U.S.A.A.F. - United States Army Air Force

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U.S.A.A.F. - United States Army Air Force
USAAF 1985 video game box art.png
Developer(s) Strategic Simulations
Publisher(s) Strategic Simulations
Designer(s) Gary Grigsby
Platform(s) Apple II, Atari 8-bit, Commodore 64
Release1985
Genre(s) Computer wargame
Mode(s) Single-player, multiplayer

U.S.A.A.F. - United States Army Air Force is a 1985 computer wargame designed by Gary Grigsby published by Strategic Simulations.

Contents

U.S.A.A.F. won positive reviews but sold poorly. In 1999, it received a spiritual successor under the name Battle of Britain , designed by Grigsby and Keith Brors and published by TalonSoft.

Gameplay

U.S.A.A.F. - United States Army Air Force is a game in which the daylight bombing of World War II by the Americans against Germany is simulated. [1]

Development

U.S.A.A.F. was designed by Gary Grigsby and released in 1985, the same year he launched Kampfgruppe and Mech Brigade . [2]

Reception

According to M. Evan Brooks of Computer Gaming World , U.S.A.A.F. sold poorly. He remarked in 1993, "Based upon its commercial success, it would appear that its fans are limited to this reviewer and the designer." [5]

Jay Selover reviewed the game for Computer Gaming World , and stated that "it covers well what it sets out to do. As a study of the collapse of Germany's industrial capacity under the weight of American bombs, it is unsurpassed." [1]

In a 1988 Page 6 survey of wargames for Atari computers, writer M. Evan Brooks called U.S.A.A.F. "highly recommended" and "a fascinating product". [4] In a similar 1989 survey, J. L. Miller of Computer Play called the game "interesting and a real learning tool" and dubbed it a "recommended" title. [3] In his 1993 survey, Brooks continued his praise for U.S.A.A.F. and upgraded it to a five-star score. [5]

Legacy

In 1995, Computer Gaming World reported that Gary Grigsby had been attempting to pitch "the idea of redoing USAAF for the IBM" to Strategic Simulations, without success. [2] After departing Strategic Simulations for TalonSoft in 1997, [6] Grigsby and his collaborator Keith Brors envisioned a semi-remake of U.S.A.A.F. under the title Battle of Britain . [7] It marked the first time since U.S.A.A.F. that Grigsby had attempted an air-combat title. [8]

Reviews

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References

  1. 1 2 Selover, Jay (April 1986). "Side by Side: Europe Ablaze and USAAF". Computer Gaming World. Vol. 1, no. 27. pp. 16–18.
  2. 1 2 Emrich, Alan (September 1995). "The Pioneering Spirit of a Wargame Guru". Computer Gaming World . No. 134. pp. 201, 202, 204.
  3. 1 2 Miller, J. L. (January 1989). "The Wargamer's Desk Reference". Computer Play: 34, 36, 37, 39, 40, 42.
  4. 1 2 Brooks, M. Evan (January–February 1988). "Wargames". Page 6 (31): 12–16.
  5. 1 2 Brooks, M. Evan (October 1993). "Brooks' Book Of Wargames: 1900-1950, R-Z". Computer Gaming World . No. 111. pp. 144–148.
  6. ↑ Staff (December 12, 1997). "Grigsby Joins TalonSoft". PC Gamer US . Archived from the original on February 18, 1998.
  7. ↑ Dunkin, Alan (May 4, 1999). "Battle of Britain". GameSpot . Archived from the original on October 30, 2004.
  8. ↑ Udell, Scott (September 14, 1998). "Battle of Britain Preview". Computer Games Strategy Plus . Archived from the original on February 5, 2005.
  9. ↑ "Aktueller Software Markt (ASM) Magazine (October 1987)". October 1987.
  10. ↑ "Current Notes 1986 09".
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