Press Releases from the Simming Industy:

Games For Good

Posted: Thursday, April 06, 2000 - 20:47
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CHILDREN TO BENEFIT FROM UPCOMING GAMES INDUSTRY GALA
Games for Good Announces Charity Event in Los Angeles E3 2000

San Francisco, April 6, 2000 - Games for Good, a volunteer group
of game industry professionals, announced today this year's charity dinner to
benefit children will be held in Los Angeles. The dinner and silent auction will
take place at Cicada Restaurant at 7:00 PM, May 10, 2000 in tandem with the
video and computer game trade show Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3). All proceeds
from the event will go directly to organizations dedicated to enhancing quality
of life for children.

"We have decided to pull our resources to create something really
good for kids, good for our spirits, and good for the games industry," commented
Lynne Killey, Games for Good chairperson and event organizer. "Based on the
success of the last 'Games for Good' event, we are hoping to raise $250,000 this
year to benefit various children's charities."

"The Games for Good event is a great way to give back to the
community on behalf of the interactive entertainment industry," said Paul Baldwin,
Vice President of Marketing of Eidos Interactive. "The computer and video games
business has grown enormously in the past few years. We need to step up to
the plate and give our full support to Games for Good and other organizations
that strive to improve children's lives."

The first Games for Good event was held in 1998 at E3 in Atlanta,
Georgia. With the cooperation of prominent members of the interactive
entertainment community, Games for Good raised $100,000 for the Starbright Foundation, an
organization dedicated to changing the face of childhood illness. Additional
funds were granted to Maitri, St Anthony's, Toys for Tots, and Ronald McDonald
House. Participants at the 1998 Games for Good included Sega of America, MGM
InterActive, Eidos Interactive, LucasArts Entertainment, and The Ziff Davis Video Games Group.

About Games for Good
Games for Good is a group of volunteers in the computer and video
game business that has come together with the goal of raising money for
charity. The group's goal is to raise $250,000 from within the interactive
entertainment community.

Tickets for the event are $200 per person. Table sponsorships
are also available. Anyone interested in purchasing tickets may do so by contacting
Carrie Tice at (415) 508-2708 or by email at ctice@snowball.com. People
wishing to help with the event can contact Lynne Killey at (415) 776-4454.

Gunship Keyboard Control Cover Released

Posted: Wednesday, April 05, 2000 - 15:39
NEWS RELEASE - 04.05.00

LAY IT & PLAY IT! Cockpit Collection Ltd., the makers of Keyboard Control Covers that make PC games immediately playable and Hasbro Interactive are pleased to announce the recent release of the Keyboard Control Cover for Microprose's Gunship. Please click here for details.

Jane's Releases F/A18 Patch V1.01F Readme

Posted: Tuesday, April 04, 2000 - 09:01


F/A-18 V1.01F UPDATE README
Jane's(r) Combat Simulations

TABLE OF CONTENTS

I. DISPLAY DRIVER UPDATE INFORMATION
1. 3Dfx Voodoo 3
2. Nvidia GeForce
3. Matrox G400

II. UPDATE FEATURES
1. Crash bugs resolved
2. Multiplayer improvements
3. Wrapper screen improvements
4. AI behavior enhancements and changes
5. Flight model enhancements and changes
6. Avionics systems enhancements and changes
7. Weapon system enhancements and changes
8. Miscellaneous improvements and changes

III. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

I. DISPLAY ISSUES
1. 3Dfx Voodoo 3. Using older Voodoo 3 drivers can cause graphic
anomalies and game instability. Some of these anomalies include see-through MDI screens and distorted sky, landscapes, and objects. To remedy this, please download the latest Voodoo 3 reference drivers from: http://www.3dfxgamers.com/view.asp?PAGE=V3Drivers

2. Nvidia GeForce. If sensor or weapon video is displayed on the UFC and the view is panned, drawing errors can occur. This anomaly has been fixed.

3. Matrox G400. The current G400 series drivers have incompatibility
issues with F/A-18. Problems include seeing through objects, missing polygons,and game instability. Matrox is aware of this problem so please check their web site periodically for updated drivers.
http://www.matrox.com/

II. UPDATE FEATURES

1. Crash bugs resolved - Some system configurations have been prone to crash to desktop (CTD)when the FLY button is selected, particularly in the training missions. - CTDs resulted on some systems when either a Harpoon or SLAM ER+ was released and then the player accessed the F9 (weapon) view. - In simulation CTD when landing on carrier - Mission builder CTD when Russian Mechanized Company unit is placed in world. - If a Walleye was released and it was the last weapon onboard the plane, a CTD would result.
- In simulation CTD when aircraft forced in a particular type of
uncontrolled departure.

2. Multiplayer improvements - The patched version of Jane's F/A-18 is not be multiplayer compatible with the original version. Tests have showed that some systems encounter multiplayer problems after
installing the patch file. A clean install of the game and patch resolves this issue.

- Spontaneous aircraft destruction after taking off from a runway has been fixed.
- Identification of message sender has been added to the beginning of chat messages.
- Players now have the ability to continue a mission after the end mission plaque is presented by selecting the "NO" button.
- Microwarping/nose bounce has been reduced.
- Clients now receive marshal communications.
- All mission participants now hear consistent voices and fuel states.
- All autopilot modes are now functional in multiplayer.
- Player no longer must have show subtitles cheat active to see player
chat messages.
- Repeated radio calls after taking off from carrier have been removed.
- The master caution light and fire extinguisher reset correctly after a player respawn.

