Monday July 24, 11:04 am ET
10th Edition Offers Enriched Real World Features
CHICAGO, July 24 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- NAVTEQ (NYSE: NVT - News), a leading global provider of digital maps for vehicle navigation and location-based solutions, has been selected by Microsoft to enhance Microsoft's "Flight Simulator X," a Windows PC-based simulator used by gaming and aviation enthusiasts, with NAVTEQ® map data. Microsoft "Flight Simulator X" is the 10th edition of the highly successful "Flight Simulator" franchise, and offers players an innovative aviation gaming experience immersed in a beautifully rich and realistic simulated world. NAVTEQ will enhance the visual realism of the game by providing its highly accurate map data as a real-world foundation of street level detail.
Expected to be available this holiday season, "Flight Simulator X" is the culmination of nearly 25 years of the landmark "Flight Simulator" franchise and the most significant addition to date. The 10th edition will immerse players in an amazingly detailed, realistic world and offer a host of new gaming experiences including the addition of dozens of new aircraft and new mission-based gameplay. Additionally, "Flight Simulator X" provides a rich, connected world of online interaction where users can choose who they want to be, from air-traffic controller to pilot or co-pilot, and interact with other aviators from around the globe by chatting in real-time using a headset.
NAVTEQ data such as road network information, ferry landings, railroads, detailed water information (e.g. oceans, rivers, lakes, harbors, etc.), parks, golf courses, and recreational areas, enhances the "Flight Simulator X" user experience. A visual representation of these types of data extends the realism of the simulation by:
-- Optimizing the modeling of the real world with nearly 200 land and water classifications, over 20 environmental and cultural regions, 12 monthly seasons and 7500 texture tiles (e.g. farm, city, forest, lava);
-- Bringing the world to life, as the data integrates and automatically generates ground vehicle traffic, railway simulation and water-based cargo and leisure ships (including types of vehicles, traffic congestion, accidents, direction of travel);
-- Displaying the size of streets (including approximate number of lanes), street names, bridges, and tunnels.
"Microsoft and NAVTEQ have a long collaborative history, and we are excited to extend our relationship into Microsoft's gaming realm," stated Winston Guillory, Senior Vice President - Consumer & Business Sales, NAVTEQ. "Location awareness is becoming increasingly evident in the gaming industry and to gaming application developers, exemplified by Microsoft in 'Flight Simulator X.' NAVTEQ is dedicated to the broad promotion of location content, and look forward to the future growth of unique location-enhanced applications."
"We're committed to continually improving the 'Flight Simulator' franchise and providing people with the most realistic experience possible," said Shawn Firminger, ACES Studio Manager. "The integration of NAVTEQ's quality map of NAVTEQ data into 'Flight Simulator X' allows us to accurately show you where you are in the world, depict what that area of the world should look like, and generate the types of experiences you'd expected in that geographic region. Incorporating NAVTEQ data helps us to cement the detail needed to provide people with an unparalleled visual experience."
About Microsoft Game Studios
Microsoft Game Studios is a leading worldwide publisher and developer of games for the Xbox® video game system and Windows® and online platforms. Comprising a network of top developers, Microsoft Game Studios is committed to creating innovative and diverse games for Windows ( http://www.microsoft.com/games/ ), including such franchises as Age of Empires®, Flight Simulator and Zoo Tycoon(TM); Xbox ( http://www.xbox.com/ ), including such franchises as Halo®, Project Gotham Racing and MechAssault; and Zone.com ( http://www.zone.com/ ), the official games channel for the MSN® network and home to such hits as Bejeweled and OutSmart(TM).
About NAVTEQ
NAVTEQ is a leading provider of comprehensive digital map information for automotive navigation systems, mobile navigation devices, Internet-based mapping applications, and government and business solutions. NAVTEQ creates the digital maps and map content that power navigation and location-based services solutions around the world. The Chicago-based company was founded in 1985 and has approximately 1,900 employees located in 133 offices in 24 countries.
NAVTEQ is a trademark in the U.S. and other countries. All rights reserved.
