So says Todd Vaughan, president of Bethesda. Developed by Buka Entertainment, the same team that developed Microsoft s Fighter Ace, Echelon combines surprising technical innovations with an accessibility that will attract newcomers as well as gaming veterans. The range and appeal of the game is further enhanced by the inclusion of separate arcade and sim modes. The game s context is that of a revolution on a colonial outpost. There are also multiplayer capture the fort and deathmatch options that support up to 32 players.
Echelon is all flight combat and there are several plane types to choose from.
You can pilot fighters, bombers, transport craft and recon vessels in any of several different styles hovercraft, fixed wing, helicopter and more progressive designs. The ships are further differentiated by tribe or clan. Each tribe in the game has a unique set of ships and with a unique design philosophy. In all there are over 50 types of flying craft in the game. Some of the larger ships even have turrets that can be manned individually in multiplayer.