Microsoft Flight Simulator
| Microsoft Flight Simulator 2004 | |
|---|---|
| File:FS-plane.jpg | |
| Developer(s) | Microsoft Game Studios |
| Publisher(s) | Microsoft |
| Engine | 9.1 |
| Platform(s) | PC (Microsoft Windows Platform: Windows) |
| Release | August 1, 2003 (Retail) October 6, 2004 (Patch) |
| Genre(s) | Simulation |
| Mode(s) | Single player, multiplayer |
Microsoft Flight Simulator is a flight simulator program for Microsoft Windows.
One of the best-known and most comprehensive home flight simulator series, Microsoft Flight Simulator was an early product in the Microsoft portfolio - different from its other software which was largely business-orientated. It was commissioned by Bill Gates who was fascinated with a book called "The Night Flight" by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, which told in great detail of the sensations of flying a small aircraft.
History
MS Flight Simulator reached commercial maturity with version 3.1, and then went on to encompass the use of 3D graphics and graphic hardware acceleration to become a state-of-the-art product, used by air forces to train pilots before they take to the skies.
The most recent versions of this simulation, MS Flight Simulator 2002 and 2004, cater to pilots, would-be pilots and people who once dreamed of being pilots alike. Less a game than an immersive virtual environment, it can often be frustrating, complex and difficult due to its realism, but it can be rewarding for the skilled flightsimmer at the same time. The flying area encompasses the whole world, to varying levels of detail, including thousands of airports. Individually-detailed scenery can be found representing major landmarks and an ever-growing number of towns and cities. Landscape details are often patchy away from population centres and particularly outside the USA, although a variety of websites offer scenery add-ons (both free and commercial) to remedy this.
The 2004 version incorporates a sophisticated weather simulation, with the ability to download real-world weather data, a varied air traffic environment including interactive Air Traffic Control (although the MSFS series was not the first to do so), player-flyable aircraft from the Wright Brothers' Flyer to Boeing 777s and a large number of resources including interactive lessons and challenges, and aircraft checklists. It is the wide availability of upgrades and add-ons, both free and commercial, which give the simulation its flexibility and scope.
Microsoft Flight Simulator began life as a set of articles on computer graphics written by Bruce Artwick in 1976 about a 3-D graphics program. When the magazine editor said that subscribers wanted to buy the program, Bruce Artwick incorporated a company called subLOGIC in 1977 and began selling flight simulators for 8080 computers such as the Altair 8800 and IMSAI 8080. In 1979 subLOGIC released FS1 Flight Simulator for the Apple II. In 1980 subLOGIC released a version for the Tandy TRS-80, and in 1982 they licensed an IBM PC version with CGA graphics to Microsoft, which was released as Microsoft Flight Simulator 1.01. subLOGIC continued to develop the product for other platforms, and their improved Flight Simulator II was ported to Apple II in 1983, to the Commodore 64 and Atari 800 in 1984, and to the Commodore Amiga and Atari ST in 1986. Meanwhile, Bruce Artwick left subLOGIC to found Bruce Artwick Organisation to work on subsequent Microsoft releases, beginning with Microsoft Flight Simulator 3.0 in 1988.
Microsoft has consistently produced newer versions of the simulation, adding features such as new aircraft types and augmented scenery. The Professional Edition released with the 2000 and 2002 versions, which included more aircraft, tools and more extensive scenery than the regular version, was a format abandoned for the 2004 (version 9) release, which returned to the single edition format and marked one hundred years of powered flight.
Add-ons and customization
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Flight Simulator benefits from a structure that allows users to modify the game content. File types are of several categories, allowing the modders to create specific features with great flexibility. Individual aspects that can be edited include cockpit layout, cockpit image, aircraft model, aircraft model textures, aircraft flight characteristic models, scenery models, scenery layouts, and scenery textures. Dedicated flightsimmers have taken advantage of Flight Simulator's vast add-on capabilities, having successfully linked Flight Simulator to homebuilt hardware, some of which approaches the complexity of commercial full-motion flight simulators.
A number of websites are dedicated to providing users with add-on files (such as airplanes from real airlines, airport utility cars, real buildings located in specific cities, textures, and city files). The wide availability over the Internet of freeware add-on files for the simulation has encouraged the development of a large and diverse virtual community linked up by design group/enthusiast message boards, online multiplayer flying, and 'virtual airlines'. The presence of the internet has also facilitated the distribution of payware add-ons for the simulator, with the option of downloading the files reducing distribution costs.
Flight Simulator X
Template:Future game Flight Simulator X is the next version of Microsoft Flight Simulator. It includes a graphics engine upgrade as well as compatibility with DirectX 10 and Windows Vista technologies.
PC Gamer had erroneously reported in its January 2006 edition that Microsoft Flight Simulator X will be released in February 2006. The report was premature and Microsoft has since corrected the information in subsequent press releases. Most sources say that it will be available around December 2006.
Microsoft has released details and screenshots of the upcoming simulator including mission-based gameplay with mission specific aircraft as well as an upgraded rendering engine capable of increased detail. Flight Simulator X was officially unveiled at the 2006 International CES as a gaming showcase for Microsoft Windows Vista. Microsoft has released screenshots as well as a list of frequently asked questions as a press release on Microsoft Flight Simulator Insider, as well as numerous flight simulator communities (see External links).
External links
The three most frequently visited community sites are:
The above sites provide a large number of free downloads and links to many other sites. In addition, there is a directory of FS-related websites here: