Backyard Brat Free iOS is now available in the App Store. It gives you unlimited access to the first 10 levels of the game, with no annoying ads. The full version is here and only costs a buck.
For those of you who like annoying ads, try the Flash version of Backyard Brat. It offers all 25 levels, but is ad supported. Enjoy!
Radar Chaos: World Edition will be available in March! Details…
Now that Backyard Brat is finished, it’s full steam ahead for our next air traffic control game, Radar Chaos: World Edition. This one is guaranteed to raise your anxiety level. Based on real-world airports this time, RC3 will offer five difference airspaces, like Los Angeles shown below. The simulation will be based on the game engine from the very first Radar Chaos, but with improved graphics. The airspaces will contain real-world airport details, tailored to promote the likelihood of midair conflict. “Challenge” is our goal in this version.
The unofficial list of airport sectors included in Radar Chaos: World Edition are:
A Word On Realism
Those of you who have played the first and second versions of Radar Chaos may have noticed a large difference in the level of realism between the two. The first edition was entirely fictitious. The airports came straight out of our imagination, custom-designed to be challenging and fun. The second edition was based on the Hawaiian Islands and was highly realistic, right down to the aircraft types for each airline. Radar Chaos: Hawaii Edition had real-world SIDs and STARs, too.
Unfortunately, adding realism does not necessarily add ”fun” to such games. In fact, the first version is still our favorite of the two. We’ve received a few emails already, asking why the third edition of Radar Chaos is taking a step backwards in terms of realism. We’re receiving the usual feedback, like “How come you aren’t using real-world STARs? Los Angeles arrivals should cross MERMA at 14,000 feet on the LEENA STAR, Fillmore Transition”.
I don’t know how to say this, but “real-world ATC” isn’t always fun. If you are looking for a fun air traffic control game that’s highly realistic, you may not find one. I love the idea of basing my games on real-world locations. However, the routes and procedures will be at our discretion, with words like “fun” and “challenging” in mind.
The maps will be fairly realistic, but not spot on. Take LAX, for example. The range is inaccurate. Burbank airport and Los Angeles International are actually much farther apart. But how much fun would that be? So we’ve lied here and there, in an effort to make midair conflicts happen more often. I think you’ll like it. It’ll be a fun game, I promise.
We really do value your feedback and ideas! As always, we can be reached at support@bigfatsimulations.com. We never sleep, so feel free to send us your thoughts, 24/7.
I’m always amazed at how long it takes to build a simple game. Back in July I had this idea for a helicopter game that involved dropping objects on others, and creating havoc. Seemed simple enough. How long could that possibly take to whip together? A month? Seven months later, I proudly offer you Backyard Brat for iOS. Well, proud may be too strong a word. Let me rephrase that and say that I gladly bring you Backard Brat for iOS.
There’s so much competition out there, these days. They say (and it MUST be true if THEY said it) that it costs a million dollars to build a decent app nowadays. 500k for development, plus another 500k to promote the finished product. I am thankful of the fact that the expenses came in well below that.
There is so much that you get from even the free apps out there right now. My daughter is obsessed with a game called Clumsy Ninja right now. Awesome graphics, fun gameplay, not too pushy for your money. I must remind myself that I’m not a team of 20 with a million dollar budget. I’m the guy you see at Starbucks, sitting in the corner with his Macbook Pro.
As I’ve said before, I love building air traffic control games. Air traffic control is my day job. I have no plans to ever stop building Airport Madness or Radar Chaos. But I have to try new things at least occasionally. Like I did with Office Jerk 3 years ago. This new game is similar to Office Jerk in how it allows us to be the troublemaker, in the consequence-free environment of our mobile device. I’ve mentioned that this game is an experiment, and if it’s a hit, there will be more such games. If not, I maintain focus on the air traffic control stuff.
I hope you will give this game a try. Tell your friends. Let me know if you have suggestions or ideas for it. Be on the lookout for a Flash-based version of the game very soon.
