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 QM 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.

Did you know you can actually finish tetris? I had no idea, but thats probably because I’m not a tetris freak. He’s got crazy tetris skills (I’m guess no social skills though) and can even play while the blocks are invisible. Yes, that’s right invisible.

The video is kinda long so I recommend skipping to about 3/4 of the way through.

You are an absolute freak!

Though it sort of negates some of the best aspects of video gaming, this experiment from Waterloo Labs does outline a useful method for mapping projectile impacts on a projection screen using accelerometers. As suggested at the end of the above vid, there a number of infinitely safer methods for registering the desired mouse clicks – nerf LAN party anyone? More infos for building a similar system here.

Just great…