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Microsoft Flight Simulator

fsi.microsoftstudios.com

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Re: Microsoft Flight Simulator

#21

Post by chaoticmass »

Theodores wrote: post #7

Why did Microsoft let the Flight Simulator franchise go to the back burner for so long? I know these vast corporations have to focus but it is still a mystery to me why they let it go. Does anyone have any idea what the thinking was? What has fundamentally changed for them to want to get back to it?

I'd forgotten that they even let it slip like they did. Last one I used was Flight Simulator X, but I haven't touched it in years. Now if only Microsoft would bring back their excellent and largely forgotten Space Simulator: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Microsoft_Space_Simulator

Re: Microsoft Flight Simulator

#22

Post by whamlastxmas »

Theodores wrote: post #7

Why did Microsoft let the Flight Simulator franchise go to the back burner for so long? I know these vast corporations have to focus but it is still a mystery to me why they let it go. Does anyone have any idea what the thinking was? What has fundamentally changed for them to want to get back to it?

I suspect FSX was a pet project for someone at MS and after it sold below projections or MS was struggling with some other bureaucratic bullshit, someone told Jim or whoever that he needed to quit focusing on his video game and get some real work done.

I'm sure this led to the creation of Windows RT and everyone pat themselves on the back.

Re: Microsoft Flight Simulator

#24

Post by pvg »

Theodores wrote: post #7

Why did Microsoft let the Flight Simulator franchise go to the back burner for so long? I know these vast corporations have to focus but it is still a mystery to me why they let it go. Does anyone have any idea what the thinking was? What has fundamentally changed for them to want to get back to it?

It's a niche product that requires a specialized and no-longer-common controller. Market growth was in other places and Microsoft chased that.

Now the market is gigantic with plenty of room for rebooting beloved-albeit-neglected franchises.

Re: Microsoft Flight Simulator

#26

Post by atonse »

gnrlst wrote: post #17

Story time: as a kid I would use FS to do intercontinental flights with my cousin. My (small) room would be divided in two: passenger seating, and cockpit. We would sit down at my computer and take turns flying. I would convince my little sisters to sit down in the passenger area which were two chairs behind a curtain (they for some reason found it less entertaining than we did and often decided to leave early in the…

My brother did a real-time flight around the world (with something like 5-8 hops). Every time he'd reach a waypoint and get his next bearings, he'd set autopilot and watch another show on TV, because it was boring to just stare at the blue ocean. :)

Plus, he'd cheat by slewing if he messed up a landing (instead of just turning around). I gave him a lot of grief for that.

Re: Microsoft Flight Simulator

#29

Post by atonse »

wil421 wrote: post #2

Microsoft Flight Simulator brings back very fond memories of my childhood. I can remember learning to fly with a joystick that pushed in and out up and down just like real pilots! I could never master the helicopter and I’m pretty sure I crashed into the Sears tower a LOT.

I really miss SimCopter. The missions were so interesting.
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