Microsoft FLIGHT Archive

I think it is a time for a little perspective. This is what I flew, along with a few thousand others, circa 1983 or 1984. And you know, I was extremely excited to have this sim on my Apple ][c. This is a rendition of the Lear Jet at Meigs... How far we have come.A little history... AVSIM started a boycott of FS in 1998 - FS98. Why? Because we felt that there were too many things that went unfixed from the previous version, and that the user community was being ignored in their complaints and Microsoft's recognition of faults in FS98.You know what? The boycott did not do a thing to get FS98 removed from the shelves or from the hands of thousands of simmers around the world…

I believe Micro-transactions will be the future. If you look at companies like Google, Facebook, Twitter these are all internet giants propped up traditionally by online advertising. In particular, advertising still accounts for more than 95% of Google's total generated revenues. Much of the freemium content on the Internet (including blogs and forums such as this one) rely at least in part by ad sponsorship and advertisement generated revenues in partnership with Google AdSense. This paradigm is undergoing a fundmanetal shift to be replaced with the microtransaction business models of the future.I read an article a while back on how Google predicted the demise of the des…

What I wish FLIGHT could have been: 64-bit simulation engine with native multi-core and multi-processor support Directx 11 and GPU optimized Scale-invariant fractal algorithms and procedural content generation support (see Outerra) Interplanetary Newtonian physics model to allow for high-altitude and space FLIGHT (see OrbiterSim) Incorporation of Blade element theory into its aerodynamic model (see X-Plane) Modeling of aerodynamic compressibility (aka sound barrier, sonic boom, etc) Realistic weather modeling and effects Realistic ground friction, lateral friction, skidding, aircraft hydroplaning, etc. Realistic hydrodynamics model (something akin to HydroEngine, etc) In…

Well, do we? Yes.. Just for the, dare I say it, GAMING engine they have given/sold us. That is all. We all know that our joy, fun & excitement has come NOT from Microsoft, but from all those freeware & payware guys out there.I think that the developers have been waiting to see what Flight is all about & now we could see a whole bunch of releases for FSX & FS9, as, I am sure, the developers have seen the possible limitations of Flight. Another take... From what i gather, scenery & planes will have to be purchased thru Microsoft LIVE.Look what happened with Apple & the iphone market. You want extra apps, you buy & download them. We all know how s…

From the FS Insider website:Add-On Developers Make Us Look Good ... Again!June 20, 2008Inarguably one of the best things about the Flight Simulator series (and, arguably, one of the best kept secrets) is its extensibility. Aircraft, scenery, missions, utilities, virtual airlines ... you name it, somebody has added it to Flight Simulator. A friend of mine refers to it as the only piece of software he owns that gets upgraded every single day. One group of people that always goes above and beyond in terms of expanding the hobby is a group of scenery designers called Flight Ontario. Specializing—as you've guessed—in the greater Ontario area, they do wonderfully detailed rendi…

It does not seem plausible to me that Flight will not be an upgrade to FSX. In the "Google Economy" a software publisher gives away the intial product with the intention of selling add-ons for those who want enhancement - it's a very good model, no doubt - you get an ENORMOUS number of installations so virtually everyone can try the product, those that like it and want to improve it, can pay.Then Apple comes along and demonstrates another fantastic model: All sales are belong to us and we'll take reasonable care to ensure you're not screwing up our phone/ipad/ipod touch before letting buyers install it.These two models combined (free software with option to pay + gatekeep…

I think this is what Microsoft Games' target audience would eventually enjoy much more: http://skydriftgame.com/Although I'm on record here of being distraught, I do not offer this entirely glibly: I really do think this has more going for it as a game. It probably has a simplified flight model, it has action, it has achievement, etc. In the "catch the gold coins" challenges I've seen so far from Microsoft, we are being asked to writhe about the sky in what are inherently partially-suited aircraft. Or, even of the airplanes that are aerobatic, they are not particularly fast, nor do they blow things up. The Skydrift planes look fast and racy, and would be much more lik…

Anyone go to CES? There was a thread here where some guy said he was going and would ask questions, but I haven't seen any follow up. Not expecting anything profound about the game, but was more interested in what the MS people working the booth had to say-- or not say.

