Air Traffic Controller (video game)

Air Traffic Controller (ぼくは航空管制官 Boku wa Kōkū Kanseikan, shortened as ATC) is a simulation computer game series, developed by TechnoBrain, that simulates the operation of an airport. The games simulate the job of an air traffic controller. The player's mission is to direct planes onto the correct ILS, land them on the runway, taxi them to the correct gate, and to direct takeoffs.

Air Traffic Controller was released in Japan in July 1998. Its sequel Air Traffic Controller 2 was released in 2005. Air Traffic Controller 3 was released in 2008. Air Traffic Controller 4 was released in 2015.

Initially released as a computer game, there have also been five PlayStation Portable versions, a Game Boy Advance, a Nintendo DS version, and nine Nintendo 3DS versions.

Air Traffic Controller

The game features 6 airports. Players direct the air traffic for arrival and departures. There is only one channel of communication.

Air Traffic Controller 2

Air Traffic Controller 2 made many improvements. The game is now in 3D, more airport gates, and increased to five channels of communication: Approach, Tower, Ground, Delivery, and Departure. New features included ground movements (e.g. towing planes to gates), giving correct Standard Instrument Departure, use of radar vectors, and changing channel frequency. The choice of Standard Terminal Arrival Route distance eliminates the speed instruction in previous version.

In the game, there are a few conditions that will cause game over. These include head-on, near miss, pilots' pressure bar reaching 100%, or failed to accumulate enough points to pass that particular stage. The points are awarded according to how fast to reply a response. A slow or non-response will raise the pressure bar. Other things that increase pressure bar include instructing the plane to take off in tailwind or tower failing to give the plane permission to land or go-around. Additional points are awarded at the end of the stage, but before deciding whether there's enough points to pass, for minimal % in pressure bar. More bonus points are awarded if the pressure bar is at 0%.

Tokyo: BigWing A (Alpha)

There is also an airline company named after the developer of the game TechnoBrain, TechnoBrain Airlines (ICAO: TBA). Whenever TechnoBrain Airlines plane appears, special events are triggered.

Tokyo: BigWing B (Bravo)

Largely the same as Tokyo: BigWing A, but with a stage set in the evening.

Kagoshima Island Control

TechnoBrain released an updated version in 2005. Changes include the merger between Japan Airlines and Japan Air System, as well as other features.

Komatsu Base Aviation Festival

Narita: Gate of Japan

Tokyo: BigWing Complete

Nagoya: Jumble Airport

Narita: Star Light Airways

Okinawa: A Wake on the Southward Raise

Sendai: First Flight, First Control

Chitose: SnowScape

Kansai: Cross Over Area

Fukuoka: Oriental Wings

Tokyo: BigWing Dual Site

Osaka: InterCity Airport

Narita: Complete

Centrair International Airport

Kansai: Brightly Path

Air Traffic Controller 3

This sequel provides more camera angles with higher flexibility. The aircraft are now to scale with real aircraft. Arrivals and departures are now combined into a single box with strips outlining details of each flight. The strips can be ordered according to user preferences. Even more gates are added in this version. Planes taxiing can now choose any taxiway, instead of limited by up to 4 routes in previous version. Rules are identical to previous version. It also features first non-Japan airport, Kai Tak Airport in Hong Kong. Additionally, a fictional airline called TechnoAir (based on the company's name, abbreviated TBA) features here as it did in ATC2, presenting problems that the player has to solve or work around. TBA does not make any appearance in Kai Tak. Later, it featured the second non-Japan airport, Honolulu International Airport.

Tokyo BigWing

Okinawa BlueCorridor

Osaka ParallelContact

ANA Edition

Tokyo BigWing (English version)

Hong Kong Kai Tak International Airport

Sendai Airmanship

New Chitose SnowingDay

Kansai International Airport CrossOver

ExtendScenario 1 (expansion pack)

Tokyo Dream Gateway

ExtendScenario 2 (expansion pack)

Kagoshima Islandline

Ibaraki Airshow

Honolulu International Airport

ExtendScenario 3 (expansion pack)

Narita World Wings

ExtendScenario 4 (expansion pack)

ExtendScenario 5 (expansion pack)

ANA 787 Edition

Narita Night Wings

JAL Edition

ExtendScenario 6 (expansion pack)

