Falcon (series): Difference between revisions
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The '''''Falcon''''' line of computer games is a series of [[Combat flight simulator|simulations]] of the [[General Dynamics F-16 Fighting Falcon|F-16 Fighting Falcon]] combat aircraft. The games were developed and published by [[Spectrum Holobyte|Spectrum HoloByte]] (later [[MicroProse]]). They were noted for their high level of realism unseen in contemporary simulation games. |
The '''''Falcon''''' line of computer games is a series of [[Combat flight simulator|simulations]] of the [[General Dynamics F-16 Fighting Falcon|F-16 Fighting Falcon]] combat aircraft. The games were developed and published by [[Spectrum Holobyte|Spectrum HoloByte]] (later [[MicroProse]]). They were noted for their high level of realism unseen in contemporary simulation games. |
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==''Falcon''== |
==''Falcon''== |
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{{Main|Falcon (video game)}} |
{{Main|Falcon (video game)}} |
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''Falcon'' was originally designed and produced by [[Gilman Louie]] and programmed by Les Watts for the [[MSX]] (1984, under title of '''''F-16 Fighting Falcon''''') and [[Macintosh]] (1987 as ''Falcon''), and used bitmapped 3D [[MiG-21]]s as adversaries, several years before [[Origin Systems|Origin]]'s ''[[Wing Commander (video game)|Wing Commander]]'' used a similar graphics engine. It was ported for the PC, but no longer used bitmapped graphics; instead, the adversaries were displayed using primitive polygon graphics. |
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==''Falcon A.T.''== |
==''Falcon A.T.''== |
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==''Falcon 3.0''== |
==''Falcon 3.0''== |
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{{Main|Falcon 3.0}} |
{{Main|Falcon 3.0}} |
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''Falcon 3.0'' was claimed to have used flight dynamics from a real military simulator, and required a [[Floating point unit|math coprocessor]] to enable the high fidelity flight mode. Even in less demanding modes, it was still virtually unplayable in computers running on less than a [[Intel 80386 (microarchitecture)|386]] computer (recommended 33 MHz [[Intel 80486 (microarchitecture)|486]], a top end machine at this time). It was announced well in advance of its actual release date (1991). |
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==''Falcon 3.0'' based games ("Electronic Battlefield")== |
==''Falcon 3.0'' based games ("Electronic Battlefield")== |
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==''Falcon 4.0'' and ''Falcon 4.0: Allied Force''== |
==''Falcon 4.0'' and ''Falcon 4.0: Allied Force''== |
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{{main|Falcon 4.0|Falcon 4.0: Allied Force}} |
{{main|Falcon 4.0|Falcon 4.0: Allied Force}} |
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''Falcon 4.0'' was the source of much controversy due to [[source code]] being leaked from MicroProse in the year 2000.<ref name="falcon4.0leak">{{cite web|url=http://www.cleared-to-engage.com/2011/03/12/interview-with-kevin-klemmick-lead-software-engineer-for-falcon-4-0/|title=Interview with Kevin Klemmick - Lead Software Engineer for Falcon 4.0 | publisher=Cleared-To-Engage |date=2011-03-12 |first=Giorgio |last=Bertolone |accessdate=2014-08-31 |quote=''[C2E] In 2000 the source code of Falcon 4.0 leaked out and after that groups of volunteers were able to make fixes and enhancements that assured the longevity of this sim. Do you see the source code leak as a good or bad event? [Klemmick] "Absolutely a good event. In fact I wish I’d known who did it so I could thank them. I honestly think this should be standard procedure for companies that decide not to continue to support a code base."''|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110318015840/http://www.cleared-to-engage.com/2011/03/12/interview-with-kevin-klemmick-lead-software-engineer-for-falcon-4-0 |archivedate=2011-03-18}}</ref> In the years between the source code leak and the release of ''Falcon 4.0: Allied Force'' (2005), many [[Unofficial patch|"unofficial" tweaks]] were released by the online community to fix bugs and enhance the game for modern systems.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.boston.com/news/globe/living/articles/2004/01/21/diehard_pilots_keep_falcon_flying/ |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20040408111542/http://www.boston.com/news/globe/living/articles/2004/01/21/diehard_pilots_keep_falcon_flying/ |archivedate=2004-04-08 |accessdate=2016-06-28 |publisher=Boston.com|title=Diehard pilots keep Falcon flying|author=Hiawatha Bray|date=2004-01-21}}</ref> |
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Many of these enhancements have found their way into derivative versions, namely ''Allied Force'', ''FreeFalcon'' and ''Falcon BMS''. ''Allied Force'' was the commercial re-release of ''Falcon 4.0'', while ''FreeFalcon'' and ''Falcon BMS'' are the most current community driven version. As of 2013, only the latter is still in development. The ''Falcon 4.0'' series is one of the longest running game series using the same code base in the PC history, spanning well over a decade.<ref name=falconepopee2013>{{cite web|url=https://sites.google.com/site/falcon4history/files/FalconEpopee.pdf?attredirects=0 |title=THE FALCON EPOPEE |year=2013 |accessdate=2013-09-14 |publisher=sites.google.com/site/falcon4history |author=SPYHAWK |format=PDF}}</ref> |
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==Reception== |
==Reception== |