This document may include certain "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, plans, objectives, expectations and intentions and other statements contained in this press release that are not historical facts and statements identified by words such as "expects", "anticipates", "intends", "plans", "believes", "seeks", "estimates" or words of similar meaning. These statements are based on our current beliefs or expectations and are inherently subject to various risks and uncertainties, including those set forth under "Item 1A. Risk Factors" in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2005, as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
Actual results may differ materially from these expectations due to changes in global political, economic, business, competitive, market and regulatory factors. NAVTEQ does not undertake any obligation to update any forward-looking statements contained in this document.
bulldog232Member since: 3/5/2003 From: Chicago, IL
Posted - 7/24/2006 12:26:05 PM
This version expands out of core simulation. "With more than 50 new missions to choose from, aviators can build their skill levels and engage in even more stimulating gameplay than before. Players can choose to compete in the Red Bull air race or bring relief materiel to the Congo, keeping track of their progress on each mission." Source: FS Insider
Games will always push the available hardware to the limits and strive to be as realistic as possible... A simulator even more so.
And yes, a company as big as Microsoft who has been releasing Flight Simulator for the last 20 or so years DOES have authorization to use the brand names and logos in it's sim. It even uses pilots from the above mentioned companies to test the authenticity of the flight experience and tweak it to make it more realistic.
RavuyaModerator - GDNet LoungeMember since: 2/13/2001 From: Okotoks, Alberta
Posted - 7/24/2006 5:50:57 PM
I'd imagine there's a large amount of data to be loaded; I remember the previous version of Flight Simulator needed quite the beefy machine to load even a small portion of the terrain textures required.
It's sure come a long way from Flight Sim 4 back on my 2MB Mac, where having colour was a milestone achievement.
Original post by Anonymous Poster
i've always wondered...is a simulator really a "game"???
my opinion: no.
I agree. Simulator and game are as similar as day is to night. The only thing in common is that both have rules. Games have arbitrary rules made by the creator. Simulator has real world rules made by the FAA.
Original post by Ravuya
I'd imagine there's a large amount of data to be loaded; I remember the previous version of Flight Simulator needed quite the beefy machine to load even a small portion of the terrain textures required.
I wonder if the terrain data will actually come with the game itself, or if the game will require a constant internet connection (similar to Steam-enabled games) in order to do anything.
I'm hoping the former, but expect the latter. It's a pretty big world, what with over 510Gm^2 of land and water, and I can't expect them to pack all that even onto a pair or triplet of DVDs.
Original post by Alpha_ProgDes
is anyone worried about another 9/11 happening again? or am i overreacting?
Definatly over reaction, in that case lets stop training people driving cars, trucks and everything else. just have to make sure our intelegents works and not sleeps on the job as tehy did with 9/11
It doesn't even matter if the FS franchise disappeared forever. Terrorists are far too resourceful to be held down by a measly inaccuracy in a simulator and Microsoft clearly knows that. So there is no point in making the FS series inaccurate. Besides, the majority of the FS community wants accuracy [in one form or another].
[/offtopic]
I especially look forward to buying FSX. However, I will only buy it once the DX10-based hardware is available and I am glad that the global terrain will be far more accurate than expected. Besides, I always wanted to see my local area represented exactly how it is in FS. I agree with the possibility of using Steam-based application for FS. I have Half-Life 2 installed on my computer and I need constant internet access just to play a single level. This is one of those ways that the gaming industry is using in order to fight off piracy.
Navteq data is available in the current version of flight simulator (FS2004 or FS9) in the form of the product "Ultimate Terrain" from Scenery Solutions. Same NAVTEQ data you see in Google Earth/Maps, water features, roads, rails. This is a nice thing that it will include NAVTEQ data "out of the box" but importing mass amounts of real-world accurate road and water data into FS is nothing new.
My question is how good the coverage is. Currently you can obtain high-res data such as that from NAVTEQ availble for the entire US, Canada, most of Europe (mostly western Europe, eastern is not as complete), and New Zealand as well as possibly Austrailia. All available for FS9 currently. NAVTEQ does not provide the best source data for all regions (for example the Canadian Data is superior from other providers) so I wonder what other sources MS will use and what the level of high-res coverage will be.
