Dauntless Software is a software design group that specialise in developing add-ons for the Flight Simulator range and Aviation uses. They have released their latest and largest package, SimPlates 2004. SimPlates 2004 is really for the hardcore Flight Simulator enthusiast, those who like to make their flights as realistic as possible, and boy - is there a lot of data included within this package. Click here to read the full review of SimPlates 2004.
SimPlates 2004 Review
by Ian Stephens
I will be reviewing this fully featured, data busting package,
SimPlates 2004 from Dauntless Software..
SimPlates 2004 CD
Box
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SimPlates 2004 is a
software package that provides flight charts, airport info and other
aeronautical information to your desktop with the aim to be used along side a
Flight Simulation package such as Microsoft Flight Simulator, X-Wing... etc.
SimPlates comes on a compilation of 2 CD's, that are housed in a very
professional DVD style case. The CD's are busting with lots of useful
information including Airport Information, Approach Charts, VOR Charts and
information and more.. SimPlates is primarily aimed at being used with a
Flight Simulator, but new pilots could also benifit from this package for
training purposes or desktop reference, but remember - the charts could be
outdated, so should not be used for real life flights. SimPlates is
definitely for the dedicated and serious Flight Simmer, and simmers that have
some experience and knowledge of aeronautical charts and how to use them.
Quote from Dauntless
Software "SimPlates 2004 puts 18,000+ ACTUAL IFR Approach Plates* plus a
comprehensive worldwide Airport and NAVAID directory at your fingertips."
THE INSTALLATION
SimPlates 2004
Installer Menu - very VB
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The SimPlates 2004
Installer menu is minimal and very easy and straightforward to use. To
launch the installer, users have to run the setup exe manually, which could be a
problem for non computer-literate simmers, and Dauntless Software would
definitely be able to improve the installer interface by adding some kind of
auto-run system to their CD's; but for most of the dedicated simmers among us,
it's just fine.
THE REVIEW
The SimPlates
2004 main interface menu
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Upon loading up
SimPlates, you are greeted with a very professional interface, which is also
very understandable and easy to use. Just select your choice from the
buttons on the right of the screen.
IFR Plates Menu
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I decided to start
with IFR Plates, since this was the first on the list of buttons. The user
interface is great, and the search options are very comprehensive and
customisable. I decided to run a search and see what SimPlates had to dish
up for Stanstead, London (EGSS). You can see my results below.
My IFR search for
London, Stanstead (EGSS)
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As you can see, the
search function returned lots of plates for me to choose from in the results
table on the bottom of the screen.
Along with the IFR
Plates menu, SimPlates includes a great Airport Info function, that can display
all available information for a given user specified airport. I ran this
search for London, Gatwick (EGKK). This is what is came up with.
Airport Info
Panel
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IFR Approach chart
for London, Gatwick
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Airport
Information for London, Gatwick (EGKK)
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The Airport
Information yielded some very detailed and valuable resources for the airport I
searched for, and I was very impressed.
Also included is a
NAVAID search option, which displays information about NAVAIDS. I decided
to try something new, and selected an area that I was familiar with in FS,
Illinois. I ran a search for the
Champaign VORTAC (near Willard Uni).
SimPlates produced a very detailed page of information for that NAVAID.
Champaign VORTAC,
Illinois (CMI)
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Navaid Panel
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CONCLUSION
It' clear that the team at
Dauntless Software have spend a lot of time and effort creating this package and
making their charts 'their own'. The package is a must buy for any Flight
Simulation enthusiast, or anyone who would be interested in a comprehensive
database of information as such. I feel that the interface is very
friendly and easy to use, and also very attractive, but more importantly the
data available for extraction from the package is very valuable and accurate.
Dauntless Software could make this package more 'targeted' to the whole of the
flight simulation community, even beginners, by including some kind of tutorials
for novices about how to read the charts, maybe they already do this on their
website - but if available on the CD would also be accessible by those who don't
have access. They could also improve the installation process by including
some kind of auto-run system, maybe they already do this in the retail version.
Also, another idea would be to have an option to integrate the system into
Flight Simulator for in-flight access - that would be great. Keep up the
good work guys!
SimPlates 2004 Demo
DOWNLOAD HERE
22.32 MB
| PRO |
CON |
- Reasonable Price
- Very detailed and accurate
- Most valuable resource for the dedicated simmer
|
- Installer interface/setup process could have been improved.
|
| INFORMATION |
TEST SYSTEM |
|
|
- P4 3.2GHZ HT
- 1024MB RAM
- Nvidia Geforce FX 5600
- FS2004 / N/A
|
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