Airport Tycoon
{{Short description|2000 video game}}
{{distinguish|Airline Tycoon}}
{{refimprove|date=August 2016}}
{{Infobox video game
|title = Airport Tycoon
|image = Airport Tycoon Coverart.jpg
|caption = Cover art
|engine = RenderWare
|developer = Krisalis Software
|publisher = TalonSoft
Global Star Software
|designer =
|released = {{vgrelease|NA|April 25, 2000}}
|genre = Business simulation game
|modes = Single-player
|platforms = Windows
}}
Airport Tycoon is a business simulation game released for Windows 95/98 in 2000. It was developed in the United Kingdom by Krisalis Software (now defunct). In Airport Tycoon, the player must successfully build and manage an airport without going bankrupt. There have been two sequels created for Airport Tycoon: Airport Tycoon 2 and Airport Tycoon 3. There was to be a Nintendo 64 version released as well, but this version was cancelled for unknown reasons.{{cite web|url=https://www.unseen64.net/2008/04/03/airport-inc-64-cancelled/|title=Airport Inc. 64 [N64 - Cancelled] - Unseen64|date=3 April 2008|access-date=6 May 2018|archive-date=6 May 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180506174004/https://www.unseen64.net/2008/04/03/airport-inc-64-cancelled/|url-status=live}}
History
Airport Tycoon was originally called Airport Inc. and Air Mogul. A week before the game's publishing, Krisalis Software changed its name to Airport Tycoon in some markets, a more catchy title, but the game calls itself Air Mogul because of the inadequate time to change the software, and is sold in PAL as Airport Inc. Krisalis became defunct shortly after publishing Airport Tycoon.
Gameplay
Similar to other games of this type, players take on the role of an airport manager. They first select a location for their airport from several cities around the world. Players then construct a terminal for their passengers, followed by runways, tarmac, control towers and support services.
The player then attracts business to their airport by signing contracts with vendors in the terminal and contracting flights into and out of the airport. Players also manage the airport's budget, which cannot operate at too much of a loss. Players can operate passenger airports and cargo airports with different considerations for each.
A number of preset scenarios are also available to the player, including the conversion of a major cargo airport to a passenger airport in Beijing.
Development
Telstar secured worldwide publishing rights to the game in May 1998.{{cite web|url=http://www.krisalis.co.uk/press001.html|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/19981206203533/http://www.krisalis.co.uk/press001.html|title=Telstar Electronic Studios secures European publishing rights to Krisalis Software's "AIRPORT INC"|website=krisalis.co.uk|archivedate=December 6, 1998|date=May 7, 1998|accessdate=April 24, 2022}}
Reception
The game was poorly received by critics.{{cn|date=October 2017}} Frequent criticisms included difficulty of gameplay, substandard graphics and confusing controls.{{cn|date=October 2017}} It received a 62/100 score from PC Gamer,{{cn|date=October 2017}} and 3/10 from IGN,{{cite web |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2000/06/03/airport-tycoon |title=Airport Tycoon |publisher=IGN |date=June 3, 2000 |accessdate=March 17, 2022 |archive-date=March 10, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230310100209/https://www.ign.com/articles/2000/06/03/airport-tycoon |url-status=live }} among other rankings.{{cn|date=October 2017}}
Sequels
Airport Tycoon was followed by a sequel, Airport Tycoon 2, in early 2003. It was developed by Sunstorm Interactive and published by Global Star Software on February 26, 2003 for Windows PC. Airport Tycoon 2 received negative reviews from critics. Aggregating review website GameRankings provides an average score of 31% based on 9 reviews,{{cite web |url=http://www.gamerankings.com/pc/563583-airport-tycoon-2/index.html |title=Airport Tycoon 2 (PC) |publisher=GameRankings |date=February 26, 2003 |accessdate=December 30, 2014 |archive-date=December 30, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141230213439/http://www.gamerankings.com/pc/563583-airport-tycoon-2/index.html |url-status=live }} whereas Metacritic provides a score of 32 out of 100 based on 6 reviews, indicating "generally unfavorable reviews".{{cite web|url=https://www.metacritic.com/game/airport-tycoon-2/critic-reviews/?platform=pc |title=Airport Tycoon 2 (PC) |publisher=Metacritic |date= February 26, 2003|accessdate=December 30, 2014}}
A third game in the series, Airport Tycoon 3, was developed by InterActive Vision and published by Global Star on October 30, 2003. Based on four professional reviews, Metacritic finds that Airport Tycoon 3 has received "generally unfavorable" reviews and establishes a metascore of 46/100.{{cite web|url=http://www.metacritic.com/games/platforms/pc/airporttycoon3|title=Airport Tycoon 3 (pc: 2003): Reviews|publisher=Metacritic|accessdate=2012-06-09| archiveurl= https://web.archive.org/web/20090506085124/http://www.metacritic.com/games/platforms/pc/airporttycoon3| archivedate= 6 May 2009 | url-status= live}} Airport Tycoon received negative reviews by IGN and GameSpot calling the game "irritating and monotonous", and the general review of the game on both the sites stated that the game was "lackluster" and "bland" not only in gameplay but in sound and texture, and its mechanics were "tedious". GameSpot said that the game was disappointing in several aspects.{{cite web|title=Airport Tycoon Review|url=http://www.ign.com/articles/2004/02/06/airport-tycoon-3-review|website=IGN|date=6 February 2004|accessdate=3 October 2015|archive-date=9 October 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151009092104/http://www.ign.com/articles/2004/02/06/airport-tycoon-3-review|url-status=live}}{{cite web|title=Airport Tycoon 3 Review|url=http://www.gamespot.com/reviews/airport-tycoon-3-review/1900-6086428/|website=GameSpot|accessdate=3 October 2015|archive-date=9 April 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160409003107/http://www.gamespot.com/reviews/airport-tycoon-3-review/1900-6086428/|url-status=live}}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- [http://www.gamefaqs.com/computer/doswin/game/370759.html Game FAQ/Guide]
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20060604055006/http://www.gamerankings.com/itemrankings/launchfansite.asp?siteid=18963 GameRankings]
- {{moby game|id=/airport-tycoon|name=Airport Tycoon}}
Category:Cancelled Nintendo 64 games
Category:Global Star Software games
Category:Krisalis Software games
Category:Single-player video games
Category:Take-Two Interactive franchises
Category:Transport business simulation games