Air Traffic Controller (video game)

 is a simulation computer game series, developed by TechnoBrain, that simulates the operation of an airport. The games simulate the job of an air traffic controller. The player's mission is to direct planes onto the correct ILS, land them on the runway, taxi them to the correct gate, and to direct takeoffs.
"Air Traffic Controller" was released in Japan in July 1998. Its sequel "Air Traffic Controller 2" was released in 2005. "Air Traffic Controller 3" was released in 2008. "Air Traffic Controller 4" was released in 2015.
Initially released as a computer game, there have also been five PlayStation Portable versions, a Game Boy Advance, a Nintendo DS version, nine Nintendo 3DS versions and five different mobile ports for both Android and iOS.
"Air Traffic Controller".
The game features six airports. Players direct the air traffic for arrival and departures. There is only one channel of communication.
"Air Traffic Controller 2".
"Air Traffic Controller 2" made many improvements. The game is now in 3D, more airport gates, and increased to five channels of communication: Approach, Tower, Ground, Delivery, and Departure. New features included ground movements (e.g. towing planes to gates), giving correct Standard Instrument Departure, use of radar vectors, and changing channel frequency. The choice of Standard Terminal Arrival Route distance eliminates the speed instruction in previous version.
In the game, there are a few conditions that will cause game over. These include head-on, near miss, pilots' pressure bar reaching 100%, or failed to accumulate enough points to pass that particular stage. The points are awarded according to how fast to reply a response. A slow or non-response will raise the pressure bar. Other things that increase pressure bar include instructing the plane to take off in tailwind or tower failing to give the plane permission to land or go-around. Additional points are awarded at the end of the stage, but before deciding whether there's enough points to pass, for minimal % in pressure bar. More bonus points are awarded if the pressure bar is at 0%.
Tokyo: BigWing A (Alpha).
There is also an airline company named after the developer of the game "TechnoBrain", TechnoBrain Airlines (ICAO: TBA). Whenever TechnoBrain Airlines plane appears, special events are triggered.
Tokyo: BigWing B (Bravo).
Largely the same as Tokyo: BigWing A, but with a stage set in the evening.
Kagoshima Island Control.
TechnoBrain released an updated version in 2005. Changes include the merger between Japan Airlines and Japan Air System, as well as other features.
"Air Traffic Controller 3".
This sequel provides more camera angles with higher flexibility. The aircraft are now to scale with real aircraft. Arrivals and departures are now combined into a single box with strips outlining details of each flight. The strips can be ordered according to user preferences. Even more gates are added in this version. Planes taxiing can now choose any taxiway, instead of limited by up to 4 routes in previous version. Rules are identical to previous version. It also features first non-Japan airport, Kai Tak Airport in Hong Kong. Additionally, a fictional airline called "TechnoBrain Airlines" (based on the company's name, abbreviated TBA) features here as it did in ATC2, presenting problems that the player has to solve or work around. TBA does not make any appearance in Kai Tak. Later, it featured the second non-Japan airport, Honolulu International Airport.
" Air Traffic Controller 4".
Air Traffic Controller 4 is an air traffic control simulation game developed by TechnoBrain as a successor to the Air Traffic Controller 3. The game is compatible with Windows 7, Windows 8, Windows 8.1 and Windows 10 until ATC4 - Naha which is no longer compatible with Windows 7 and 8. The first installment, ATC4 - Tokyo Haneda was originally planned to be released on July 15, 2015, but the developers delayed the release of the game to August 28, 2015. However, TechnoBrain delayed again to September 17, 2015 for testing the Windows 10 compatibility. Since March 22, 2018, TechnoBrain released ATC4 - Haneda 2, ATC4 - Fukuoka, ATC4 - Centrair, ATC4 - New Chitose and ATC4 - Naha on Android and iOS. Airports and airplanes are more realistically scaled. In-game time counter is now progressing as the same speed as real time. Furthermore, more gates are added for every airport to match their real-life counterparts compared to the previous games. There are also stages based on the actual schedule of the airports of which the players can select the time frame and channels they wish to take charge. Players can't choose runway for the plane to takeoff, landing nor even go-around unless the runway section (e.g. 16L, 16R. etc.) are opened due to changes to the wind pattern (only for ATC4 - Tokyo Haneda). Unlike the previous games, if the planes line up with one another, the game will not result in a head-on game over (only in Normal Mode) unless they're heading into each other. Players can select planes at the top of it or at the flight control selection bar (bottom-right during gameplay). TechnoBrain Airlines also appears here like in ATC3, occasionally presenting problems for players to solve or work around (for the main stages of the game) as well as replacing airlines not included in game. Similar to previous games, the game consists of two modes (Normal Mode and Game Mode). Game Mode is more challenging because player needs to pay attention to the planes on the ground to prevent head-on game over. However, these two modes were later omitted for future installments. The game consists of nine total installments as of April 22, 2021.
