| AH-64D Longbow | |
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| Developer(s) | Origin Systems |
| Publisher(s) | Jane's Combat Simulations / Electronic Arts |
| Platform(s) | MS-DOS, Windows |
| Release date(s) | 1996 |
| Genre(s) | Combat flight simulator |
| Mode(s) | Single-player |
| Media/distribution | CD-ROM |
| System requirements
Minimum: Pentium-75 or equivalent processor, 8 MB RAM, 2X CD-ROM drive. Video Modes Supported: SuperVGA, VESA. Sound Devices Supported: Ensoniq Soundscape, Pro Audio Spectrum / Plus / 16, Roland RAP-10, Sound Blaster, Sound Blaster 16, Sound Blaster AWE32, Sound Blaster Pro. Input Devices Supported: Joystick (Analog), Joystick (Digital), Keyboard, Mouse, Thrustmaster (FCS and/or WCS). |
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AH-64D Longbow is a realistic PC flight simulator of the AH-64D Longbow. Released on May 31, 1996, this simulation was developed at Origin Systems, Inc. by producer Andy Hollis and director Will McBurnett. AH-64D Longbow was the second simulator released under the Jane's Combat Simulators line from Electronic Arts.
It had the most authentic flight model for a helicopter (for its time), and every aspect of the electronics systems were meticulously detailed. The weapons had realistic operational ranges and limits, and all friendly and enemy units were strictly based on their real-life counterparts. A wingman helps the player, and the player takes on Russian equipment in multiple single missions and campaigns, as well as a handful of historically accurate missions in which it is possible to 're-live' memorable battles.
A mission disk, entitled Flash Point: Korea was released as an add-in in 1996, and a compilation pack, Longbow Gold was released in 1997. A sequel, Longbow 2 was released in late 1997. In 1998, Longbow Anthology was released, which included the whole Longbow series.
Longbow, in its various forms, sold over 1 million copies.
Longbow won many awards, including 'Flight Simulation Of The Year' (1996) from PC Gamer, Computer Gaming World, and Computer Games Strategy Plus.
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Limited success has been achieved at getting this game to run on modern PC systems by using the MS-DOS emulator DOSBox. The biggest problem is the low framerates; a modern dual-core PC is needed for smooth gameplay with full details.
Flash Point: Korea was released on November 30, 1996. It features a new campaign set in Korea, the addition of the co-pilot position, improved wingman commands and many bug fixes.
Longbow Gold came out in March 1997. It is a compilation pack featuring the AH-64D Longbow and Flash Point: Korea add-ons. It is also fully patched and updated to include a Windows executable, so MS-DOS is no longer necessary. Also included is the 3DFX update, which adds a Glide renderer.
Longbow Anthology was released in 1998 and is a compilation of Jane's AH-64D Longbow, the mission disk Flash Point: Korea, and Longbow 2 in one box, with an abbreviated manual. All included sims are fully patched to the latest versions.