Flying Archives

March 9, 2010

Playing games in Google Earth

Since Google Earth was first released, a variety of people (including myself) have looked for ways to use it for gaming. While it will never be a true gaming platform, there are still some fun choices out there to play with. Here are a few of the best:

• The Flight Simulator: This was first unveiled with Google Earth 4.2, and it's a built-in feature of Google Earth. You can fly as either an F16 or an SR22, and start from a variety of airports around the world. Press CTRL-ALT-A (or Command+Option+A on Mac) to get started. This video gives a nice overview of the controls:

• GEWAR: One of the first games people thought of when Google Earth came out was "Risk". Playing that kind of game on the Google Earth platform would be pretty cool. It was something I chewed on for a while, but couldn't figure out how to make it work. Eventually I discovered a way to create dynamic network links and I created "GE War" in mid-2005. It was mostly a proof-of-concept game, but it became quite popular. I eventually handed the game off to some of the more active players, and they've been improving it ever since. You can check it out at GEWar.net, where they have nearly 80,000 registered players.

GEWar

• Ships: Last year, PlanetInAction.com released a neat game simply titled "Ships". It gave you the ability to take the helm on 3D ships, and was very well done. Here's a video tour of the game:

• Apollo 11 Moon Lander: The same guys that brought you "Ships" also released the "Apollo 11 Moon Lander" game. It's a very simple game, but it's very well executed with 3D models, responsive controls, and audio taken directly from the Apollo missions.

Beyond those, there are a wide variety of other games you can play. A few more:

• GEMMO: A DND-style game.
• Mars Sucks: Blast aliens from your space ship.
• Milktruck Madness: Drive a milktruck around the earth. No scoring or lives (and really, no point to it), but it's quite fun.
• Football: An American-style football game.

Do you know of any others we've missed? Let us know in the comments.

Posted by mickmel at 10:25 AM | Comments (1)

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February 26, 2010

The Scariest Airports in the Caribbean

Google Sightseeing has just posted a near article about the Top 3 Scariest Airports in the Caribbean.

The three airports they've chosen are:

• Princess Juliana International Airport, St. Maarten
• Gustaf III Airport, Saint Barthélemy
• Juancho E. Yrausquin Airport, Saba

They would all certainly be crazy places to fly into. Here's what the airport on the island of Saba looks like:

Scary airport on Saba

For more, read their full article or download the KML file to view them for yourself.

Have you flown into any of these airports? Or do you know of others that deserve to be on this list?

Posted by mickmel at 8:54 AM | Comments (8)

February 18, 2010

Links: Google I/O 2010, The Spaceport Field Guide, Chula Vista in 3D

What to expect at Google I/O 2010: Google is starting to unveil some of what can be expected at Google I/O 2010, coming in May. If you're considering attending the event, check out their list of sessions and see what you think.

The Spaceport Field Guide: The Spaceport Field Guide (SpFG) is a Google Earth-compatible file developed by SpaceWorks Commercial that provides a database of worldwide launch sites and associated facilities. The tool offers information about global spaceports including location, current and potential facilities, current and potential launch vehicles, and a rating of operational readiness (as defined by a Spaceport Readiness Level or SpRL). You can learn more on their website, or download the KML file here.

Spaceport

Chula Vista in 3D: The folks at CtyberCity 3D have just pushed their 3D models for Chula Vista, California into Google Earth. Like many of their other models (San Francisco, for example), these models are all gray. However, the 3,300 buildings are architecturally correct down to six inches, making for some pretty detailed models. Here's a KML file to fly you straight there.

Chula Vista

Posted by mickmel at 9:01 AM | Comments (1)

February 5, 2010

Google Earth in Microsoft Flight Simulator

Google I/O 2010 is coming in May, but we're already starting to hear about some of the neat projects that will be unveiled there.

The first one is called GEVision, from the guys at PlanetInAction, which is trying to evolve into a 3D scenery engine. Their initial goal is to use Google Earth as the scenery in Microsoft Flight Simulator: "In the past various attempts had been made to use Google Earth scenery instead of the one included in Microsoft Flight Simulator FSX. Yet due to limitations in the interface technology this has never been fully achieved. GEVision is a new project that will enable the use of Google Earth as a full blown 3D scenery engine."

There have been some integrations of MS Flight Sim and Google Earth in the past, but nothing to this extent. Previous integrations include a version that used Google Earth as an overhead map and an idea to take Flight Sim Scenery and use it in Google Earth.