3. Wrapper screen improvements
> - In the stick-scaling screen, roll and pitch were swapped. This has been
> fixed.
> - Canopy reflections can now be set independently of the cockpit detail
> setting.
> - In a campaign, it was possible to load weapons from the default loadout
> list and not have the weapons subtracted from the ship's weapons
inventory.
> This has been remedied.
>
> 4. AI behavior enhancements and changes
> - If an aircraft was assigned a FAC mission but did not have a FAC
loadout,
> the aircraft would give repeated FAC calls. FAC aircraft include the
F-14B
> and S-3B. This has been fixed.
> - Ships with deck guns will now engage other ships and land targets.
> - Aircraft will no longer fly with their landing gear down while in
combat.
> - Key functions have been added to filter communications. These can be
> mapped to a key of your choice in the custom key mapper screen. Functions
> include:
> WING_RADIO_TOGGLE This will turn on/off a filter of comms from your
wingmen
> ATC_RADIO_TOGGLE This will turn on/off a filter of comms from Strike and
> Marshal. Once you request landing though you cannot filter these comms.
> OTHER_RADIO_TOGGLE This will turn on/off a filter of comms from other
planes
> (excluding C3 types) unless they are within 20NM of you.
> - Wingmen now exit formation when returning to base.
> - Tomahawk-capable ships can now engage land targets with cruise missiles.
> - Aircraft can engage ships with cruise missiles at greater range now.
> - Aircraft will now maintain their assigned altitude when attacking a
target
> with missiles.
> - When wingmen are fired upon by mobile SAMs, they will respond with an
> appropriate SAM launch warning vice Alamo or Archer calls.
>
> 5. Flight model enhancements and changes
> - Stick input in pitch is now more symmetrical.
> - Pitch performance in inverted flight has been adjusted so the aircraft
> will try to maintain approximately 1 G flight with neutral stick.
> - Rudder authority has been increased.
>
> 6. Avionics systems enhancements and changes
> - Key functions for RADAR_AZ_SCAN, RADAR_MODE, and GUN_RATE now work
> correctly.
> - Master Mode cockpit indicator lights now respond accordingly when mode
is
> changed via master mode keys.
> - The mouse cursor is now visible while in a padlock view mode.
> - All MDI and MPCD push buttons can be mapped to key presses. The UFC can
> be mapped as well but it must be in MDI mode. These can be mapped to a
key
> of your choice in the custom key mapper screen.
> - Each cockpit display can be assigned a unique TDC activation key. These
> can be mapped to a key of your choice in the custom key mapper screen.
> - G readouts have been added to the HUD navigation mode.
>
> 7. Weapon system enhancements and changes
> - AA-9 Amos blast radius and damage values have been adjusted.
> - It is now possible to lock on to SS-N-2A Styx and SS-N-22 Sunburn
> anti-ship missiles.
> - Dropped air-to-air missiles (like the AIM-7) briefly decelerate before
> motor ignites.
> - Ground- and sea-based air defense systems have increased lethality.
They
> will be less prone to lose locks and multi-targeting capability for
> appropriate systems has been made more robust.
> - Home-On-Jam (HOJ) capability has been added to the AIM-120C AMRAAM.
> - It is now possible to steer the AGM-62 if it is the last weapon dropped.
>
> 8. Miscellaneous improvements and changes
> - VRF's Tactile Feedback System Support. The updated version of Jane's
> F/A-18 support's VRF's Tactile Feedback System, which includes the "TFCS"
> electronic controller and the "TFSU" Tactile Feedback Seating Unit. The
> intelliVIBE module for Jane's F/A-18 as well as additional product
> information can be found at VRF's corporate web site:
> www.vrf.com
> In order to activate the intelliVIBE module, your computer's registry
needs
> to be updated. We have provided a convenient shortcut for this process
which
> you must perform only once to turn it on. Simply double-click the file
> "IVIBE_ON.REG", and any subsequent F/A-18 sessions will attempt to
activate
> intelliVIBE. To disable intelliVIBE, double-click the file "IVIBEOFF.REG".
> - Runway and city lights have been set to correctly work with the
> appropriate time of day.
> - It is possible to now access the ACM views when the front view is set to
> show no cockpit.
> - The individual engine levers now respond accordingly when each engine is
> shut down.
> - Fuel dump no longer works while aircraft is on ground.
> - You can create an "f18misc.ini" file in your resource directory to
change
> the following things. The simplest way to do this is make a copy of your
> f18keys.ini file; copy it; and then paste it in your resource directory.
> Once this done, rename the file f18misc.ini; delete its contents; then add
> the lines (see below) you wish.
> HUD_R Default HUD red value
> HUD_G Default HUD green value
> HUD_B Default HUD blue value
> COMM_R Default Comm menu active red color
> COMM_G Default Comm menu active green color
> COMM_B Default Comm menu active blue color
> INACTIVE_COMM_R Default Comm menu inactive red color
> INACTIVE_COMM_G Default Comm menu inactive green color
> INACTIVE_COMM_B Default Comm menu inactive blue color
> COMM_BOX_R Default Comm menu box red color
> COMM_BOX_G Default Comm menu box green color
> COMM_BOX_B Default Comm menu box blue color
> END_BOX If this is set to 0 then the end mission box will not appear for
> mission success or failure messages.
> ESC_OPTION This is for multiplayer only and deals with how the End Game
Box
> is brought up. If set to 0 it's normal. 1 means you have to use
> "SHIFT-ESC" to bring it up. 2 means the ESC key cannot be used to end a
> game and you must map SIM_DONE to another key.
> ORIGINAL_KEYBOARD Setting this to 1 will return it to the original
settings.
> OTHER_RADIO_RANGE = 20 This is only applies when you have Toggled off
> OTHER_RADIO_TOGGLE. This will allow you to still hear other AIs nearby so
> you can be aware of things happening around you. The default value is
20NM.
> If you don't want to hear the others at all setting it to 0 should do
this.
> M_SHOW_FRIEND = 1 This will allow friendly human planes to show up on your
> TEWS. Humans with STT locks should show up regardless of this setting.
>
> The format needed to use these in the ini file is:
> NAME = value where NAME is something like HUD_R and value is a number.
RGB
> values are from 1 to 255.
>
> For example to have a white HUD you would have this in the ini file:
> HUD_R = 255
> HUD_G = 255
> HUD_B = 255
>
> For black you would use all 1's instead.
>
> - A sound has been attached with the ejection sequence.
> - The gun sound will not be heard now if the player fires the gun while
> aircraft's landing gear is down.
> - F/A-18E anti-collision lights are now visible from long distance.
> - The positioning of the IFOLS "meatball" has been adjusted for an
accurate
> 3-wire trap.
> - The force feedback gun bug, in which the gun could continue to fire, has
> been fixed.
> - Threat Padlock view range has been reduced to six miles.
> - Terrain line of sight restrictions while padlocking enemy aircraft have
> been implemented.
>
> III. FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
>
> Q: I give my wingmen the attack air defenses command but they don't seem
to
> attack SAM and AAA units. What am I doing wrong?
>
> A: Before giving the attack ground defenses command, ensure that your
> wingmen are within 30 miles of the air defenses you wish them attack and
> that they are loaded with the appropriate weaponry. Even if this is done
> properly, wingmen may not be able to immediately attack air defenses
because
> they may be defensive against enemy threats.
>
> Q: Despite the patch, the game still crashes. What do I do?
>
> A: Over-clocking of the system's CPU or the graphics card can lead to
> instabilities that may lead to a crash. Additionally, adjusting of system
> bios from default settings have also been shown to lead to game crashes.
>
> Q: I dropped a penetrating weapon on a bunker but the target was not
> destroyed. How do I destroy such a target?
>
> A: Heavily hardened structures like weapon bunkers or sub pens will often
> require two or more penetrating weapons to destroy them. Do not expect a
> single weapon to always do the job.
>
> Q: I destroyed several bunkers at a complex I was assigned to destroy but
I
> still failed the mission. How am I supposed to win these?
>
> A: In missions that your flight is assigned to destroy a fixed ground
> target, your target will always be designated as DMPI-1. You can view
this
> location from the Targeting screen. This target must be destroyed in
order
> to achieve a mission success.
>
> Q: I sometimes see blinking threat indicators on the EW page from active
> missiles like the AA-12 and AA-9. Why is it doing this?
>
> A: These missiles incorporate small radars and will attempt to lock onto
> your aircraft once they are within sufficient range. If the missile's
radar
> has difficulty maintaining a lock, you may see its threat indication on
the
> EW page blink on and off.
>
> Q: Friendly aircraft sometimes shoot me down with AIM-120 or AIM-54
> air-to-air missiles. Why are they doing this?
>
> A: Active radar guided missiles like these require the launch aircraft to
> provide steering to the intended target during the initial portion of
> flight. If this support is interrupted, these missiles will go
radar-active
> and will seek out the first contact it detects. If you have friendly
> aircraft behind you firing such missiles, the missiles may home in on you
if
> the launch aircraft loses lock on the intended target.
>
> Q: Why can't I ever seem to get an non-cooperative target recognition
(NCTR)
> identification on a target I have locked up?
>
> A: Several factors determine how well NCTR will work. NCTR will not work
if
> the target is outside 40 nautical miles; there must high aspect closure
(the
> target flying towards you); and there cannot be a significant altitude
> difference between the player and the target.
>
>
> The Jane's F/A-18 Development Team would like to thank the following
> people for helping us test Jane's F/A-18. We couldn't have
> done it without you!
>
> F/A-18 external beta test team:
> Jim "Hornit" Campisi, Sean "Eagl" Long, John "Zambo" Zambie, Pierre
> "Papadoc" Legrand, and Tom "Saint" Launder.
>
> F/A-18 Electronic Arts QA test team:
> James Grandt, Gary Ward, Colin Clarke, and Ryan Gorospe.
>
> We would also like to give special thanks to those individuals in the
flight
> simulation community that have compiled many excellent user created
missions
> and add-ons. Some of these include:
>
> Fritzdog's Resource Center
> http://fa18.sim-arena.com/
>
> Ham's F/A-18 Online Operations
> http://www.ozemail.com.au/~ldham/flynavy/superhornet.htm
>
> Jane's F/A-18E Tactical Operations & Mission Planning
> http://www.zianet.com/baldeagle/
>
> Steelcity's F/A-18 Hangar
> http://members.home.com/steelcity/
>
> Limech's Jane's Site
> http://www.limech.com/index.shtml
>
> Raptor's F/A-18 Flight Deck
> http://members.xoom.com/joshwagner/f18home.htm
>
> Viper3Two's F/A-18 Website
> http://home.att.net/~Viper3TwoF18/frames.htm
>
> Jane's F/A-18 Psycho Central
> http://www.ao.net/~chuck/fa18/fa18syco.htm
>
> Check-Six
> http://spower.free.fr/
>
> To find the latest information about F/A-18 and Jane's Combat Simulations,
> please visit our website:
>
> http://www.janes.ea.com
>
> Jane's(r) F/A-18 (c) 2000 Electronic Arts. All rights reserved.
> Reference Work From Jane's library (c) 1999 Jane's Information Group Ltd.
>

