EA’s remastered classics collection brings substantially improved full-motion video (FMV), 60 frames per second gameplay, newly available .INI tweaks and full controller support to several older games. The project also involved recovering original source materials, working with GOG and, in the case of Privateer 2, remastering footage from tapes preserved in the attic of the game’s original cinematic director.
Higher-quality video and modern PC features
The most significant upgrade is the much higher quality of the games’ FMV sequences. The remasters also add 60 fps gameplay, a range of newly available .INI configuration tweaks and full controller support. However, discussions on the games’ Steam forums indicate that some players are experiencing problems with controller support.
Recovering the original Privateer 2 footage
For Privateer 2, the barely remembered sequel to Wing Commander: Privateer, staff could not locate the original high-quality masters of the FMV scenes. They eventually contacted Steve Hilliker, the game’s original cinematic director, who had kept the tapes in his attic.
Hilliker had always wanted to pursue a new color-grading direction for the footage. He was able to do so while remastering and upscaling all of the game’s cutscenes.
Updates to Wing Commander’s Prophecy and Road Rash
A similar update was made for Wing Commander’s Prophecy and Road Rash. EA’s blog post also describes GOG’s role in the restoration and remastering work. For the re-release of Road Rash, EA re-licensed the entire original soundtrack.
Pricing and availability
The collection is currently on sale on GOG and Steam. People who previously owned older versions of the games through the GOG and EA storefronts can claim the remasters for free. None of the games costs more than $5.
The restoration does not erase EA’s other bad news or questionable decisions, but it demonstrates what a small group of passionate people can achieve in game preservation. Some of the work was carried out by volunteers outside normal working hours, although EA committed resources to the remediation as the project progressed.
The remaster is not perfect, but the project offers a useful look at how complex the repair and preservation of older games can be. EA’s full blog post details the restoration process.
Source: arstechnica.com