Editing Red Baron (1990 video game)

{{Distinguish|Red Baron (1980 video game)}}
{{More citations needed|date=September 2009}}
{{Infobox video game
 |title = Red Baron
 |image = Red Baron Coverart.png
 |caption = Cover art
 |developer = [[Dynamix]]
 |publisher = [[Sierra On-Line]]
 |designer = [[Damon Slye]]
 |programmer = Paul Bowman
 |artist = Mark Peasley
 |engine =
 |released = {{vgrelease|NA|December 31, 1990<ref name="RPS-RedBaron">{{cite web |url=https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2013/10/25/the-flare-path-slye-and-the-familiar-stone/ |title=The Flare Path: Slye And The Familiar Stone |last=Stone |first=Tim |work=[[Rock, Paper, Shotgun]] |date=2013-10-25 |accessdate=2018-08-09}}</ref>|EU|December 1990|EU|1992 (Amiga)|NA|1992 (Mac)}}
 |genre = [[Combat flight simulation game|Air combat simulation]]
 |modes = [[Single-player video game|Single-player]], [[Multiplayer video game|multiplayer]]
 |platforms = [[MS-DOS]], [[Amiga]], [[Mac OS]]
}}
'''''Red Baron''''' is a [[Combat flight simulation game|combat flight simulation video game]] for [[MS-DOS]] created by [[Damon Slye]] at [[Dynamix]]. It was published by [[Sierra On-Line]] in 1990. The game was ported for [[Amiga]] and [[Macintosh]] computers in 1992.

The game is set on the [[Western Front (World War I)|Western Front]] of [[World War I]]. The player can engage in single missions or career mode, flying for either the [[Luftstreitkräfte|German Air Service]] or the [[Royal Flying Corps]]. In the course of the game the player might find themselves either flying in the [[Manfred von Richthofen|Red Baron]]'s squadron [[Jagdstaffel 11|Jasta 11]], or encountering him as an enemy above the front.

An [[expansion pack]], ''Red Baron: Mission Builder'', was released in 1992. A port of the game for the [[Nintendo 64]] was announced,<ref>{{cite magazine|title=Ultra 64 'Dream Team' |url=https://archive.org/stream/GamePro_Issue_070_May_1995#page/n139 |magazine=[[GamePro]]|issue=80 |publisher=[[International Data Group|IDG]]|date=May 1995|page=138}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine|title=Red Baron |url=https://retrocdn.net/images/4/45/EGM_US_079.pdf |magazine=[[Electronic Gaming Monthly]] |issue=79 |publisher=Sendai Publishing |date=February 1996 |page=73}}</ref> but was later cancelled.<ref>{{cite magazine |title=Let the Games Begin! |url=https://archive.org/stream/GamePro_Issue_097_Volume_09_Number_10_1996-10_IDG_Publishing_US#page/n37 |magazine=[[GamePro]]|issue=97 |publisher=[[International Data Group|IDG]]|date=October 1996 |page=37|quote=Note that Sierra On-Line's Red Baron is no longer coming to the N64.}}</ref>

==Gameplay==
[[Image:In Red Baron.JPG|thumb|Gameplay screenshot]]
Many of the famous [[German Empire|German]], [[British Empire|British]], and [[French Third Republic|French]] combat aircraft of [[World War I]] are available to fly including the [[Fokker E.I|Fokker E.I Eindecker]], the [[Fokker Dr.I|Fokker Dr.I Triplane]], the [[Sopwith Camel]], and the [[SPAD S.XIII|SPAD XIII]]. The game features somewhat unrealistic physics as it was mainly intended as an entertainment game instead of a true flight simulator, although the unique flying characteristics of some of the aircraft were implemented such as the gyroscopic effect created by the Sopwith Camel's rotary engine and the [[Albatros Flugzeugwerke|Albatros]]'s upper wings shearing at high negative [[Load factor (aeronautics)|G loads]]. The player also has to deal with problems the real fighter pilots of World War I faced, such as gun jams, [[Anti-aircraft warfare|flak]], engine damage, and possibly bleeding to death if they were wounded and could not land at an aerodrome in time.

There are several types of missions in the game: [[dogfight]]; scramble; patrol; balloon busting/protection; [[reconnaissance]] escort; and bomber escort/interception; and [[Zeppelin]] hunt. There were also recreations of historical missions. The majority of the missions are carried out with one to three wingmen for the player, although the player may choose to fly missions solo if appointed as the flight leader.

