Software:F-19 Stealth Fighter

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F-19 Stealth Fighter
DOS cover art
Developer(s)MicroProse
Publisher(s)MicroProse
Designer(s)Sid Meier
Programmer(s)Andy Hollis
Sid Meier
Jim Synoski
Artist(s)Max D. Remington III
Murray Taylor
Composer(s)Ken Lagace
Platform(s)DOS, Amiga, Atari ST, PC-98
Release1988 (DOS)
1990 (Amiga, ST)
1992 (PC-98)
Genre(s)Air combat simulation
Mode(s)Single-player

F-19 Stealth Fighter is a combat flight simulator developed and released in 1988 (PC DOS) and 1990 (Amiga and Atari ST) by MicroProse, featuring a fictional United States military aircraft. It is the 16-bit remake of the 8-bit game Project Stealth Fighter, which was released for the Commodore 64 in 1987. It was also ported to the NEC PC-9801 in Japan only, and the DOS version was re-released on Steam distribution platform in 2015.

F-19 Stealth Fighter was developed before the public unveiling in 1988 of the F-117 Nighthawk attack aircraft – which the video game sought to represent – and carried over the focus on the fictional F-19 from Project Stealth Fighter, based on the 1986 F-19 model kit released by Testors. Although an aircraft selection screen offering the real F-117 was added, MicroProse's rendering of the optional "real" jet was based on the deliberately vague 1988 press photo of the aircraft and had distinctly wrong, stubby and wide proportions.

Critically acclaimed, the game was followed in 1991 by Night Hawk: F-117A Stealth Fighter 2.0, which finally removed the old, fictitious aircraft design and instead offered only a new, much more accurate model of the real F-117.

Gameplay

Cockpit view

In the game, the player takes on the role of a pilot flying missions of varying difficulty over four geographic locations: Gaddafi's Libya, the Persian Gulf, the North Cape, and Central Europe. The game can be played under conditions of conventional warfare, limited warfare, or cold war (in the latter, even being detected by the enemy can lead to a major diplomatic incident).

The player can choose appropriate ordnance from a wide range of realistic armaments, and the game features convincing behavior from AI-controlled units such as enemy aircraft, SAM sites and radar stations. These behave in accordance with the situation – patrolling at first, but launching into a highly aggressive search if the player is detected. Other features of the game are a realistic system of radar detection, where the player's varying radar signature is visually compared with the energy of incoming radar pulses at different ranges and powers, and a variety of endings appropriate to the outcome of each mission. These include the player being rescued by a V-22 Osprey, a Pravda newspaper headline proclaiming the capture of the pilot, or an outraged ally or neutral nation protesting the destruction of their aircraft.

The pilot roster in the pre-game menu keeps track of the missions, rank, score and medals awarded to each player. Pilot fatalities are permanent, which contributes to the extended campaign feeling of the game.

Copy protection

At the beginning of the game, the player has to pass "Aircraft Identification Exam" - a picture of a plane is shown and the player must select the correct plane from a list. If the player selects the wrong plane, they will be restricted to flying training missions with preset equipment.[1]

Development

After the completion of Project Stealth Fighter for the Commodore 64 by designers Jim Synoski and Arnold Hendrick, Sid Meier and Andy Hollis were brought in to work on the PC conversion. Hendrick wrote of the new game: "The only thing borrowed from the C64 would be the game scenario concepts, military equipment research data, and perhaps some flight dynamics algorithms". Despite its planned 30 September 1988 release being delayed to mid-November F-19 Stealth Fighter was very popular, selling out in just two months.[2]

MicroProse released the game on the same day that the United States military first admitted the existence of its F-117A Nighthawk stealth fighter.[3] Before the game's release, many had speculated on a missing aircraft in the United States Air Force 's numbering system, the F-19. The game was based on an educated guess about what the secret stealth fighter would be like. Subsequent revisions of the game incorporated the actual F-117 as well as the F-19.

The original boxed version of the game came with a range of accessories, such as a thick manual full of information on the late 1980s flying machines of the U.S. and the USSR, various keyboard overlays, a comprehensive manual covering stealth and fighter tactics, and roughly-sketched maps of each warzone.

