WarBirds

WarBirds
Cover art of the first game
Genre(s)Combat flight simulation
Developer(s)Interactive Creations of Grapevine
Publisher(s)iEntertainment Network
First releaseWarBirds
December 1995
Latest releaseWarBirds: Dogfights 2016
2016

WarBirds is a series of massively multiplayer online and offline World War II combat flight simulation video games originally developed by Interactive Creations of Grapevine and published by iEntertainment Network in 1995.[1][2] The game includes an air combat flight simulator as well as a simulator for tanks and other ground vehicles and inspired a fan cult and conventions, and a book titled WarBirds: The Story So Far.[3]

Following 1999's WarBirds II, WarBirds III was released for Mac and PC in 2002.[1][4][5] WarBirds III was a runner-up for GameSpot's annual "Best Simulation on PC" award, which went to Flanker 2.5.[6] WarBirds: The Mighty Eight was released in 2007. A more recent version, WarBirds 2008, includes tanks, trucks, halftracks, new aircraft, and new graphics.[7] WarBirds: Dogfights was released in 2010.[8]

In 1999, some of the original development team, including John "Killer" MacQueen, Rodney "Hatch" Hodge, and Chris "Mo" Sherland, went on to form Cornered Rat Software where they developed WWII Online. Others followed Dale "HiTech" Addink to form HiTech Creations and develop Aces High.

  1. ^ a b "WarBirds III (PC)". CNet Reviews. 17 May 2002. Retrieved 2009-11-14.
  2. ^ David "Cap'n Trips" Finkelstein (September 8, 1997). "Warbirds 2.0 (COMBATSIM.COM's review)". COMBATSIM.COM. Archived from the original on February 13, 2011.
  3. ^ Slayton, Joyce (25 August 1999). "WarBirds: The Book". Wired. Retrieved 2009-11-14.
  4. ^ Horowitz, Josh (18 June 2002). "Warbirds III PC review". Adrenaline Vault. Retrieved 2009-11-14.
  5. ^ "Fly WWII Bombers At Home". Game Pro. 24 November 2000. Archived from the original on 2011-06-07. Retrieved 2009-11-14.
  6. ^ GameSpot Staff (December 30, 2002). "GameSpot's Best and Worst of 2002". GameSpot. Archived from the original on February 7, 2003.
  7. ^ "Mac Gaming News - WarBirds: The Mighty Eighth Coming in 2007; Tiger Woods 2005 Hits Beta". Mac Observer. 1 June 2005. Retrieved 2009-11-14.
  8. ^ "WarBirds' Dogfights - Gaming laptop to be won by defeating "Wild Bill" Stealey in online combat". Gameindustry.biz. Gamer Network. 10 March 2010. Retrieved 22 January 2023.