As released by Gameshop Inc. in 1980, this edition came shrinkwrapped on cardboard backing. The layout of the gamebooks in this edition set the basic style which would be followed in all subsequent editions. The softcover gamebooks also featured textured leather-looking covers that were used for all the slipcase edition books. Of course, as with every new venture, there were some difficulties. A few glitches slipped into the rules printed in the game books. An errata list was provided to remedy this.

In addition, the Gameshop books presented a potential, problem from a playability standpoint. Pages on which you could fire at your opponent were indicated by flashes around your gun muzzles (and conversely, pages on which you were being fired on showed tracers coming from your opponents guns.) Unfortunately, the restrained gunfire artwork sometimes made it difficult to identify some of these pages.

Perhaps the main charm of this initial entry in the Ace of Aces series is the choice of aircraft: a Sopwith Camel versus a Fokker Dr. I triplane. The aircraft carried historical interest for students of the period, as well as the pop culture appeal of Charles Schulz's classic confrontations between Snoopy and the Red Baron.

More Ace of Aces Reference Guide

Introduction
1. Gameshop Edition
2. Initial Nova Edition
3. Early Handy Rotary Slipcase Edition
4. Later Handy Rotary Slipcase Edition
5. Powerhouse Slipcase Edition
6. Flying Machines Slipcase Edition
7. Balloon Buster Edition
8. Flying Machines Paper Cover Edition
9. Balloon Buster Paper Cover Edition
10. Handy Rotary Deluxe Edition, Matte Box
11. Handy Rotary Deluxe Edition, Glossy Box
12. WingLeader (WWII)
13. WingLeader with expansion set
14. Jet Eagles (Post WWII)
15. Jet Eagles, Desert Storm Limited Edition
16. Handy Rotary Richthofen edition
17. Handy Rotary Special Basic Edition
18-21. Overseas Editions
Other Titles and Unreleased Titles
Aircraft Listings
Ace Listings