Over the past few years Google Earth imagery, combined with improved terrain quality and more 3D buildings, has blown past the quality found in Microsoft Flight Sim. The only real downside would be less realistic airports (MS Flight Sim does a great job with those), but that is improving with each new imagery update as well. On the flip side, Google Earth has a built-in flight simulator, but it's not nearly as full-featured as the one made by Microsoft. Combining the best of both could create something pretty neat.

The video below shows the vast quality difference between Google Earth and MS Flight Simulator X:

If you'd like more information about how to use the Google Earth Plug-in in a desktop application, this page should help. GEVision is expected to unveil some type of public release at Google I/O, so we're looking forward to seeing what comes out of it.

If you know of other neat projects coming at I/O, send me an email and let me know about it.

Posted by mickmel at 8:59 AM | Comments (5)

January 13, 2010

Revisiting the SpaceNavigator

Space NavigatorIt's been more than three years since Frank introduced the SpaceNavigator to all of us, and I thought it was time to give it another look. I mentioned a few days ago (in the comments) that the iPhone version of Google Earth (with multi-touch control) was similar to using a SpaceNavigator when compared to the single-touch version on Google Android devices. After posting that, I thought I should explain what a SpaceNavigator actually is for those that don't yet know.

In a nutshell, the SpaceNavigator is a 3D mouse. Rather than having to pan, then zoom, then pan a little more, then tilt, etc, you can do it all in one motion. You can zoom in, while panning, while tilting a little more, to really feel like you're flying around the world. I've told many people that using the SpaceNavigator made Google Earth feel brand new again.

You can get a pretty good idea of what it can do by watching this video that Frank made a while ago that showed off some of the basic features of it:

You can also check out his review of Disney World 3D, which was done using the SpaceNavigator:

To be honest, I expected that we'd see some competition to the SpaceNavigator by now. A year after it came out, Sandio released their "3D O2 mouse", which was supposed to be even better -- you could use it as a mouse, but it also had various 3D control sticks on it. However, it was a piece of junk and the SpaceNavigator remained king.

Here we are three years later and I still use mine every day. It's a wonderful tool, and Google Earth simply wouldn't be the same without it. It works for Windows and Mac, and you can pick one up at the 3DConnexion online store, or at a handful of specialty retailers.

Posted by mickmel at 8:48 AM | Comments (8)

More entries for this category:

