- Platform: IBM PC Compatible
- Release Date: September 19, 2000
- Genre: Simulation
- Style: Flight Combat Sim
- Similar Games: Wings of Destiny (IBM PC Compatible), Red Baron 3-D (IBM PC Compatible)
Game Description
Hop into the cockpit and take to the blue yonder over the devastated landscape of a fictional 1937 America in Crimson Skies. Although well known for detailed, realistic flight simulators, Microsoft takes a slightly more arcade-style approach to flight combat in this release, with an emphasis on fast, furious dogfighting over the realistically sophisticated control schemes found in the Microsoft Flight Simulator titles.As the notorious air pirate Nathan Zachary, players will defend their airspace from attacks by rival bandits. Zachary flies solo or leads his squadron of privateers through several objective based missions and is always on the lookout for new technology and fighter designs that will help to keep his team on top.
Up to 11 different models of aircraft become available to players over the course of the game. A detailed storyline, supported by mission-specific air chatter and cinematic cut scenes, fleshes out the plot and provides the context and motivation for Nathan Zachary's heroic exploits.
~ T.J. Deci, All Game Guide
Roots & Influences
Microsoft is well known for its series of accurate combat flight simulators as well as commercial aircraft emulators. Crimson Skies is an "alternate history" view of what North American skies might have been like in 1937 after influences of influenza and rampant prohibition bootlegging operations divide the continent via air piracy.The game is designed by Zipper Interactive, no stranger to combat simulations with their previously released games such as MechWarrior 3 (giant robot) and Recoil (ground vehicle).
~ Michael L. House, All Game Guide
Production Credits
MICROSOFT Creative Direction: Jordan Weisman, Dave McCoy; Program Manager: Laura Fryer; Design Lead: John Howard; Art Lead: Todd Lubsen; Test Lead: Todd Squire; Audio Lead: Ken Kato; Product Planner: Jon Kimmich; Artists: Vic Bonilla Carillo, Mark Forrer, Stuart Compton, Frank Woll, Tom Peters, Ron Lemens, Mark Selander, Lex Story, Edison Girard; 3D Cinema Artist: John Hudgens; Cinema Effects: MS Studios; Sound Designer: David Henry; Soundtrack Composer: Stan LePard; VO Recording and Editing: Soundelux Showorks; UI Development: Brennan Priest, Bob Crocco, Dan Foy, Mike Lyons, Damien Neff, Jesse Janosov; Testers: Erika Carlson, Chris Chamberlain, Joseph Mullenix, Michelle Gamboa Stenson, Matt Alderman, Ramon Romero; Configuration: Paul Gradwohl, Harold Ryar, Dan Hitchcock; User Education: Dana Fos, Chris Lassen, Eric Nylund; Marketing: Chris Cocks, Peter Parsons; IP Team: Tim O'Brien, Derek Carroll, James D. Maliszewski, Vaughn Morrow, The WebForge LLC; Localization: Laurence Krzemien-Smith, Kazuyuki Shibuya, Paul Delany, Jonathon Young, Takayoshi Asahina, Toshio Sato, Kazuyuki Kumai, Kaoru Ito, Michael Ivory, Suzanne Boyland, John O'Sullivan, Kerrie Power, Victoria Olson; Game Tech: Andy Glaister, Jim Reichert, Kevin Loza, Chris Haddan, Nigel Keam, Randy Shedden, Melody Litovkin; Photography: Bright Pictures, Tamara Staples; Scriptwriter: Lane Reichert; Product Support: Steve Kastner; ZIPPER INTERACTIVE Tech Manager: Brian Soderberg; Project Management: Anna Farr; Design Lead: Graham Kays; Art Director: Daniel Dociu; Art Lead: David Kern; Software Lead: Gary Hinger; Design: Paul Reed, Victor von Beck; Artists: Jay Banchero, Tom Sternberg, Victor von Beck, Phil Knowles, Scott Luse, Russ Phillips; Software: Mark Heinen, Bob Gutmann, David Blevins, Blevins Enterprises; Software Support: John Guyer, Blevins Enterprises; Art Support: Horia Dociu; Business Management: Jim Bosler; Special Thanks: Kori Brown, Mike Abrash, Leon Gor, Mike Sartain, Mitch Gitelman, Heinz Schuller, Kelly Bell, Eddie Smith, Sandra Garavito, John Kane, Aaron Ueland, Duane Decker, Heather Carlson, Mike Pondsmith, Shon Eizenhoeffer, Dave Blumberg, Curtis