Experience Virtual Reality in MVP'S Corncob 3D Other Worlds Campaign Air
Combat Game

MVP Software's new air combat game Corncob 3D Other Worlds Campaign is
winning praise from users and reviewers alike for its unique virtual
reality approach to computer gaming. One user commented that other air
combat games "didn't seem to capture the feeling of actually flying
through flak," but that Corncob has some "of the neatest features of a
flight sim that I have seen in a long time." And reviewer Fred Blechman, a
veteran Navy pilot, called the game "impressive," singling out the virtual
reality features for particular mention.

In Corncob 3D Other Worlds Campaign the pilot flies a super-charged F4U
Corsair aircraft against invading aliens. Because his enemies have
superior technology at their disposal, he must exercise a great deal of
skill and ingenuity to accomplish his missions. To achieve the highest
distinction in the game, the pilot must complete all objectives in 130
missions. Instead of merely flying his plane on bombing runs and the like
to take out enemy targets, in some missions he must land behind enemy
lines, complete a mission on foot, get back in the plane, and fly back to
home base. This part of the game is very exciting to a player, because
when he is on the ground he can turn left or right, move forward or
backward, and look up or down, all from a first-person perspective. In
addition, in some scenarios the player has the option of running to
another plane and flying that one instead of the plane with which he began
the mission. And if he really gets into trouble while mixing it up with
alien craft, he always has the option of bailing out of a damaged plane,
pulling the ripcord, and floating serenely to earth. When he lands he can
walk over to his crashed and burning aircraft.

Kevin Stokes, creator and lead programmer for Corncob 3D Other Worlds
Campaign, used an advanced flight model in designing the game. A physics
Ph.D. candidate at Duke University, Kevin said that he was "never happy
with the lack of subtlety in the flight models" used by other flight
simulators. "So in my game, I used my physics background to produce a
flight model based on wind hitting the surfaces- of the airplane. By
operating the control surfaces the pilot merely changes the force vectors
caused by air rushing over the plane's surfaces. This means that
sideslips, high speed stalls, and loss of control and lift at thin air
densities are much more realistic than in other flight models."

However, in Corncob, realism never gets in the way of fun. Kevin said, "I
don't think it's fun to run out of ammo and have your whole mission
wasted. But I realize that not having any limitations would detract from
the pursuit of aiming and timing skills. So in Corncob the guns spatter a
good burst, and then the firing rate drops off with time, requiring a rest
period to recharge. The game also includes a continuous rear view. I found
that dodging enemy smart missiles is much more fun when you can see them
crawling up your tail. This rear view also makes dive bombing much more
fun, as you can see the bomb hit the target in the rear view as your plane
is pulling away."

Some users have asked about the origin of the name Corncob. Reviewer Fred
Blechman explains that it refers to "the 2000 horsepower radial Pratt &
Whitney R-2800 engine the Corsair had in its long nose. With the cowling
removed, the staggered eighteen cylinder heads (two banks of nine each)
looked like a corncob. Some called the F4U the 'Corncob'."

Corncob 3D Other Worlds Campaign requires a 286 or better IBM or compatible
computer with 570K free RAM and VGA graphics. Adlib, Sound Blaster and
compatible sound cards are supported, as are most joysticks. It is
available for $23 (includes shipping) directly from MVP Software, 1035
Dallas SE, Grand Rapids, MI 49507-1407. Users may place credit card orders
24 hours a day by calling 800-968-9684 from the US or Canada. Overseas
orders and technical support, call (616) 245-8376. A smaller 20-mission
version of the game, called Corncob 3D Deluxe, is available for $5.99
($6.99 in Canada) throughout North America in the Personal Companion line
of software, sold at Kmart and other mass-market locations. A shareware
version of the game is also available from major online services such as
Compuserve and America OnLine, most BBSs, and shareware disk vendors. The
shareware version is called Corncob 3D; the online file is CC3D34.ZIP. The
shareware version received an Editor's Choice award from Shareware
Magazine.

MVP Software, 1035 Dallas SE, Grand Rapids, MI 49507

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