| Sim flight games (simulated/simulator flight | | | | carrier maneuvers - taking off, locating, and |
| games) have become exponentially more popular | | | | landing in the 'controlled crash' mode required. You |
| in recent years. Part of the popularity is the | | | | can also connect to multiplayer mode with other |
| explosion in graphics and animation technology | | | | flyers and fly together in different environments |
| that have made every aspect of virtual flying | | | | from different locations. Multiplayer mode gives |
| utterly realistic. Part is the accessibility of flying | | | | you the scope of communicating with other pilots |
| itself. | | | | and, when connected, you can use their displays |
| And a large part of the popularity of sim flight | | | | to expand your own flying view up to 360 |
| games is that they are more authentic than most | | | | degrees. |
| of the gaming available online. They provide more | | | | You can use numbers of screens simultaneously |
| genuine entertainment than the contrived thrills | | | | to display different aspects of the game. For |
| and spills of other games. | | | | example, you can have a view of the control |
| In sim flight games you can island hop the South | | | | panel on one screen while having your forward |
| Pacific, go first class while flying over Machu Pichu, | | | | view displayed on another screen. You can even |
| soar over the Everglades, visit the Galapagos, and | | | | have a third party adjusting conditions within the |
| glide over the Antarctic. You get real views based | | | | game, e.g. light and weather, and then you have |
| on actual maps and the latest military data. You | | | | to decide how to respond to the challenge they |
| can take a round-the-world trip without every | | | | set up. |
| leaving your armchair. And not only do you get to | | | | Flight sim games can offer a range of aircraft |
| choose your itinerary, you also get to choose | | | | from the 1903 Wright Flyer to the Concorde or |
| your aircraft, weather conditions, even have | | | | from helicopters to Ospreys. The games take |
| friends join you in multiplayer mode. | | | | you from level to level; each aircraft has its |
| As well as the technological advances in sim flight | | | | distinctive features, handling, and speed. You feel |
| games there has been a huge increase in the | | | | the quirkiness of light aircraft and the heaviness |
| number of features that come with the games. | | | | of the controls in giant planes like the 747. You |
| For instance, open source development has been | | | | get the feeling of flying in different environments |
| incorporated into some games so that you can | | | | and into the exact visual experience of thousands |
| create your own cockpit and controls, design your | | | | of airports from around the world, maybe even |
| own plane, set up your own weather patterns, | | | | your own local one. |
| and draw the scenery you want to travel | | | | You learn by experimentation, trial and error, |
| through. | | | | from simple to advanced aircraft, small to large. |
| In some sim flight games you can do air-to-air | | | | And it is all available immediately online thanks to |
| refueling and experience all the challenges of that | | | | the magic of broadband and bandwidth. |
| mid-air assignment. You can also try aircraft | | | | |