I remember this came out of the Mac (As did WC1-4) but I missed out on it. Does this use DOSBox, or is it the Windows release?

Also, I've just rediscovered the Vega Strike-based remake of this game (Privateer: Gemini Gold). In terms of gameplay, is there any reason why I should prefer this over the remake?

There was never a Windows Privateer release.

Play the original. It's better.

Privateer was never released for the Mac. Nor was WC1 or WC2. WC3 and WC4. Super Wing Commander was released for the Mac which was WC1 in a new engine with new graphics and a unique set of extra missions we Wingnuts like to call "Secret Missions 1.5" since they cover the destruction of the Sivar shipyards.

There was also no Windows release for Privateer. (You maybe confusing it with Privateer 2: The Darkening). This is a DOSBox release.

Yes there is. Ask any longtime Wing Commander fan (aka Wingnut) and they will to a person tell you that the original is superior in every way.

Nice Avatar. There are Se7en stages. All of them are darker. :p

It could be a disagreement on pricing, licensing, EA may have had a 3rd party create the expansions and so on and on. I'm sure the real reason will not be known.

Pleeeeeeeease! I really hope this means Wing Commander III, IV and Prophecy will make it to GOG. Especially the DVD version of WC IV.

Good going GOG!

Privateer is excellent. Righteous Fire is more of the same excellent. Sad to not have the full CD version with expansion, but original Privateer is lengthy, deep, and complete all by itself.

Probably because EA wants to sell the expansion separately for another $6.

Thanks. :P I'll say hi to Bernhard Strauss for you.

I still have fond memories of WC4. I have WC4 (in all of its 6 CD glory), and I played through the whole thing on my old 120 Mhz Performa (man, my ADB CH Flightstick Pro rocked that game). In retrospect the acting was downright hilarious with JAG's Harmann Rabb trying to play a genetically engineered psychotic uber-mensch (his ship was pretty damn cool, though).

I saw physical copies of WC3 for the Mac a couple of times in discount Mac game bundles at the old CompuCentre downtown (along with SpectreVR and the original Command and Conquer). To this day I'm kicking myself for not buying it.

I'm surprised that WC2 was never released for the Mac; I could have sworn that I saw it for sale somewhere in a shelf. And yeah, I suppose I did confuse Privateer for Privateer 2; I remember a big deal made out of it coming out on Windows.

Without downloading it myself, I'm fairly certain that this download is the original Privateer + Speech pack. I don't have the old floppy ones any more, but a 78MB download certainly implies speech pack. I do have the EA Classics one, which clocks in at a 146MB CD.

I've only played Wing Commander III on the playstation. Initially I didn't like it but eventually it hooked me. Looking back now I want to play it again. I still have the disks but would rather hope it comes out as part of a bundle on GOG, would be an instant buy for me. Though I believe Origin owns the rights to the first 3 in the series (though EA released WC3 on psx so I can't say for sure) so that might prevent it from happening.

The speech pack is included.

While I enjoyed Privateer back in the day my true motive for purchase was to encourage them to release the other Wing Commander series games which were the bread and butter of my youth!

Awesome, thanks for the confirmation about the speech pack!

Cool classic. First Space Sim I ever played.

Shame they couldn't include RF. Beyond additional story and missions, there were some nice additional upgrades there.

License holders are so fussy :P.

I never played this one. how does it compare to the regular series?



yeah, it's a story-driven flight simulator. i've never heard wing commander referred to as a third-person shooter, although it's technically an accurate statement.