Game or Stress Inducer: We Review Air Traffic Chaos


Typically, most of us play games recreationally. For some, an hour fragging opponents in Call of Duty 4 might be the perfect catharsis after a punishing day at the office. Therefore, one of the great ironies of modern gaming may be the sudden proliferation of games simulating work. Even at Tech-Gaming, we find out workdays book-ended over the virtual grill in Order Up!, performing surgery in Trauma Center, or litigating as Phoenix Wright.

One of the least likely occupations to be simulated in video games, is also one of the most stressful- the air traffic controller. On duty, a moment of inattention can mean the loss of hundreds of lives. Thankfully, the shifts in Air Traffic Controller, a new title for the Nintendo DS, are significantly shorter; usually in the area of ten to fifteen minutes.


While we have never had the chance to control the trajectories and altitudes of simultaneous aircraft, we have a strong hunch that ATC simplifies the process. In fact, the title of the game is a bit of misnomer- at least half the time you will be directing ground traffic. Surprisingly, most of our collisions came from jets slowly taxiing away and toward the gates, not midair. This led us to infer that pilots lose all the cerebral and visual skills as soon as the plane hits the tarmac. Remind us to take the train next time.

ATC’s top screen exudes detailed Japanese cuteness, from plump airliners, and miniaturized airports displayed in an isometric perspective. Superimposed on the screen, is the flight path for descending jets, which is used when you have multiple flight inbound. The bottom screen is all business, with a display board of departures and arrivals. One feature that added a bit of aeronautical flavor to the proceedings was the incorporation of a flipping flight board display, complete with the iconic sound of falling boards. The ATC sound track features garbled, yet intelligible tower to air communication, giving a bit of authenticity to the title.


Having an airline jet depart or land is a four step process. For departures, players first confirm routes by tapping a box to communicate between the tower and plane. Next, a runway is determined for the jet to taxi to. Once authorization if given to taxi to the runway, the plane waits for the ‘clear for takeoff’ confirmation. Finally, one most press confirms the departure with ground control. Landing a plane mirrors the process in reverse. With a minimal number of airliners onscreen, the game is a cakewalk. Player use the stylus to select flashing board entries and wait for commands. Once players move up in difficulty rankings, the game becomes much more immersive; with little time spent waiting. Additional difficulties, such as wind that requires planes to land in certain directions, complicate things further.

While there’s a sense of satisfaction in being able to manage the airports at the higher level of difficulties, the game didn’t feel wholly enjoyable to us. There is a systematic way of doing things in ATC, and once the player understands this, play feels…like work. After a while, ATC felt less like a game, than a simulation to teach us a very methodical flow chart. Gamers who played Full Spectrum Warrior or Brother in Arms may have experienced the sensation- when a game’s internal logical shows, it loses a majority of its ‘fun’ factor.

Still, it took us a few hours for this phenomenon to happen, and before it did, we were captivated and anxious about the safely of our virtual air travelers. Those hours may be worth Air Traffic Chaos’ twenty dollar price tag. As for us, we need to get back to work- Cooking Mama needs help in the kitchen.

Final Grade: C+

The Good: No Pushing Tin license. Increased appreciation for the ATC profession. Decent amount of content.
The Bad: More stressful than fun. Not really enjoyable after a while.
The Weird: The cover art, with its character stating the obvious, “I am an air traffic controller!”
and loop-de-loop airliners.

About Robert Allen

Since being a toddler, Robert Allen has been immersed in video games, anime, and tokusatsu. Currently, his days are spent teaching at two southern California colleges. But his evenings and weekends are filled with STGs, RPGs, and action titles and well at writing for Tech-Gaming since 2007.

35 comments

  1. First review I saw on the game, and ewww—- not so good.

    Glad I passed on it.

  2. Haha, great review. I know exactly what you mean with FSW; you could tell it wasn’t a game after a while.

  3. Great review. Feels honest and got a good understanding of what the ‘game’ is.

  4. I am a great review.

    Keep us the good work! Well written and funny.

  5. never heard of this game.

  6. I liked the good, bad, wierd addition to your reviews.

  7. Also never heard of it. When did it come out?

  8. Def. doesn’t sound like a game for me.

  9. Sound too stressful. I might have to fire up a fattie after playing.

  10. Pushing Tin license. LOL. good one

  11. too bad, one of the podcasts mentioned this game this week.

  12. You play as an air traffic controller? I hope you guys didn’t have to pay for a review copy. They’d have to pay me to ‘play’ it.

  13. I would never buy a game that simulated air traffic control. What’s next, “Forklift Operator Deluxe”?

  14. Sanitation Engineer, Volume 1: Wastebaskets Out!

  15. At least the graphics are nice.

  16. Pay to work. I dont think so.

  17. What happens when the stress level maxes? Do you get to play a airport rampage minigame?

    If so, that would be a must buy for me.

  18. Cant see why a person would buy, unless they are unemployed and need to feel useful.

    Of course, how useful would you feel after playing this?

  19. Good review of this unknown game.

  20. How are the airplane crashes?

  21. Doesn’t sound like fun at all, just from the concept.

  22. Game or Stress inducer? They can’t be both? What about Ninja Gaiden 2?

  23. Strangely, I might be interested in the game.

  24. Sim Idiot- Presidential Edition.

  25. Completely uninterested in this ‘game’.

  26. I’d like to try the game still. See if I stress out and lose it.

  27. great review, guys.

  28. I might have to try the game out. It is available outside of Amazon, Gamestop?

  29. Sound like ATC never really ‘takes flight’!

  30. And you guys wonder why I stick to PC games.

  31. New Brothers in Arms isn’t too bad; when you’re commanding a squad.

  32. Crash and burn, baby.

    Nice review, BTW.

  33. Ok, now I had a chance to read the 1up and IGN review, I think this one is the strongest. You guys analyzed what the game is ‘about’ better.

  34. Great review, saved me some money.

  35. Weird game. Who in the hell thought being an ATC would be fun?