Flight Simulation

By Cecille De Jesus @ Futurism.com

Retired United States Air Force Colonel Gene Lee recently went up against ALPHA, an artificial intelligence developed by a University of Cincinnati doctoral graduate. The contest? A high-fidelity air combat simulator.

And the Colonel lost.

In fact, all the other AI’s that the Air Force Research Lab had in their possession also lost to ALPHA…and so did all of the other human experts who tried their skills against ALPHA’s superior algorithms.

And did we mention ALPHA achieves superiority while running on a $35 Raspberry Pi?

Read on…

Source: Blue’s News

Laminar Research announces the launch of XPlane 11 for Windows and OS X, offering the latest installment in the flight simulation series. Word is: “XPlane 11 continues the evolution of the desktop version of XPlane. Over the years it has always been the policy of Laminar Research to continually improve XPlane, providing the most realistic flight simulation available, with flight modeling so accurate that it has been adopted by numerous commercial aviation organizations.” This can be picked up from the Aerosoft website, and you can get a look at this in this trailer. Here’s word:

XPlane 11 continues this evolution with new aircraft, scenery, and 3-D airports. This new version also incorporates the newest technology available in computing and graphics processing, resulting in breathtaking visual and dynamic effects.

Some of the major features of X-Plane 11 include:

• A brand new intuitive user interface and control setup
• A completely overhauled aircraft fleet with detailed documentation, plus multiple new aircraft
• High-resolution exteriors and detailed 3-D cockpits for many aircraft
• New global auto-gen scenery with both European and North American details
• The latest road placement and global scenery from open street map are included
• Now with over 3000 airports with 3-D buildings & airport scenery
• Airports are now populated with dynamic, driving service vehicles and static and dynamic aircraft.
• New rendering engine for enhanced lighting and water effects
• Updated weather and atmospheric effects
• Enhanced performance from the modern 64-bit engine

The boxed version of XPlane 11 is available at: www.aerosoft.com

RORTOS, the Italian leader in the development of flight simulators, announced today “Blue Angels: Ready, Break!” has launched for Windows 10 on the PC. Rortos successfully launched its mobile flight simulator Blue Angels: Aerobatic Sim for ioS and Android platforms in July, and an Xbox version of the game is currently in development.

The flight simulator for PC includes new features since the mobile version was released including enhanced graphics, compatibility with the joystick, Hotas, Flight Yoke and Pedals for an even more immersive and realistic experience.

“We are excited to introduce “Blue Angels: Ready, Break!” to our fans, gamers, and flight simulator enthusiasts,” , said Roberto Simonetto, CEO of RORTOS. “Players will find BLUE ANGELS: READY, BREAK!” delivers the perfect flight simulation experience for PC. With the addition of the keyboard, joystick and pedals, gamers can expect an exhilarating Blue Angels flight ahead.”

The game is now available for $9.99 at the Windows store.

Rortos, the Italian leader in the development of flight simulators, announced today that “Blue Angels: Ready, Break!”, will launch later this month for PC Windows. Rortos successfully launched the flight simulator by the same name for iOS and Android platforms in mid-July, and an Xbox version of the game is also being planned.

Presented at the National Naval Aviation Museum of Pensacola in Florida during the weekend of the Blue Angels’ airshow in July, the simulator of the US Navy Flight Demonstration Squadron for PC and Surface Windows 10 includes many additions and enhancements from the mobile version of the game. The PC game will include innovations such as improved graphics as well as the compatibility with the joystick, Hotas, Flight Yoke and Pedals for an even more immersive and realistic experience.

“Our goal was to respond to the requests of our fans and the flight simulator community and turn some of their suggestions into reality,” said Roberto Simonetto, CEO of RORTOS. “By providing this incredible flight simulator for our PC player fan base, we are creating an even better riveting gaming experience for our fans. The addition of a specific guide system for the keyboard and joystick will evoke a more authentic Blue Angels experience for players.”

Take the role of one of the pilots of the US NAVY aerobatic team

RORTOS, the Italian leader in the development of flight simulators for mobile devices, announces the new flight simulator “Blue Angels: Aerobatic Sim” available soon for Android and iOS (followed later by the PC and XBOX versions), which will allow all users, even the most inexperienced ones, to test themselves in the famous acrobatics of the prestigious American aerobatic team.