ExtendScenario 7 (expansion pack)

Chubu Centrair International Airport

Air Traffic Controller 4

Air Traffic Controller 4 is the next generation air traffic control simulation game developed by TechnoBrain. The game is compatible with Windows 7, Windows 8, Windows 8.1 and tested on Windows 10. It was originally released on July 15, 2015, but the developers delayed the release of the game to August 28, 2015. TechnoBrain delayed again to September 17, 2015 for testing the Windows 10 compatibility. Airport and airplanes are now in real-life scaling. There are now even more Gates than the previous games. Players can't choose runway for the plane to takeoff or landing (after the plane go-around) if the runway section (e.g. 16L, 16R. etc) are opened. Unlike the previous games, if the planes are to line up to each other, the game will not result in a head-on game over unless the planes are heading to each other. The player can select planes at the top of it or at the flight control selection bar (bottom-right during gameplay). The game consists of only one airport as of October 2015.

Tokyo Haneda

Airport Hero for PSP

Developed by Sonic Powered and TechnoBrain exclusively for PSP, all games have two modes of play. The main mode is operation mode, where there are two stages for easy, medium and hard difficulty. The second mode is challenge mode where players will face special situations. The airlines in the game are fictional. There is also an airline named after the developer Sonic Powered called Air Sonic. The games are:

Boku wa Koukuu Kanseikan: Airport Hero Narita

Players direct planes from and to international airports including JFK International Airport, Frankfurt International Airport, and Heathrow International Airport. There are also domestic flights. It includes an encyclopedia explaining the equipment and personnel in an airport plus the type of airplanes in the game. An Airbus Beluga makes an appearance in Operation 6.

Boku wa Koukuu Kanseikan: Airport Hero Naha

Players will not only direct commercial planes but also military jets, patrol planes and helicopters. Players also direct American military planes. It includes a gallery where players can unlock videos giving brief explanation of planes they control in the airport.

Boku wa Koukuu Kanseikan: Airport Hero Shin Chitose

Players will control the new Chitose airport plus the Chitose Air Base. Also includes scenarios during winter where runways will sometimes be covered in thick snow and need to be shut down for clearing. There is a replay option where players can choose to record gameplay for future viewing. A NAMC YS-11 makes an appearance in Operation 6.

Boku wa Koukuu Kanseikan: Airport Hero Haneda

Operation mode includes scenario from the old three runway airport and the new four runway airport. It has a replay mode similar to the Shin Chitose game.
Initially announced for North America as I am an Air Traffic Controller Airport Hero Haneda,[12] the final release was slightly altered to I am an Air Traffic Controller Airport Hero Tokyo.[13]

Boku wa Koukuu Kanseikan: Airport Hero Kanku

The first game in the series to include night scenarios.

Air Traffic Controller for Nintendo DS

Main article: Air Traffic Chaos
Air Traffic Chaos

North American cover
Developer(s) Sonic Powered
Publisher(s) Majesco Games
Platform(s) Nintendo DS
Release date(s)
  • JP February 22, 2007
  • NA September 8, 2008
  • EU June 12, 2009
Genre(s) Simulation game
Mode(s) Single-player

This version of the game was released in the United States by Majesco under the name Air Traffic Chaos.[14] It has previously been released in Japan under the name ぼくは航空管制官 (I Am An Air Traffic Controller), and later in Europe under the title Air Traffic Controller by DS. A video game demo was made available before its release for the Wii's Nintendo Channel.

Air Traffic Chaos involves the player taking control of an airport control tower for a period. During this period the player needs to achieve a certain score based on orders given to planes and safe take offs and landings. The game has a total of 15 challenges.[15]

The airports in Air Traffic Chaos are all 5 international and domestic Japanese airports. They are:

[15] These each have 3 stages ranging from easy, medium and expert difficulty. Each stage increases in difficulty and brings with it a longer shift with more aircraft to safely land and depart.

There is no multiplayer gaming but the player can share his/her results and badges records with up to 7 other players through the ATC Library.[15]

Reception

It was awarded Most Surprisingly Good Game in GameSpot's 2008 video games Special Achievement awards.[16] They also nominated for Best Game No One Played.[17]

Airport Hero for 3DS

Boku wa Koukuu Kanseikan: Airport Hero 3D Haneda with JAL

Boku wa Koukuu Kanseikan: Airport Hero 3D Honolulu

Known in North America as I am an Air Traffic Controller Airport Hero Hawaii.