SATCO London Flyin Announced for 23 April

Posted: Friday, March 31, 2000 - 14:54
SATUK OCEANIC DEPARTMENT NOTAM

26/08/00

RE: LONDON FLY-IN 23/04/00

As you may have heard the SATUK London ACC is holding a fly-in on April 23rd. As this is a large event the Oceanic department is going to promise a controller will be manning Shanwick and Gander during 1800 and 2300 GMT. The oceanic airspace is not like any other in the world and one of the noticeable differences is lack of radar !!!!.

Controller Info

Due to the large volume of traffic expected we will open up OCA_E_CTR and OCA_W_CTR. Shifts will last one hour and must be pre booked before the event by going to the registration page. We hope to also have a separate FSS active to deal with the flighplan clearances. The flight level allocation policy will be active, so when clearing
pilots flightplans on the day they must be checked for conflicting flights. Just to clear up some problems in the past, all pilots departing from the UK must contact SHN_FSS prior to taxi to request clearance (ATC please check this before issuing taxi instructions). All of the pilots flightplans will be available via the website the night before the event. Also one note Remember that you radar is very unreliable at long ranges so I recommend Whazzup (if the servers allow it again)

Pilot Info

To ensure that this event goes smoothly we request that you read the procedures and remember to report you position at every waypoint in the NAT tracks. This is very important for the controllers as it helps if they know where you are . Flightplans must be sent in before the event by filling in the form on the WebPages, ( or via
fax or phone on 01276 516141 after 11th April from the UK). Your flightplans will then be added to the WebPages with your allocated departure time and any amendments. Please check this page the night before the event. You will be emailed if there is a problem with the flightplan.


This event is going to be a challenge for both pilots and controllers, and so before taking part you should read the procedures section here

If you have any questions email me at olly.olly@net.ntl.com phone or fax me on 01276516141.

Thanks


Gary Oliver
SATUK OCA Chief
olly.olly@net.ntl.com
www.satuk.org.uk

SimWare Simulations Announces European Toll-free Numbers

Posted: Friday, March 24, 2000 - 12:09
SimWare Simulations is pleased to announce the opening of two new European TOLL FREE numbers.
SimWare Simulations United Kingdom: 0800 974 00 00 (TOLL FREE) (England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland) - Open from Tuesday to Friday 2-6 pm and on Saturday 10 am-1 pm and 2-5 pm (GMT+1).
SimWare Simulations France: 0800 72 11 11 (appel gratuit). SimWare Simulations European Headquarters' SHOW-ROOM & SHOP Phone Number: +32 2 331 25 09 - Fax Number: +32 2 331 27 04. SimWare's headquarters is located only 5 miles from the center of Brussels: Chaussee de Ruisbroek 290 - 1620 Drogenbos - BELGIUM

Order online 24/24 through Secure Website: SimWare Simulations.

Opening these new phone numbers reflects SimWare Simulations commitment to maintaining its leadership in the flight simulation world.

Founded in 1993, SimWare Simulations is one of the largest mail order shop in the world specializing in flight simulation products. SimWare carries more than 200 products on its secure website and sends a quarterly catalog to over 7,000 people worldwide. Currently, SimWare Simulations is importing various brands of flight simulation products, including; Cockpit Collection (Keyboard Cover), Flight Link, Elite, Safeline, AETI,...

Happy Landings!

SimWare Simulations, Belgium
Full catalog at SimWare Catalog
E-mail: SimWare Information.

WILCO’S ‘Airport 2000 Volume 2’ Takes Off this Week

Posted: Friday, March 24, 2000 - 10:59
Puts Microsoft Flight Simulator on a Whole New Plane

Drogenbos, Belgium (March 24, 2000) -- Desktop pilot alert! Wilco Publishing is on deck with Airport 2000 Volume 2, its sensational new scenery for Microsoft Flight Sim 2000 and 98 shipping this week. With seven new airports rendered in you-are-there detail, special night lighting effects, 10 new adventures with fully interactive ATC, and crisper-than-ever graphics using Flight Sim 2000’s Z-buffer technology, the new edition is guaranteed to keep you flying high.

Airport 2000 Volume 2 gives you London Heathrow, Barcelona, Nice Côte d’Azur, Schiphol Amsterdam, Boston Logan, Miami International and Chicago O’Hare, complete with the actual hangars, maintenance buildings and taxiways outside as well as the real restaurants, gates, departure screens, lounges and shops inside each airport. There are also nine new airplanes with instrument panels so faithfully reproduced that you could practically learn to fly on them.

Meanwhile, out on the runway, you get realistic ground markings and major-carrier aircraft taxiing and taking off around you. No more lonely landings at deserted terminals.

Airport 2000 Volume 2 also delivers seven different flight paths from airport to airport, plus three special adventures for owners of Volume 1 that link airports between the two editions. You have to follow real flight procedures to bring your passengers to their destinations, down to triggering the seatbelt and no-smoking signs and calling the cabin crew. You get to battle engine fires and tire blowouts, and you hear all communication from tower to ground and departure control.

Also available on the Airport 2000 Volume 2 CD-ROM is a free upgrade for Wilco’s popular Airport 2000 Volume I that makes it compatible with Microsoft Flight Simulator 2000, so you can pick up right where you left off when you retired Flight Simulator 98. The upgrade gives you basic work-together functionality plus a number of extras: a new third runway at the Charles de Gaulle airport in Paris, new navigation aids at Los Angeles International and JFK airports, and new runway textures with more realistic ground markings. It also adds new graphic detail to the static aircraft in Volume 1 and enhances the night light effects on buildings and ground traffic.

