Archive notice: This article was originally published on August 28, 2008. Links and embedded videos are preserved as part of the historical record.
Ubisoft and GeoEye Inc., a leading provider of satellite, aerial and geospatial information, announced today that GeoEye is supplying high-resolution imagery from its commercial IKONOS satellite for integration into Tom Clancy’s H.A.W.X. Tom Clancy’s H.A.W.X. is scheduled for release in early 2009 for Xbox 360, Sony PLAYSTATION 3 and PC.
The H.A.W.X. development team is working closely with GeoEye specialists to integrate the realistic satellite imagery into every location in the game, including Rio de Janeiro, Cape Canaveral and the Middle East. Across more than 16 international locations, players will fly over GeoEye-provided satellite images in every mission and experience unprecedented close-range aerial combat in a three-dimensional environment.
GeoEye’s IKONOS satellite was the world’s first commercial satellite to capture images of Earth. These images are currently used for US national security, mapping, air and maritime transportation, environmental monitoring and risk-insurance management. The outstanding quality and detail of IKONOS imagery will give Tom Clancy’s H.A.W.X. a level of realism that allows players to immerse themselves fully in aerial-combat missions.
“High-resolution satellite photography is moving away from the obscure world of intelligence agencies and toward public and commercial use. Tom Clancy’s H.A.W.X. will bring this reality to players,” said Mark Brender, vice president of corporate communications and marketing at GeoEye. “As video-game graphics become increasingly realistic and H.A.W.X. uses high-quality photographic base textures, the aerial-combat experience gains convincing photorealism.”
During development, the H.A.W.X. team worked with the US Center for Earth Resources Observation and Science. This ensured the best possible implementation of the satellite imagery’s topography and created a realistic representation of Earth.
“We are very grateful to GeoEye for its collaboration with Ubisoft and extremely satisfied with the quality and services we received,” said Travis Getz, authenticity coordinator for the H.A.W.X. development team. “GeoEye’s fantastic imagery, combined with H.A.W.X.’s intense aerial-combat experience, creates the foundation for an ideal partnership for everyone involved—especially the player.”
