Autopia’s iPhone Flight Control Contest

By Dave Demerjian

We always thought that if this blogging thing didn’t work out we’d get a job in an air traffic control tower, but a 99 cent iPhone app has quickly relieved us of that notion.

Flight Control, an incredibly stressful cool air traffic control game developed by Australia’s Firemint, has brought out the airplane geek in all of us. Some 700,000 Nick Falzone wannabes have downloaded the app since its release in March, and at one time or another it’s been the number one paid download in a dozen countries. Not bad for a game Firemint CEO Rob Murray says took three weeks and $50,000 to develop.

“This has by far been the simplest game we’ve ever put out,” he told the Sydney Morning Herald. “I believe that’s brought in those people who haven’t played games before.”

Part of what makes Flight Control so much fun is that even an idiot can play - and you trolls can spare us your jokes. All you do is use your finger to drag planes across the screen to the proper runway without crashing into another plane.

Yes, it’s just that simple. And it’s damned addicting.

We won’t tell you how many hours we’ve wasted playing this damn lovely game, but it’s safe to say there’s been a significant erosion in workplace productivity. One of us even forgot mom’s birthday. We’re gonna buy her a copy to make up for it.

Despite all those hours spent, we suck at this game. It’s shameful, actually. We can’t even get 100 planes landed without a crash. If you’ve been playing FlightControl for even a few days, you’re probably better far better than we are.

But are you better than your fellow Autopians?

We want to know. If you’ve downloaded the game, give it your best shot and post a screenshot of your high score using the Reddit widget below. The highest score wins a prize if you include your e-mail address. Once again for those of you in the back row: If you don’t tell us how to reach you, we can’t give you a prize. And don’t try any Photoshop tomfoolery, because we’ll figure it out. Somehow.

We’ll announce the top dog next Friday and pull something out of the ol’ Autopia Prize Closet. It won’t be an iPhone. Or a plane. But it will be something cool. We promise.

Screencaps by Dave Demerjian

OK, it’s your turn. Post your high score…

* UPDATE, Saturday 1:30 pm * - We are having problems with the Reddit widget. For now, please email your screenshots to Dave (link at top of post).

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