Fleet Defender
Encyclopedia
Fleet Defender was a flight simulator
published by Microprose
in 1994. It features the F-14 Tomcat
and, as a commercial game, "is one of the most complicated and realistic PC air combat simulators ever created." The game features exclusively the F-14B version of the aircraft, even in scenarios where it constitutes an anachronism
, because the developers found that flying the original underpowered F-14A was very unforgiving and "not much fun" for a commercial flight simulator.
missile as a standoff weapon where possible, rather than engaging the more nimble Soviet fighters in close-quarters dogfighting - although dogfights were inevitable at some point. There was also the option to control your wingmen's formations and tactics.
Three campaign theatres were included in the original game; the Oceana training theatre (which was mostly open sea with a small land area on the edge of the map), the North Cape theatre (the northern half of the Scandinavian Peninsula
), and the Mediterranean theatre (Italy
, the Balkans
, and part of North Africa
).
Although striving to be as realistic as possible, the game was noted for a certain degree of artistic freedom - within the scope of a military sim. One of the available campaigns was a somewhat implausible scenario that recreated a conflict between a Soviet and an American Carrier Battle Group
in the 1980s, designed to play like the historic battles of the Pacific War
. One particular mission sent you out to investigate an unknown contact, which turned out to be a classic sci-fi flying saucer
. It was also possible to encounter a lost formation of TBF Avenger
s in a Bermuda Triangle
homage and, in the North Cape theatre, a dragon.
In 1995 Microprose
released Fleet Defender Gold. This version was Windows 3.1 compatible, included two new campaign theatres and 6 new campaigns, a mission builder, and some multimedia features, as well as bug fixes.
Its distant cousin is Jane's F/A-18
, which reuses a lot of work completed in Jane's F-15
by ex-Microprose employee Andy Hollis
.
Fleet Defender was one of the last flight simulations produced exclusively for DOS
and Windows 3.1. It was playable in Windows 95
and Windows 98
, but only if the user exited Windows and played in DOS-mode. Fleet Defender can be played today using an old PC, or a DOS Emulator, such as DOSBox
.
Flight simulator
A flight simulator is a device that artificially re-creates aircraft flight and various aspects of the flight environment. This includes the equations that govern how aircraft fly, how they react to applications of their controls and other aircraft systems, and how they react to the external...
published by Microprose
MicroProse
MicroProse was a video game publisher and developer, founded by Wild Bill Stealey and Sid Meier in 1982 as Microprose Software. In 1993, the company became a subsidiary of Spectrum HoloByte and has remained a subsidiary or brand name under several other corporations since...
in 1994. It features the F-14 Tomcat
F-14 Tomcat
The Grumman F-14 Tomcat is a supersonic, twin-engine, two-seat, variable-sweep wing fighter aircraft. The Tomcat was developed for the United States Navy's Naval Fighter Experimental program following the collapse of the F-111B project...
and, as a commercial game, "is one of the most complicated and realistic PC air combat simulators ever created." The game features exclusively the F-14B version of the aircraft, even in scenarios where it constitutes an anachronism
Anachronism
An anachronism—from the Greek ανά and χρόνος — is an inconsistency in some chronological arrangement, especially a chronological misplacing of persons, events, objects, or customs in regard to each other...
, because the developers found that flying the original underpowered F-14A was very unforgiving and "not much fun" for a commercial flight simulator.
The game
One of the most realistic simulators of its time, Fleet Defender modelled detailed carrier operations including air traffic and take-off/landing under various conditions. Under the most realistic settings, the player had full control of not only the pilot, but the radar intercept officer (RIO) in the radar cockpit as well, having to manage the several available realistic radar modes (the game manual had a section dedicated to the AWG-9 radar itself, which was unusual at the time). In keeping with the real-life aircraft's role, emphasis was placed on using the AIM-54 PhoenixAIM-54 Phoenix
The AIM-54 Phoenix is a radar-guided, long-range air-to-air missile , carried in clusters of up to six missiles on F-14 Tomcats, its only launch platform. The Phoenix was the United States' only long-range air-to-air missile. The weapons system based on Phoenix was the world's first to allow...
missile as a standoff weapon where possible, rather than engaging the more nimble Soviet fighters in close-quarters dogfighting - although dogfights were inevitable at some point. There was also the option to control your wingmen's formations and tactics.
Three campaign theatres were included in the original game; the Oceana training theatre (which was mostly open sea with a small land area on the edge of the map), the North Cape theatre (the northern half of the Scandinavian Peninsula
Scandinavian Peninsula
The Scandinavian Peninsula is a peninsula in Northern Europe, which today covers Norway, Sweden, and most of northern Finland. Prior to the 17th and 18th centuries, large parts of the southern peninsula—including the core region of Scania from which the peninsula takes its name—were part of...
), and the Mediterranean theatre (Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
, the Balkans
Balkans
The Balkans is a geopolitical and cultural region of southeastern Europe...
, and part of North Africa
North Africa
North Africa or Northern Africa is the northernmost region of the African continent, linked by the Sahara to Sub-Saharan Africa. Geopolitically, the United Nations definition of Northern Africa includes eight countries or territories; Algeria, Egypt, Libya, Morocco, South Sudan, Sudan, Tunisia, and...
).
Although striving to be as realistic as possible, the game was noted for a certain degree of artistic freedom - within the scope of a military sim. One of the available campaigns was a somewhat implausible scenario that recreated a conflict between a Soviet and an American Carrier Battle Group
Carrier battle group
A carrier battle group consists of an aircraft carrier and its escorts, together composing the group. The first naval task forces built around carriers appeared just prior to and during World War II. The Imperial Japanese Navy was the first to assemble a large number of carriers into a single...
in the 1980s, designed to play like the historic battles of the Pacific War
Pacific War
The Pacific War, also sometimes called the Asia-Pacific War refers broadly to the parts of World War II that took place in the Pacific Ocean, its islands, and in East Asia, then called the Far East...
. One particular mission sent you out to investigate an unknown contact, which turned out to be a classic sci-fi flying saucer
Flying saucer
A flying saucer is a type of unidentified flying object sometimes believed to be of alien origin with a disc or saucer-shaped body, usually described as silver or metallic, occasionally reported as covered with running lights or surrounded with a glowing light, hovering or moving rapidly either...
. It was also possible to encounter a lost formation of TBF Avenger
TBF Avenger
The Grumman TBF Avenger was a torpedo bomber developed initially for the United States Navy and Marine Corps, and eventually used by several air or naval arms around the world....
s in a Bermuda Triangle
Bermuda Triangle
The Bermuda Triangle, also known as the Devil's Triangle, is a region in the western part of the North Atlantic Ocean where a number of aircraft and surface vessels allegedly disappeared under mysterious circumstances....
homage and, in the North Cape theatre, a dragon.
In 1995 Microprose
MicroProse
MicroProse was a video game publisher and developer, founded by Wild Bill Stealey and Sid Meier in 1982 as Microprose Software. In 1993, the company became a subsidiary of Spectrum HoloByte and has remained a subsidiary or brand name under several other corporations since...
released Fleet Defender Gold. This version was Windows 3.1 compatible, included two new campaign theatres and 6 new campaigns, a mission builder, and some multimedia features, as well as bug fixes.
Its distant cousin is Jane's F/A-18
Jane's F/A-18
Jane's F/A-18 is one of the final study flight simulators by Electronic Arts under Jane's Combat Simulations brand, the sequel to the highly successful Jane's F-15. Jane's F/A-18 was released in 1999; it simulates the F/A-18E Super Hornet and carrier-based aviation in a fictional campaign around...
, which reuses a lot of work completed in Jane's F-15
Jane's F-15
Jane's F-15 is a study combat flight simulation game modeling United States all-weather strike fighter F-15E Strike Eagle. The game had two campaigns: one based on the 1991 Gulf War against Iraq, and the other focusing on fictional conflict with Iran...
by ex-Microprose employee Andy Hollis
Andy Hollis
Andy Hollis is an American game designer and game programmer, mainly known for his flight simulator games.-Video game development:He began his career at MicroProse Software, where he was responsible for games like Kennedy Approach, Gunship, F-15 Strike Eagle II, F-19 Stealth Fighter, and F-15...
.
Fleet Defender was one of the last flight simulations produced exclusively for DOS
MS-DOS
MS-DOS is an operating system for x86-based personal computers. It was the most commonly used member of the DOS family of operating systems, and was the main operating system for IBM PC compatible personal computers during the 1980s to the mid 1990s, until it was gradually superseded by operating...
and Windows 3.1. It was playable in Windows 95
Windows 95
Windows 95 is a consumer-oriented graphical user interface-based operating system. It was released on August 24, 1995 by Microsoft, and was a significant progression from the company's previous Windows products...
and Windows 98
Windows 98
Windows 98 is a graphical operating system by Microsoft. It is the second major release in the Windows 9x line of operating systems. It was released to manufacturing on 15 May 1998 and to retail on 25 June 1998. Windows 98 is the successor to Windows 95. Like its predecessor, it is a hybrid...
, but only if the user exited Windows and played in DOS-mode. Fleet Defender can be played today using an old PC, or a DOS Emulator, such as DOSBox
DOSBox
DOSBox is emulator software that emulates an IBM PC compatible computer running MS-DOS. It is intended especially for use with old PC games. DOSBox is free software....
.