Yesterday Megarom announced that Ubisoft will be working in conjunction with GeoEye, a provider of satellite, aerial and geospatial technology, to use high resolution images taken from their earth-imaging satellite for integration in Tom Clancy’s H.A.W.X.
That means that all three versions of the game (pc/ps3/360) will have the players flying over GeoEye-provided satellite imagery in a three dimensional environment. Not a bad idea considering the entire game is going to be played in the air and that the ground will essentially just be backdrop.
All of the 16 locations including Rio de Janeiro, Cape Canaveral and the Middle East will have GeoEye images integrated into them. Considering that GeoEye’s imagery is currently being used by the US National Security, mapping, air and marine transportation and for environmental monitoring and insurance risk management, I think it is fairly safe to say that the quality of the images are going to help add the realism of the game.
“High-resolution satellite imaging is moving from the black world of intelligence to the white world of commerce and Tom Clancy’s H.A.W.X will bring that reality to gamers,” said Mark Brender, vice president, corporate communications and marketing at GeoEye. “With video game graphics becoming more realistic, the use of high-quality photographic ground textures in H.A.W.X adds true photo-realism to the air combat experience.”
The Authenticity Coordinator for the H.A.W.X development team, Travis Getz said, “GeoEye’s amazing imagery, combined with the intense aerial combat experience in H.A.W.X, makes this a perfect partnership for everyone–especially gamers.”
The only slight drawback could be that the story of H.A.W.X only begins in the year 2014 and I’m pretty sure the earth isn’t going to remain the same for the next 6 years just for the game, but by then we most likely won’t remember H.A.W.X so lets just enjoy what we get now. It really is looking very promising.
Last Updated: September 2, 2008
Bboy
September 2, 2008 at 12:19
Bout time they did this for flight sims 🙂
Scratchy
September 2, 2008 at 12:32
That is soooo sexy
j4nr1k
September 2, 2008 at 13:05
If they can throw in real time synced weather and day/night…that would be awesome.
brett
September 2, 2008 at 13:11
Can’t wait!!!
Vamp
September 2, 2008 at 13:49
Niiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiice!
bokka1
September 2, 2008 at 16:23
I hope this is good as I don’t have a flight combat game on my Xbox.
CattleBruiser
September 2, 2008 at 16:58
Dude, Ace Combat 6 is a very good flight combat game.
Banana hammock
September 2, 2008 at 20:30
Looks good but i never end up enjoying these flight combat game. Give me Sky Odyssey any day.