“We are completing the development of a flight simulator dedicated to aerobatics and aerobatic demonstration squadron flying”, commented Roberto Simonetto, RORTOS’ CEO . “We are grateful for the pilots and the whole team of the US Navy Blue Angels who provided an accuracy verification that allowed us to create an exciting simulator for a unique and engaging gaming experience.”

The first screenshots are available to view here. (Source: Worthplaying)

The game has been officially licensed by the US NAVY and designed for all the fans of flight, acrobatics and flight demonstrations.

The main features are:

• Reproduction of all official manoeuvers of the US Navy Blue Angels
• Flight as a soloist and in demonstration formation.
• Accurate reproduction of airshows’ locations
• Additive Mode to invent your own acrobatic figure
• Airshow Mode to arrange your own airshow on your favorite location

With more than 55 million users around the world, thanks to products such as Carrier Landings, Extreme Landings, AirFighter, Helicopter Sim, Historical Landings, Battleship Destroyer, F18 Carrier Landing and Air Navy Fighters, RORTOS is ready to launch, during the year, new simulators, with important and prestigious collaborations.

RORTOS is based in Verona and consists of an all-Italian team. Born in 2012 it carries forward its mission with enthusiasm and quality: spreading the passion for flight through an experience that is accessible to everyone.

Current RORTOS simulators are developed for iOS, Android, Mac, PC platforms and can be downloaded from Apple Store, Google Play, Windows Store and Amazon App Store.

Dovetail Games, the multi award-winning developer and publisher of the Train Simulator series and Dovetail Games Fishing, today gave flight sim fans a lift for the holiday season with the announcement that Microsoft Flight Simulator X: Steam Edition will launch on December 18 at a spectacular introductory price.

Microsoft Flight Simulator X: Steam Edition delivers an authentically accurate aerial experience for simulation enthusiasts and those with a passion for all things flight. Pilots can climb into the cockpits of over twenty aircraft, from commercial and fighter jets to single-engine private planes and helicopters. More than 80 missions will test players in a variety of ways, including search and rescue challenges, test pilot scenarios, races and more. The game features updated multiplayer functionality, Windows 8.1 support and over 24,000 airports, delivering a beautiful, connected world and vast horizon begging to be explored.

First released in 2006, Microsoft Flight Simulator X’s arrival on Steam marks the first exciting steps in the global licensing deal between Dovetail Games and Microsoft announced earlier this year. In addition to distributing Microsoft Flight Simulator X: Steam Edition, Dovetail Games is also working on its own original titles based on Microsoft’s flight technology, carrying on nearly three decades of tradition established by this award-winning franchise. Dovetail Games and partners will also be launching a range of add-ons for Microsoft Flight Simulator X: Steam Edition on Steam in the New Year.

Microsoft Flight Simulator X: Steam Edition will be available on Windows PC via Steam on December 18.

Today is the day of the great launch, as we are overjoyed to be able to tell you that Buzz Aldrin’s Space Program Manager is now taking off and reaching new heights! Now that the game is officially released, nothing is holding you back from jumping in and exploring the solar system, as you race to be the first agency to put a man on the moon!

Following an intense and satisfying early-access period, Buzz Aldrin’s Space Program Manager has been designed in direct cooperation with the community, taking ideas from the fans and implementing them as new features. This includes the addition of the Soviet Space Agency, as well as the often requested multiplayer modes. It is thanks to the early adopters that we have been able to the most out of the game and we thank them all for their input.

In order to celebrate the launch of Buzz Aldrin’s Space Program Manager, we have teamed up with the Kennedy Space Center in Florida to organize a contest with awesome prices! The contest will be open to anyone who owns a copy of the game and the main price will be a trip to the Kennedy Space Center itself! In addition to the contest, we are also giving you a $10 discount for the first week!

The Steam version of Space Program Manager is also available!

Buzz Aldrin’s Space Program Manager (SPM) Road to the Moon is the ultimate game of space exploration. It is the mid 1950s and the race for dominance between the US and the Soviet Union is about to move into a new dimension: space. Take charge of the US or Soviet space agencies – your duty is be the first to the moon. Carefully manage your budget by opening programs, spending R&D funds on improving the hardware, recruiting personnel and astronauts and launching space missions in this realistic turn based strategy game.