"Airport Hero" for PSP.
Developed by Sonic Powered and TechnoBrain exclusively for PSP, all games have two modes of play. The main mode is operation mode, where there are two stages for easy, medium and hard difficulty. The second mode is challenge mode where players will face special situations. The airlines in the game are fictional. There is also an airline named after the developer Sonic Powered called Air Sonic. The games are:
Boku wa Koukuu Kanseikan: Airport Hero Narita.
Players direct planes from and to international airports including JFK International Airport, Frankfurt International Airport, and Heathrow International Airport. There are also domestic flights. It includes an encyclopedia explaining the equipment and personnel in an airport plus the type of airplanes in the game. An Airbus Beluga makes an appearance in Operation 6.
Boku wa Koukuu Kanseikan: Airport Hero Naha.
Players will not only direct commercial planes but also military jets, patrol planes and helicopters. Players also direct American military planes. It includes a gallery where players can unlock videos giving brief explanation of planes they control in the airport.
Boku wa Koukuu Kanseikan: Airport Hero Shin Chitose.
Players will control the new Chitose airport plus the Chitose Air Base. Also includes scenarios during winter where runways will sometimes be covered in thick snow and need to be shut down for clearing. There is a replay option where players can choose to record gameplay for future viewing. A NAMC YS-11 makes an appearance in Operation 6.
Boku wa Koukuu Kanseikan: Airport Hero Haneda.
Operation mode includes scenario from the old three runway airport and the new four runway airport. It has a replay mode similar to the Shin Chitose game.Initially announced for North America as "I am an Air Traffic Controller Airport Hero Haneda", the final release was slightly altered to "I am an Air Traffic Controller Airport Hero Tokyo".
Boku wa Koukuu Kanseikan: Airport Hero Kanku.
This is the first game in the series to include night scenarios.
"Air Traffic Controller" for Nintendo DS.
Air Traffic Chaos was released in the United States by Majesco Entertainment under the name "Air Traffic Chaos". It has previously been released in Japan under the name ぼくは航空管制官 ("I Am An Air Traffic Controller"), and later in Europe under the title "Air Traffic Controller by DS". A video game demo was made available before its release for the Wii's Nintendo Channel.
"Air Traffic Chaos" involves the player taking control of an airport control tower for a period. During this period the player needs to achieve a certain score based on orders given to planes and safe take offs and landings. The game has a total of 15 challenges.
The airports in "Air Traffic Chaos" are all five international and domestic Japanese airports. They are:
These each have three stages ranging from easy, medium and expert difficulty. Each stage increases in difficulty and brings with it a longer shift with more aircraft to safely land and depart.
There is no multiplayer gaming but players can share their results and badges records with up to seven other players through the ATC Library.
Reception.
It was awarded Most Surprisingly Good Game in GameSpot's 2008 video games Special Achievement awards. It was also nominated for Best Game No One Played.
"Airport Hero" for 3DS.
Developed by Sonic Powered, the following Airport Hero games have been released on the Nintendo 3DS in Japan. Some of the titles have also been released in English in the US and Europe.
Boku wa Koukuu Kanseikan: Airport Hero 3D Honolulu.
Known in North America and Europe as I am an Air Traffic Controller Airport Hero Hawaii.
Boku wa Koukuu Kanseikan: Airport Hero 3D Narita with ANA.
Known in North America and Europe as I am an Air Traffic Controller Airport Hero Narita with references to ANA (All Nippon Airways) replaced by the fictional APA (All Japan Airways).
Boku wa Koukuu Kanseikan: Airport Hero 3D Kankuu Sky Story.
Known in North America as I am an Air Traffic Controller Airport Hero Osaka-KIX.