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MicroProse F-15 Strike Eagle
Ready For Take Off!
Frank Becker
MicroProse Games
Hunt Valley, Maryland
game have culminated in the worlds first truly
interactive video game, a feature that greatly
enhances game play.
Some things, like fine wine, are worth the wait.
But you don't have to wait any longer, Micro-
Prose Games, a subsidiary of MicroProse Soft-
ware, Inc., will introduce its first coin-operated
video game at the ACME trade convention ,
March 9-11, in Chicago, IL.
No longer is the player confined by "railroad
programing" where he really doesn't have many
choices on where to fly or what targets to attack.
In Strike Eagle, he is the pilot of a F-15 with the
freedom to fly anywhere he wants within the
arena he chooses.
The game, F-15 Strike Eagle, is a combat flight
simulator utilizing 3-D polygon graphics on a 25
inch medium resolution monitor. Although
built as an upright game, there is an optional
seat that the operator can attach which converts
it into a sitdown game.
Strike Eagle will have multiple arenas each with
TECHNICAL OVERVIEW
The hardware, containing over 10 Meg of com-
bined memory, will be able to generate in excess
of 54,000 polygons per second; other polygon
arcade games generate only 12,000 per second.
In addition, the game can generate over 32,000
colors producing an absolutely stunning dis-
play. This is not a game that you'll find on
Nintendo.
PLAY ABILITY
Although the graphics might get someone to
play it initially, we all know that it takes more
than great looks to keep them playing it, it's
game play that really counts.
And great game play is something MicroProse
Software knows all about. You can only win as
many awards as they have by developing great
playing games. Combine that with the state-of-
the-art hardware, allowing the programmers to
use powerful "tools," and a retired jet fighter
pilot as president and what you have are ingre-
dients for success in developing a game with
"legs."
DEVELOPMENT
The two years of design that have gone into this
over 100 sq. miles for the player to fly through
while engaging in realistic
dogfights with Migs, trying to
avoid missiles and radar in
pursuit of his primary mis-
sion. The player's freedom is
so complete that after firing a
missile at a target, say a ship
(hopefully an enemy one since
there isn't anything to stop
you from firing on your own
ship), he can then fly back and
see the damage he caused.
UNIQUE REVENUE PRODUCER
Game play is designed to increase revenue by
providing opportunities for the player to add
additional credits which allow him to buy more
fuel, repair damage, re-arm, and upgrade weap-
ons. In addition, the player can earn medals and
advance in rank. Self-adjusting difficulty levels
allow both novice and advanced players to have
fun.
DISPLAYS
There is a 2-D Heads Up Display (HUD) and
cockpit which includes a tracking camera,
threat, and map displays. The cockpit also
contains indicators for gun temperature, fuel,
weapons, and level of damage.
ENCLOSURE
The cabinet is built in a pedestal type architec-
ture using plywood, with an over/under coin