Boku wa Koukuu Kanseikan: Airport Hero 3D Narita with ANA

Known in North America as I am an Air Traffic Controller Airport Hero Narita with references to ANA (All Nippon Airways) replaced by the fictional APA (All Japan Airways).

Boku wa Koukuu Kanseikan: Airport Hero 3D Naha Premium

Boku wa Koukuu Kanseikan: Airport Hero 3D Shin Chitose with JAL

Boku wa Koukuu Kanseikan: Airport Hero 3D Kankuu Sky Story

Boku wa Koukuu Kanseikan: Airport Hero 3D Narita All Stars

Boku wa Koukuu Kanseikan: Airport Hero 3D Haneda All Stars

Boku wa Koukuu Kanseikan: Airport Hero 3D Kansai All Stars

Notes and references

  1. ↑ "「ぼく管３」追加シナリオ集発売のお知らせ　(Air Traffic Controller 3 additional scenario release information)" (in Japanese). 2010-06-21.
  2. ↑ ぼくは航空管制官３」アドオンソフトです。　お持ちの関空クロスオー (in Japanese). 2010-10-18.
  3. ↑ 「ぼく管３」追加シナリオ集第3弾発売のお知らせ (in Japanese). 2011-09-26.
  4. ↑ "成田World Wings発売情報" (in Japanese). 2011-12-19.
  5. ↑ 「ぼく管３」追加シナリオ集第4弾発売のお知らせ (in Japanese). 2012-01-26.
  6. ↑ 「ぼく管３」追加シナリオ集第5弾発売のお知らせ (in Japanese). 2012-03-12.
  7. ↑ "Air Traffic Controller 3 ANA 787 Edition" (in Japanese).
  8. ↑ "Air Traffic Controller 3 Narita Night Wings" (in Japanese).
  9. ↑ "Air Traffic Controller 3 JAL Edition" (in Japanese).
  10. ↑ 「ぼく管３」追加シナリオ集第6弾発売のお知らせ (in Japanese). 2012-10-26.
  11. ↑ 「ぼく管３」追加シナリオ集第7弾発売のお知らせ (in Japanese). 2012-11-29.
  12. 1 2 http://us.playstation.com/games-and-media/games/i-am-an-air-traffic-controller-airport-hero-haneda-psp.html
  13. ↑ https://store.sonyentertainmentnetwork.com/#!/en-us/games/i-am-an-air-traffic-controller-airport-hero-tokyo/cid=UP0079-NPUH10122_00-0000000000000001
  14. ↑ "Majesco Entertainment Ships Air Traffic Chaos for Nintendo DS(TM)". Yahoo. September 9, 2008. Retrieved 2008-10-07.
  15. 1 2 3 http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/air-traffic-chaos-review
  16. ↑ "GameSpot's Best Games of 2008: Most Surprisingly Good Game". GameSpot.com. 2008-12-22. Retrieved 2008-12-22.
  17. ↑ "Best Game No One Played". GameSpot.com. Archived from the original on 23 December 2008. Retrieved 2008-12-28.
  18. ↑ http://www.sonicpowered.co.jp/bokukan/3ds/rjtt/
  19. ↑ http://www.sonicpowered.co.jp/bokukan/3ds/phnl/
  20. ↑ http://www.nintendo.com/games/detail/CEYMEf5KenQe4iULJnaI6H6lAWUiEaCE
  21. ↑ http://www.sonicpowered.co.jp/bokukan/3ds/rjaa/
  22. ↑ http://www.sonicpowered.co.jp/world/eah-rjaa/
  23. ↑ http://www.sonicpowered.co.jp/bokukan/3ds/roah/
  24. ↑ http://www.sonicpowered.co.jp/bokukan/3ds/rjcc/
  25. ↑ http://www.sonicpowered.co.jp/bokukan/3ds/rjbb/
  26. ↑ http://www.sonicpowered.co.jp/bokukan/3ds/rjaa-stars/
  27. ↑ http://www.sonicpowered.co.jp/bokukan/3ds/rjtt-stars/
  28. ↑ http://www.sonicpowered.co.jp/bokukan/3ds/rjbb-stars/

External links

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