Battle of Britain (1999 video game)

Set in World War II, Battle of Britain is a computer wargame that simulates the conflict between Germany and the United Kingdom during the Battle of Britain. [1]

Battle of Britain was developed by TalonSoft and was designed by Gary Grigsby and Keith Brors.[2] The pair had previously co-created the Steel Panthers series at Strategic Simulations Inc. (SSI), but had left the company in late 1997 to join TalonSoft, with the stated goal of making a wargame based on the Battle of Britain.[3] It was planned as the pair's first of three games for TalonSoft,[4] and was originally entitled Battle of Britain 1941 and set for a release date of August 1998.[5] According to Alan Dunkin of GameSpot, Battle of Britain was envisioned as a semi-remake of Grigsby's earlier game U.S.A.A.F. - United States Army Air Force.[1] It was Grigsby's first attempt at an air-combat title since U.S.A.A.F.; the subject matter was relatively rare in computer wargames at the time.[6] Grigsby and Brors developed Battle of Britain while simultaneously working on a fourth Steel Panthers game at SSI.[7]

Battle of Britain was Grigsby's first game developed for Microsoft Windows.[8]

According to David Chong of Computer Games Strategy Plus, critical reactions toward Battle of Britain were "lukewarm".[10] Reviewing the game for PC Gamer US, William Trotter concluded, "There's a lot to admire in the depth and accuracy of this simulation, but you'd better be a serious student of the World War Two air war. For everyone else, it may just be too much work."[2]

In late 1999, Battle of Britain received a "follow-up" game from TalonSoft, entitled 12 O'Clock High: Bombing the Reich. It was again designed by Gary Grigsby and Keith Brors.[11] It reused the game engine from Battle of Britain.[10] In 2009, publisher Matrix Games reworked and re-released Battle of Britain and 12 O'Clock High together as Gary Grigsby's Eagle Day to Bombing the Reich.[12]

• Battle of Britain at MobyGames