Microprose dusting off the B-17 Mighty Eighth Games

[Nefarious]

Which tells me the genre isn't going anywhere.

https://microprose.com/games/the-mighty-eighth

Looks good, hopefully it isn't vapor ware

[Volron]

I love the fact that they will be including the B-24 in the next game, if they go through with it.  It'll be my first tour.   But I hope they include the B-25 and B-26 at a later date, either as an expansion or as DLC's.  If I recall correctly, 25's and 26's were primarily used in Europe by the 9th, but the 8th used them quite a bit as well.



They'll have a tall order to fill in my book.  I have both DOS and Windows Version of B-17 and played both quite a bit.  Each had their Faults and Positives, but I had fun with both.


Some Faults with DOS Version:

No escort fighters of any kind.
Only attacked by 110's, 190's and 262's (quite rare).
Only one in your flight that fended off attackers, which on super deep raids would result in running out of ammo if you weren't micro-ing your guns and focusing on fighters going for your bomber first.
Interceptors would always focus you if you had to break formation and head home, never attacking the formation once far enough away.  This is likely due to how the game was coded.


Some Positives with DOS Version:

Peenemünde Airfield was a target.  Needed to be careful when it was a target as it was on map edge.  If you time skipped off the map, it would insta-fail you (shot down).
Power Stations were targets, though all the ones I had as a target were assigned as tertiary targets.  (Almost always went after them anyway  ).
Constantly attacked by interceptors.  If you flew deep through an airfield zone, you would get attacked twice: 1st time when entering and a 2nd time when leaving.  This happened to and from target.  (I had one career where I shot down over 350 interceptors by the time I flew my 25 missions )


Some Faults with Windows Version:

AI Pilot tended to bug out on high altitude missions: would start to fall from the sky after a time skip.  Only way to remedy was to fly the aircraft yourself which meant you couldn't time skip.
No RAF Escorts.
No 110's.
No Power Stations as Targets.  (yes, I really enjoyed hitting them in the DOS version)
Only attacked 4 times by interceptors, no matter how many fields you flew over or how deep the raid was.


Some Positives with Windows Version:

Escorting fighters: P-51 and P-47.
Escorting fighters can be controlled!
109's as intercepting fighters.
Interceptors could be controlled!
Can be a Squadron Commander and choose your targets.  However, micro-ing all of your bombers in flight was extremely tedious and annoying.  I still class as a positive due to being able to choose my targets.
Formation will be attacked even after you've broken formation and headed home.  (Providing there were still attacks left)



Ultimately I still preferred the DOS version.  Wasn't as buggy for me, got attacked by 110's, was harassed by interceptors throughout entire mission, and I really loved my Power Stations.

[perdue3]

I remember B-17, that was a fun game. I always wanted to fly as the Luftwaffe and I don't think you could.

[Arlo]

I always wanted to fly as the Luftwaffe ...

Of course you did. 

[Volron]

I remember B-17, that was a fun game. I always wanted to fly as the Luftwaffe and I don't think you could.

I've always wanted a game that was like B-17, but you could fly other bombers as well as Allied and Axis Bombers, including things like the Ju-290 and G5N.

[TheBug]

Not getting my hopes up. Only because I really want to get my hopes up.

[Nefarious]

Not getting my hopes up. Only because I really want to get my hopes up.

lol same.

I remember B-17, that was a fun game. I always wanted to fly as the Luftwaffe and I don't think you could.

In the sequel for windows, you could fly as a Bf 109G, Fw 190A, and Me 262. But not in a campaign like the B-17.

[Volron]

In the sequel for windows, you could fly as a Bf 109G, Fw 190A, and Me 262. But not in a campaign like the B-17.

The only downside to this was that you had to avoid attacking your own bomber, for obvious reasons.

[Mister Fork]

Personally, I trust Micropose as much as a used refrigerator salesman in Anchorage Alaska.

They’ve delivered squat in the past two years. Missed deadlines like an IBM project manager, and have zero credit in my books.

[hitech]

Personally, I trust Micropose as much as a used refrigerator salesman in Anchorage Alaska.

They’ve delivered squat in the past two years. Missed deadlines like an IBM project manager, and have zero credit in my books.

You need to understand that Micropose is nothing but a trade mark owned by Bill.

HiTech

[Shuffler]

I heard they bought a small company called ER and changed their name to MicroposER to reflect that purchase. Hmmmm

[hitech]

I was slightly incorrect.

Since 2018, the MicroProse brand has been owned by David Lagettie, working with Bill Stealey's own company iEntertainment Network on the Warbirds series of combat flight simulators.

HiTech

[CptTrips]

I was slightly incorrect.

Since 2018, the MicroProse brand has been owned by David Lagettie, working with Bill Stealey's own company iEntertainment Network on the Warbirds series of combat flight simulators.

HiTech

Slightly, but correct in the sense that it is just a hollow brand name, pulled out of the dust bin and purchased like a suit in a clearance sale; trying to buy respect that hasn't been earned yet.  Hoping to get a free ride on other's past accomplishments.   

It's not like Sid Meier is coming back or anything. 

[perdue3]

The best Microprose game was Civ 3.

[CptTrips]

The best Microprose game was Civ 3.

Close, but not quite....




I played that until my eyes bled.  It was like a cross between a flight sim and a submarine game.  I had some hellacious nail-bitters extracting my self out of suicide missions after stirring up a hornets nest.  Sneaking away low and slow and managing my cross-section.  It was like a sub trying to slip of of a depth charge attack.   

 


(And ironically, doesn't look that much worse than Warbirds 2020.   )