More Geo-Games: Ship Simulator on Google Earth

google earth ships

At Google I/O 2008 the Google Earth API was released. It brought Google Earth's 3D capabilities to the web (with the help of browser extensions). Since that release they've started supporting Macs. One really nice part of the Google Earth API is the ability to create games in the 3D world. One of the sample apps was the game Milk Truck. Since the release there have been some games, but now the day before Where 2.0 there's a new one that been released.

Frank Taylor of the Google Earth Blog just posted about Ships, a new ship simulation plugin that uses the API (Frank's movie review). It's one of the Plugins he's going to dissect in his Google Earth workshop at Where 2.0 tomorrow (use whr09rdr for 20% off that last-minute registration).

PlanetInAction.com has released the first version of a fantastic free simulation game which leverages the browser-based Google Earth plugin as the primary graphics engine. The game is called "Ships" and lets you take the helm on ships - barges, cargo ships, container ships, and even a cruise ship (the QE 2). Everything is in 3D, you can drive the ships anywhere in the world, there are sound effects, physical modeling, and realistic visual effects that makes this a wonder to behold. Not only that, but the author - Paul van Dinther - has created some great camera tools to make it easier for people to follow the action and see the sights. This is the best example of the Google Earth API I've seen to date.
Ships uses the Google Earth API, Flash 8.0, and Javascript. He also used Soundmanager 2 for sound effects, and SketchUp for the 3D models. Not everything is physically modeled (the anchor doesn't stop the boat).

Google Earth and its API are ripe for this type of game play. Google maps is the UI for the PS3's Last Guy (Radar post). However, after seeing creations like this I am going to hold out for Last Guy on Google Earth. While I'm asking the internet for things, I'd love to see a Katamari Damacy on the 3D plugin. In the meantime I'll have to make due with these Frank-Taylor-endorsed Satellite Debris Simulator and Paragliding games.

We still haven't seen the 3D API rear its head on Google's own site -- I/O 2009 is next week, perhaps there? I think that when that occurs more users will download the extensions and sites will have an incentive to implement the API and there will be a chance of me getting Katamari Damacy.

christopher [19 May 2009 02:48 AM]

lol crisy

personne [19 May 2009 07:18 AM]

Great to see all this buzz about this interesting direction, but do we really need another proprietary plugin ecosystem? NASA's whirlwind uses Java. Would be great to see Google ride the wave of opening things up, but clearly at the end of the day they want to own it all.

QF52 [21 May 2009 03:55 AM]

hey
i tryed it but when i went to install the google earth addon it kept giveing me a error any help?
thanks,
QF52

valdemar [21 May 2009 08:10 AM]

jeg er sej

custom closets [21 May 2009 09:53 AM]

Just what we need another game where people can pretend to do something rather than getting out and actually doing anything.

mikedrosos [ 4 June 2009 03:04 AM]

THANKS

giorgos [ 4 June 2009 10:10 AM]

Αντιγράψτε αυτό το σχόλιο για FriendFeed

mike donnelly [ 1 September 2009 10:21 AM]

i think this is good but wouldnt it be good with the new google earth if u could drive around, like gta, but actully be able to go to your home and that and play it online and meet other people through out the world... well you know haha

Dina [30 November 2009 05:13 AM]

It's good to show intrest on the radar

terry [18 December 2009 01:01 PM]

your mother [30 January 2010 05:23 PM]

how do you get to ship simulator?? :P i can't find out how to do it

Gelacio Aloyan Jr. [21 June 2010 07:28 PM]