Airport 2000 Volume 2 carries an MSRP of $39 (U.S.). The product is available at retailers nationwide including Electronics Boutique, Babbage’s, Micro Center, and others, as well as for purchase via the Wilco Web site here. It is fully compatible with both Microsoft Flight Simulator 2000 and 98. Minimum system requirements include a Pentium 200 MHz and 32MB RAM. A 3D graphics accelerator card is recommended.

Founded in 1997, Wilco Publishing focuses on developing and marketing flight simulators. The company previously published Tahiti Scenery, Airport 2000 Volume I, and Grand Canyon add-ons to Microsoft Flight Simulator. Hangsim, its first independent title, is a PC-based glider simulation featuring groundbreaking true-to-life flight dynamics and photorealistic terrain dedicated to the glories of unpowered flight. The company takes its name from the aeronautical abbreviation for “Will Comply.” Wilco is based in Belgium and can be reached on the Web at Wilco Publishing or via phone at 011 32 2 331 32 90.

KA-52 TEAM ALLIGATOR released

Posted: Friday, March 24, 2000 - 09:30
Climb into the cockpit of the deadliest assault helicopter in history - the Russian KA-52 Alligator. Command a squad of 16 into the guts of war-torn Eastern Europe. This is 21st century chopper combat! KA-52 TEAM ALLIGATOR is the technologically advanced, long-anticipated sequel to Team Apache. Command 16 devastating Russian Alligator assault helicopters through over 100 team-based, true-to-combat campaigns through two war torn hot spots ripped from today's headlines. Belarussia and Tajikistan! Explosive incendiary graphics, atmospheric lighting effects, real-time, dynamic weather conditions and the latest in combat helicopter simulation technology deliver the most authentic assault chopper experience ever.

Features:

- Advanced multiplayer gameplay for up to 6 players. Co-operative and Deathmatch modes with real-time multiplay chat capability.
- Complete and realistically detailed KA-52 Alligator weapons arsenal.
- Dynamic textural effects on water, grass, and cornfield
- A diverse variety of terrain and environmental textures that add greater depth to each game.
- Realistic ground explosions.
- Bomb and artillery fire craters will scar the already scorched earth.
- A fully animated co-pilot.

Further details are available at the Team Alligator web site.

FlightSoft AND Hawaiian Airlines go on a widebody jetliner experience to Hawaii for Microsoft Flight Simulator 2000

Posted: Thursday, March 23, 2000 - 14:04
Flightsoft has signed a commercial license agreement with Hawaiian Airlines to produce a major add-on product for the new Microsoft Flight Simulator 2000. The product will break new ground in the emerging importance of flight simulation products. The large retail box product will target both the mass market consumer and the sophisticated PC flight sim pilots. Targeting mass market retailers in North America and Japan - the product based in Hawaii will showcase actual ATC from the islands. More information on this ground breaking product will be issued in future announcements.

PC AVIATOR AND AEROSOFT ANNOUNCE ATC-2000

Posted: Monday, March 06, 2000 - 14:46
The First Authentic TRACON Air Traffic Control Simulator for the PC

BALTIMORE, MARYLAND, 6 March 2000: Flight simulation software publisher PC Aviator, in conjunction with Oklahoma based Aerosoft, today announced the upcoming release of ATC-2000 - the first truly-authentic TRACON Air Traffic Control simulator for the PC.

ATC-2000 is a TRACON (Terminal Radar Approach CONtrol) simulator. The TRACON is the ATC facility that controls and sequences aircraft into and out of airports. Also popularly known as approach and departure control. It's the part of the air traffic control process where the most is happening and where the greatest challenge exists.

ATC-2000 allows everyday individuals to "enjoy" the experience of being in front of the scope as a departure and approach controller complete with all the dials, flight data information and silent nail biting, heart pounding tension that gives the Air Traffic Controller's job the notoriety of being the most stressful one in the world.

President and founder of PC Aviator, Robert Ferraro, talked about the basic challenge of the TRACON ATC process.

"The basic challenge of the TRACON, specifically approach control, is that you have aircraft entering the terminal airspace at a destination airport from all directions. There may be none for a while and then 5 might hit all at once. The approach controller's role is to systematically sequence and safely separate aircraft by issuing radar vectors to a final approach point where they can fly their approach into the airport. When a controller's job is done properly, aircraft are lined up no less than 3 miles apart flying down the glideslope for a particular runway, also known as the "string of pearls."

Sounds easy? Think again! All you need is a 1 minute delay anywhere in the system or some bad weather and you're then going to have to stack them up in a holding pattern and pick them off one at a time for landing when time allows. That might sound easy too... until they start reporting that they're getting low on fuel.

The approach control part of ATC-2000 simulates this process with uncanny realism. Solving the dynamic 3D puzzle is very addictive!"

Just some of the many features that ATC-2000 will have include:

• The user can control aircraft at 51 TRACONs in the United States with an additional 130 being available through additional expansion disks
• Actual equipment in use at a particular TRACON will be simulated by ATC-2000 in the form of an ARTS-IIIa terminal to the latest state of the art, STARS or Standard Terminal Automation Replacement System
• Realistic looking "amber" scopes with fully functional dials and equipment - all the information seen on a real controller's scope
• Air traffic in the simulation is based on actual real world traffic so only aircraft that would fly into a particular airport in the real world would be seen in that airspace in ATC-2000
• Real pilot artificial intelligence has pilots behaving as real world pilots. They don't hear you every time and might not do what you tell them to.
• Voice and Speech synthesis with support for voice recognition
• Connectivity with major flight simulators such as Microsoft Flight Simulator for real-time pilot-controller interaction.

ATC-2000 will be aimed at two consumer markets. The authenticity of the product will enable it to be used effectively as a home based ATC trainer as well as an introduction to the world of air traffic control for those interested in a career in ATC.

It is also aimed at the gaming/simulation market for those wanting a simulation with some nail biting tension trying to solve the 3D puzzle and safely help aircraft with thousands of passengers arrive safely at their destination. ATC-2000 is a refreshingly unique product for the entertainment software industry.

ATC-2000 visionary and developer, Russell Davis, stated that ATC-2000 will be a constantly evolving simulator with future simulation of Center Control - the enroute phase of the ATC process, and amongst future features some innovative internet applications.

ATC-2000 will be published worldwide by PC Aviator in affiliation with Aerosoft and is scheduled for release in Summer 2000. It will be available in retail stores worldwide.

More information on ATC-2000 is available at PC Aviator's ATC2000 web site.

About PC Aviator

Founded in Australia in 1990, PC Aviator's US subsidiary, PC Aviator Inc. is based in Baltimore, Maryland. PC Aviator publishes high quality flight simulation software, expansions and add-ons including the popular MegaScenery series, Computer Pilot Magazine - a international newsstand flight simulator magazine, and also operates a direct sales division - PC Aviator Direct.