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In 1996, ''[[Next Generation (magazine)|Next Generation]]'' listed ''Falcon 3.0 Gold'' as number 80 on their "Top 100 Games of All Time", commenting that, "Though it is bemoaned as one of the most demanding flight sims ever, Spectrum HoloByte's uncompromising simulation of the F-16 Fighting Falcon also manages to reign supreme as the most exacting computer simulation created. And as one of the first multiplayer combat simulations ever released, ''Falcon'' has managed to build a fanatical following of online pilots."<ref>{{cite magazine|last=|first= |title=Top 100 Games of All Time |magazine=[[Next Generation (magazine)|Next Generation]]|issue=21 |publisher=[[Imagine Media]] |date=September 1996|page=43}}</ref> |
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The ''Falcon'' series sold 700,000 copies by January 1995;<ref>https://web.archive.org/web/20170710215406/https://www.wired.com/1995/01/search-destroy/?pg=4&topic=</ref> ''Falcon 3.0'' alone accounted for 400,000 sales by March 1995.<ref name=pcgamerus>{{cite journal | author=Buchanan, Lee| journal=[[PC Gamer US]] | title=The ''Falcon'' and the Sim Man |date=March 1995 | volume=2 | issue=3 | page=124 }}</ref> Sales of the series had surpassed 900,000 copies by 2005.<ref name=sales3>{{cite press release|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20170922083419/http://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/the-flight-simulation-franchise-that-sold-more-than-900000-units-for-the-pc-returns-in-an-unprecedented-fashion | url=http://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/the-flight-simulation-franchise-that-sold-more-than-900000-units-for-the-pc-returns-in-an-unprecedented-fashion |title=The flight simulation franchise that sold more than 900,000 units for the PC returns in an unprecedented fashion | date=July 25, 2005 |publisher=[[Gamesindustry.biz]] |archivedate=September 22, 2017 |deadurl= |df= }}</ref> |
The ''Falcon'' series sold 700,000 copies by January 1995;<ref>https://web.archive.org/web/20170710215406/https://www.wired.com/1995/01/search-destroy/?pg=4&topic=</ref> ''Falcon 3.0'' alone accounted for 400,000 sales by March 1995.<ref name=pcgamerus>{{cite journal | author=Buchanan, Lee| journal=[[PC Gamer US]] | title=The ''Falcon'' and the Sim Man |date=March 1995 | volume=2 | issue=3 | page=124 }}</ref> Sales of the series had surpassed 900,000 copies by 2005.<ref name=sales3>{{cite press release|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20170922083419/http://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/the-flight-simulation-franchise-that-sold-more-than-900000-units-for-the-pc-returns-in-an-unprecedented-fashion | url=http://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/the-flight-simulation-franchise-that-sold-more-than-900000-units-for-the-pc-returns-in-an-unprecedented-fashion |title=The flight simulation franchise that sold more than 900,000 units for the PC returns in an unprecedented fashion | date=July 25, 2005 |publisher=[[Gamesindustry.biz]] |archivedate=September 22, 2017 |deadurl= |df= }}</ref> |
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Revision as of 14:07, 2 November 2017
 | This article's lead section may be too short to adequately summarize the key points. (September 2013) |
The Falcon line of computer games is a series of simulations of the F-16 Fighting Falcon combat aircraft. The games were developed and published by Spectrum HoloByte (later MicroProse). They were noted for their high level of realism unseen in contemporary simulation games.
Falcon
Falcon A.T.
Falcon A.T. (1988), also known as Falcon 2, was one of the first flight sims to use EGA graphics. In comparison to the older game, this version allows external viewing of the player aircraft, enables a "head-to-head" multiplayer mode, and includes the MiG-29 as an adversary.
Falcon 3.0
Falcon 3.0 based games ("Electronic Battlefield")
Falcon 3.0 was sold as being the first of a series of inter-linked military simulations that Spectrum Holobyte collectively called the "Electronic Battlefield". Two games released in this range were the 1993 flight simulators for the F/A-18 (Falcon 3.0: Hornet: Naval Strike Fighter) and the MiG-29 (MiG-29: Deadly Adversary of Falcon 3.0) that could be played as stand-alone games or integrated into "Electronic Battlefield" network games.
Further games in the range were expected - rumours abounded of a simulator for the AH-64 Apache helicopter gunship, and even one or more tank simulators. The only one the company actually admitted to working on was a flight simulator of the A-10 Thunderbolt, but it was never released.
Computer Gaming World in 1993 criticized MiG-29's new redout/blackout model as unrealistic, and lack of fixes to existing bugs, but approved of the improved modem play and its "new set of challenges designed to broaden Falcon's appeal".[1]
Falcon 4.0 and Falcon 4.0: Allied Force
Reception
The Falcon series sold 700,000 copies by January 1995;[2] Falcon 3.0 alone accounted for 400,000 sales by March 1995.[3] Sales of the series had surpassed 900,000 copies by 2005.[4]
References
- ^ Basham, Tom "KC" (November 1993). "The Russian Revolution". Computer Gaming World. pp. 152–158. Retrieved 28 March 2016.
- ^ https://web.archive.org/web/20170710215406/https://www.wired.com/1995/01/search-destroy/?pg=4&topic=
- ^ Buchanan, Lee (March 1995). "The Falcon and the Sim Man". PC Gamer US. 2 (3): 124.
- ^ "The flight simulation franchise that sold more than 900,000 units for the PC returns in an unprecedented fashion" (Press release). Gamesindustry.biz. July 25, 2005. Archived from the original on September 22, 2017.
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