I've been watching you, no seriously :) I've been reading avsim about Flight for almost a year now in anticipation of the release of flight.I'm a recent college grad, so all I have is my little lap top that can't support a 30 minute YouTube video, much less any type of flight sim.I'm in the process of buying a new desktop, and have been waiting for system req's to come out for Flight in anticipation. When it was released it just confused me and now I'm waiting even longer.I'm optimistic about Flight, things look great, and with the BETA and CES I feel like Microsoft has basically pulled a Washington, a lot of talking, not a lot of information.Graphics look great, we know …

GIve that:(1) Nobody BETA testing FLIGHT has reported any ATC Functionality in the BETA(2) FSX's ATC was a total mess, so one might assume, if this was worked on, and possibly improved, it would be a feature that one would want Beta Testing Feedback, but NOT if they did not want it made available without purchasing it as an ADDON.It seems highly likely that the FREE Release of FLIGHT would not include ATC.Once would also go on to assume, that since some form of ATC already existed in FSX, that this woiuld be one of many "pay for" MS ADDONS for FLIGHT .If it is, my only comment would be, "I hope it is an improvemnt on the Lame, unrealistic ATC that was in FSX…

Will FLIGHT Hawaii only be better than this in scenery and visuals.?http://www.aeroflyfs.com/index.php/de/alles-ueber-aeroflyfs/features.html

Mike T has made me think of my own analogy for Flight:For over two years, the crowd has been growing at the concert site (Avism's Flight Forum) to see FLIGHT, the new 'rock star' of our type of music...the sound of the wind through the wing(s)...The time was near for Flight the group to make their appearance on stage. They do...and all the hype, the glitter, the special effects---cannot mask the dreadful output coming from the stage.Fans are outraged, they voice their "Boo's...................................." They start leaving in droves. A few I-can't-believe-it still stay around the dying campfire, poking the embers until they, even turn dark. All eventually leav…

For all of the haters out there - you might be dead wrong about Flight and will feel pretty stupid when all is said and done.1. Flight has BETTER graphics than FSX2. Flight has a MORE POWERFUL and EFFICIENT graphics engine than FSX3. Flight has BETTER flight physics than FSX4. Flight has the capability in the core engine to handle all the detailed features and functionality that FSX hasSo they added some "arcadish" type missions for the kids. So what? They could have done that in FSX as well and no one would have complained. In fact, they did add arcadish content in XPACK and no one did complain.The fact is that no one knows what the final release will look like beside…

What can I say that hasn't already been said?? :( Well, this:To the tune of American Pie (with profuse apologies to Don McClean)A long long time agoI can still remember how that FS used to make me smileAnd I knew if I did more tweaksThat I would make those blurries ceaseAnd maybe I'd be happy for a whileBut February made me shiverWith every screenshot they'd deliverBad news on the desktopAnother epic sim-flopI don't remember who I blamedWhen I read about their arcade gameBut something deep inside me flamedThe day the Flight Sim diedRefrainSo bye-bye to you Microsoft FlightMay a pox visit your XBoxAnd your profits be lightThem good old boysAre buying Apples tonightSingin'…

Its really gorgeous unlike Microsoft's Tonka cartoon Flight

I find it amazing that after 20+ years MS has been able to take a great idea (Flight Sim) and beat it to death and when that would not make us go away, it looks like they are going to dumb it down to the point that the only users will be little boys between breast feedings from Mom. I see a few petitions about "Flight" starting to pop up. Sadly it occurs to me that the best petition would be to ask Tom to remove all of this "Flight" mess and move on. Sometimes you just have to take off the straps, slide the canopy open and jump.Until today my attitude was I will wait and see. Clicked on the announcement for AeroflyFS and thought to myself that these guys, who ever they ar…

I'm at CES next week. I'm gonna put the marketing guys on the spot if I get a chance to. "Hey, have you seen your Facebook page"? "Any reply to that"?Anything you'd like me to ask?