  1. Take a virtual helicopter tour with the Google Earth Plug-in - December 14, 2009
  2. Links: Audi A8 with Google Earth, Liquid Galaxy, Deer Hunting, StreetView in the snow - December 10, 2009
  3. My Kite Photos in Google Earth/Maps - November 25, 2009
  4. A closer look at Africa - October 28, 2009
  5. 3D plane in flight in 3D Buildings layer - October 26, 2009
  6. Links: Race My Race, Random Hacks of Kindness, WorldView-2 - October 13, 2009
  7. Google Earth 5.1 Really Improved - September 11, 2009
  8. Links: Picasa Street View, Cool Screen, ArcExplorer Earth, SketchUp Podium Prize - August 17, 2009
  9. Planes For Google Earth Flight Simulator - August 11, 2009
  10. Amazing Find Returns to Google Earth: Lancaster Bomber - July 28, 2009
  11. Memorial to UTA Flight 772 Visible from Space - June 16, 2009
  12. Air France Flight 447 - Google Earth Map - June 9, 2009
  13. 3D Flight Tracking in Netherlands with Google Earth - May 28, 2009
  14. Fantastic Free Google Earth Game: Ships - May 18, 2009
  15. The U-2 Incident in Google Earth - May 5, 2009
  16. Swiss Fighter Video Synched - GE 5 Style - April 26, 2009
  17. Heli-Ski Tour in Google Earth - March 12, 2009
  18. Google Earth 5 Tour Roundup - February 26, 2009
  19. Google Earth 5 Cool Tip: Flight Simulator in Ocean or Mars - February 25, 2009
  20. This Google Earth File Could Make you Sick - February 20, 2009
  21. Jimmy Buffet Helps Announce Google Earth 5 - February 5, 2009
  22. Links: New GE Help Forums, DC-3 Weather Vane, NYC GE Visitor Center, Virtual Alabama Video, 360Cities Embed - January 22, 2009
  23. Fly Flight 1549 Yourself in Google Earth - January 21, 2009
  24. U-2 Spyplane Caught in Flight in Google Earth - January 5, 2009
  25. Watch Santa Claus Make his Deliveries - December 24, 2008
  26. Planes on Poles in Google Earth (plus an extra feature) - December 12, 2008
  27. Location of Steve Fossett Remains Reportedly Found - October 31, 2008
  28. WikiSailing - Flying/Sailing Sightseeing Tours in Google Earth - October 29, 2008
  29. Paragliding Simulator with Google Earth Plugin - October 23, 2008
  30. Links: Planet Search, Interactive KML, FlightSim, iPhone GPS - October 21, 2008
  31. Links: Panoramio Heat Maps, See Russia?, 1m LiDAR, Airship - October 13, 2008
  32. Location of Plane Wreck of Steve Fossett - October 2, 2008
  33. Steve Fossett Items Found Near Mammoth Lakes - October 1, 2008
  34. New Virtual Earth with 3D Clouds - September 25, 2008
  35. Links: Hurricane Ike, GeoEye Launched, Aviation Maps, McClendon in Kansas - September 8, 2008
  36. Follow a Book, Check Aeronautical Charts in Google Earth Plugin - July 31, 2008
  37. More Add-ons for Google Earth Flight Simulator - July 28, 2008
  38. Notes from the Bahamas: GE in Education, AGE More KML, Disney 3D - June 26, 2008
  39. Links: Big Dog, Plugins, Smoke, Stonehenge, SketchUp Camp, Kenya - June 13, 2008
  40. PictEarth Flies UAV with N95 Over WhereCamp - May 20, 2008
  41. Mike's Flying Bike for Google Earth - May 16, 2008
  42. Google Earth for Pilots - April 29, 2008
  43. How to Get 3D Buildings in Google Earth - April 24, 2008
  44. Links: SR22 Cockpit, Jane Austen, Magnetic Pole, Taiwan GE Bonanza, Tutorial, VE3D on Mac - March 17, 2008
  45. YouTube API on Swiss Fighter Video - March 14, 2008
  46. F-16 Cockpit Add-on For Google Earth Flight Sim - February 8, 2008
  47. Cool US Flights Visualization in Google Earth - February 7, 2008
  48. Guys Fly Balloon to 30 km Altitude - See it in Google Earth - January 25, 2008
  49. Major Geek Cred - January 17, 2008
  50. Tracking Flights in Google Earth - January 11, 2008
  51. Missed Opportunity - It's a Sign - January 9, 2008
  52. Top 25 Stories of Google Earth 2007 - December 27, 2007
  53. Astronaut Mode For Google Earth - December 18, 2007
  54. Two Old Planes Caught Close Up in Google Earth - December 9, 2007
  55. Google Earth and Santa Claus - December 7, 2007
  56. Links: Tracking Santa, Netherland Statistics, Boat Parades, OpenAerialMap - December 3, 2007
  57. News and Links - Out of Beta, Crysis, Our Dumb World, Visual ILS - November 30, 2007
  58. X PRIZE Cup Photos Mapped - November 1, 2007
  59. Trip Status, Links: PhotoOverlay tool, CIA World Factbook, Another BMNG - October 29, 2007
  60. Links: Glider Towing, 3D Bonanza, John Hanke Presentation, Google Maps Profiles, Virtual Earth 3D Modeling - October 19, 2007
  61. 2007 Wirefly X PRIZE Cup - October 8, 2007
  62. 3D Red Bull Flights in Google Earth - September 21, 2007
  63. Burning Man 2007 in Google Earth - September 18, 2007
  64. New DigitalGlobe Imagery for Steve Fossett Search - September 13, 2007
  65. Back to School - Educational Uses with Google Earth - September 11, 2007
  66. News Roundup: Flight Sim Tips, Clouds and Weather, KML 2.2, Google Solar Panels, Pollution - September 10, 2007
  67. Help Find Steve Fossett with Google Earth - September 9, 2007