* Dogfight: The player's squadron faces up with an enemy squadron. The player may choose whether to start the mission near the action or at the aerodrome.
* One-on-one dogfight: If the player scores many victories, an enemy ace may present a challenge to a one-on-one dogfight. Some enemy aces may cheat by taking along wingmen.
* Scramble: An enemy squadron approaches the player's aerodrome, and the player's squadron must intercept them.
* Patrol: The player patrols the Front. Anti-aircraft artillery and enemy aircraft are usually encountered although the latter does not always happen.
* Balloon Busting/Protection: In balloon busting missions, the player's squadron is tasked to eliminate enemy observation balloons. While stationary balloons are easy to destroy and equally qualified as victories, the player will also have to cope with enemy fighters and anti-aircraft weapons. In balloon protection missions, the player has to defend friendly balloons from an enemy squadron. Balloon busting missions may be started from the aerodrome or near the enemy balloons.
* Reconnaissance Escort: The player and wingmen escort one or two reconnaissance aircraft over the Front while enemy fighters try to destroy them.
* Bomber Escort/Interception: [[Gotha G.V|Gotha]] and [[Handley Page Type O|Handley-Page]] bombers attack factories or trains. The player either escorts friendly bombers or intercepts and destroys enemy bombers.
* Zeppelin Hunt: Zeppelin dirigibles bomb the English homeland, and it is up to the player to shoot them down. This mission will not happen unless the player is flying on the Allied side.
* Historic Mission: Historic engagements can be relived on either side. Missions include the engagement for which [[Billy Bishop|William Bishop]] received his [[Victoria Cross]] and the final dogfight of the [[Manfred von Richthofen|Red Baron]].

The player can select any mission to fly on either the German or Allied sides. Location, aircraft type, wingmen, and famous aces can also be chosen for the mission.

A career in either the German Air Service or British Royal Flying Corps runs from December 1915 to October 1918, just before the [[Armistice with Germany|Armistice]]. As time progresses, the player is transferred to various historical aerodromes in France and in England. The Front also shifts as it did during the War and battles such as [[Battle of Verdun|Verdun]] are noted. More advanced aircraft are also introduced in the proper time periods. The player's number of aerial kills is kept track of and he is promoted in rank and awarded medals as he progresses, and he can eventually customize the colors of his aircraft. If the player is wounded in combat and is able to land/crash land in friendly territory, they spend several months recuperating from their wounds, but if they end up in enemy territory, they spend several months in a prisoner-of-war camp until they escape back to their side. The timeline continues during the recovery/imprisonment periods, so it is possible that the player will return to duty at a different aerodrome flying newer aircraft.

Depending on how well the player does, they can be assigned to an aerodrome that has a famous ace and can fly missions with them, and depending on the time period and the location of the aerodrome, the player can encounter the famous enemy aces that were in the area during that time period.

A multiplayer version of the game was available on [[The Sierra Network]]. Two to four pilots competed in games lasting for ten minutes or three deaths.{{r|trimble199302}}

==Release==
Sierra acquired Dynamix while ''Red Baron'' was being developed, and it became the first game in Dynamix's "Great Warplanes Series" that Sierra published. The press discussed the competition between ''Red Baron'' and [[MicroProse]]'s ''[[Knights of the Sky]]''.<ref name="basham199405">{{Cite magazine |last=Basham |first=Tom  |date=May 1994 |title=Ace Over The PC 
 |url=http://www.cgwmuseum.org/galleries/index.php?year=1994&pub=2&id=118 |magazine=Computer Gaming World |pages=72–76}}</ref> In 1997, Sierra officially released the 16-color version of ''Red Baron'' as a free download on their website as a promotion.<ref>[http://www.wingsofhonour.com/redbaron/resources/html_woh_redbaron_resources_files_releases.en.html Red Baron (16-colour version) official game files] 10-Feb-1997 (public free release) (Note: ''[[Betrayal at Krondor]]'' 16-color version was also released at the same time)</ref>

Dynamix ran a contest in ''[[Computer Gaming World]]'' consisting of 7 questions about the game. The reader had to answer the questions on a and send the answers to Dynamix. The first five readers to get all answers correct received a replica of the [[Pour le Mérite|Blue Max]] and an autographed copy of the game.<ref>{{cite magazine |title=Red Baron Contest |url=https://archive.org/stream/Computer_Gaming_World_Issue_76#page/n95 |magazine=[[Computer Gaming World]] |publisher=[[Ziff Davis]] |date=November 1990 |issue=76 |pages=96}}</ref>