Oh how your going to laugh at me with this one.Sorry it's a long post & goes on abit. full of spelling errors ect.SoIs the addon niche market about to boom?I ask this qustion because I have just started & enjoying FSX 10 months ago so I am a new FSX Simmer.So I started to think why did I start to play FSX why now it's been out for 6 years I have know about it for 6 years.I am 39 years old & when reading posts from FSX forums I seening things like 'my grandchildren, retirement, at my age, I am 60+ ect, dont like silly shoot um up games like BF3 ect.Then I look at your profile pictures & avatars not just on this forum but other FSX fan forums, well alot of y…

Microsoft is calling the default biplane a Boeing Stearman. On Boeing's own website it is called Kaydet. What is the right and full name of this aircraft?As I understand it the right name would be ''Boeing-Stearman 75 Kaydet'' (deliberatly leaving out US military designations).http://www.boeing.com/history/boeing/kaydet.html

I decided to have a look at all the official video's and screenshots to see how many planes are (apparently) ready for MS Flight. I did this also because a lot of people keep on saying that MS Flight only has two planes and that they don't understand why it took MS so long to create just that. Well, as I said I expect a lot of dlc is done already, just waiting for the release of MS Flight. Up to now I found 5 airplanes.I don't think so, but anyone see anymore? BTW When you look at the VC's it's amazing to see how the shadows and lighting look in them...!

I tend to be long winded but I'll make this one short and to the point. I will also preface this with stating that this is simply my own views, opinions and perspectives on the matter.Microsoft seems to have made a significant departure to the traditional Flight Simulation franchise. Two of the more salient changes that immediately comes to my mind is the fact that the base package (again in my view basically a DEMO) of FLIGHT will be FREE DOWNLOAD for everyone. Second, it seems almost certain that there will be no freely distributed open "SDK" for third party developers to use or even for the freeware community to publish at no cost. Third, Games for Windows LIVE will be…

The much hyped sports car with wings ICON A5 is going into production and will be unit cost of $139,000 USD (plus adjustment for inflation) and you need a Sport Pilot License which will set you back another $5,000The is a bit out of reach for the average Joe casual gamer, and yes even the typical Jane hardcore simmer...So, as disappointed as I am in the FLIGHT fiasco, I was still looking forward to flying the simulated ICON A5 in Microsoft's newly announced FLIGHT. It would not exactly be like flying the real-life ICON A5, but considering that the real-life plane costs $139,000 and the virtual ICON A5 in the FLIGHT simulator game is FREE, well that is about as close to "A…

...where you skip posts concerning MS Flight that are longer than 2 sentences...? Last weekend I still read each and every post about MS Flight, but today I noticed an MS Flight fatigue... When someone posted a new topic or post and I notice that someone posted a story that doesn't even fit on my 1080i screen, I scroll down to see the first reply that's not longer than 2 sentences, hoping it will be a farily good summary of the OP... And well, even if it isn't, I don't really care anymore... It's the same old crap for days now and I'm tired of it. Why do people still bother to type loooooooooooong posts while there is absolutely NOTHING new to say...?Wake me up when Micro…

After giving it much thought, Flight vs FSX vs P3D vs XPX, my first task, download free Flight and give it a run. See what add on's are available and decide to buy or not. Meanwhile P3D will be nearing V-2, and if available at that time buy that. Load my Orbx into it. All my "stuff" will be running in a hardcore sim with P3D, and I know it will be around for awhile, and Orbx making scenery for it. Meanwhile, Flight will have some interesting stuff I will most likely buy. In my limited spare time goof with take on Helicopters, and Aerofly 5 that was recently purchased. Then put extra hours at work due to dept in buying all this stuff along with the new monitor and extens…

Hello good folks out there, im wanting to get caught up on PD3 and Flight.First what exactly is PD3 and how does it benefit simmers.Also I have read just about every thread out on Flight and what to expect. I saw and read that the new sim will also can be played on an xbox, and I saw one of those game hand controllers you use on first person shooter games doom etc.I told my wife about that and she said right away is Microsoft turning it into a game. I almost got insulted by that remark, but I had to think about what she said, if you can fly a 747 with just a game controller, then im wondering where Flight is really taking us.Im also wondering will we have to throw out a…