Grab Space Program Manager from the official product page.

Last week the Early Access program for Buzz Aldrin’s Space Program Manager closed its doors. The game is now on the launch pad and the countdown has started. The official launch is scheduled for October 31st and engineers from Polar Motion are working hard to offer a safe and exotic flight to the players.

Not only has the Early Access program helped the developers to fine-tune their game but also it contributed to exploring new possibilities. As a result the final version of Buzz Aldrin’s Space Program Manager will benefit from a more ambitious scope than initially planned. Among the features regularly requested from the early adopters was a multiplayer mode. From the very beginning the game was developed to provide only solo space odysseys, and integrating an engaging multiplayer mode seemed to be very challenging. But the idea immediately caught on around the development team and Polar Motion is really excited to announce that both solo and multiplayer modes will be available at release!

In the multiplayer mode – powered by our convenient and versatile PBEM++ technology -players will be able to relive the ruthless race for dominance in space between the US and the Soviet Union. They will have to choose their side and run a space agency with only one goal in mind: be the first to the Moon! Being notified when their competitor completes successfully their missions; they will feel the same pressure as Managing Directors did during the Cold War. Alternatively a Free Mode will be available to let the players make their own multiplayer space adventures.

Get more information on Buzz Aldrin’s Space Program Manager from its official product page.

Buzz Aldrin’s Space Program Manager gets release date.

“But why, some say, the Moon? Why choose this as our goal? And they may well ask, why climb the highest mountain? Why, 35 years ago, fly the Atlantic? ” – US President John F. Kennedy ; 1962.

On July 20th 1969, the Apollo 11 mission successfully landed. For the first time in history, human beings walked on the Moon. The conquest of space that had started a few years after the end of WWII reached its climax with a manned lunar landing. In competition with the USSR, the US gained a decisive advantage when images of Neil Armstrong, Buzz Aldrin and their lunar exploration module were broadcast on live TV all over the world from the Sea of Tranquillity. President Kennedy won his historic gamble by landing a man on the Moon and returning him safely to the Earth before the end of the decade. A whole new era of space conquests was opened…

45 years after this extraordinary technological achievement, the Apollo 11 images still evoke strong emotions. Today, Slitherine and Polar Motion – developer of Buzz Aldrin’s Space Program Manager – commemorate this anniversary by releasing a tribute video to allow everyone to relive the Lunar landing and officially announce the game’s final release date: October 31st 2014.

In Buzz Aldrin’s Space Program Manager, you will be able to play a critical role in the space exploration programs and the race for dominance between the US and the Soviet Union in space. They will have to choose their side and run a space agency with only one goal in mind: be the first to the Moon! By managing their budget, opening programs, spending R&D funds on improving the hardware, recruiting personnel and astronauts and launching space missions, they will live an engaging and challenging space odyssey in this realistic turn based strategy game.

Buzz Aldrin’s Space Program Manager is currently available as an Early Access Program, which will be closed on August 10th 2014. After that, the game will only be available after the release date. Be sure to sign up if you want to be part of the last leg of its development!

Get more information on Buzz Aldrin’s Space Program Manager from its official product page.

View the new teaser trailer HERE.

Publisher gains exclusive rights to create flight simulators using Microsoft’s flight technology

The award-winning creators of the best-selling Train Simulator franchise have today announced a global licensing deal with Microsoft, granting them the rights to develop and publish all-new flight products based on Microsoft’s genre-defining flight technology. The company is currently investigating new concepts in this area and is expecting to bring a release to market in 2015.

In addition to this licensing agreement, Dovetail Games is pleased to announce that it has also acquired the rights to distribute the multi-award winning Microsoft Flight Simulator X: Gold Edition via Valve’s popular digital retail channel, Steam, entitled Microsoft Flight Simulator X: Steam Edition.

First released in 2006, Microsoft Flight Simulator X is widely acknowledged as one of the most popular simulation products on the market. Microsoft Flight Simulator X: Steam Edition will include the Deluxe Edition and the Acceleration Expansion Pack in one bundle. Dovetail Games will bring Microsoft Flight Simulator X: Steam Edition to the Steam online gaming platform for the first time in late 2014.

PRESS RELEASE