How does it compare to Air Traffic Controller 3?

[Zeigy]

I love Air Traffic Controller 3 but had to download it off of fan websites as it's an old game that is no longer supported. I have all the airports and love the mechanics. Is this game easier or harder than that game? How does it compare?

[finno61]

Thanks for the tip off for ATC3 - looks awesome! After watching some YouTube that game looks a million miles more complex than AM. AM is a casual game but ATC3 is a hardcore sim.

Incidentally why is AM 5 bucks on mobile (Play Store) but 10 bucks on Steam? Hate that Steam tax.

[Sleepy205]

ATC3 is not an old game, it just wasn't released in the west. It is still being sold by Airshop and Amazon JP. The fan site you are talking about cracked and translated ATC3 into English.

I haven't play AM yet, but so far AM looks like being more simpler than ATC3.

[Bad Whippet]

The two ATC3/Airport Madness games are totally different (I have both ATC3 and this) and they don't compare. They are pretty much different genres...

ATC2:

Hardcore sim of air traffic control where you carry out traffic control in a serious simulation. Now pretty old so I don't know if this works on today's PCs, but it can be bought online from several e-tailers.

ATC3:

A more casual ATC game balanced for people who like a sim but don't want to become ATC-qualified! It's not especially realistic and doesn't try to be. You play several controller roles, with an advanced mode to introduce SID/STAR etc, but you have no control over altitude or speed and very limited control over taxiing - BUT it's the best looking with 3D images of planes in flight, taking off and landing. This is my favourite ATC game, but as others have said, while there was a heavily-censored version sold internationally at a hugely inflated price for just 6 short levels (Tokyo BigWing: I Am An Air Traffic Controller), the best and biggest version has been fan-converted out of desperation for a fun ATC game outside of Japan, with real airlines reinstated (I wish it would be sold internationally - I'm sure it would do well). The fan-made version is free, but of course there's an issue about legality...

Airport Madness:

A fun arcade time-management type game. It's not even trying to emulate an ATC simulator and I think it's a shame that some people are criticising it for that. This game is THE most casual of the three and it's a lot of fun. It's not pretty (the graphics and resolution options could be sharper) but it's silly-fun! It's one of those 'filler' games where you don't want to play any deep or long/intense game. As much as I love serious and semi-serious ATC games, I'm really enjoying this one too, but as more of an arcade type game.

There is also Global ATC available on Steam. This looks to be a more modern ATC2, but reviews are mixed and it's a tad pricey for a first-time gamble. There was a demo released though, but I don't know if that is still available. If so it will be on the Store page.

[Zeigy]

@BadWhippet

Thanks. This has helped. ATC3 can get a little intense. I wouldn't mind trying out Airport Madness for a more casual experience.

[Sleepy205]

Originally posted by BadWhippet:

ATC2:

Hardcore sim of air traffic control where you carry out traffic control in a serious simulation. Now pretty old so I don't know if this works on today's PCs, but it can be bought online from several e-tailers.

ATC3:

A more casual ATC game balanced for people who like a sim but don't want to become ATC-qualified! It's not especially realistic and doesn't try to be. You play several controller roles, with an advanced mode to introduce SID/STAR etc, but you have no control over altitude or speed and very limited control over taxiing

Aren't you mixing ATC2 and ATC3 for a bit? ATC2 does have expert mode where you get to pick the correct SID for departing planes. It does not have custom heading assignment and it is very limited in taxing option (A/B/C). In ATC2 you are also in-charge with several roles (Delivery, Ground, Tower, Arrival, and Departure), just as much in ATC3.

In ATC3 you can define taxing route and assign custom heading in expert mode for SID/STAR. Furthermore you can control altitude in RJBB and speed in RJAA/RJAAN.

Most people think ATC2 is hardcore because you'll be penalized if you don't respond right away. What they didn't know is that in ATC2 simply telling the plane to hold/stand-by will prevent being penalized. If the plane is getting inpatient issue stand-by command. That way you'll still get the full score and avoid stress gauge buildup.

