat that we don't recall seeing before - seven behind the scenes videos from the set of Wing Commander IV! They were found in the January 1996 copy of Multimedia World Live! and are a mixture of interviews, behind the scenes action, and even a blooper video. Here they are in their original form of 320x240 12 frames/sec Cinepak video and 8 bit sound.

  • blair2.avi - Interview with Mark Hamill.
  • maniac1.avi - Interview with Tom Wilson 1.
  • maniac2.avi - Interview with Tom Wilson 2.
  • wing1.avi - Behind the scenes, interviews with Chris Roberts, Mark Hamill, Malcolm Macdowell, Tom Wilson, Jason Bernard.
  • wing3.avi - Wing Commander IV trailer.
  • wing4.avi - Briefing blooper.
  • wing5.avi - Those damn doors again.

Ships

Terran Confederation

  • Fighters
Wc4arrow-vdu.gif
Wc4hellcat-vdu.gif
Wc4thunderbolt-vdu.gif
Wc4longbow-vdu.gif
Wc4bearcat-vdu.gif
Wc4excalibur-vdu.gif
F-27 Arrow V
Hellcat V
HF-66 Thunderbolt VII
F/A-76 Longbow
Bearcat
F-103 Excalibur
  • Capital Ships
Wc4shuttle-vdu.gif
Wc4transport-vdu.gif
Wc4jammer-vdu.gif
Wc4frigate-vdu.gif
Wc4destroyer-vdu.gif
Wc4cruiser-vdu.gif
Wc4concordia-vdu.gif
Wc4vesuvius-vdu.gif
Shuttle
Clarkson
Jammer
Caernaven
Southampton
Tallahassee
Concordia
Vesuvius
  • Installations
Wc4jumpbuoy-vdu.gif
Wc4radarsat-vdu.gif
Wc4turretmine-vdu.gif
Wc4commstation-vdu.gif
Wc4radarbuoy-vdu.gif
Wc4depot-vdu.gif
Wc4drydock-vdu.gif
Wc4weaponsfactory-vdu.gif
Jump Buoy
Radar Buoy
Turret Mine
Radar Array
Comm Station
Depot
Dry Dock
Factory


Wc4superbase-vdu.gif
Wc4spacelab-vdu.gif
Wc4groundturret-vdu.gif
Wc4tank-vdu.gif
Wc4tank-vdu.gif
Wc4undergroundbase-vdu.gif
Wc4commcenter-vdu.gif
Super Base
Space Lab
Ground Turret
Hover Tank
Missile Tank
Underground Base
Communications Array

Black Lance

Fighter
Wc4lance-vdu.gif
Capital Ship
Wc4projecttransport-vdu.gif
Installation
Wc4axiusbase-vdu.gif
F-107 Lance
Evansville
Axius

Pirate

  • Fighters
Wc4razor-vdu.gif
Wc4arrow-vdu.gif
Wc4thunderbolt-vdu.gif
Razor
F-27 Arrow V
HF-66 Thunderbolt VII
  • Capital Ship
Wc4frigate-vdu.gif
Caernaven

Union of Border Worlds

  • Fighters
Wc4banshee-vdu.gif
Wc4vindicator-vdu.gif
Wc4avenger-vdu.gif
Wc4mip-vdu.gif
Banshee
Vindicator
Avenger
Manned Insertion Pod
  • Capital Ships
Wc4assaultshuttle-vdu.gif
Wc4transport-vdu.gif
Wc4frigate-vdu.gif
Wc4destroyer-vdu.gif
Wc4cruiser-vdu.gif
Wc4durango-vdu.gif
Shuttle
Clarkson
Caernaven
Southampton
Tallahassee
Durango
  • Installations
Wc4spacelab-vdu.gif
Wc4groundturret-vdu.gif
Wc4tank-vdu.gif
Wc4undergroundbase-vdu.gif
Wc4commcenter-vdu.gif
Wc4building-vdu.gif
Space Lab
Ground Turret
Hover Tank
Underground Base
Communications Array
Ground Complex

Empire of Kilrah

  • Fighters
Wc4dralthi-vdu.gif
Dralthi IV
  • Capital Ships
Wc4kilrathishuttle-vdu.gif
Shuttle
  • Installation
Wc4kilrathistarbase-vdu.gif
Starbase

Missions

Weapons

Guns

Missiles

External links

Wing Commander IV at the Internet Movie Database.