#zipper interactive

" Big guns! Fast planes! Gorgeous dames! "

To any “flyboys/flygirls” out there, have you played any of these air/space combat games in your gaming lifetime, and if you did and loved at least one of them, please tell why? (Please note that games like Wing Commander, War Thunder, the X-Universe, Freelancer, and some others aren’t included because I haven’t checked them out yet.

The games are: a) Star Wars: TIE Fighter and X-Wing Alliance (X-Wing and X-Wing vs. TIE Fighter included if possible)

                          b) Star Wars: Rogue Squadron I and II: Rogue Leader (feel free to talk about Ep. I: Battle for Naboo and RSIII: Rebel Strike, however)

                          c) FreeSpace 2 (community mods like FSPort, Silent Threat: Reborn, Derelict, and Blue Planet included)

                          d)  Ace Combat games set in Strangereal (Air Combat, 2, 3: Electrosphere - Japan/English fan sub version, 04: Shattered Skies, 5: The Unsung War, Zero: The Belkan War, 6: Fires of Liberation, X: Skies of Deception, and 7: Skies Unknown are worth mentioning)

                          e) Project Wingman

                          f) Secret Weapons of the Luftwaffe

                          g)  IL-2 Sturmovik (1946/Complete Edition is preferable, although the other games are still worth noting)

                          h) Secret Weapons over Normandy

                          i) Crimson Skies

‘Recoil’

[PC] [USA] [MAGAZINE, SPREAD] [1998]

Computer Gaming World, June 1998 (#167)

via CGW Museum

‘SOCOM: U.S. Navy SEALs - ’Fast Food Team’’

[PS2] [SPAIN] [MAGAZINE] [2003]

Official PlayStation 2 Magazine (SPN), August 2003 (#31)

Scanned by Sketch the Cow, via The Internet Archive

SOCOM II U.S. Navy SEALs Beta Trial Code Creation Date: 25/11/2003 Product Code: TCES-51904 Version No.: 1

This disc was only available to members of the PlayStation 2 network gaming beta trial. It is an official PlayStation 2 disc and can be played on any PAL PlayStation 2 console. This disc is a rare collectors item.

A bit about Beta Trial from Sony:

“Welcome to the PlayStation 2 network gaming beta trial. You’ve been selected to take part in the massive online event involving thousands of dedicated PS2 gamers. The vital feedback that we get from you will help us shape network gaming on PlayStation 2 and sow the seed of a totally new gaming experience. Apart from exclusive access to the top software such as SOCOM US Navy SEALs before anyone else, and being part of an exclusive beta trail community, you’ll have the opportunity to test your skills against a host of opponents across Europe.”

There is no offline playable content on this disc. Online play is now also unavailable.

What’s on the disc:

The only option available on the main menu is online. You are given the opportunity to create a Network Configuration file on your memory card if one does not already exist. When trying to connect online you are presented with an error message due to the game servers no longer running.

Available to buy on eBay:

SOCOM U.S. Navy Seals Product Code: SCES-50928/B1 Version No.: B1

This disc was only available to members of the PlayStation 2 network gaming beta trial. It is an official PlayStation 2 disc and can be played on any PAL PlayStation 2 console. This disc is a rare collectors item.

A bit about Beta Trial from Sony:

“Welcome to the PlayStation 2 network gaming beta trial. You’ve been selected to take part in the massive online event involving thousands of dedicated PS2 gamers. The vital feedback that we get from you will help us shape network gaming on PlayStation 2 and sow the seed of a totally new gaming experience. Apart from exclusive access to the top software such as SOCOM US Navy SEALs before anyone else, and being part of an exclusive beta trail community, you’ll have the opportunity to test your skills against a host of opponents across Europe.”

There is no offline playable content on this disc. Online play is now also unavailable.

What’s on the disc:

After an into movie you are taken to the title screen that displays the text “Online Trial Version”. You are able to select from “Online” and “Options”. When trying to connect online you are presented with an error message due to the game servers no longer running.

Available to buy on eBay: