1980s Bandai Air Traffic Control Electronic Game?
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classicwings,
I have a copy of London Control. It is quite good, I have to say, even though I am not an ATCO myself (yet). I definitely prefer London Control to ATC Simulator 2.
I have a copy of London Control. It is quite good, I have to say, even though I am not an ATCO myself (yet). I definitely prefer London Control to ATC Simulator 2.
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windneckin,
Interesting to hear you purchased a copy of London Control whilst you have been pursuing your ATC career too- that's just what I did- not that it helped with the NATS selection procedure!
Interesting to hear you purchased a copy of London Control whilst you have been pursuing your ATC career too- that's just what I did- not that it helped with the NATS selection procedure!
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I bought ATC Simulator 2 first but I am happy I stopped using it and moved to London Control. Personally, I got them to get a bit of a feeling for the job rather than for the selection process. But I have to say that London Control and the visits to CCs/TWRs gave me quite a bit of material to talk about in stage 3 (more than what was needed anyway).
We'll see how realistic London Control is once I start college in April (It's fine for sectors and all that but... RT?
)
We'll see how realistic London Control is once I start college in April (It's fine for sectors and all that but... RT?
)
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windneckin,
Yes, London Control certainly does give you a feel for the job but it is certainly not an aid for getting though the selection process. Well done for getting through yourself and good luck at the college. The radar screen is very realistic comparing it from my vistis to TC West Drayton, but the R/T is certainly 'interesting' shall we say.........& I could never get my head round just clicking on a drop down menu over a target and pressing 'Tx' to make a transmission!
Yes, London Control certainly does give you a feel for the job but it is certainly not an aid for getting though the selection process. Well done for getting through yourself and good luck at the college. The radar screen is very realistic comparing it from my vistis to TC West Drayton, but the R/T is certainly 'interesting' shall we say.........& I could never get my head round just clicking on a drop down menu over a target and pressing 'Tx' to make a transmission!
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Air Traffic Chaos
On this topic, I've just seen this review of a game for the Nintendo DS.
I love this paragraph:-
"Playing Air Traffic Chaos is exactly like having a very busy day at work. It really is debatable whether it's enjoyable at all, and there's a constant, nagging fear that the knife-edge balance between order and chaos is going to tip at any time. At its worst, you can find yourself paralysed by the fear, simply watching in impotent misery as the boxes flash and the little pixel-planes spiral into destructive patterns."
And I thought games were supposed to be fun?
I love this paragraph:-
"Playing Air Traffic Chaos is exactly like having a very busy day at work. It really is debatable whether it's enjoyable at all, and there's a constant, nagging fear that the knife-edge balance between order and chaos is going to tip at any time. At its worst, you can find yourself paralysed by the fear, simply watching in impotent misery as the boxes flash and the little pixel-planes spiral into destructive patterns."
And I thought games were supposed to be fun?
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Hey lol!
Here are the bits I like:
Here is a game that you can barely call fun - insofar as it's very much like work - but that is so mercilessly addictive it can consume days, so intense it can render you incapable of speech.
'render you incapable of speech' - I wonder if this guy met any maxed out contollers?!
&
If there hasn't been a horrific collision in the air or on the ground, and you haven't driven pilots' stress levels through the roof, you get to keep your job, have a rest and be able to live with yourself. The important difference, of course, is that if you fail a shift you can attempt to undo your mistakes by playing the shift again. And again. And again. It's not unusual to restart ten or fifteen times in one sitting - and some shifts are fifteen or twenty minutes long. Failing at the very end of one is enough to make you weep.
Crickey. Heres one chap who I rather doubt is going to be considering a career in ATC me thinks.
Here are the bits I like:
Here is a game that you can barely call fun - insofar as it's very much like work - but that is so mercilessly addictive it can consume days, so intense it can render you incapable of speech.
'render you incapable of speech' - I wonder if this guy met any maxed out contollers?!
&
If there hasn't been a horrific collision in the air or on the ground, and you haven't driven pilots' stress levels through the roof, you get to keep your job, have a rest and be able to live with yourself. The important difference, of course, is that if you fail a shift you can attempt to undo your mistakes by playing the shift again. And again. And again. It's not unusual to restart ten or fifteen times in one sitting - and some shifts are fifteen or twenty minutes long. Failing at the very end of one is enough to make you weep.
Crickey. Heres one chap who I rather doubt is going to be considering a career in ATC me thinks.
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classicwings,
With the risk of going a bit off topic from the original Bandai one, from your comment, I am not sure whether you are using speech recognition with London Control. I started using the drop down menus but switched quickly to speech recognition (even though drop down menus are still needed for coordination and stuff like that).
The problem with R/T for me is the fact the everything is very... "standard" ... no emergencies or unexpected requests to "liven up" the game
(that would require quite a bit of AI development).
With the risk of going a bit off topic from the original Bandai one, from your comment, I am not sure whether you are using speech recognition with London Control. I started using the drop down menus but switched quickly to speech recognition (even though drop down menus are still needed for coordination and stuff like that).
The problem with R/T for me is the fact the everything is very... "standard" ... no emergencies or unexpected requests to "liven up" the game
(that would require quite a bit of AI development).
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windneckin,
No, I just used the drop down menus to transmit on London Control and never tried speach recognition. Was too engrossed enough as it was just trying to co-orinate my aircraft..... Much preferred being an approach controller than using an Area Control option in using sectors S1, S2 & S3 etc I have to say. Maybe that was from my familiarity with TC.
I actually purchased a copy of the programme when it was first released afew years ago; think I've got V1.3. I know they have regular updates for it and I believe there has been a recent one from Dec '08 - so they may have improved upon your R/T gripe- maybe worth while you checking it out on their website@ londoncontrol.com
Anyway, yes, lets not deviate too much away from this thread which is supposed to be about a 1980's retro ATC game! Unless perhaps I should start a new London Control thread?
No, I just used the drop down menus to transmit on London Control and never tried speach recognition. Was too engrossed enough as it was just trying to co-orinate my aircraft..... Much preferred being an approach controller than using an Area Control option in using sectors S1, S2 & S3 etc I have to say. Maybe that was from my familiarity with TC.
I actually purchased a copy of the programme when it was first released afew years ago; think I've got V1.3. I know they have regular updates for it and I believe there has been a recent one from Dec '08 - so they may have improved upon your R/T gripe- maybe worth while you checking it out on their website@ londoncontrol.com
Anyway, yes, lets not deviate too much away from this thread which is supposed to be about a 1980's retro ATC game! Unless perhaps I should start a new London Control thread?
Last edited by classicwings; 9th Jan 2009 at 12:58.
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Just read one of the reviews for this DS game on the internet:
Seriously??? 
The Air Traffic Control profession is notorious for its high levels of suicide, as controllers cope with one of the most stressful jobs imaginable...
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Knieval,
A quick yahoo search pulled this up
www.kawabungadudes.com/tabletopgames.html
I can't verify the content cos my work mobile internet blocks it so view with caution!
Good luck, may try and find one myself.
To the London Control fans, what do you think? Considering buying it.
Cheers
A quick yahoo search pulled this up
www.kawabungadudes.com/tabletopgames.html
I can't verify the content cos my work mobile internet blocks it so view with caution!
Good luck, may try and find one myself.
To the London Control fans, what do you think? Considering buying it.
Cheers
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couple of airfix air traffic games on ebay at the moment cheapest starting at £4.99 with no bids.
item 330297810292
features london to new york
get in quick ends in 20 hours
item 330297810292
features london to new york
get in quick ends in 20 hours
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wazzer,
I have only used London Control and ATC Simulator 2 but I can tell you that London Control is a lot better. I think it is a very good piece of software that could definitely give you an idea of the job of an ATCO. I highly recommend using the simulator with speech recognition in order to truly enjoy it.
classicwings,
yes, I have the December version (1.4.2) but, still, nothing "unexpected" happens, the complexity comes from having more and more aircraft in the sector rather than from having to react to any kind of distress or urgency call. Btw, you can do everything except tower control with that version (Area, Terminal and Approach on quite a few airports).
Maybe we should change the title of the thread to "ATC Simulators/Games", regardless of how "unprofessional" it might look on a "professional" rumour network.
I have only used London Control and ATC Simulator 2 but I can tell you that London Control is a lot better. I think it is a very good piece of software that could definitely give you an idea of the job of an ATCO. I highly recommend using the simulator with speech recognition in order to truly enjoy it.
classicwings,
yes, I have the December version (1.4.2) but, still, nothing "unexpected" happens, the complexity comes from having more and more aircraft in the sector rather than from having to react to any kind of distress or urgency call. Btw, you can do everything except tower control with that version (Area, Terminal and Approach on quite a few airports).
Maybe we should change the title of the thread to "ATC Simulators/Games", regardless of how "unprofessional" it might look on a "professional" rumour network
.
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Air Traffic Control
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Five interesting ads in the sidebar: 3 ways to conquer panic, call a psychiatrist and end your fear of driving
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I don't remember that one, but I do remember the one I had in the late 70's/80's that was Air Traffic Control the board game. I recall it involved a flight across the atlantic, progressing the flight by roll of the dice. The little aeroplane model was attached to different lengths of plastic stick depending on the phase of flight - climb/en-route etc.
Anyone remember this one?
Anyone remember this one?
Would this be the one? I had that as a child as well. Ah, nostalgia...