Chuck Yeager's Air Combat
| Chuck Yeager's Air Combat | |
|---|---|
| Studio | Brent Iverson |
| Publisher | Electronic Arts |
| Erstveröffent- lichung |
1991 |
| platform |
PC ( MS-DOS ) Apple Macintosh |
| genre | Flight simulation |
| Game mode | Single player , multiplayer (Apple only) |
| control | Keyboard , joystick , mouse |
| medium | 2 3.5 " floppy disks |
| language | English |
Chuck Yeager's Air Combat is a military flight simulation for MS-DOS - PC developed by Electronic Arts in 1991 . The namesake Chuck Yeager worked as a technical consultant in the development and was also involved in the game by giving advice during the flight, in which Yeager's picture is displayed. Voice samples from Yeager were also played back. After the aerobatic simulation Chuck Yeager's Advanced Flight Trainer , this is the second game that bears the name of the famous test pilot.
What is outstanding is the fact that Chuck Yeager's Air Combat was one of the first computer games to simulate a number of aircraft from different eras of aviation history ; the air battles between the US Air Force and the Air Force in World War II (1942–1945), the North Korean Air Force in the Korean War (1950–1953) and the North Vietnamese Air Force in the Vietnam War (1965–1975) are covered.
Technology and development
The game developer was Brent Iverson. A precursor of the engine found in the helicopter simulation LHX Attack Chopper (1988) Use, later the engine for was Su-25 Stormovik (1992) and in a technically much improved form even in 1994 for US Navy Fighters and 1996 ATF - Advanced Tactical Fighters used . In 1993 a version of Chuck Yeager's Air Combat for the Apple Macintosh was published, which was implemented by Looking Glass Studios . The graphic resolution was improved and it was also possible to export the recorded films of the missions in QuickTime format. Furthermore, a multiplayer mode via network has been added.
The game graphics are completely polygonal vector graphics , bitmaps are only used for explosions . The resolution is 320 × 200 pixels in 256 colors (8-bit VGA ). The implemented optical effects include a gradual brightening of the horizon and volumetric representations of smoke and clouds implemented using dithering . The game data was delivered on two 3.5 " floppy disks .
Game content and scope
The player has two game modes to choose from in the main menu. One is the "Historical Mission" mode and the other is "Custom Mission". In the former, the player plays freely selectable ready-made missions, which are sorted according to the three epochs of the game and are located on both sides of the respective war and are largely based on actual historical events. For example, the air raid on Schweinfurt (1943), the defection of the North Korean No Kum-sok with his MiG-15 to the Americans (1953) or the attacks on the Thanh Hoa bridge (known as "Dragon's Jaw" in 1965) –1972) incorporated into missions.
The armament of the aircraft that the player can control is designed exclusively for aerial combat, so these represent the largest proportion of the "historical" missions offered. Only two selectable missions have the attack on ground targets as their content. Other unusual missions include escorting a ResCAP aircraft in the Korean War or trying to escape North Vietnamese fighters with an unarmed RF-4 reconnaissance machine . In the briefing for each historical mission there is also the option of comparing one's own aircraft type with those of the opponent. Thereby technical data are compared, on the basis of which tips for optimal tactics in air combat are given.
In the "Custom Mission" mode, the player can change parameters such as the type of aircraft, flight altitude, relative position, number, types and capabilities of the enemy aircraft. In this mode it is also possible to have planes from different eras fight each other. Another option in the main menu is “Test Flight”. Here, the player can extensively test the six controllable aircraft outside of combat and operational targets for their flight characteristics in different positions. In addition, all missions are recorded and can be viewed using the “Review Film” menu item.
Simulated aircraft
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criticism
The computer magazine Aktueller Software Markt rated the game in issue 7/91 with 11 out of 12 possible points and commented:
"Technically everything is right here: the graphics are top notch, the sound is good too [...]. I shouldn't be reproached for my obvious joy in this game - this is not a glorification of war, but pure joy in the game. [...] I warmly recommend this game to everyone else. "
In the Power Play 8/91 the game was rated with 74%, it was written:
“Air combat is certainly not for peaceful flight purists, but anyone who would like to get involved in a duel with cool computer pilots can hardly avoid this program. No unnecessary bells and whistles disturb the pleasure of shooting here. "
On the occasion of a re-publication of the game in 1995, the magazine PC Player commented in issue 3/95 in retrospect in the review that closed with a rating of 66%:
"In terms of play, Chuck Yeager's Air Combat is still one of the most appealing products of its kind, especially because of the abundance of options for beginners and professionals."
Individual evidence
Web links
- Chuck Yeager's Air Combat on TheLegacy
- Chuck Yeager's Air Combat at MobyGames (English)