About Aerosoft

Aerosoft was founded in Arlington, TX in 1988 by Russell B. Davis. ATC-2000 is designed and developed by Mr. Davis who has a background of over 12 years of research in Air Traffic Control and Air Traffic Control software applications. He has developed some notable software titles including the European Sector Disk for TRACON II sold by Wesson International, the ATC for Windows Scenario Generator and the Smiths Industries Flight Management Computer Simulator for United States Navy E6-A navigator students at Tinker AFB, OK. Mr. Davis has also developed software to enhance Wesson International's TRACON/Pro at CAMI (Civil Aeromedical Institute) and has served as a consultant to research at CAMI in ATC data link studies. He has also worked as a consultant for companies such as Boeing and McDonnell Douglas, as well as the FAA.

AEROSOFT promises ATC-2000 to be the most realistic ATC sim ever conceived for the PC (see their web site here).

WILCO Releases Free FS2000 Upgrade
for "AIRPORT 2000 Volume 1"

Posted: Sunday, March 05, 2000 - 13:54
Scenery Update Available Online and on New "Airport 2000 Volume II," Shipping in Europe Next Week

Los Angeles Int'l Airport 2000 Vol. I Scene running in FS2000 (Click for full size view)

DROGENBOS, BELGIUM (March 3, 2000)-- Old scenery, new simulator? Not to worry. Wilco Publishing is set to release a free upgrade for its popular "Airport 2000 Volume I" that makes it compatible with Microsoft Flight Simulator 2000, so you can pick up right where you left off when you retired Flight Simulator 98.

Now available online at Wilco Publishing or with Wilco's new Airport 2000 Volume 2 scheduled to hit retail shelves in Europe late next week, the upgrade gives you basic work-together functionality plus a number of extras: a new third runway at the Charles de Gaulle airport in Paris, new navigation aids at Los Angeles International and JFK airports, and new runway textures with more realistic ground markings. It also adds new graphic detail to the static aircraft in Volume 1 and enhances the night light effects on buildings and ground traffic.

In addition to LAX, JFK and Charles de Gaulle, Volume 1 offers knockout scenery from the airports of Brussels, Frankfurt, Atlanta and Tokyo. Gamers climb into the pilot seats of aircraft ranging from theDC-10 to the ATR42, with the option to fly their own routes or take part in adventures that include instructions from multiple air traffic control centers, vocal captain calls and readbacks, and an accurate Ground Proximity Warning System with sounds recorded from actual aircraft and simulators.

Volume 2 delivers London Heathrow, Barcelona, Nice Côte d'Azur, Schiphol Amsterdam, Boston Logan, Miami International and Chicago O'Hare in fully textured glory, complete with the actual hangars, maintenance buildings and taxiways outside as well as the real restaurants, gates, departure screens, lounges and shops inside each airport. It also includes seven different flight paths from airport to airport, plus three special adventures for owners of Volume 1 that link airports between the two editions.

Frankfurt Main Airport 2000 Vol. I Scene running in FS2000 (Click for full size view)

Airport 2000 Volume 2 will ship in Europe on March 9, 2000. The product will then be available at retail stores in the U.S. market at the end of March. It carries an MSRP of $39 (U.S.). It is fully compatible with both Microsoft Flight Simulator 2000 and 98. Minimum system requirements include a Pentium 200 MHz and 32MB RAM. A 3D graphics accelerator card is
recommended.

Founded in 1997, Wilco Publishing focuses on developing and marketing flight simulators. The company has published Tahiti Scenery, Airport 2000 Volumes 1 and 2, and Grand Canyon add-ons to Microsoft Flight Simulator. Hangsim, its first independent title, is a PC-based glider simulation featuring groundbreaking true-to-life flight dynamics and photorealistic terrain dedicated to the glories of unpowered flight. The company takes its name from the aeronautical abbreviation for "Will Comply." Wilco is based in Belgium and can be reached on the Web at Wilco Publishing or via phone at 011 32 2 331 32 90.

Enviro! 1.0 Released

Posted: Sunday, March 05, 2000 - 11:09
We are happy to announce that we have completed work on version 1.0 of our freeware Enviro! utility. We have made it available for download on our website.

Enviro! is now officialy out of beta. This does not mean that we aren't working on it anymore though. We still love to get your feedback so we can make the next version even better. We would like to thank the beta users for all their comments and suggestions - we tried to implement some of their ideas into this first official Enviro! release.

Since the last beta, quite a lot has changed. In short, here are Enviro!'s current main features:

-Customizable ATC Chatter
-Five ATC Banks, allowing you to create different types of ATC
-METAR download, and integration with David Sandberg's InfoMETAR and ThinMetar tools

-Integrated and easy to use Help system
-ATC Hot Keys for use while you are flying your flight simulator
-System Tray support - for quick access to Enviro!'s main features
-Time Zone information

These are Enviro! 1.0's system requirements:

-Windows95, Windows98 or Windows2000 Professional operating system
-Fly!, Flight Simulator 98 and/or Flight Simulator 2000 flight simulator software
-DirectX 6.1 or later
-High Color (16bit) or higher desktop color setting
-Soundcard
-Internet connection and Internet Explorer 4.01 or later (for optional METAR downloads)
-HTML Help Viewer version 1.0 or later (for Enviro!'s Help system)


For more information about Enviro! - please visit its official website at the following location:

http://www.avsim.com/hangar/utils/enviro/

We hope you will enjoy flying with Enviro!, and we are looking forward to hear your comments.

The Enviro! Team Rob Visser and Rene van Dop

Dream Fleet 2000 182 Panel

Posted: Friday, February 25, 2000 - 09:07
DreamFleet 2000(tm)
"The finest instrument panels for Microsoft Flight Simulator"

Press Release 2-25-00

____________________________________________________________________________________________

Cessna 182 panel released, 172 panel is in the shop!


DreamFleet 2000 has released its much-anticipated Cessna 182S panel. "Now I need a vacation!" comment's DreamFleet co-founder, Lou Betti. He adds, " It's only version 1.0, and we plan to upgrade it once we have the SDK, but I think everyone will be quite pleased with what we have done with the good ol' 182. I would dare say that no MSFS panel has ever looked this realistic. We've basically pushed to the limit with what can be done with photo-realism within the FS2000 environment. We have the real fabric, we have dirt on the floor, and we have the scratch that was on the parking brake handle, plus much, much more. Perhaps the best part is that you are actually sitting in the pilot's seat with this panel, not between the seats, or in the back seat. My goal was to set a new standard for panel art within MSFS, and I think we have accomplished that with this panel."

"There's also a small problem too, as on a minority of systems, the panel will appear stretched out of shape, and we are most certain this is due to the fact that the user has the default Cessna 182 panel set as their default flight, and FS2000 is attempting to make our panel, the same size as theirs! Screen shots I have seen from those suffering this problem seem to prove that, and these users also had the default 182 set as their default flight, or had last flown with the default 182."

"I would consider it mandatory that before you install our panel that you make sure that your default flight contains an aircraft and panel other than the default Cessna 182; the 737, the Lear, anything but a 182. Save that new flight as your default flight, then install our 182 panel. Once installed, select our 182 from the list, and then you can save it as your default once more."

"I installed the panel on all three of my machines, without problem. On all three of those machines, the default start-up flight was not using the 182. StephenWhite, one of our members, suffered the same problem. He un-installed the panel, changed his default flight to another aircraft / panel, re-installed the panel, and all was well!"

"Right now, we need the SDK, plus more research into panel night lighting, although I think everyone will be pleased with how well the panel is lit up at night, thanks to Chuck Dome's panel-saving "Make Pink" utility. I still want to address the master switch, and add some gyro sounds when it is switched on, and I also have some other novel ideas, which will add to the realism."