In October 2013, an unsuccessful [[Kickstarter]] campaign was started to fund a re-release of ''Red Baron''.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/madottergames/red-baron|title = Red Baron}}</ref>

''Red Baron'' is available for purchase on Steam <ref>{{Cite web |title=Red Baron Pack on Steam |url=https://store.steampowered.com/app/263940/Red_Baron_Pack/ |access-date=2024-06-19 |website=store.steampowered.com |language=en}}</ref> and GOG.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Red Baron Pack |url=https://www.gog.com/en/game/red_baron_pack |access-date=2024-10-16 |website=GOG.com |language=en}}</ref>

==Reception==
Slye later said that ''Red Baron''{{'}}s success made Dynamix become known as a developer of flight simulators.{{r|basham199405}} Sierra considered it the first in its ''Aces'' line of simulations. According to the company, combined sales of ''Red Baron'', ''[[Aces of the Pacific]]'', ''[[Aces Over Europe]]'', ''[[Aces of the Deep]]'', and an anthology surpassed one million units by the end of March 1996.<ref name=sierrasales>{{cite report|date=March 31, 1996 |title=Sierra On-Line Form 10-K |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180416004925/https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/724991/0000891020-96-000721.txt |url=https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/724991/0000891020-96-000721.txt |archive-date=April 16, 2018 |location=[[Bellevue, Washington]] |pages=7–9}}</ref>

[[Warren Spector]]—producer of [[Origin Systems]]'s WW1 simulation ''[[Wings of Glory]]''—was a fan, calling it "an astonishing accomplishment".<ref name="cgw199406">{{Cite magazine |date=June 1994 |title=The British Are Buying  |url=http://www.cgwmuseum.org/galleries/index.php?year=1994&pub=2&id=118  |magazine=Computer Gaming World |pages=15}}</ref> ''[[Computer Gaming World]]'' approved of ''Red Baron''{{'}}s accurate history and realistic flight models and combat, and option to record missions, ultimately calling it the best flight simulator.<ref name="trimble199104">{{cite news | url=http://www.cgwmuseum.org/galleries/index.php?year=1991&pub=2&id=81 | title=Blue Skies, White Clouds, Red Baron | magazine=Computer Gaming World | date=April 1991 | accessdate=17 November 2013 | author=Trimble, Timothy | pages=56 |issue=81}}</ref> In a 1991 survey of World War I flight simulations, ''Computer Gaming World'' described ''Red Baron'' as less realistic than ''Knights of the Sky'', but with excellent graphics and gameplay.<ref name="weksler199106">{{cite news | url=http://www.cgwmuseum.org/galleries/index.php?year=1991&pub=2&id=83 | title=Dogfight at the PC Corral / WWI Air Combat Simulations in Review | magazine=Computer Gaming World | date=June 1991 | accessdate=17 November 2013 | author=Weksler, Mike | pages=31}}</ref> Surveys of strategy and war games that year and in 1993, however, gave it five stars out of five and stated that it was "the best World War I air simulator ever done", with historical accuracy and superb game play. The magazine gave the ''Mission Builder'' four stars.<ref name="brooks199112">{{cite news | url=http://www.cgwmuseum.org/galleries/index.php?year=1991&pub=2&id=89 | title=Computer Strategy and Wargames: The 1900-1950 Epoch / Part II (M-Z) of an Annotated Paiktography | magazine=Computer Gaming World | date=December 1991 | accessdate=18 November 2013 | author=Brooks, M. Evan | pages=126}}</ref><ref name="brookssurvey199310">{{cite news | url=http://www.cgwmuseum.org/galleries/index.php?year=1993&pub=2&id=111 | title=Brooks' Book Of Wargames: 1900-1950, R-Z | magazine=Computer Gaming World | date=October 1993 | accessdate=26 March 2016 | author=Brooks, M. Evan | pages=144–148}}</ref> A 1993 review of the Sierra Network multiplayer version called it "a real pleasure ... One of the best on-line gaming values yet".<ref name="trimble199302">{{cite news | url=http://www.cgwmuseum.org/galleries/index.php?year=1993&pub=2&id=103 | title=Red Baron on TSN | magazine=Computer Gaming World | date=February 1993 | accessdate=6 July 2014 | author=Trimble, Timothy L. | pages=136}}</ref> The game got 5 out of 5 stars in ''[[Dragon (magazine)|Dragon]]''.<ref name="Dragon188">{{cite journal|title=The Role of Computers|last1=Lesser|last2=Lesser|last3=Lesser|first1=Hartley|first2=Patricia|first3=Kirk|name-list-style=amp|journal=Dragon|issue=188|date=December 1992|pages=57–64}}</ref> The game sold more than 500,000 units worldwide.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sierra.com/corp/pr/press/3c1a4/1%2C1891%2C3c1a4%2C00.html?brandid=6&prid=60&productid=288+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20010110043600/http://www.sierra.com:80/corp/pr/press/3c1a4/1,1891,3c1a4,00.html?brandid=6&prid=60&productid=288+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++|title=Red Baron II - FAQ|website=sierra.com|archivedate=January 10, 2001|accessdate=April 30, 2022}}</ref>

