Pfalz E.III
A downloadable game for Windows
This has been created for the Dos Games Jam.
I apologize for the lackluster state of this title; having only found out about this jam at the last minute, I only had three days to work on this project.
Premise:
"Pfalz E.III" is an historical early-90's/late 80's style PC-based "flight simulator" which incorporates rather crude flight-modeling that effectively sacrifices realism for the overall "fun factor".
Limited options for available mission types include "Free Flight", where one is free to experiment with the control scheme and flight mechanics without the burden of enemy interference, and "Dogfight", where the player engages in aerial combat against 1 to 3 adversaries.
As you'll notice, this game incorporates a highly primitive aesthetic, designed to emulate the limitations and style of early-90's DOS-based games.
Among the inspirations for this title include such PC classics as Dynamix "Red Baron", 360 Software's "Blue Max", Microprose's "Knights of the Sky", and EA's "Chuck Yeager's Air Combat".
FLIGHT CONTROLS:
| ARROW KEYS | pitch/roll |
| "Z" and "C" | yaw |
| SPACE BAR | fire machine guns |
| ESCAPE | exit to main menu |
Historical Background:
During the early stage of the "Fokker Scourge" in 1915/early 1916, the Germans continued to exploit their temporary monopoly on synchronized forward-mounted machine guns, by fielding limited quantities of low-performance fighters, equipped with the innovative "interrupter gear."
Produced in smaller numbers than the infamous Fokker Eindecker, the Pfalz E.III was merely a Spandau-equipped single-seater version of the company's A.II reconnaissance aircraft, the latter itself being nothing more than a license-built variant of the French Morane-Saulnier Type L.
Like many early monoplanes of the period, the Pfalz E.III incorporated a "wing warping" arrangement as opposed to the more modern and conventional use of ailerons.
Deployed in insignificant numbers to German fighter squadrons in both 1915 and 1916, the aircraft only enjoyed limited successes and within a short time, had quickly become outclassed by more advanced fighters on both sides of the front.
By mid-1916, the singularly few Pfalz E.III's remaining in combat units were hurriedly withdrawn from service.
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Comments
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A bit too retro for my tastes, but I'm glad to see there's people making flying games in this style. If you've ever played Hunt for the Red Baron (later renamed to Master of the Skies: The Red Ace), that's the type of game I would wish more of.
This time the game rendered the plane and ground details, so far so good, however, enemy planes did not, just propellers, killed two in dogfight mode, kind of a flex with invisible planes. The errors are not too bad, it does add an aged, incompatible, glitchy feel to a game thats supposed to be retro, does feel like a piece of vaporware. Like an old, incomplete demo of an unfinished game.
OK, that's weird. The Nieuports were already utilizing textures, so that shouldn't have been a problem.
Perhaps the issue is with the shaders.
I've just uploaded another update labeled: pfalz 1_12.zip which replaces the standard Vertex shader with the Mobile equivalent.
The original VertexLit was exclusive to Unity version 4 so it's possible it's no longer compatible with later system types or operating systems.
You can try this update. Hopefully it will work, but again, I'm not sure.
Bet, hold on
This one displayed everything, that's definitely fixed, planes displayed as expected and the environment rendered a bit better
OK, good.
Tried the game but the plane didn't render in, nor did the environment or enemy planes, is it one of the bugs you were listing?
Hmmm.... That's strange.
As a diagnostic, I just recently downloaded and ran the program, and it appears to be working fine from my end . I had also received some feedback from users in the past of the same variant who apparently were able to play the game without any issues.
I would note that the model in question applies fixed material settings as specified in Blender, rather than conventional textures. So, it's possible that this configuration may pose compatibility problems with certain system types which I am not aware of.
I don't know. I'll have to look into this. Sorry for the inconvenience.
No issue, I'll keep watching the page for more updates
I've just implemented a little update which applies conventional textures rather than Blender-based materials to the plane in question.
The alternate download is labeled : pfalz 1_1.zip
This may rectify the compatibility issue that your computer is having, but I'm not certain.
Noiiiice, quick responses and updates, that's the kinda devs modern games need, is it for download?
Thanks:)
Yes, the update is available, it's the secondary download labeled pfalz 1_1.zip.
Like I said, I hope this works, but I'm not entirely sure.
Also, are you implying it's models without textures?
The model of the player's aircraft was originally rendered in Material settings in blender, which applies solid colors rather than texture maps.
I really need to make some time for all of your flying games. I like your aesthetic choice here.
Wow! Thanks:)
I loved this game, it would be nice to have an endless mode and the option to release smoke in singleplayer to draw in the sky. Also the enemy planes suicide if you fight to near to the ground.
Thanks:) Yeah, unfortunately, I had only joined the game jam at the last minute, and thus only had about three days to work on the project. I'm slowly but surely working on a more complete version of the game, which not only implements additional aircraft types, improved AI, and clouds, but also a first-person cockpit perspective, and a campaign system, complete with mission objectives, waypoints, and a large map in which to play the game.
This was really cool. Are there any plans to continue development of this? I think other people would be into a spiritual sequel to Red Baron as well
Hey thanks:)
While I was kind of fooling around with the idea about continued development, I initially wasn't sure. But yes, I suppose I could pursue furthering this project, probably to the extent of implementing full on "campain/tour of duty" segment with mission objectives and navigation waypoints. Additionally, I'll probably wind up implementing a first-person "cockpit" perspective, with four-selectable viewpoints.
Thanks for the suggestion:)
Cheers!
So far? Fantastic work. Ace job. Loving this game.
Thanks, dude:)
Null prob.