In-flight Entertainment Gets Its Game On

The quality of games available in-flight has traditionally been extremely limited. In a market dominated by early-release Hollywood films and the latest TV shows, in-flight gaming has so far failed to take off. Until now.

Games specialist GUE Tech, and in-flight entertainment provider IFE Services, are responding to the estimated $76bn industry by pioneering in-flight gaming on commercial flights. The collaboration will see a number of high-quality games, including PlayStation, Xbox360, Wii, iOS and Android, introduced to the in-flight entertainment market.

So the question is, will gamers be satisfied?

The Newbie

For the gaming novice, easy-to-navigate time-vortices that will keep you entertained for a few air-bound hours are order of the day. And luckily, there are a number of these to choose from.

Uncomplicated simulation games Kingpin and Arcade Pool are ideal starter points for the novice gamer, both of which are single player, one-dimensional gaming platforms. If feeling ambitious, Mikro Mortal Tennis adopts a similar premise but players benefit from added elements like being able to stick a sword through the umpire, having to dodge court-invasions by errant pigs, and being distracted by a tiny flasher.

Alternatively, arcade game Worms Blast is a fast and furious single-screen puzzle game. The aim of the game is to eliminate coloured blocks by firing upwards using a bazooka. Different coloured blocks respond to different coloured missiles and the game-player must be careful to avoid falling debris as they navigate their character along the single screen to safety.

The Casual Gamer

From action to arcade, racing, shooter and sport, the options available to the casual gamer are endless. Those that don’t spend huge amounts of time gaming generally, but know their way around a classic controller might be interested in the following picks…

Fast-paced sports games developed by Actua, including Actua Soccer and Actua Ice Hockey will be available on-board some flights, as well as spirited 3D racing in the form of Warm Up! and Off-Road Redneck Racing.

Original SNES platform game, Soccer Kid, sends players on a classic mid-weight 2D mission, in which their mission is to collect all five missing pieces of the World Cup trophy to save the tournament.

For travellers hoping to indulge in a spot of mid-air violence, arcade fighter game Body Blows Galactic puts players in an interplanetary competition to become the ultimate galactic warrior.

The Hardcore Gamer

For passengers whose penchant for virtual reality won’t be satisfied with 2D platform or puzzle games, in-flight gaming just got more sophisticated. Though it might not be up to the intricacy of their at-home set-up, ‘core gamers can get their fix mid-flight with role-playing classics Fallout and Soulbringer, sci-fi shooter MDK, and survival horror Alone in the Dark setting the precedent.

MDK is a sci-fi third-person shooter mission to destroy earth-threatening ‘Minecrawlers’ through ‘coil-suit’ wearing protagonist, Kurt.

Strategy games Total Annihilation and Worms see players conquering opponents using a series of tactical militant moves, whilst critically-acclaimed RPG Fallout guides players through a post-apocalyptic California in a bid to protect the water supply of Vault 13. Finally, interactive movie games like the classic Broken Sword and sinister Alone in the Dark complete the range of available picks for hard-core game geeks.

So, whether an out-and-out newbie or quite the expert, the in-flight entertainment arena can now cater to all gaming competencies. Do you think these games cut the mustard? And which games would you like to see offered in-flight?