I have a GPS which uses NAVTEQ data. I just updated it to the latest NAVTEQ data, and I feel like I wasted my money as I see no difference. NAVTEQ's data is still at least 8 years old. There are roads around here that were built at lest 8 years ago with new businesses that NAVTEQ doesn't show. There has been major highway construction, an exit has been moved, a new exit installed, and one section moved. This all opened up over 6 months ago, the new NAVTEQ data doesn't depict this. There are places that have been around all my life that the NAVTEQ doesn't have, and even stranger is it thinks there is a road that has never existed.
I think the old way of doing it, using USGS satelite data (not satelite images) would produce more accurate scenery. They just need to use much higher resolution data than they have in FS9.
smitty1276GDNet+Member since: 1/17/2001 From: Seattle, WA
Posted - 7/25/2006 11:38:31 AM
Quote:
Original post by Alpha_ProgDes
is anyone worried about another 9/11 happening again? or am i overreacting?
You should be worried. Another 9/11 is almost certain to occur in about 47 days.
Quote:
Original post by flywme
I agree. Simulator and game are as similar as day is to night. The only thing in common is that both have rules.
I think its a semantic difference that is hardly worth noting. If a simulation can be fun, then is can be considered a game without misgivings. Is a sports game not a game, then? It follows rules defined by the NBA or NFL or FIFA or some other governing body.
Original post by Anonymous Poster
This is great news !!
good bye - "Ultimate Terrain" from Scenery Solutions.
marco
Marco,
I have all the Ultimate Terrain versions. I know that Ultimate Terrain uses Navteq data for the roads in the USA and Canada. But, Scenery Solutions said earlier this year that they would never choose Navteq for water, because of the poor quality of the Navteq water data. In fact, they had to license water data for Canada, the USA, and Europe from other data vendors.
Also, Scenery Solutions says that their product will not be obsolete for FSX.
The water does look better in FSX. But, they are showing selective areas. I want to see all the areas. Also, the roads look to be only highways and maybe major roads.
Plus, I don't see the 3D night lighting or other features in Ultimate Terrain (landclass, etc).
I will wait and see what FSX includes. But, I would be careful about making any assumptions until you actually have FSX in hand.
Original post by Anonymous Poster
This is one of those ways that the gaming industry is using in order to fight off piracy.
Actually, I'm thinking that in this case, piracy might not even need to enter into it. There is over half a billion square kilometres of surface area on this planet, and if Microsoft and NAVTECH are supplying highly accurate terrain data, I'd assume that it'd use DVDs the way old software used to use floppies -- by the ten-pack.
Original post by Anonymous Poster
This is great news !!
good bye - "Ultimate Terrain" from Scenery Solutions.
marco
Marco,
I have all the Ultimate Terrain versions. I know that Ultimate Terrain uses Navteq data for the roads in the USA and Canada. But, Scenery Solutions said earlier this year that they would never choose Navteq for water, because of the poor quality of the Navteq water data. In fact, they had to license water data for Canada, the USA, and Europe from other data vendors.
Also, Scenery Solutions says that their product will not be obsolete for FSX.
The water does look better in FSX. But, they are showing selective areas. I want to see all the areas. Also, the roads look to be only highways and maybe major roads.
Plus, I don't see the 3D night lighting or other features in Ultimate Terrain (landclass, etc).
I will wait and see what FSX includes. But, I would be careful about making any assumptions until you actually have FSX in hand.
Cheers,
Edward
Let's see Scenery Solutions is a guy in his garage doing add-on and trying to stay profitable (no offense, but add-on guys struggle, good start, but it's not a life). Microsoft is a major force in the gaming community and big part of the mapping/GIS community. Not to mention that while we have not seen the "3D night lighting" yet, that Scenery Solutions is facing a situation where Microsoft has incorporated all of his add-on's features. No one needs to buy Scenery Solutions products if it is all in the new version of Flight Sim. I hate to say it, but I believe Microsoft this time. There is a reason that almost every car company in the world uses Navteq.
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bulldog232
Member since: 3/5/2003 From: Chicago, IL
Posted - 7/24/2006 11:44:10 AM
Posted - 7/24/2006 3:47:56 PM
Posted - 7/24/2006 5:41:18 PM
Posted - 7/25/2006 4:31:21 PM
