Shipborne Aircraft Combat Simulator

Shipborne Aircraft Combat Simulator
A shipborne aircraft combat simulator is a computer game where players take to the skies to fight enemies. These games are designed to simulate a variety of aircraft and weapons. They use advanced 3D models and realistic naval simulations to let players experience aircraft piloting and aircraft fighting.

Shipborne combat simulations were developed in the early 1990s by Electronic Arts and Jane's. The first was Jane's Longbow, a helicopter simulator that was released in 1995. It was one of the most sophisticated helicopter simulations of the time. It used QuadraScan graphics and sound effects to simulate a first-person flight battle. Other examples of this genre of video game include Jane's Combat Simulations, Jane's WWII Fighters, and Jane's AH-64D Longbow.

During this period, many new advancements in technology were introduced, including enhanced computer technology that allowed for highly detailed models and fidelity in weapon systems and avionics. This increased the diversity of aircraft available for simulation. Additionally, more sophisticated computer programs incorporated artificial intelligence into their simulations. By implementing these AI's, video games were able to produce more accurate, intelligent, and detailed simulations.

Another advancement in simulation technology during the 1980s was the introduction of head-tracking view control systems for home flight sim enthusiasts. This type of system allows users to control most functions without touching a keyboard. Some of the most popular games of the 1980s included Mattel's Air Raiders, Jet, and Jane's Longbow 2.

One of the most popular arcade style combat flight simulators was Red Baron, released in 1980. The game was based on the Atari 2600 console and featured quadra-scan graphics and sound effects. Users could choose to either fly a US F-16 or a Russian MiG, which differed in flying style and weaponry. In addition, a separate combat option was also included in the game.

The popularity of these types of simulations grew, especially during the late 1990s. There were several games released that featured multiplayer capability, such as Aces High, War Thunder, and World War II Online. Moreover, many publishers continued to develop games for the PC platform.

By the end of the 1990s, most simulations were available only in multi-player versions. Most of these were also accompanied by mission builders that let users create their own missions.

Dedicated fighter flight simulations are often full-motion platforms that recreate cockpits, allowing for full interaction between the user and the virtual airplane. However, there are other options, such as the "HOTAS" controllers, which are a series of wireless handheld devices that allow the user to control most of the functions of the simulator while staying away from the keyboard.

Another example of an arcade style fighter simulation is IL-2 Sturmovik: Cliffs of Dover, which was released in 2011. This game features highly accurate simulation of the Soviet aircraft of the time, including a full flight model and a virtual reality experience with 6 degrees of freedom.

Modern jet simulators typically follow a historical context, with their models ranging from the earliest versions of a fighter to more modern jets. Typically, these simulators are classified by the level of details of the flight models, the fidelity of the avionics, and the weapons systems of the aircraft.