Tom Clancy's HAWX uses satellite imagery in design
Ariel dog fighting game makes use of pictures from the IKONOS satellite to help create realistic 3D environments
Ubisoft has announced that its upcoming 2009 cross platform title, Tom Clancy's HAWX, will feature levels integrated with images taken from the Earth orbiting satellite, IKONOS.
GeoEye - the owner of the satellite - has provided the development team working on the air combat title with images for 16 international locations, ranging from Rio de Janeiro, Cape Canaveral and the Middle East.
"High-resolution satellite imaging is moving from the black world of intelligence to the white world of commerce and Tom Clancy's HAWX 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 HAWX adds true photo-realism to the air combat experience."
The HAWX team has also received the aid of the US Geological Survey and the Centre for Earth Resources Observations and Science to create a topographical 'underpinning' for the satellite imagery, creating a realistic 3D representation of the Earth for the game's dogfights.
"We are extremely grateful to GeoEye for their collaboration with Ubisoft and pleased with the level of quality and service we've received," said Travis Getz, authenticity coordinator for the HAWX development team. "GeoEye's amazing imagery, combined with the intense aerial combat experience in HAWX, makes this a perfect partnership for everyone -- especially gamers."