Reception

Computer Gaming World in 1989 gave F-19 Stealth Fighter a very favorable review and acclaimed the game's level of realism, stating that "to master this program you are going to have to do your homework. The documentation includes tutorials on aerodynamics and flight principles, radar, stealth technology, air-to-ground tactics, and air-to-air tactics".[4] A 1992 survey in the magazine of wargames with modern settings gave the game three stars out of five,[5] and a 1994 survey gave it two-plus stars.[6] Compute! favorably reviewed the IBM PC version's graphics and realism.[7]

Computer Gaming World recognized F-19 as the "Simulation Game of the Year", calling it a perfect marriage of modern technology and game.[8] Software Publishers Association gave the game its Excellence in Software Award for "Best Simulation".[9] The Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum selected F-19 Stealth Fighter for a 1989 exhibition on "Flight Enters the Computer Age".[3] In 1990 the game received the sixth-highest number of votes in a survey of Computer Gaming World readers' "All-Time Favorites".[10] The game's ports won the Golden Joystick Awards '91 in the category "Best Simulation - 16 Bit".[11] F-19 was ranked as the 29th best Amiga game by Amiga Power in 1991,[12] and as the 52nd best game of all time by Computer Gaming World in 1996.[13]

F-19 Stealth Fighter was awarded the Origins Award for "Best Military or Strategy Computer Game of 1988" and "Best Screen Graphics in a Home Computer Game of 1988".[14]

The F-19 fighter model for the game.

Reviews

  • Jeux & Stratégie #56[15]

References

  1. ↑ "F-19 Stealth Fighter Screenshots for DOS". https://www.mobygames.com/game/dos/f-19-stealth-fighter/screenshots/gameShotId,439671/. 
  2. ↑ Hendrick, Arnold; Meier, Sid (Feb 1989), "Designers' Notes: F-19 Stealth Fighter", Computer Gaming World: 46–47 
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 Ferrell, Keith (July 1989). "Flight into History". Compute!: pp. 13. https://archive.org/stream/1989-07-compute-magazine/Compute_Issue_110_1989_Jul#page/n13/mode/2up. Retrieved 11 November 2013. 
  4. ↑ Sipe, Russell (January 1989), "The Plane that "Wasn't" There", Computer Gaming World: 16, 39 
  5. ↑ Brooks, M. Evan (June 1992). "The Modern Games: 1950 - 2000". Computer Gaming World: 120. http://www.cgwmuseum.org/galleries/index.php?year=1992&pub=2&id=95. Retrieved 24 November 2013. 
  6. ↑ Brooks, M. Evan (January 1994). "War In Our Time / A Survey Of Wargames From 1950-2000". Computer Gaming World: 194–212. http://www.cgwmuseum.org/galleries/index.php?year=1994&pub=2&id=114. 
  7. ↑ Guerra, Bob (April 1989). "F-19 Stealth Fighter". Compute!: pp. 70. https://archive.org/stream/1989-04-compute-magazine/Compute_Issue_107_1989_Apr#page/n71/mode/2up. Retrieved 11 November 2013. 
  8. ↑ "Game of the Year Awards", Computer Gaming World: 41–42, October 1989 
  9. ↑ Scisco, Peter (August 1989). "the Envelope, Please". Compute!: pp. 6. https://archive.org/stream/1989-08-compute-magazine/Compute_Issue_111_1989_Aug#page/n7/mode/2up. Retrieved 11 November 2013. 
  10. ↑ "CGW Readers Select All-Time Favorites". Computer Gaming World: 64. January 1990. http://www.cgwmuseum.org/galleries/index.php?year=1990&pub=2&id=67. Retrieved 15 November 2013. 
  11. ↑ Computer & Video Games 115 (June 1991)
  12. ↑ Amiga Power 0 (May 1991)
  13. ↑ "150 Best Games of All Time". Computer Gaming World: 72. November 1996. http://www.cgwmuseum.org/galleries/issues/cgw_148.pdf. 
  14. ↑ "The 1988 Origins Awards". The Game Manufacturers Association. http://www.gama.org/OriginsAwards/OriginsAwardsWinnersThe1980s/The1988OriginsAwards/tabid/3231/Default.aspx. 
  15. ↑ "Jeux & stratégie 56". March 1989. https://archive.org/details/jeux-et-strategie-56/page/70/mode/2up. 
  • MobyGames is a commercial database website that catalogs information on video games and the people and companies behind them via crowdsourcing. This includes over 300,000 games for hundreds of platforms.[1] Founded in 1999, ownership of the site has changed hands several times. It has been owned by Atari SA since 2022.

Features

Edits and submissions to the site (including screenshots, box art, developer information, game summaries, and more) go through a verification process of fact-checking by volunteer "approvers".[2] This lengthy approval process after submission can range from minutes to days or months.[3] The most commonly used sources are the video game's website, packaging, and credit screens. There is a published standard for game information and copy-editing.[4] A ranking system allows users to earn points for contributing accurate information.[5]

Registered users can rate and review games. Users can create private or public "have" and "want" lists, which can generate a list of games available for trade with other registered users. The site contains an integrated forum. Each listed game can have its own sub-forum.

