Have you found yourself stuck behind the computer, wishing you could be on the river, but for one reason or another it’s just not happening? Well, here is the next best thing. A new computer game on the market called FlySim has the potential to be the next “in” thing in office time wasters. Not since the advent of the internet has workplace productivity been in such jeopardy.

FlySim is a 3D fly fishing simulator featuring extremely realistic fly casting dynamics, water modeling, and fish that behave with artificial intelligence. The retail version includes five destinations, with promises from the developer for more locations to be added in future expansion packs.

After spending several hours playing FlySim, I found the gameplay to be quite addictive. Casting was painful at first, rarely exceeding 45 feet and making the fish on the far side of the river impossible to reach. Once I got some practice however, casting with greater distance and accuracy became less of a chore. Tip – Use just your fingertips on the mouse rather than your whole hand for easier casting.

The trout behavior was very realistic on all accounts. Stomping up and down the river will spook every trout you pass. No drag-free drift? Guess what – no strikes. Matching the hatch is equally important and made easy by the ability to zoom in on the water at your feet as bugs drift by. If you don’t see trout rising, be sure to try fishing nymphs. There even seemed to be a realistic number of fish lost on the hookset. After breaking off a few large trout, I noticed the drag setting in the upper left part of the screen. Bingo! Adjusting the drag appropriate to the tippet strength reduced breakoffs significantly.

There are few improvements that could be made to make this game even better. One of the features I would like to see added would be a greater fly selection, including streamers and multiple hook sizes. Also, an arsenal of rods and lines would certainly add more variety and challenge to the game once a destination has been fished through the first time. Stillwater and saltwater destinations could add appeal and variety to a greater number of anglers as well.

When I first started with FlySim, I had my doubts about it. However, after playing for awhile, getting the casting figured out, and landing a few big fish, I was truly impressed. The physics involved in the game alone are mind-boggling. Definitely check this game out if you can. There is a free demo available at www.flysim.com and the full version can be purchased for $24.95.

Recommended System Requirements:
500Mhz Intel Pentium or AMD Athlon Processor
Microsoft® Windows 98 or later OS
64MB Ram
3D-Accelerated Graphics Card with OpenGL drivers
Mouse

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