The panel is also perhaps the largest file size ever for a single panel, tipping the scales at around 10 megabytes!

"Considering that we did not include a scan of the operating handbook, or an aircraft, or even sounds, that's a lot of bytes to download." Comments Lou. "I strongly suggest the use of a download manager, so that you can pause / resume download, or recover from a dropped ISP connection. As the complexity of flight simulation increases, files of this type will only grow in size, not get smaller. The 16-bit bitmaps for FS2000 are 2.25 megabytes in size, and we have many of that size, and some that are much smaller. There's a total of 14 bitmaps for this panel, and uncompressed, the bitmaps and gauges are over 29 megabytes!"

"About 1.8 meg. of it is our "DreamFleet Manager / Installer", an incredible program written by Stephen White, but this installer will serve future DreamFleet panels also, and once you use it, you'll never go back to a manual install again. It will automatically back up files that we are replacing, such as the .air, panel.cfg, and checklist files, and it will install everything neatly in place in about 20 seconds. If you decide to uninstall the panel, it's just a couple of clicks, and everything is back the way it was. After the install, those who wish to, can access the files, and move them to separate folder, if they wish to alias the panel to several aircraft. However, I felt this installer was essential, as we have many newcomers to FS2000, who are not very familiar with the sim's file structure, etc. I wanted to make the install easy for them."

The Manager is a one-time download / install, and is being included with the 182 panel in order to be sure that everyone gets it, as the panel cannot be installed without it. In the future, it will not be included with panels, but will be available as a separate download from the DreamFleet 2000 web site, and other popular web sites.

DreamFleet's 182 panel will not be alone on the ramp for long. "I've just started work on a 172 panel." Comments group member Charles (Chuck) Grimes. "It's a 1985 model, and just the opposite of what this 182 is. It has the plastic panel overlay, and that tacky, fake wood grain that used to be so popular. Right now, our biggest decision is whether to put an auto pilot in it, as the one we are simulating does not have one. I suspect that in the end, we'll spend the money, and send it off to our virtual avionics shop, for installation of one!"

Chuck also happens to be the pilot of N9521F, the real Cessna 182S that was the subject of the group's panel.

"I'm tutoring Chuck in using PhotoShop," adds Lou. "Chuck's a fast learner, and this time around he'll be doing both the main and lower pedestal panels, and I'll do the cabin view bitmaps, as I must devote more graphics time to bitmaps for the 737 project. Once Chuck is comfortable with doing this level of graphics work on his own, the bulk of the general aviation panels will be his to do, and I'll go back to working on DreamFleet's airliner panels."

DreamFleet would like to let all potential users of the Cessna 182 panel know that once they have downloaded the panel, to simply unzip the file into a temporary folder, then read the installation instructions, which will advise how to install the DreamFleet 2000 Manager, and then how to use the Manager to install the panel. It's quick, and it's easy, just be sure that your default start-up flight does not contain the default Cessna 182 before installing the panel.

Fighter Ace II Update Now Available

Posted: Wednesday, February 23, 2000 - 16:45
Microsoft today announced the release of the first update for Fighter Ace II, the MSN Gaming Zone's massively multiplayer WWII air combat game. Fighter Ace II allows more than 300 pilots to fight in a single air combat arena from the cockpit of any one of more than 40 World War II vintage fighters and bombers.

The update adds five new airplanes to the deadly Fighter Ace II arsenal. Featuring the tank-busting Ki-84 Hayate (Japan), the IL-2 Sturmovik (Russia), and the Ju-87G Stuka (Germany), the update greatly enhances Territorial Combat game play. Both the IL-2 Sturmovik and Ju-87G Stuka will be featured in the Zone's next large-scale historical scenario, the Battle of Kursk, which was the largest tank battle in history. Details on this event will be announced in the coming weeks. The Fighter Ace II update also offers new 3D cockpits, improved tank functionality, squad tags, and more.

Registered players of Fighter Ace II must download this update in order to continue play. For more information on the Fighter Ace II update, visit the Fighter Ace web site.

In Fighter Ace II, players battle for airborne supremacy by coordinating battle plans with their wingmen and squad mates. Fighter aces must defend their territory, secure new strategic positions, and blast bogies in an on-going war between British, German, United States, Russian, and Japanese aircraft. Fighter Ace II's accurately modeled World War II aircraft include such planes as the DeHavilland Mosquito, the F4U-4 Corsair and the legendary Zero. Players can completely customize the ordnance load-out of their planes including auxiliary fuel, bombs and rockets. With an entirely new physics, flight and damage model, along with aircraft mounted rockets and territorial combat with player triggered tanks, Fighter Ace II brings a level of realism never before experienced in an online-only air combat game.

Fighter Ace II is only available on the MSN Gaming Zone. For more information on the game, visit the official Web for Fighter Ace II at Fighter Ace II.
* * *

a r b u t h n o t c o m m u n i c a t i o n s, i n c.
(p) 415 431 2300
(f) 801 681 9034
Arbuthnot Communications

Dauntles Releases SimPlates 2000 World Edition

Posted: Wednesday, February 23, 2000 - 16:08

Click for full size image

February 24, 1999

SimPlates 2000 World Edition is now available! The companion product to the critically-acclaimed SimPlates 2000 - USA product is now available at Dauntless Software. SimPlates 2000 World Edition provides IFR plate coverage for the bulk of the world not covered by the USA product, including thousands of approach plates, SIDs, STARs, and more. If you're a serious simulator pilot disappointed with the high costs and/or limited coverage areas of other products, than this is definitely for you. Plates are available for over 100 countries plus Alaska and Hawaii. Purchase World Edition separately or as a set with the US product-either way, the price is very reasonable. World Edition now features even higher resolution plates as well.

Click for full size image

Approach plates are documents that real-world pilots use when flying into airports aircraft under instrument flight rules (IFR). They define altitudes, speeds, courses, and so forth necessary to make a safe approach, and the actions to take in case the approach can not be completed as planned. Flying a complicated approach accurately in bad weather is certainly one of the most challenging tasks in aviation.

Click for full size image

You may be familiar with the ILS-SimPlates 2000 World Edition features thousands of plates for ILS approaches, but also many more for non-ILS approaches using other navigational equipment. If you've not flown, for example, an NDB approach before, consider learning this as part of the challenge and fun of the hobby! FlightSim.com called SimPlates 2000 - USA "A great product that any sim pilot should have at their side" Virtual pilots the world over, including many who participate in massively multiplayer ATC environments such as Squawkbox/ProController use SimPlates to enhance realism.

Please visit our website, at Dauntless Software (a.k.a. FAA Test, or Simplates) for more information or to order.

