F-15 Strike Eagle III

F-15 Strike Eagle III is an F-15 Strike Eagle combat flight simulator released in 1992 by MicroProse and is the sequel of F-15 Strike Eagle and F-15 Strike Eagle II. It is the final game in the series.

F-15 Strike Eagle III
Developer(s)MPS Labs
Publisher(s)MicroProse
Producer(s)Andy Hollis
Designer(s)Christopher Clark
James M. Day
Andy Hollis
George Wargo
Artist(s)Barbara Miller
Composer(s)Jeff Briggs
Platform(s)MS-DOS
ReleaseDecember 1992[1]
Genre(s)Combat flight simulator
Mode(s)Single-player, Multiplayer

The fighter is equipped with a M61 Vulcan and both air-to-air and air-to-ground missiles, as well as free-fall and laser-guided bombs. Available scenarios are: Iraq, Panama, and Korea.[2] Missions usually involve taking out one primary and one secondary target, while avoiding attacking friendly targets. The player can receive promotions and medals based on their mission scores.

For its time, Strike Eagle III boasted impressive graphics, although enemy planes are not nearly as detailed as the player's F-15. Special attention was put into the terrain and geography, to the extent that real buildings and geographical sites are visible ingame, such as the Iraqi Presidential Palace in Baghdad.

The enhanced CD-ROM edition adds 15 minutes of introductory video, a tutorial, and new scenarios,[3] including flight missions based on those of the Desert Storm campaign.

Development

The game had a development budget of $1.2 million.[4]

Reception

Computer Gaming World's reviewer, an F-16 pilot with the Vermont Air National Guard, in April 1993 praised F-15 III's graphics, detail, and realistic flight model. He disliked the slow performance, but concluded that "It definitely is a worthy simulation".[5] In a January 1994 survey of wargames the magazine gave the title four stars out of five, stating that it had "state-of-the-art graphics and game value".[6] In April 1994 the magazine said that the CD version was "a good buy for either the novice or veteran sim enthusiast".[3] In August 1994 the magazine's simulation columnist called the flight model "a mixed bag", approving of aircraft performance varying by altitude but criticizing the "instantaneous" handling. He concluded that although superior to Falcon 3.0 in many areas, F-15 was not a simulation because "many things ... 'burst the bubble', that constantly reminded me this isn't for real".[7]

Sales

The game sold 110,000 copies in its first two weeks,[1] and 150,000 copies by February 1993.[8]

References
  1. "Newest Flight game is a big hit for MicroProse". The Baltimore Sun. January 4, 1993. Retrieved August 17, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  2. "F-15 Strike Eagle III". Mobygames. 1992. Retrieved 7 June 2014.
  3. "Invasion Of The Data Stashers". Computer Gaming World. April 1994. pp. 20–42.
  4. Clark, Kim (March 19, 1993). "MicroProse founder takes the blame". The Baltimore Sun. p. 191. Retrieved December 31, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  5. Fick, Doug (April 1993). "The Eagle Has Landed...Slowly". Computer Gaming World. p. 142. Retrieved 7 July 2014.
  6. Brooks, M. Evan (January 1994). "War In Our Time / A Survey Of Wargames From 1950-2000". Computer Gaming World. pp. 194–212.
  7. Basham, Tom (August 1994). "What's In A Sim?". Bogey's Bar & Grill. Computer Gaming World. pp. 81–84.
  8. Southerl, Daniel (February 15, 1993). "Wizards At Play". The Washington Post. Retrieved August 18, 2021.
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