Wings Over Vietnam

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Wings Over Vietnam
The box of Wings Over Vietnam
Developer(s) Thirdwire
Publisher(s) Destineer / Bold Games
Designer(s) Tsuyoshi Kawahito
Engine Strike Fighters
Release date(s) 2004
Genre(s) Flight simulation
Mode(s) Single player, Multiplayer
Rating(s) PEGI: 7 years
Platform(s) PC (Windows)
Media CD-ROM
Input Joystick, Keyboard, Mouse, TrackIR

Wings Over Vietnam is a PC game (Combat / Flight Simulator) set during the Vietnam War over South East Asia and covers the time period between 1964 to 1973.

The game includes a wide variety of jets and weapons which can be employed in various mission types such as MIG-CAP (MiG combat air patrol), strike, air support, Iron Hand, and reconnaissance. The game is based on the Strike Fighters: Project 1 engine and was developed by Third Wire Productions.

Contents

[edit] Background

Wings Over Vietnam was released in 2004 and was the third in a series of "Lite" Flight Simulators. The term "Lite" was applied because they are designed to be relatively easy to learn and play compared to other more hardcore types of flight simulator.

The developer took and vastly improved on its existing Strike Fighters game engine and thus the game was a step forward in terms of quality and game play. The game included better graphics, more planes and the ability to fly from aircraft carriers.

[edit] Game Play

Despite the "Lite" tag, a fair amount of realism has been built in; 60s-style bombsights are simulated rather than modern computer-aided aiming reticules. Dive bombing and level bombing techniques have to be worked out by the game player if they are to have success at completing missions.

US Air to Air missiles in the game consist of early versions of the AIM-9 Sidewinder, AIM-7 Sparrow, and AIM-4 Falcon which are simulated to be as unreliable as the real missiles were. So regardless of having a "good lock on the target" there is a good chance the missile will miss. Just like the real accounts from the war suggest most of the dogfights are close in affairs with the nimble MiGs against the heavier less nimble US Aircraft.

The map of Vietnam has been scaled down slightly so that there is less time spent flying to a target, and also because air-to-air refuelling is not included in the game.

During a mission the player will fly in a flight of aircraft in which the computer-controlled planes keep in formation as you fly to a target. This flight can be issued commands; attack other aircraft or ground targets, fly home if they are damaged, or jettison their drop tanks. As you fly many other computer-controlled aircraft will be up in the air and can be viewed as they engage in dogfights or bomb targets.

True to the Vietnam theatre the player's aircraft will be met with a high level of radar guided Surface to Air Missiles (SAMS), and a variety of lethal Anti-Aircraft Artillery (AAA). The main SAM is the soviet SA-2, of which early and later versions are included in the game increasing lethality accordingly.

The player can select a campaign from either Operation Rolling Thunder (1965 to 1968), Linebacker I (1972) or Linebacker II (1972) which are similar in name and aircraft involved to the actual campaigns from the conflict.

Single Missions are also available, which can be customised to allow the player to practice with specific aircraft and weapons.

[edit] Open architecture

Thanks to the 'modding' community a 3rd party F-5C flies over some modified clouds
Thanks to the 'modding' community a 3rd party F-5C flies over some modified clouds

The game has been designed so that it can be changed by anyone with a passion to do so. This has spawned a large online community who not only play the game but go out of their way to improve the game as much as they can. Most modders works can be downloaded and used for free by any game player.

Mods include new vehicle models, flight physics and AI behaviour, campaigns, missions, sound and graphics media.

[edit] Featured aircraft

A US Air Force F-4C climbs above the clouds
A US Air Force F-4C climbs above the clouds

The standard game comes with the following flyable US aircraft:

  • F-4 Phantom II - The game includes the F-4B and F-4J for the Navy/Marines and the F-4C, F-4D and F-4E for the Air Force.
  • F-105 Thunderchief - The F-105D is included for the US Air Force.
  • A-4 Skyhawk - The A-4C, A-4B, A-4E and A-4F variants for the Navy/Marines.
  • F-100 Super Sabre - The F-100D is included for the US Air Force.
  • A-6 Intruder - The A-6A is included for the US Navy/Marines.
  • A-7 Corsair II - The A-7A and A-7B are included for the US Navy/Marines.
  • F-8 Crusader - The F-8E is included for the US Navy/Marines.
A US Navy F-8E traps on the deck
A US Navy F-8E traps on the deck

The following non-flyable aircraft:

The computer-controlled North Vietnam aircraft:

  • MiG-17 "Fresco" - MiG-17 and F versions.
  • MiG-19 "Farmer" - MiG-19S version.
  • MiG-21 "Fishbed" - MiG-21F, MF, PFM and PFV versions

[edit] Yankee Air Pirate

In 2005 a team of modders (including some Vietnam veterans) decided to take the potential of the game engine even further by aiming to produce a set of 100 missions for Wings Over Vietnam based on actual missions from the conflict. This team now updates and sells these missions under the name Yankee Air Pirate. The historical accuracy[1] of these missions and the extra objects has attracted favourable reviews[2].

An F-105D closes up to a KC-135 tanker in Yankee Air Pirate
An F-105D closes up to a KC-135 tanker in Yankee Air Pirate

Extra aircraft with Yankee Air Pirate include:

[edit] The developer of the series

This series of games is the brain child of Tsuyoshi Kawahito (known as 'TK') who was the Lead Developer for some 1990's hits including European Air War (1998). TK is very much on his own in Thirdwire and actually develops the games by hiring a small team to help him out during the development process. Only in 2006 with the release of "First Eagles: The Great Air War" did TK see his first ever profits since he began Thirdwire in 1999[3].


[edit] Related games based on the Strike Fighters game engine

  • Strike Fighters: Project 1 (2002): The initial release centers on a Middle Eastern scenario.
  • Strike Fighters: Gold (2004): An updated version of Project 1 released to the European market.
  • USAF: Air Dominance: Game produced by the US Air Force for recruitment purposes (Not for public sale).
  • First Flight: The Wright Experience Flight Simulator (2005): A simulation including the 1903 Wright Flyer.
  • Wings Over Europe (2006): Set in a possible Cold War conflict.
  • First Eagles: The Great Air War 1914 - 1918 (2006): Set in the World War 1 era.

[edit] See also

[edit] External links

[edit] References

  1. ^ Yankee Air Pirate - Team Interview Accessed 2-03-2007
  2. ^ Yankee Air Pirate Article Accessed 2-03-2007
  3. ^ Article about the developer 'TK' Accessed 2-03-2007
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