  68. Flight Simulator HUD Display Guide, and an Advanced Tip - September 6, 2007
  69. Get Inside a Helicopter in Google Earth - September 5, 2007
  70. News Roundup: Flight Simulator Goodies, PhotoViewer Stuff, Video tourism - September 4, 2007
  71. Video for Flying with Google Earth Flight Simulator - September 3, 2007
  72. Flight Simulator Mode in Google Earth 4.2 - August 31, 2007
  73. Google Earth 4.2 Roundup - August 27, 2007
  74. R/C Planes and Camera Fun with Google Earth - August 12, 2007
  75. Biography of Neil Armstrong in Google Earth - August 6, 2007
  76. News Roundup: Panoramio 2 Million, Geographic Web, Loop the Loop, Starbucks, Bug in GE - June 28, 2007
  77. Pict'Earth - UAV Aerial Photography Solutions - June 19, 2007
  78. ChartGeek - Sectional Maps for Pilots in Google Earth - May 28, 2007
  79. Plane-shaped Pools in Google Earth - April 28, 2007
  80. Stephen Hawking Flies in Zero G - April 27, 2007
  81. News Roundup - Fixes for Windows Vista, Airshows, FBOWeb update, Photos with Search - March 19, 2007
  82. Meigs Field - Preserved in Google Earth - March 15, 2007
  83. Nine Planes in Formation - Faked in the Google Earth Database! - March 13, 2007
  84. NOT a Cruise Missile in Flight Over Utah - March 4, 2007
  85. Swiss Alps "Fighter" Tour in Google Earth - March 1, 2007
  86. SpaceNavigator News: Fly Inside Demo, Security Checkpoints - February 22, 2007
  87. Planes in Flight Hobby - February 13, 2007
  88. Sydney Aerial Photo Shoot - January 26, 2007
  89. Play Tour Mode in Google Earth - January 10, 2007
  90. New Imagery Update for the Holidays - Awesome! - December 17, 2006
  91. Santa's Toy Hunt and Santa Tracker in Google Earth - December 13, 2006
  92. News Roundup - Animated 3D, EmerGeo, Altered Oceans, Virtual Airlines - October 29, 2006
  93. Geotagged Photos from X PRIZE Cup, GPS Track too - October 25, 2006
  94. Flight Back from Las Cruces in Google Earth - October 23, 2006
  95. Same Day Aerial Photo in Google Earth - October 21, 2006
  96. Trip Report and News Roundup: Flight to Las Cruces, Sensors, BBC on Maps, New blog - October 18, 2006
  97. Flight of Space Ship One Depicted in Google Earth - October 12, 2006
  98. Plane Crashed into Building in New York - See Location in Google Earth - October 11, 2006
  99. Burning Man 2006 in Google Earth - October 3, 2006
  100. Take Flight Sim Scenery and Port it to Google Earth - September 28, 2006
  101. Google Earth as a "Flight Simulator" - September 15, 2006
  102. 3D 747 Airliner on Approach at Maho Beach in Google Earth - August 25, 2006
  103. Salute to the An-2 in Google Earth - August 10, 2006
  104. Goggles - Google Maps Flight Simulator, Also: Google Earth Flying - August 8, 2006
  105. FSEarth 3.0 - MS Flight Simulator and Google Earth - July 8, 2006
  106. Aeronautical Information System - June 26, 2006
  107. KC-135 Caught Refueling C-5 Galaxy in Mid-Air in Google Earth! - June 25, 2006
  108. Sightseeing Roundup for Google Earth - May 2, 2006
  109. Go Flying - Flight Tracklogs for Google Earth - April 30, 2006
  110. Tribute to 'Connie' in Google Earth - April 9, 2006
  111. FSEarth - MS Flight Simulator 2004 and Google Earth - April 6, 2006
  112. Maldives Island Group in High Res - March 24, 2006
  113. Flyagogo - A Pilot Google Maps Mashup (with GE tie-in) - March 23, 2006
  114. GlobalFlyer Attempting Third World Record - March 15, 2006
  115. Identifying Planes in Google Earth - March 1, 2006
  116. FSPilot Connects FS2004 to Google Earth - February 26, 2006
  117. Touch and Gos - February 22, 2006
  118. Follow Steve Fossett/Global Flyer in Google Earth - February 9, 2006
  119. Pilot World-wide Weather in Google Earth - February 8, 2006
  120. Gliders "Crashing" in Google Earth - February 3, 2006
  121. Flying Car? Not Really - January 23, 2006
  122. 3D Planes for Flight Tracking in Google Earth - January 19, 2006
  123. FBOWeb Flight Tracking Revisited - January 11, 2006
  124. Lancaster Bomber Caught Flying in Google Earth - January 10, 2006
  125. Slick Airfare Tool for Google Earth - December 16, 2005
  126. Planes in Flight in Google Earth (revisited) - December 6, 2005
  127. Near Real-time Flight Tracking in Google Earth - December 2, 2005
  128. The Ubiquitous DC-3 Found in Google Earth - November 23, 2005
  129. UFO Sighting Locations in Google Earth - November 4, 2005
  130. Magnalox - GPS Story Telling for Google Earth - October 19, 2005
  131. Huge Resource of 3D Glider Tracks for Google Earth - October 12, 2005
  132. Categorized African Animals in Google Earth - October 11, 2005
  133. Documenting a Recent Flying Trip - October 9, 2005
  134. Garmin Buys MotionBased - October 4, 2005
  135. Update to Planes in Flight Story - September 23, 2005
  136. Planes in Flight Captured in Google Earth - September 21, 2005
  137. MS Flight Simulator Interface - September 1, 2005
  138. Flying - Keeping a Flight Log - August 5, 2005
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