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Babylon 5 Spins onto the Computer Screen

© David Ye

Funny thing - whenever a television programme or movie proves to be very popular (successful or not), there is always going to be a lot of merchandising directly related to the TV programme or movie in question. In particular the last few years have seen the rise CD-ROM games on the computer based on those popular phenomenon. With the rapidly advancing computer technology, games have come a long way in reproducing the excitement of the onscreen entertainment.

Babylon 5 is of course no exception in this area. But the funny thing is that the show has been around for quite awhile now even though a CD-ROM interactive/combat simulation (which I will get on to in a moment) has only been recently accepted for development by the Babylon 5 team. There are at least two possible reasons (there may be more) that I could think of: 1) There have been many concepts for a Babylon 5 game presented to them ever since the show started, but every one was rejected because the overall concept of the game did not fit what the B5 team wanted, until now; and 2) The computer technology used for games have come a long way since the show began back in 1994, and back then SVGA, 3D and CD-ROM itself were in their infancy, so to release a game then would not have done the show any justice.

So now enough chatter, on with the game.

The game now currently titled "Babylon 5 Combat Simulator" (this heading might change later on) is being produced by Sierra Online in conjunction with the B5 team. Although it is classified as a combat simulator, it will have heavy plot involvement during the entire game mainly through FMV (Full Motion Video) sequences - kind of like Wing Commander III and IV.

But there are many differing aspects between the two of them. An example is Wing Commander III and IV, which are mostly based on the FMV sequences, with the actual combat taking second stage. With most of the FMV sequences (most of which are long and tedious), you have no control over what is happening.

But with Babylon 5 Combat Simulator this will change because you will get to interact with the characters more often. The simulation will be the main focus of the game and the FMV/interactive scenes will support what is happening in the cockpit.

Another major advancement in this area is the ability now to plan and conduct your own campaigns - yes, no longer will you have to endure the default missions. As in so many other combat simulations, you get to fight the war the way you want it to be fought. Even Wing Commander does not do that.