Games creator Mark Caswell-Daniels has come up with an innovative use for Google Maps, having created a flight sim around the technology.
"Goggles :: The Google Maps flight sim", currently in version 0.94, overlays a cursor-key controlled aeroplane onto the Google Maps system. The plane can then be directed and the ground beneath will scroll appropriately. Adjusting altitude changes the zoom on the map.
The game includes a number of starting points, including London, Washington, the Moon and Mars, although in theory anywhere in the Google Maps system is navigable; just watch you don't fly too low and crash.
It seems that while the game is a little bit of fun to pass the time on an overcast Friday, it also serves as a means for the creator to show off his mad game making skills. Indeed, quoting the author's website:
I'm currently looking for work, so please mail this round and post links to it on forums, as all publicity is good publicity for My portfolio !
Perhaps the next MS Flightsim, or a new IL-2 add-on, will be Google Maps powered, with the help of Mr. Caswell-Daniels?