My first sim was in 1974, while in the USNavy (Viet Nam verteran), in the Operations room aft of where I worked as a Quartermaster (navigator) in the pilot-house of a flag ship guided-missle destroyer-cruiser. It was a simulation of naval battles that could be played on about 12 round screens each being manned most of the time. Thats where I hung out alot during off-hours, and a few hours during work
The ships and submarines were outlined rectangles (the submarines only visible on surface breach or you were one) with guns (small lines) that could turret with a track-ball. All on a small network. Loved it. State of the art.
Then, for me, came Falcon, a bit-mapped version on a small Mac Plus in 1985. I was hooked again. The mac was revolutionary as it was a fabulous tool for my graphic design field. Other computers at the time were mainly data-entry stuff, with no mouse, and only line-entry stuff, which didn't interest me, unless it was a type-setter. So, I now had, the best of both worlds, fun and games that easily interfered with my productive artsyfartsy stuff.
Then I grabbed any flight-sim as soon as it came on the shelf. Chuck Yeager Air Combat (which I played with a friend occassionally because of his lack of interest, couldn't get into it even when I begged
, Hornet, A-10 Attack! and A-10 Cuba. Even dabbled a little in MacAW, but was so dissatisfied with the look and feel of the game, couldn't do much with it.
During this time, I was reading Parsoft's (A-10 Attack!/Cuba) boards, and reading about a new game that came out called Warbirds. It was all the rave, and continuously talked about, and they were soon to come out with a mac version, not long after its debut. First thing I got up in the morning, the first place I automatically went was the Parsoft boards to see if "it" had arrived yet. Every single morning, every single moment I could, I was waiting waiting waiting.
Then finally, Warbirds Mac Beta!!!! I was there! Even though the Mac beta arena was FREE, I would go fly in the $2/hour PC arena (available to macs too) because there were more players. I thought to myself, and discussed with many a mac pilot how awesome these guys were for porting it to the mac and Caligula was our God. (Mac was a bit more respected during those times). An online multi-player game, with not just one other player, not just macs, but with anyone in the world. I've been struggling to make money to play the thing ever since. Heroin ain't nothin'.
And for those misintrepreting my message. Its not the game. There are tons of games available for PC only, and I would go nuts trying to fight the masses in the name of macs. I realize whats going on with the platform thing, I might have been born at night, but not last night. But its the harrassing at AGW from IEN bashers and AH promoters that gets my dander up. I don't know Jay Littman, so I tend to just listen with regards to whatever he has done to foul up anything or his business sense. Its the untruths about WB on AGW to make it look shoddy or worse than it is to attract PC'ers that is what gets me in an uproar. AGW is a place to discuss Warbirds, warts and all, and yes, to compare with other flight sims. Not to have players from other flightsims come a-bashing Warbirds. The ex-warbirders two years ago wouldn't have put up with it, but they can sure do it now they have a place to run.
mg