''Red Baron'' won ''Computer Gaming World'''s 1991 Simulation of the Year award,<ref>{{cite magazine|author=Staff|title=Computer Gaming World's 1991 Games of the Year Awards|magazine=Computer Gaming World|issue=88|publisher=Golden Empire Publications, Inc|date=November 1991|pages=38&ndash;40, 58 }}</ref> and in 1993 the magazine named the game to its Hall of Fame, stating that it stood as the high watermark of realistic air combat for many gamers.<ref name="cgw199305">{{cite news | url=http://www.cgwmuseum.org/galleries/index.php?year=1993&pub=2&id=106 | title=Computer Gaming World Hall of Fame | magazine=Computer Gaming World | date=May 1993 | accessdate=7 July 2014 | pages=141}}</ref> That year the magazine told a reader asking for "the most enjoyable flight simulation game" that "most of us still opt for ''Red Baron''".<ref name="cgw199309">{{cite news | url=http://www.cgwmuseum.org/galleries/index.php?year=1993&pub=2&id=110 | title=Letters from Paradise | magazine=Computer Gaming World | date=September 1993 | accessdate=30 July 2014 | pages=72}}</ref> In 1996, the magazine named ''Red Baron'' as #4 on its list of the best PC games of all time, positively comparing it to [[Spectrum HoloByte]]'s ''[[Falcon 3.0]]''.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20080308050727/http://blogs.ign.com/teh_red_baron/2008/03/04/82672/ The Red Baron's Plane of Existence]</ref>

In 1994, ''[[PC Gamer US]]'' named ''Red Baron'' as the 17th best computer game ever.<ref name=pcgamerustop40>{{cite journal | author=Staff | journal=[[PC Gamer US]] | title=''PC Gamer'' Top 40: The Best Games of All Time |date=August 1994 | issue=3 | pages=32–42}}</ref> In 1991, ''[[PC Format]]'' placed ''Red Baron'' on its list of the 50 best computer games of all time.<ref name=pcformat50>{{cite journal | author=Staff | journal=[[PC Format]] | title=The 50 best games EVER! |date=October 1991 | issue=1 | pages=109–111}}</ref>

In 1998, ''[[PC Gamer]]'' declared it the 20th-best computer game ever released.<ref name=pcgtop50>{{cite journal | author=The ''PC Gamer'' Editors | title=The 50 Best Games Ever | date=October 1998 | volume=5 | number=10 | journal=[[PC Gamer US]] | pages=86, 87, 89, 90, 92, 98, 101, 102, 109, 110, 113, 114, 117, 118, 125, 126, 129, 130}}</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* {{moby game|id=/red-baron|name=''Red Baron''}}
* {{moby game|id=/red-baron-mission-builder|name=''Red Baron: Mission Builder''}}

{{Dynamix}}
{{Sierra Simulator Games}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Red Baron (Video Game)}}
[[Category:1990 video games]]
[[Category:Amiga games]]
[[Category:Cancelled Nintendo 64 games]]
[[Category:Combat flight simulators]]
[[Category:World War I flight simulation video games]]
[[Category:DOS games]]
[[Category:Games commercially released with DOSBox]]
[[Category:Classic Mac OS games]]
[[Category:Multiplayer and single-player video games]]
[[Category:Multiplayer null modem games]]
[[Category:PlayStation Network games]]
[[Category:Sierra Entertainment games]]
[[Category:World War I video games]]
[[Category:Dynamix games]]
[[Category:Video games developed in the United States]]