Jane's ATF: Advanced Tactical Fighters

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Jane's ATF: Advanced Tactical Fighters
Jane's ATF cover.png
Developer(s)Electronic Arts
Publisher(s)Electronic Arts
SeriesJane's Combat Simulations
Platform(s)DOS, Windows
Release1996 (DOS)
April 2, 1997 (Windows)[1]
Genre(s)Combat flight simulator
Mode(s)Single-player, Multiplayer

Jane's ATF: Advanced Tactical Fighters is a 1996 combat flight simulator developed and published by Electronic Arts for DOS. It is part of the Jane's Combat Simulations franchise. An expansion pack, NATO Fighters, was released in 1996. A compilation package, Advanced Tactical Fighters Gold, was released in 1997 for Microsoft Windows.

Reception[]

In Computer Gaming World, Denny Atkin wrote: "Stripped of multiplayer mode, ATF is little more than another USNF data disk with a nice multimedia aircraft encyclopedia. But once you take on a human player, the game takes on new life, and becomes one of the most purely fun flight simulator experiences in existence today".[3] Steve Wartofsky called ATF an "evolutionary rather than revolutionary step" for Jane's Combat Simulations, but argued that it "sets the standard for offering players a truly complete piece of work". While he found its graphics to be a "mixed bag", he enjoyed the game overall, and highlighted its encyclopedia as its best feature.[6]

Writing for PC Gamer US, Dan Bennett called ATF "a solid, good-looking sim with a lot of variety and some really nice trimmings". Although he found the game to be overly difficult, he summarized it as a product that "belongs in every air combat fan's collection".[2]

Next Generation reviewed the PC version of the game, and stated that "this is an excellent combination for flight sim fans everywhere".[4]

In 1996, the editors of Computer Gaming World nominated ATF for their "Simulation of the Year" award, which ultimately went to EF2000. They wrote that ATF "makes up for its aging engine by providing the best multiplayer environment of any modern sim".[7] It was also a nominee for the Computer Game Developers Conference's 1996 "Best Simulation Game" Spotlight Award,[8] but lost the prize to MechWarrior 2: Mercenaries.[9]

References[]

  1. ^ "Electronic Arts Ships Advanced Tactical Fighters Gold and Longbow Gold for Windows 95; Latest Offerings From Jane's Combat Simulations Brand Add Technology Upgrades, Internet Play and New Missions". Business Wire. April 2, 1997. Archived from the original on December 6, 2015. Retrieved August 11, 2021 – via The Free Dictionary.
  2. ^ a b Bennett, Dan (June 1996). "Advanced Tactical Fighters". PC Gamer US. Archived from the original on January 17, 2000.
  3. ^ a b Atkin, Denny (June 1996). "Plane Jane's". Computer Gaming World (143): 150, 152.
  4. ^ a b "Finals". Next Generation. No. 19. Imagine Media. July 1996. p. 83.
  5. ^ Lukban, Anthony (May 1996). "Advanced Tactical Fighter". PC Games. Archived from the original on October 18, 1996. Retrieved January 31, 2020.
  6. ^ Wartofsky, Steve. "Jane's Advanced Tactical Fighter". Computer Games Strategy Plus. Archived from the original on May 23, 2003.
  7. ^ Staff (June 1996). "The Computer Gaming World 1996 Premier Awards". Computer Gaming World (143): 55, 56, 58, 60, 62, 64, 66, 67.
  8. ^ Staff (April 15, 1997). "And the Nominees Are..." Next Generation. Archived from the original on June 5, 1997. Retrieved January 31, 2020.
  9. ^ "Spotlight Awards Winners Announced for Best Computer Games of 1996" (Press release). Santa Clara, California: Game Developers Conference. April 28, 1997. Archived from the original on July 3, 2011.
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