Pilotwings
Developer(s)	Nintendo EAD
Publisher(s)	Nintendo
Designer(s)	Shigeru Miyamoto (producer) Tadashi Sugiyama (director)
Release date(s)	JPN December 21, 1990 NA August 13, 1991 EU March 21, 1993
Genre(s)	Flight simulator
Mode(s)	Single player
Rating(s)	ESRB: Everyone
Platform(s)	Super NES
Media	4-megabit cartridge

Pilotwings is a Nintendo video game for the Super NES/Super Famicom, originally released in 1990, and included with the system in some early packages. A flight simulator game, Pilotwings features lessons and goals in light plane flight, rocketbelt, hang glider, and skydiving. Added to these are bonus stages which, like many secrets in 1990s vintage Nintendo titles, change your character's iconic representation to a cute cartoonish animal--in this case a penguin, albatross, and stork. Levels involving helicopter gunships also exist. This is the cover art for a video or computer game. ... A video game developer is a software developer (a business or an individual) that creates video games. ... Nintendo Entertainment Analysis and Development (or EAD; formerly Research & Development Team 4) is the largest division inside Nintendo of Japan, under the management of Shigeru Miyamoto. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... Nintendo Company, Limited (任天堂 or ニンテンドー Nintendō; NASDAQ: NTDOY, TYO: 7974 usually referred to as simply Nintendo, or Big N ) is a multinational corporation founded on September 23, 1889[1] in Kyoto, Japan by Fusajiro Yamauchi to produce handmade hanafuda cards. ... A game designer is a person who designs games. ... Shigeru Miyamoto , born November 16, 1952) is a Japanese video game designer. ... This article is about the country in East Asia. ... December 21 is the 355th day of the year (356th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1990 (MCMXC) was a common year starting on Monday (link displays the 1990 Gregorian calendar). ... North America North America is a continent[1] in the Earths northern hemisphere and (chiefly) western hemisphere. ... is the 225th day of the year (226th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1991 (MCMXCI) was a common year starting on Tuesday (link will display the 1991 Gregorian calendar). ... March 21 is the 80th day of the year (81st in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1993 (MCMXCIII) was a common year starting on Friday (link will display full 1993 Gregorian calendar). ... Video games are categorized into genres based on their gameplay. ... Interior cockpit of a modern flight simulator A flight simulator is a system that tries to replicate, or simulate, the experience of flying an aircraft as closely and realistically as possible. ... In computer games and video games, single-player refers to the variant of a particular game where input from only one player is expected throughout the course of the gaming session. ... The Entertainment Software Rating Board (ESRB) is a self-regulatory organization that applies and enforces ratings, advertising guidelines, and online privacy principles for computer and video games and other entertainment software in the United States and Canada (officially adopted by individual provinces 2004-2005). ... The Super Nintendo Entertainment System or Super NES (also called SNES and Super Nintendo) is a 16-bit video game console released by Nintendo in North America, Brazil, Europe, and Australasia between 1990 and 1992. ... The Megabit is a unit of information storage, abbreviated Mbit or sometimes Mb. ... In various types of electronic equipment, a cartridge can refer one method of adding different functionality or content (e. ... Nintendo Company, Limited (任天堂 or ニンテンドー Nintendō; NASDAQ: NTDOY, TYO: 7974 usually referred to as simply Nintendo, or Big N ) is a multinational corporation founded on September 23, 1889[1] in Kyoto, Japan by Fusajiro Yamauchi to produce handmade hanafuda cards. ... Namcos Pac-Man was a hit, and became a universal phenomenon. ... The Super Nintendo Entertainment System or Super NES (also called SNES and Super Nintendo) is a 16-bit video game console released by Nintendo in North America, Brazil, Europe, and Australasia between 1990 and 1992. ... 1990 1990 in games 1989 in video gaming 1991 in video gaming Notable events of 1990 in video gaming. ... Interior cockpit of a modern flight simulator A flight simulator is a system that tries to replicate, or simulate, the experience of flying an aircraft as closely and realistically as possible. ... Bonus stage from Super Mario Brothers 2 (in Super Mario All-Stars). ... For the band, see 1990s (band). ... Modern genera Aptenodytes Eudyptes Eudyptula Megadyptes Pygoscelis Spheniscus For prehistoric genera, see Systematics Some penguins are curious. ... Genera Diomedea Thalassarche Phoebastria Phoebetria Albatrosses, of the biological family Diomedeidae, are large seabirds allied to the procellariids, storm-petrels and diving-petrels in the order Procellariiformes (the tubenoses). ... Genera See text. ... A helicopter gunship is a military helicopter armed for attacking targets on the ground, using automatic rifle fire, rockets, and precision guided missiles such as the Hellfire. ...

