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A History of Military Flight Simulations on the PC
by Len "Viking 1" Hjalmarson The Mature Years: 1997-2000 In 1998 Microprose released European Air War, considered by many to be the best WWII combat simulation ever. The initial release allowed only 640x480 resolution, but the game was atmospheric in the extreme. Voice and sound effects were excellent and the wingman command structure was broad and effective. Furthermore, flight models were solid, and the dynamic campaign supported large flights of aircraft and excellent action. Multiplayer features were also quite good and many online squadrons still fly European Air War. A huge variety of end-user modifications have extended the life of this game, including sound packs, mission packs and campaigns and new aircraft. 1998 might be the year that the MMOG came into their own. MMOG is an acronym that stands for mega-multiplayer online games. In 1998 Air Warrior III appeared, an online only simulation that fought with WarBirds 2 for air dominance. With dedicated online communities numbering in the thousands, the online arenas for these games can support as many as five hundred players simultaneously. The online experience up to 1997 was a mixed bag of bad connections, poor software, and overworked hardware. But the improvement in online code, the rapidly growing horsepower of the PC, and the growing number of Internet users were conspiring to change the face of online gaming. By 1998 MMOG games were coming into their own. Microsoft launched their Gaming Zone in 1997 and Fighter Ace was released in November. By 1998 the Zone supported a number of multiplayer arenas, including one for Red Baron II and European Air War. In 1998 iMagic Online’s Dawn of Aces took the player back to the world of biplanes and Lewis guns, and Novalogic continued to grow their own MMOG venue with F22 Lightning II Novaworld. |
This article is copyright ThrustMaster and Leonard Hjalmarson. It may not be reproduced in whole or in part by any means without permission. Email MiGMan with your experiences or any information related to this sim. |
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The contents of this website are copyright © 1998 - 2007 by MiGMan |
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