Longbow (video game)
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| AH-64D Longbow | |
|---|---|
| Developer(s) | Origin Systems |
| Publisher(s) | Jane's Combat Simulations / Electronic Arts |
| Platform(s) | DOS, Windows |
| Release date(s) | 1996 |
| Genre(s) | Combat flight simulator |
| Mode(s) | Single-player |
| Media | CD-ROM |
| System requirements | Minimum: Pentium-75 or equivalent processor, 8 MB RAM, 2X CD-ROM drive.
Video Modes Supported: SuperVGA, VESA. Sound Devices Supported: Ensoniq Soundscape, Pro Audio Spectrum / Plus / 16, Roland RAP-10, Sound Blaster, Sound Blaster 16, Sound Blaster AWE32, Sound Blaster Pro. Input Devices Supported: Joystick (Analog), Joystick (Digital), Keyboard, Mouse, Thrustmaster (FCS and/or WCS). |
| Input methods | Keyboard, Joystick and Mouse |
AH-64D Longbow is an ultra-realistic PC flight simulator of one of the world's most advanced attack helicopter, the AH-64D Longbow. Released on May 31 1996, this simulation was developed at Origin Systems, Inc. by producer Andy Hollis and director Will McBurnett. AH-64D Longbow was the second simulator released under the Jane's Combat Simulators line from Electronic Arts.
It had the most authentic flight model for a helicopter (for its time), and every aspect of the electronics systems were meticulously detailed. The weapons had realistic operational ranges and limits, and all friendly and enemy units were strictly based on their real-life counterparts. A wingman helps the player, and the player takes on Russian equipment in multiple single missions and campaigns, as well as a handful of historically-accurate missions in which it is possible to 're-live' memorable battles.
A mission disk, entitled Flash Point: Korea was released as an add-in in 1996, and a compilation pack, Longbow Gold was released in 1997. A sequel, Longbow 2 was released in late 1997. In 1998, Longbow Anthology was released, which included the whole Longbow series.
Longbow, in its various forms, sold over 1 million copies.
Longbow won many awards, including 'Flight Simulation Of The Year' (1996) from PC Gamer, Computer Gaming World, and Computer Games Strategy Plus.
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[edit] On modern systems
Limited success has been achieved at getting this game to run on modern PC systems by using the MS-DOS emulator DOSBox. The biggest problem here is the low framerates, and even on the lowest graphics settings, the game plays like a slideshow, rendering it nearly unplayable (on low end PC), however on modern dual core systems the game plays smooth with full details (if parameters in DosBox.conf file are properly prepared i.e. memsize=63, cycles=max).
[edit] Add-on
Flash Point: Korea was released on November 30, 1996. It features a new campaign set in Korea, the addition of the co-pilot position, improved wingman commands and many bug fixes.
[edit] Compilations
Longbow Gold came out in March 1997, and is a compilation pack of the AH-64D Longbow and Flash Point: Korea add-on. It is also fully patched and updated to include a Windows executable, so you are no longer limited to MS-DOS use. Also included is the 3DFX update, which converts the whole sim to Glide mode.
Longbow Anthology was released in 1998 and is a compilation of Jane's AH-64D Longbow, the mission disk Flash Point: Korea, and Longbow 2 in one box, with an abbreviated manual. All included sims are fully patched to the latest versions.
