cerda@ut-ngp.UUCP (Michael Cerda) (09/27/84)
Does anyone remember seeing a review of SubLogic's Flight Simulator II for the Atari? I've fiddled with the IBM PC version from Microsoft. How does it compare? Owners responses are welcome. Michael Cerda {ihnp4,allegra}!ut-ngp!cerda
benw@desoto.UUCP (B Weber) (10/01/84)
I have rented the flight simulator II for the atari; It is a magnificently done program, no doubt about it. It has most of the features of the IBM Microsoft version (there are some minor features that are only loaded in if you have 64K, ie, an XL machine). Of course, the screen update is slower...about 3 frames per second, compared with the IBM's 16 frames per second; however, I found the speed perfectly adequate. The controls are responsive and the "dashboard" seems to get updated even faster than the scenery. The program comes on two disks, one with the main program and two "scenery areas", Chicago and the WWI pilot scenario. The other disk comes with four additional scenery areas. All parameters are user modifiable (weather, reliability, etc). The documentation is excellent...one large book describing the program itself and the plane's operation, the other book about flight physics and acrobatics. In addition, pilot's maps of the program's geographical areas are included. My opinion of the program? Again, it is a masterpiece of programming. The detail is unsurpassed. Most of the plane's controls are from the keyboard, however, and I found they were not easy to learn. Also, sometimes the details were a bit too detailed. For instance, should I really have to worry about kicking in the magnetos for each engine? In fairness, there is an "easy" mode where many details are automatically taken care of. However, you can't get some details without including all of them. Basically, I feel that the program is SO realistic that it was too much work to be much fun. You get the work of flying without the exhilaration. However, as a true simulator, it is among the best for micros, and it is certainly worth having as a collector's piece (if you feel like shelling out the money...I didn't think it was worth it). Ben Weber AT&T Technologies