AETI Announces ProFlight for Flight Simulator 2000

Posted: Wednesday, February 23, 2000 - 12:28
Irvine, California, February 21st, 2000

With the recent introduction of Microsoft Flight Simulator 2000, AETI and the ProFlight 98 developers have been hard at work implementing features for a new version of this award-winning product. "ProFlight for Flight Simulator 2000" is scheduled to start shipping in several months. AETI began this weekend taking pre-orders for the new version... with special pricing for existing ProFlight 98 users. Flight simulation enthusiasts who are avid ProFlight users will enjoy this new version as it will be even more realistic and packed with new features. The new ProFlight is expected to ship in April. Some of the features in the new version include:

- ProFlight 2000 uses navaid and airport information directly from Microsoft Flight Simulator 2000 for complete compatibility between scenery & adventures
- Victor and Jet routing now available, along with SIDS & STARS database
- Many more pilot and controller voices, with controller accented voices from different parts of the world
- More aircraft and livery callsign with pilot-chatter voice reflecting the appropriate accent of the airline nationality
- Improved departure and approach vectoring for more realistic flights
- Compatibility with Game Commander for direct voice response to ATC commands
- New and improved Flight Management Computer ( FMC )
- Bonus aircraft and enhanced panels

Existing ProFlight 98 users can order the full new version of ProFlight for Flight Simulator 2000 at a special price of $24.95 by going to the AETI website and clicking on the special order link for ProFlight for Flight Simulator 2000.

Please note that this is not an "upgrade," but rather a full and brand new version of ProFlight especially designed to work under Microsoft Flight Simulator 2000. Users who have kept Microsoft Flight Simulator 98 and ProFlight 98 on their system can install the new ProFlight for Flight Simulator 2000 and use both programs with their corresponding versions of Microsoft Flight Simulator to offer "the best of both worlds."

In cooperation with Flight One Software, we are also offering a special "bundle" of ProFlight for Flight Simulator 2000 plus the upcoming "Flight Director 2000."

More information on both products are available on the AETI web site.

Alexander Lawrence joins DreamFleet 2000

Posted: Saturday, February 19, 2000 - 07:43
DreamFleet 2000(tm)
"The finest instrument panels for Microsoft Flight Simulator"

Press Release - 2/14/2000

_______________________________________________________________________________

Alexander Lawrence joins DreamFleet 2000 & Project updates.

Noted FS panel designer, Alexander Lawrence, has joined the panel design team at DreamFleet 2000.

DreamFleet's executive director, Lou Betti comments: "Alex is not only a good friend of mine, but he is also one of the most capable and talented individuals in the flight simulation business. Not only is he one of the best panel artists out there, but he is also an experienced business executive / administrator. Alex will work with Chris Arrington and I to organize and run DreamFleet, so that we can move forward with our plans of re-building as much of the airline, and general aviation panel "fleet" as is possible, and to a degree of realism never before seen."

"I was willing to take a back seat to Alex, and let him and Lou run things", adds Chris Arrington, "but neither of them would hear of it. Alex is quite a gentleman, and I am looking forward to working with and learning from him".

Alex is a well-known figure in the Flight Simulation world. In his distant past, during his applied mathematics studies, he developed a full flight simulator from the ground up (in assembly). It featured full 3D graphics and simulated a GA aircraft.

Later, Alex joined the "mainstream" and started developing MSFS add-ons - commercial photo-realistic scenery and high quality freeware panels. His panels, the award winning Seneca V, Learjet 45, Dash 8-300 and Citation V, have set new standards in panel design.

With 18 years of flight simulation experience behind him, he is a member of FPDA and Review Editor at Simflight.com. Currently he holds a sales and marketing executive position at a large communications company. Among his other related hobbies - Janes' simulators, space simulators and strategy.

On the panel front, the group's Cessna 182 panel has completed beta testing, and is ready for roll out.

"Actually, I could release it tomorrow", Lou Betti comments, "but there was always an underlying issue with installation of it. Not only is the panel an 8.2 megabyte download, but it requires that several critical files be backed-up, before our files overwrite them. Right now, one of our newest members, Stephen White has designed a lovely "manager / installer". The manager will take care of backing things up, while the installer will put everything where it needs to be. Afterwards, the experienced simmers can re-arrange things to their liking, but this will help those new to flight simulation, and there are many of them out there. Fortunately, this software is a one-time download. Once installed, it can be used for all future DreamFleet panels, and updates. I would dare say that this software could also be used to handle installations from other developers, provided they follow the format Stephen has set up, and provide the required instruction files the manager needs".

For those anxiously awaiting the group's 737-400 panel, Lou adds, " It's coming! However, not as soon as anyone would like. I'm planning for "Part One" of the panel to be ready for release at the MicroWings conference on May 18th, and "Part Two" to follow, hopefully during the summer. Part one will essentially be the most advanced 737 panel yet seen, and part two will take the panel a step further, that's about all I can reveal at the moment."

General aviation panels will be back in DreamFleet's spotlight again, as group member Charles Grimes has begun work on a 1985 Cessna 172 panel, which is due for release in April.

www.dreamfleet2000.com

TRI and GoD Announce FLY! 2K

Posted: Friday, February 18, 2000 - 19:55

For Gathering of Developers Contact:
Andrea Schneider/Matt Burton
TSI Communications
212-696-2000
aschneider@tsicomm.com/mburton@tsicomm.com

For Immediate Release

Terminal Reality and Gathering of Developers
Announce FLY! 2K

Special Enhanced Version of Critically-Acclaimed FLY! Landing in Stores This April

Dallas, TX, February 18, 2000 -- Game developer Terminal Reality and developer-driven computer and video game publisher Gathering of Developers today announced FLY! 2K, an enhanced version of the technologically-advanced general aviation simulation FLY!. FLY! 2K furthers its predecessor by providing virtual pilots with the most recent enhancements made to the original and a host of new features including the SKY! Environment Exciter, Roger Wilco support for online
voice chatting, and an expanded global elevation database. The Gathering will release FLY! 2K in April 2000 for the PC and Macintosh computers. In addition, the company will offer free upgrades for current FLY! owners.

"Terminal Reality was determined to make FLY! the most realistic and detailed flight simulation experience available,? said Brett Combs, vice president of Terminal Reality and co-producer of FLY!. "Our fans are our best critics, and with FLY! 2K, we had a chance to incorporate feedback from them and the flight sim community to include fantastic user created add-ons into this enhanced version.

FLY! 2K?s new features include Roger Wilco support, the SKY! Environment Exciter and the 172 Skyhawk Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) panel. Roger Wilco is a real-time voice chat solution for online pilots, allowing players to engage in single or multiple conversations. The SKY! Environment Exciter produces hyper-realistic sun and clouds, detailed weather models including ready-made weather environments or custom weather settings, accurate night lighting and enhanced graphics for runways, taxiways and airport buildings. The 172 Skyhawk IFR instrument/cockpit panel allows simmers to fly in all weather conditions using the instruments rather than sight as the primary means of navigation.

FLY! 2K's enhancements and add-ons will be available in April via CD or download by current, registered FLY! owners at the Gathering web site http://www.godgames.com or by calling 1-877-godgame.

Several additional enhancements complement FLY! 2K?s new features. An expanded global elevation database allows for more precise elevation sample points for a more realistic re-creation of real world topography. Improved avionics documentation provides a clearer understanding of FLY! 2K?s virtually limitless functions. In addition, FLY! 2K also features improved product stability and
additional Universal Serial Bus (USB) support.

FLY! and FLY! 2K use Terminal Reality's advanced Photex3 graphics engine, developed by the company's president and Nocturne lead programmer, Mark Randel.

Released in August 1999, FLY! has consistently garnered extensive third-party support from fans and developers around the world. Terminal Reality continues the FLY! franchise with FLY! 2K, various agreements with third party developers, such as PC Aviator and its MegaScenery Pacific Northwest for FLY! and the upcoming sequel FLY! II. The flight sim community has already embraced the
franchise, creating multiple Web sites featuring new scenery, planes and aircraft add-ons and alterations.

