I thought there had been a previous game that was very similar, and I have been knocking my brains out about the title of the game. I finally remembered is was Air Power: Battle in the Skies. Here is the link to the Gamespot review: http://www.zdnet.com/gamespot/filters/products/0,11114,196567,00.html I don't think I have seen AP mentioned in any Crimson Skies reviews, but it appears to be CS' crappier ancestor.

Interesting. I had heard of this game, but I didn't know anything about it. I bet no one made the connection because Crimson Skies is based on the FASA boardgame of the same name. Now I wonder if Air Power wasn't a cheap computer knockoff of Crimson Skies? Anyone have any ideas? Scharmers?

I remember the game and while I never got a chance to try it, I think it uses the same graphics engine that was used in Rowan's Dawn Patrol title. The game didn't get much buzz before or after its release. In fact, I think more than one reviewer said that the fiction was "dumb" at the time.

Wonder if those same guys are enjoying Crimson Skies today?

Anyway, I knew about it and I figured others did too. But it wasn't a noteworthy game in its day so I figured no one gave a crap about the fact that Crimson Skies was similar.

"Anyway, I knew about it and I figured others did too. But it wasn't a noteworthy game in its day so I figured no one gave a crap about the fact that Crimson Skies was similar."

I guess it's like the similarities between Myth and Glen Cook's Black Company novels, except people like Myth so there were some comments about the Black Company being a source of inspiration.

I haven't heard much about Crimson Skies, so I guess it's done like other flight sims and not sold very well. And yes, I use the term loosely in this case.

I think the comments on bugginess probably helped kill any momentum Crimson Skies had among those who don't like flight sims. It undoubtedly also alienated every hardcore flight simmer out there too with its arcade-like flight model.

Publishers probably have gotten the hint by now. Don't even try to make a game for casual action/flight gamers. The amount of them out there is probably equal to the amount of people who enjoy action/strategy hybrids. (Little CSIPGS cross-reference for ya there... :)

It strikes me that all PC games MUST fit neatly in a genre or PC gamers won't play it. PC gamers don't want innovative new gameplay, they want rehashes of old concepts with a better story and one or two cool new elements that makes their video card cry from overexertion.

Either that or a Starcraft-like remake of a game that's beloved.

--Dave

"It strikes me that all PC games MUST fit neatly in a genre or PC gamers won't play it. PC gamers don't want innovative new gameplay, they want rehashes of old concepts with a better story and one or two cool new elements that makes their video card cry from overexertion."

Heh -- I'll agree in part. I think gamers like innovation, but that's just one facet they look for.

Unfortunately, I don't have any sales figures, but I think Crimson Skies has been relatively popular among flight sim fans and non-flight sim fans alike.

It's actually pretty fun, and it's a nice stray from the typical "hardcore" nature of flight sims. I was recently sent a copy of B17 II, and this game is extremely complex. Crimson Skies isn't, and that's why it was pretty popular (at least among flight sim fans). In fact, it was all the buzz in Usenet's flight sim newsgroup when it was first released.

But I think you're right to a certain degree when you say that a game has to fit into one certain category. If it doesn't, then consumers will ask "what is it?" And it will be hard to sell--consumers just can't afford to waste $50 on a title that isn't worth playing.