Creamer, Eugene Evans, Adam Maloy, Mark Shoemaker, Jacob Fulwiler, Bruce Carr, Mark Engle, Beth De Diego, Erik Davis; Special Thanks, Management: Ed Fries, Eric Straub, Stuart Moulder, Dave Luehmann, Ed Ventura, Jo Tyo, Matt Grodwohl, Doug Herring, Craig Henry; AIR ACTION WEEKLY (MANUAL); EXECUTIVE OFFICERS Founder and Editor Emeritus: Jordan Weisman; Founder and Chief Investigative Officer: Dave McCoy; Chief Executive Officer: Ed Fries; President: Eric Straub; Director of Business: Stuart Moulder; Chief Financial Officer: Dave Luehmann; Publisher: Jon Kimmich; Chief Researcher: Jo Tyo; Circulation Director: Ed Ventura; Logistics Officer: Matt Gradwohl; Chief Operations Officer: Craig Henry; OPERATIONS STAFF Editor-in-Chief: Laura Fryer; Regional Sales Manager (North American Nations): Chris Cocks; Regional Sales Manager (Europe): Peter Parsons; Researcher: Tim O'Brien; Chief of the FAA: Phil Knowles; Art Director (London Office): Douglas Herring; Typesetting Engineer: Chris Lassen; Staff Aviator: John Guyer; Manager, Dept. of Redundancy Dept.: Victor Von Beck; Union Delegate: Bob Crocco; Farm Purchasing Associate: David Henry; Copy-Boy: Bob Gutmann; FOREIGN OFFICES Le Grand Chef des Malcontents Somptueux: Anna Farr; Chief of Moscow Operations: Kazuyuki Shibuya; Chief of Casablanca Operations: Takayoshi Asahina; Chief of Asian Operations: Kazuyuki Kumai; Chief of British Affairs: Kaoru Ito; Chief of Madrid Operations: Victoria Olsson; Manager of International Translations: Toshio Sato; Chief Travel Coordinator: Yutaka Hasegawa; Special Intelligence Coordinator (Parisian Office): Laurence Krzemien-Smith; DUBLIN TEAM Chief Controller: Paul Delany; Chief Mechanic: Jonathon Young; Flying Ace: Michael Ivory; Field Reporter: Suzanne Boylan; Staff Aviator: John O'Sullivan; Wingman: Kerrie Power; STAFF PHOTOGRAPHERS Combat Photographer/Illustrator: Vic Bonilla; Free-Fall Specialist: Todd Lubsen; Freelance Photographers: Frank Woll, Tom Peters, Lex Story, Edison Girard, Ron Lemen; FIELD REPORTERS Field Reporters: John Hudgens (Republic of Texas), Ken Kato (Pacifica), Aaron Ueland (Lakota Territory), Dan Foy (People's Collective), Brennan Prist (Industrial States of America), Kely Bell (Empire State), Ramon Romero (Maritime Provinces), Derek Carroll (Atlantic Coalition), Eugene Evans (Dixie), Mike Sartain (Appalachia), Lane Reichert (Outer Banks), Damien Neff (French Louisiana), Kevin Loza (Free Colorado), Mike Lyons (Arixo), Mitch Gitelman (Navajo Nation), Heinz Schuller (Utah), Eddie Smith (Hollywood), Sandra Garavito (Hong Kon), Leon Gor (Hawaii), Heather Carlson (London), John Kane (Paris), Duane Decker (Moscow); FLIGHT CREW Ground Crew Technician Foreman: Todd Squire; Wingman Avoidance Expert: Erika Carlson; Commander, Combat Engineering: J. J. J. Banchero Jr.; Big Rocket Expert: Michelle Gamboa Stenson; Live Grenade Specialist: Mike Pondsmith; Experimental Aircraft Pilot: Chris Chamberlain; Mile High Club Chairman: Dave Blumberg; Scout Pilot: Paul Reed; Ordnance Preparation: Mark Forrer; Arial Recon: Matt Alderman; Test Pilot: Jim Bosler; Tarmac Crew: Scott Luse; Engine Mechanic: Mark Heinen; Chief Zeppelin Engineer: David Kern; Weapons Specialist: Russ Phillips; SonoBuoy Deployment Specialist: Mark Selander; Stress Tester: Stuart Compton; Hardware Configuration: Paul Gradwohl; Nitro Experimenter: Joe Mullenix; Ace Pirate: Steve Kastner; Director of Disinformation: Stan LePard; First Aid Specialist: Jesse Janosov; Hangar Janitor: Brian Soderberg; Stunt Team: Andy Glaister, Jim Reichert, Chris Hadden, Nigel Keam, Randy Shedden, Melody Litovkin; OTHER Pirate Liaison Officer: John Howard; Saint of Circumstance: Tom Sternberg; Art Smuggler: Daniel Dociu; Beverage Specialist: Gary Hinger; Animal Trainer: Graham Kays; Undercover Operations: Eric Nyland; Bombsight Calibrator: David Blevins; Paid Informant (Hollywood): Eric Trautmann; Special Correspondent to the Black Swan: Dana Fos
~ Keith Adams, All Game Guide
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