The gaming and flight enthusiast press have also embraced FLY!. Flight simulation journal MicroWings stated, "Real pilots and flight simulation enthusiasts will be blown away with the realism and attention to detail in FLY!"

All Games Network named FLY! "Flight Sim of the Year." Apple Computer, Inc. said "FLY! provides stunning exterior scenery and extremely accurate detail in the cockpit. The only thing missing is the air sickness bag." Air & Space Smithsonian called FLY! "one of the most advanced and realistic general aviation
simulations available for your PC."

Headquartered in Lewisville TX, Terminal Reality is a technology-driven independent developer of PC, Mac and Dreamcast games. Founded in 1994, the company has created several best-selling games including Terminal Velocity, Microsoft Hellbender, Microsoft Monster Truck Madness 1 & 2, and the award-winning Microsoft CART Precision Racing. In addition, Terminal Reality
created the first 3D game for the Windows 95 platform, Microsoft Fury3. In 1999, Terminal Reality's ultra realistic flight simulation FLY!, and the 3D action/adventure horror game Nocturne were released to industry acclaim.

Terminal Reality also licenses its innovative Nocturne Engine which features real-time lighting/shadowing, cloth simulation, volumetric fogging and cinematic cameras. http://www.terminalteality.com

Founded in Dallas, TX in January 1998, Gathering of Developers is a developer-driven computer and video game publishing company. The company's mission is to be the worldwide leader in the development and delivery of commercially successful computer game software designed for a range of platforms. The company's pioneering partners are industry leaders and proven hit makers 3D Realms, Epic Games, PopTop Software, Ritual Entertainment, Terminal Reality Inc and Edge of Reality. For more information visit Gathering of Developers' Web site at http://www.godgames.com.

Start Your Engines... FSPRA 2000 Race Season Begins...

Posted: Friday, February 11, 2000 - 17:27

FSPRA recently went through a site revamp and is now accepting membership for the 2000 Race Season. FSPRA offers FREE! Single & Multiplayer Racing for Microsoft's Flight Simulator 98 / 2000 & Terminal Reality's FLY! Simulator. This new season will bring lots of new additions to the race lineup. The first of these is the addition of three new race classes. For those who like to take it a little slower, The FS2000 Adventurer Race Class is a perfect fit. This class is based on the new Piper Cub Collection series from FSAdventure. Also, after several requests we have added a High Performance Single Engine Race Class for FS2000 (Mooney Bravo) and FLY! (FLY! Piper Malibu). If you are up to the challenge for a faster, heavier twin engine you can now fly in the KingAir Race Classes that is available in both FS2000 Pro and FLY!. These classes will give pilots a faster bird, but more of a challenge as you navigate smaller airports. In total, FSPRA offers 11 different race classes to choose from.

Our Current Race, MicroWINGS Santa Catalina Fly-in/Race, offers a challenging course through the mountains, valleys, and coastline of scenic Southern California. Our host airport will be Catalina Airport, which is a great airport for all the activities planned during this event. FSPRA Members who participate in this race will be put in a random drawing for a MicroWINGS one-year membership, courtesy of MicroWINGS.Race Weekend events are planned during the last weekend of this race event. Race participants can win prizes from a growing list of sponsors all season long, some of them valued as much as $250. So signup today as we buzz the L.A. skyline with the throttle to the firewall.

For more information visit the FSPRA website!

PFD Announces Special Sales Promotion

Posted: Friday, February 11, 2000 - 12:44

Click for full size Boeing Glass Cockpit image

Professional Flight Displays (PFD, Inc.) announced today a special Sales Promotion that takes effect IMMEDIATELY and runs through February 29th.

Customers who purchase the Full Boeing Glass Cockpit, priced at $169.00, will be entitled to a free software package of Enrico Schiratti's QuickMap, a $34.95 value.

Click for full size Quick Map image

Running from February 14th (Valentines Day) through Feb 29th(Leap Year Day), this sales promotion is designed to encourage the "sweethearts" of the Flight Simmer group to either purchase for, or to allow the purchase of software that IS AS REAL AS IT GETS.

The free Registered Copy of QuickMap allows the flight sim pilot to NEVER need Approach Plates for the Terminal Airport area as it provides the necessary frequency information right on screen. The display can run on the same computer as FS2000 or any other computer and with a simple press of the Alt key and a right click of the mouse, your aircraft can be positioned to ANY point on the Map display immediately. The use of QuickMap also allows the pilot to visually see his position in relation to the airport and runway that he will be landing at, and therefore he can issue his own radar vectors for a proper ILS intercept!

The QuickMap software is also available in download DEMO at the Schiratti website.

PFD initally opened their software sales in August of 1999 and at this time counts customers in over 27 countries and 6 continents! Primarily designed for the upscale flight simmer who has multiple computers and/or multiple monitors, the Boeing Glass Cockpit allows those customers to create the feeling and size of an actual Boeing instrument panel, and at the same time unloading the CPU work of a computer running FS2000 or FS98 to only require it to provide an Outside view. This networking ability allows much faster frame rates in FS2000 and also provides for a view of the Primary Flight Display(PFD) and the Navigation Display(ND) be almost exactly the same size as in a real Boeing, when using a 15 inch monitor.

The Computer Display Unit(CDU) and Mode Control Panel(MCP) can be configured to run on additional computers for more realism or on the same computers running the PFD software and FS2000 software if space does not permit additional hardware. The CDU and MCP elevate the realism even further due to special autopilot coding that takes the simmer to new heights of precision and realism. In addition, the CDU has both Lateral Navigation(LNAV) and Vertical Navigation(VNAV) functions that allow the inclusion of SIDS and STARS to any flight plan. Also included in the CDU package is the ability to navigate to any point on the globe with unlimited waypoints and a special Holding Pattern function completes the total reality package.

The PFD software is marketed widely on the Web and prospective customers can purchase from SimMarket, 4CDS, CSI and MicroWINGS web sites at this time.

Each of those Web sites provides for a download DEMO to enable the prospective customer to try out his system and to see if that system meets the requirements of the full package. For further information with graphical presentations of current home cockpit setups and for more detail in what is contained within each portion of the total PFD packages, interested parties can research additionally at the Schiratti and PFD Team websites.

PFD, Inc.

Dauntless Software Announces SimPlates 2000 World Edition

Posted: Friday, February 11, 2000 - 12:01

February 11, 2000

Dauntless Software is pleased to announce the upcoming release of SimPlates 2000 - World Edition. SP 2000 World follows in the footsteps of the critically-acclaimed SimPlates 2000 USA, a product which provides serious flight simulation enthusiasts over 9500 IFR approach plates along with other aviation data. While the ultimate feature set for SimPlates 2000 World is yet to be finalized, it will follow along the lines of the US product insofar as the IFR approach plates go. Several thousand approach plates will be available for major airports throughout the world, along with SIDs, STARs, Airport Diagrams, tables of Takeoff, Alternate, and Radar minimums, and more. While there will be plates for airports in over 100 countries, special emphasis will be placed on Western Europe, Australia, and Asia. Additionally, the product will contain Alaska and Hawaii plates not available in the US product. The anticipated release date for SimPlates 2000 is February 21st. It will be available through our web site for individual sale or as a package with SimPlates 2000 - USA. Please monitor our website for availability and news.