Satellite Data Used For IL-2 Sturmovik: Birds Of Prey

[Psykoboy2]

Click for the full set

In the vein of H.A.W.X., satellite date will be used for the landscape of 505 Games' upcoming IL-2 Sturmovik: Birds Of Prey for the 360, PS3, DS, & PSP. However, unlike H.A.W.X., the data is being used to reconstruct 1940's Europe and other locations within the game.

They can't just slap on satellite images given the 50 year gap between what was then and what is now, so they've enlisted the help of the Shuttle Radar Topography Mission (yes, that would be NASA - and by the way). By using those satellite images and cross referencing them with hundreds and hundreds of wartime photos, documents, and maps, they've been able to reconstruct the landscape to match, as precisely as possible, the time period.

In total, over two million buildings and around 35 million trees were put in place using these processes to produce a level of realism previously unseen on current generation consoles.

IL-2 Sturmovik: Birds Of Prey releases this fall. For our E3 look at the game, click here.

[Wilkz07]

can't wait for this one. i love flight games. well flight games where the planes shoot at things and aren't FSX.

played all the pc Il-2 games and they are great. may have to see if they are on steam now as a refresher.

[Wasson_]

oh god PLEASE no "no assist" mode. I would literally die a little inside if they had the audacity to include something so asinine.

but...god damn, those warbirds look beautiful.

Remember! anyone who wants the real McCoy and perhaps the finest combat flight sim of all time, IL-2 Sturmovick: 1946 is always available on Steam for just 10 dollars. There are so many aircraft to fly in that game...it's fucking crazy.

[opsin]

I just got round to grabbing 1946 after a few years having not played it, and damn but it is a great game.
Rather looking forward to this now, although concerned by the idea of playing it with anything other than a stick... Looks so purdy though!

[Superman's Dead]

I've loved every dogfighting game I've played since I read the X-wing books when I was 8. They wrote them like they were WWII dogfights and I always get that Luke Skywalker rush when I sit to play one. Looks gorgeous, a definite rental at least for my 360.

[Savok]

I suppose this will have to tide me over until someone gets off their arse and makes a new Crimson Skies game.