War Birds for the Masses

Interactive Magic will release a more user-friendly version of War Birds through its new online service this fall. Fighter Ops features an easier flight model, so players can jump straight into the game without having to worry about spins, stalls, red outs, and black outs, says Robert Gunjam Salinas, the vice president of iMagic Online. Fighter Ops is more of a World War II game than a flight simulator.

Players will have at least eight planes to choose from, and the power of each plane will be boosted to allow for fancier flying techniques. IMagic is considering making the bullets larger for more hits, and planes will still take visible damage. The interface has been overhauled to be completely point-and-click, but the original key commands are also there for those who want them.

iMagic will release Fighter Ops online in September as a Tier 3 MEGAplayer game on iMagic Online, allowing up to 200 players at a time. A boxed retail version with single-player missions will follow at a later date.