Releasing three separate videos which show that the primary skill in Wing Commander Arena is to hold down your fire button is not a great marketing campaign.

At least they showed us that 2 people holding down their fire buttons will easily beat a single person holding down their fire button. However, they also taught us that three people holding down their fire buttons will easily defeat two people especially when one isn't even returning fire. It feels good to learn important skills like that.

I don't think they're supposed to be tips videos - these are three of the four trailers from the game's website... the capital ship one just shows a bunch of clips of what the capship combat mode looks like (a reasonable thing to put out, since it's the coolest mode and isn't available in the demo).

The other two are a joke - in the literal sense, as in EA trying to be funny. The 'How NOT to Capture a Satellite' trailer is a video of a little fighter getting blown up over and over trying to take over a satellite...

I don't think these are supposed to be tips videos - they're three of the four trailers from the official site. The capital ship video is worthwhile for anyone who's on the fence about buying the game - since it shows off what the Capital Ship battles look like (easily the coolest mode, but multiplayer only and unavailable in the demo).

The other two are a joke - in the literal sense, as in EA trying to be funny. "How NOT to Blow Up a Satellite" is a little fighter getting blown up again and again as it approaches a satellite... and then in the followup the same guy comes back in a giant bomber with escort fighters and blows everything up.

I'm rather surprised EA hasn't tried to nickel and dime the customer a little more. Unfortunately, any goodwill this may have generated will be more than wiped out by the fact that they took a much loved space combat franchise and churned out a horrendously clunky 2d shooter that does nothing with the license. Seriously, remember that .pdf manual they released? The first two pages of that had more of the flavour and feel of the Wing Commander universe than the entire game managed.

I downloaded the trial yesterday, and after 15 minutes of it, I had no desire to ever start it up again. I doubt 16 player multiplayer will be able to help it, either, it will just mean misery can have more company.