The game, along with F-Zero, is well-known for extensive use of the Super Nintendo's Mode 7 graphics, which allows rotation, scaling, and various other effects to be used on a flat image to create a 3D effect. Because the game does not use "true" 3D technology (as opposed to the Super Nintendo game Star Fox), in Pilotwings, the buildings, runway, trees, and so on are all "painted" flat on the ground plane; they appear to stick out of the ground when the player's viewpoint is far above. F-Zero , F-ZERO) is a futuristic racing video game developed and published by Nintendo for the Super Nintendo Entertainment System. ... The term Mode 7 originated on the Super NES video game console, on which it describes a simple texture mapping graphics mode that allows a background layer to be rotated and scaled. ... 3D computer graphics are different from 2D computer graphics in that a three-dimensional representation of geometric data is stored in the computer for the purposes of performing calculations and rendering 2D images. ... Star Fox ) (also known as Star Wing in Europe due to trademark issues) is the first game in the Star Fox series of video games. ...

A sequel, Pilotwings 64, was released for the Nintendo 64. Pilotwings 64 is a video game for the Nintendo 64, released in 1996, along with the launch of the console. ... This section needs additional references or sources to facilitate its verification. ...

Development

Pilotwings origins lies in a tech demo shown by Nintendo in 1988 (the same year that the Super Famicom was announced) known as Dragonfly, along with early screenshots of Super Mario World. Dragonfly was markedly different from the game it would later become; the concept involved a dragonfly that could use weapons. [1] This article needs additional references or sources for verification. ...

Gameplay

The game takes place in a series of training areas. In each area there is a number of events that can be tackled in any order. In these events, the player controls one of four different aerial vehicles and must complete a task (usually flying through various floating markers) within a time limit. Upon completion or failure of the task, the player gets points and comments from the instructors. Points are awarded on criteria such as time to complete the event, accuracy of the landing, and completion of the task. To complete the training area, the combined scores from each event must exceed a certain threshold. Each training area can be attempted as often as necessary, and passwords allow the player to return to a stage. A regular password-inserting screen (from Gods). ...

After four training areas, the player is called upon to fly an attack helicopter on a mission which, if successful, will earn the Pilotwings. This leads to harder training areas (consisting of several weather conditions and higher score requirements) and another helicopter mission. This mode is known as Pilotwings EXPERT.

Light Plane

The Light Plane flies through a ring marker, with the airfield in view

The Light Plane, a biplane, is featured on all training areas. Roll and pitch are limited, meaning aerobatic maneuvers like loops and rolls are impossible. Speed can be increased and decreased with the throttle. Landing too hard or with too much bank can wreck the aircraft. Screenshot of PilotWings on the Super Nintendo Entertainment System. ... Screenshot of PilotWings on the Super Nintendo Entertainment System. ... Hs123 biplane. ... Flight dynamics is the science of air and space vehicle orientation and control in three dimensions. ... The Frecce Tricolori aerobatic team of the Italian Air Force, flying at the Royal International Air Tattoo, Fairford, England, in 2005 The UK Utterly Butterly display team perform an aerobatic maneuvre with their Boeing Stearmans Red Arrows Hawks in Concorde formation Aerobatics is the demonstration of flying maneuvers for recreation... Aircraft engine controls provide a means for the pilot to control and monitor the operation of his aircrafts powerplant. ...

In the Light Plane event the player must fly through a guide path of orbs, or rings of orbs, and then attempt to land on the runway. In some cases the player starts on the runway and must take off as well as land. Points are awarded for how many of the orbs or rings are flown close to or through respectively, the time taken, and the quality of the landing. Unlike the other events, there is no hidden bonus stage in Light Plane.

Rocket Belt

The rocket belt can be controlled with left and right yaw rotation, leaning forward and back to control speed. High and low levels of thrust allow high speed and finer control. The character automatically returns to a vertical orientation when there is no player input. Player view can be switched to an overhead perspective to allow for easier accuracy when landing. As with a real rocket belt, fuel is limited. For the game, see Jetpack (computer game). ...

In the Rocket Belt event, the player must take off and fly through a series of rings, bars or other figures, before attempting to land in a target area. The target is made up of a series of concentric circles, with scores marked on them, so that the closer to the center players land, the higher their score. There may also be other separate targets, for fewer points, and a moving platform for a bonus stage. Points are awarded for where the player lands, but also for the time taken, and for a slow (i.e. soft) landing, and are subtracted if the player lands on ground before he or she passes all of the obstacles.

