The Sky Crawlers is a Japanese novel series by Hiroshi Mori. First published by Chuōkōron-shinsha in June 2001 and spanning five books, it follows the journeys and tribulations of a group of young fighter pilots involved in dogfight warfare, and is set during analternate historical period. The series is unlike other works by Mori, noted for his series of mystery novels.

The art for the series is illustrated by mangaka Kenji Tsuruta. In 2008, the series was adapted into an animated film, directed by acclaimed director Mamoru Oshii.

The Sky Crawlers: Innocent Aces is the latest flight simulation game from Project Aces, the development team behind the Ace Combat series. Holding the Nunchuk in the right hand as the flight control stick and the Wii Remote in the left hand as the throttle, the unique controls of the Wii are fully utilized to simulate the controls of sitting in an actual cockpit.

The somber story of a world that needs war to survive is told with a combination of animated cut-scenes and voiced in-game sequences during battle. After decades of constant war and fighting, the world has finally come to a lasting peace. But with war being an integral part of their lives for so long, the citizens of the world are having trouble adapting to this newfound uneventful life of calm, growing more uneasy and restless the longer the peace lasts.

To ease this tension and to appease its citizens, the government has started pursuing a new round of wars. These new campaigns are not a power struggle between hostile countries, but rather sponsored events between private corporations with military-trained personnel contracted by each side to do their biding for them. It is the battles fought by these “Sky Crawlers” and the constant media reports on them that bring a familiar sense of unity and camaraderie to the people.

The latest rookie pilot to join the Sky Crawlers, codenamed “Lynx,” is working his way up the ranks and becomes involved in a secret new military project with the goal of making pilots immortal. Join Lynx on his journey to conquer the skies while unraveling the mystery behind the military’s covert new project.

New Aerial Combat Game from the Foremost Developer of Flight Sims –

Project Aces, the team behind the Ace Combat series, brings their expert knowledge of intense aerial combat to Wii.

Innovative Controls Place the Player into the Cockpit –

The flight control stick is simulated by the Nunchuk which is tilted to roll, pitch, and yaw, while the Wii Remote is titled up to accelerate and down to decelerate in its role as the throttle.

Beautiful Landscape and Realistic Sound FX –

All the minor details of the aerial combatants are visible against a gorgeous landscape, while the realistic sound effects further immerse the player into an actual aerial dog-fight.�

Deep Story Told Through Animated Cut-Scenes and In-Game Sequences –

A world so depraved that it needs war to thrive, this alternate reality is brought to life with animated cut-scenes and voiced in-game sequences during combat.

XSEED Games' The Sky Crawlers: Innocent Aces, developed by Namco Bandai Games/Project Aces, is scheduled for release in North America in Holiday, 2009.