I disagree with the notion that Airport Madness has time management aspect. Time management would be challenging player to use time wisely. Games like Sims series, Atelier series, even Harvest Moon/Rune Factory all have time management aspect. Airport Madness really doesn't have this aspect. Airport Madness is really just a casual ATC simulation game.

[bigfatsimulations]

Thanks for all of the comments, folks! Yep, Airport Madness is not trying to be hyper realistic or anything. In fact, the next version will be 3D but will still abide by the Airport Madness rules of simplicity.

We went insane-real with our radar game, RADAR CHAOS HAWAII EDITION and it was quite a flop. I received a few emails from real-world controllers, thanking me for building something accurate, but the majority of the emails were asking me WTF. I think "real" is a tough sell.

As for the Steam tax, this game can't survive in the mobile app stores for $9.99. There's just no way. The mobile price is $6.99 for this title. I promise to bring regular sales to Steam, and the Steam version will always be top priority, and always first to receive the updates with new airports.

We've fixed the full-screen issue now, and the game looks better. In 4 weeks, we'll offer Barcelona airport (following on mobile devices three weeks after that).

Thanks for playing!!

[=SoB= Dead]

thanks for mentioning Radar Chaos, I hadn't seen them, look fun, played the free world edition a bit, I'll buy that and Hawaii soon prob. Should get those on steam as well, if they were, I'd have bought tonight :)

[Roboglobi]

A nice little game,that Airport Madness..a little bit hectic sometimes, i wish me, i can turn down the gamespeed:-) Specialy the approach of the"Concord" plane is..very fast.
Or just with little propellered planes for a easy,more realistc round.
But i like the game,its sweet:-)
That crack version of ATC 3 is not trustwothy i think, the download is maybe a virus or troyan horse.I wait for a finished european version, with english or better german language.
Why noone program a really good tower/atc simulator or airport manager? There are enough fans, that buy all games or simulators with airplanes:-)
Greetings and thanks for the game Airport Madness.

[bigfatsimulations]

Yep, we hope to get Radar Chaos into Steam ASAP. I'll post here once we get it onto Greenlight.

[Sleepy205]

Originally posted by Roboglobi:

That crack version of ATC 3 is not trustwothy i think, the download is maybe a virus or troyan horse.I wait for a finished european version, with english or better german language.

ATC3 will never have an European version. The game was made by Technobrain and it is Japanese exclusive PC games. The first entry of ATC3, Tokyo Bigwing, did have an international version where all real airliners were replaced with fictional airliners, but that's it. The rest never had an international release. ATC3 has total of 13 entries with 7 extended scenario packs.

You do NOT need to know how to read Japanese to play ATC3. Like Airport Madness, ATC3 is click based games. I can tell you that cracked/fan translated version of ATC3 does not have virus or trojan attached.

[Roboglobi]

Originally posted by Trumpet205:

Originally posted by Roboglobi:

That crack version of ATC 3 is not trustwothy i think, the download is maybe a virus or troyan horse.I wait for a finished european version, with english or better german language.

ATC3 will never have an European version. The game was made by Technobrain and it is Japanese exclusive PC games. The first entry of ATC3, Tokyo Bigwing, did have an international version where all real airliners were replaced with fictional airliners, but that's it. The rest never had an international release. ATC3 has total of 13 entries with 7 extended scenario packs.

You do NOT need to know how to read Japanese to play ATC3. Like Airport Madness, ATC3 is click based games. I can tell you that cracked/fan translated version of ATC3 does not have virus or trojan attached.

Okydoky,thanks for the informations, i will try it.
@Trumpet205 "radar Chaos" looks interesting too,thanks:-)

[bigfatsimulations]

Here's Radar Chaos on our website:
http://bigfatsimulations.com/game/radarchaosworldedition

We'll get it into Greenlight very soon!

[=SoB= Dead]

If I buy Radar Chaos World and Hawaii off your site, will I get a steam key when it does make it to steam?

[bigfatsimulations]

Absolutely!

[=SoB= Dead]

Bought it before answer anyhow, actually liking it more than Airport Madness (nothing negative about AM, just personal pref), thanks!

Sorry for the thread hijack, OP, guess I could have started a topic. :)