History

Logo used until March 2014

MobyGames was founded on March 1, 1999, by Jim Leonard and Brian Hirt, and joined by David Berk 18 months later, the three of which had been friends since high school.[6][7] Leonard had the idea of sharing information about computer games with a larger audience. The database began with information about games for IBM PC compatibles, relying on the founders' personal collections. Eventually, the site was opened up to allow general users to contribute information.[5] In a 2003 interview, Berk emphasized MobyGames' dedication to taking video games more seriously than broader society and to preserving games for their important cultural influence.[5]

In mid-2010, MobyGames was purchased by GameFly for an undisclosed amount.[8] This was announced to the community post factum , and the site's interface was given an unpopular redesign.[7] A few major contributors left, refusing to do volunteer work for a commercial website.{{Citation needed|date=June 2025} On December 18, 2013, MobyGames was acquired by Jeremiah Freyholtz, owner of Blue Flame Labs (a San Francisco-based game and web development company) and VGBoxArt (a site for fan-made video game box art).[9] Blue Flame Labs reverted MobyGames' interface to its pre-overhaul look and feel,[10] and for the next eight years, the site was run by Freyholtz and Independent Games Festival organizer Simon Carless.[7]

On November 24, 2021, Atari SA announced a potential deal with Blue Flame Labs to purchase MobyGames for $1.5 million.[11] The purchase was completed on 8 March 2022, with Freyholtz remaining as general manager.[12][13][14] Over the next year, the financial boost given by Atari led to a rework of the site being built from scratch with a new backend codebase, as well as updates improving the mobile and desktop user interface.[1] This was accomplished by investing in full-time development of the site instead of its previously part-time development.[15]

In 2024, MobyGames began offering a paid "Pro" membership option for the site to generate additional revenue.[16] Previously, the site had generated income exclusively through banner ads and (from March 2014 onward) a small number of patrons via the Patreon website.[17]

See also

  • IGDB – game database used by Twitch for its search and discovery functions

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Sheehan, Gavin (2023-02-22). "Atari Relaunches The Fully Rebuilt & Optimized MobyGames Website". https://bleedingcool.com/games/atari-relaunches-the-fully-rebuilt-optimized-mobygames-website/. 
  2. ↑ Litchfield, Ted (2021-11-26). "Zombie company Atari to devour MobyGames". https://www.pcgamer.com/zombie-company-atari-to-devour-mobygames/. 
  3. ↑ "MobyGames FAQ: Emails Answered § When will my submission be approved?". Blue Flame Labs. 30 March 2014. http://www.mobygames.com/info/faq7#g1. 
  4. ↑ "The MobyGames Standards and Practices". Blue Flame Labs. 6 January 2016. http://www.mobygames.com/info/standards. 
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 Miller, Stanley A. (2003-04-22). "People's choice awards honor favorite Web sites". Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. 
  6. ↑ "20 Years of MobyGames" (in en). 2019-02-28. https://trixter.oldskool.org/2019/02/28/20-years-of-mobygames/. 
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 Plunkett, Luke (2022-03-10). "Atari Buys MobyGames For $1.5 Million". https://kotaku.com/mobygames-retro-credits-database-imdb-atari-freyholtz-b-1848638521. 
  8. ↑ "Report: MobyGames Acquired By GameFly Media". Gamasutra. 2011-02-07. https://www.gamedeveloper.com/game-platforms/report-mobygames-acquired-by-gamefly-media. 
  9. ↑ Corriea, Alexa Ray (December 31, 2013). "MobyGames purchased from GameFly, improvements planned". http://www.polygon.com/2013/12/31/5261414/mobygames-purchased-from-gamefly-improvements-planned. 
  10. ↑ Wawro, Alex (31 December 2013). "Game dev database MobyGames getting some TLC under new owner". Gamasutra. https://www.gamedeveloper.com/business/game-dev-database-mobygames-getting-some-tlc-under-new-owner. 
  11. ↑ "Atari invests in Anstream, may buy MobyGames". November 24, 2021. https://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/2021-11-24-atari-invests-in-anstream-may-buy-mobygames. 
  12. ↑ Rousseau, Jeffrey (2022-03-09). "Atari purchases Moby Games". https://www.gamesindustry.biz/atari-purchases-moby-games. 
  13. ↑ "Atari Completes MobyGames Acquisition, Details Plans for the Site's Continued Support". March 8, 2022. https://www.atari.com/atari-completes-mobygames-acquisition-details-plans-for-the-sites-continued-support/. 
  14. ↑ "Atari has acquired game database MobyGames for $1.5 million" (in en-GB). 2022-03-09. https://www.videogameschronicle.com/news/atari-has-acquired-game-database-mobygames-for-1-5-million/. 
  15. ↑ Stanton, Rich (2022-03-10). "Atari buys videogame database MobyGames for $1.5 million". https://www.pcgamer.com/atari-buys-videogame-database-mobygames-for-dollar15-million/. 
  16. ↑ Harris, John (2024-03-09). "MobyGames Offering “Pro” Membership". https://setsideb.com/mobygames-offering-pro-membership/. 
  17. ↑ "MobyGames on Patreon". http://www.patreon.com/mobygames. 
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