Hang Glider

Hang glider flight begins with detachment of the cable connecting the tow aircraft while in the air. If the nose is held too high, the glider will stall. Altitude is gained by flying through thermals, represented by columns of rising white dots. Landings can be controlled with the flare button, which slows the glider and brings the pilot's legs into position. Hang gliding is one of the windsports. ... Example of a thermal column between the ground and a cumulus This article is about the atmospheric phenomenon. ...

The objective is to catch the thermal current, ascend to the specified altitude, then land as close as possible to the center of the gray square target over the land area of the course. Players can land on the target(s) over the water for access to the bonus stage. Points are awarded based on accuracy (how close the player lands to the center of the target area), time taken, and speed (softness) of landing.

Skydiving

When seen from above, the flat ground image can seem 3D through a trompe l'oeil effect.

Skydiving is performed from a rope ladder hanging from a helicopter at altitude. Maneuvering is controlled by leaning forward and back, and rotating on the horizontal axis. Parachutes are deployed manually. They can be rotated left and right as well as flared, like the hang glider. Screenshot of PilotWings on the Super Nintendo Entertainment System. ... Screenshot of PilotWings on the Super Nintendo Entertainment System. ... [[: Le Image:Mural de Narbonne. ... Skydiver about to land Parachuting, or skydiving, is an activity involving the breaking of a free-fall from a height using a parachute. ... The Apollo 15 capsule landed safely despite a parachute failure. ...

In the Skydiving event, after jumping from the helicopter, the player must attempt to fly through a series of rings of orbs in the sky, before deploying the parachute, and attempting to land in a target area made up of concentric circles, with marks indicating the points awarded. More points are awarded the closer to the centre the player lands. There is also a moving platform, which allows access to a bonus level if landed on. Points are awarded for where the player lands, but also for the number of rings flown through, and the speed (i.e. softness) of landing.

This "minigame" has been imitated in many forms, most of which are merely cell-phone games.

Helicopter

The 2 helicopter missions of Pilotwings are the only part of the game where shooting is involved.

The helicopter has forward, backward, left, and right pitch controls, rotor throttle controls that control the helicopter's altitude, and left and right missile firing controls. Picture of Helicopter mission from the SNES Pilotwings, taken with ZSNES. This is a screenshot of a copyrighted computer game or video game. ... Picture of Helicopter mission from the SNES Pilotwings, taken with ZSNES. This is a screenshot of a copyrighted computer game or video game. ... A rotor is the rotating part of a helicopter which generates lift, either vertically in the case of a main rotor, or horizontally in the case of a tail rotor. ...

After completing the certification courses from all four instructors, the player is informed that an agent (most likely a government agent) has infiltrated an enemy base (EVIL Syndicate) on Izanu Island and has freed your instructors who are waiting to be rescued. The player's new mission is to fly an Apache Attack Helicopter from an offshore aircraft carrier over the island, land at the helipad of the enemy base to retrieve the captives. The game does not tell when it is safe to land on the helipad, which must be determined by the player. These two rescue missions stand out from the normal courses in that the player does more than maneuver a craft; as the player flies over the island, they must successfully dodge anti-aircraft fire from ground-based turrets; though the helicopter is able to fire missiles to destroy the artillery, a single hit to the craft will bring it crashing to earth, resulting in an immediate Game Over. The AH-64 Apache is the United States Armys principal attack helicopter, and is the successor to the AH-1 Cobra. ... Four aircraft carriers, (bottom-to-top) Principe de Asturias, amphibious assault carrier USS Wasp, supercarrier USS Forrestal and light V/STOL carrier HMS Invincible, showing size differences of late 20th century carriers An aircraft carrier is a warship designed to deploy and recover aircraft — in effect acting as a sea... A helipad is a landing area for a helicopter. ... American troops mount an anti-aircraft gun near the Algerian coastline in 1943 Anti-aircraft warfare, or air defence, is any method of engaging military aircraft in combat from the ground. ...

Bonus Stages

In the Skydiving, Hang Glider, and Rocket Belt modes, landing on moving platforms in the game rewards players with bonus stages for extra points. These include:

• Maneuvering a diving penguin into a pool of water, marked with concentric circles, each one with different scoring (Skydiving).
• Hopping a man with wings (patterned as a stork) across a series of trampolines, to finally land in a target marked by concentric circles (Rocket Belt).
• Making a man with wings flap his way as far as possible. The target area is separated by lines, each marking a progessive score (Hang Glider).

External links

• Pilotwings at GameFAQs