History of WW2 flight simulators?

[enyak]

I was wondering which games are the very first to portray (within their technical means) a realistic simulation of a named WW2 plane. 2D and 3D games apply as long as their ambition is to create a simulation of some kind.

 

Looking at this list:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Combat_flight_simulation_game#World_War_II

 

It would seem Ace of Aces, Battlehawks 1942 and Air Warrior (which actually released in ~1988)  are among the first.

Interesting article about Air Warrior's legacy: https://tagn.wordpress.com/2012/03/16/air-warrior-vague-memories-from-the-early-days-of-virtual-flight/

 

However, are those games really the very first games to do WW2 air combat? Which game had the first portrayal of the iconic BF109?

https://www.mobygames.com/game-group/aircraft-messerschmitt-bf-109/offset,0/so,1a/

[danielprates]

3 hours ago, enyak said:

I was wondering which games are the very first to portray (within their technical means) a realistic simulation of a named WW2 plane. 2D and 3D games apply as long as their ambition is to create a simulation of some kind.

 

Looking at this list:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Combat_flight_simulation_game#World_War_II

 

It would seem Ace of Aces, Battlehawks 1942 and Air Warrior (which actually released in ~1988)  are among the first.

Interesting article about Air Warrior's legacy: https://tagn.wordpress.com/2012/03/16/air-warrior-vague-memories-from-the-early-days-of-virtual-flight/

 

However, are those games really the very first games to do WW2 air combat? Which game had the first portrayal of the iconic BF109?

https://www.mobygames.com/game-group/aircraft-messerschmitt-bf-109/offset,0/so,1a/

 

The story mentions the game being from 1988. So I think I can raise the bar, with this 1985/86 oldie:

 

 

Btw I played this as a kid. When it was "new".

 

Then again, jeeezus man! Dambusters is from 1984!

 

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Dam_Busters_(video_game)

 

 

The video is from the amiga version, which looks much better than the msx verison I had (whuch I must have played as a kid in the late 80s).

 

You had a lancaster with 4 engine management, "real" navigation on a proper map, rpm levers, multi stations.... engines could get individually damaged.... it was quite good for such an old thing.

Edited February 26, 2021 by danielprates

[Hoots]

1983... this was listed  as a spitfire so kind of fits... you could even shoot down aliens!

 

http://bbcmicro.co.uk/game.php?id=39

[danielprates]

12 minutes ago, Hoots said:

1983... this was listed  as a spitfire so kind of fits... you could even shoot down aliens!

 

http://bbcmicro.co.uk/game.php?id=39

 

I feel we needed a video, to judge whether this is a proper (proto)sim, or an arcade shooter. I remember lots of those.

Edited February 26, 2021 by danielprates

[Hoots]

3 minutes ago, danielprates said:

 

I feel we needed a video, to judge whether this is a proper (proto)sim, or an arcade shooter. I remember lots of those.

Your wish is my command. 

it was actually good, modelled angle of attack (simplistically)

 

 

Edited February 26, 2021 by Hoots

[danielprates]

45 minutes ago, Hoots said:

it was actually good, modelled angle of attack (simplistically)

 

Wow, it was actually not bad! For 1983 of course.

 

Here is another one. Ace of Aces, 1986. No naming but it is pretty clear they meant it as a mosquito:

 

 

Edited February 26, 2021 by danielprates

[Gambit21]

To be fair, even at the time I wasn’t saying “wow this realistic” in my ignorance of what was to come later.

 

It was closer to “this kinda sucks, but it’s all I have”

 

Also, functionality there was no difference between a “sim” and an “arcade shooter” way back when.