Microsoft makes a return to Flight

I may be wrong, however I understand this is more a game than a flight simulation, as the old Microsoft was, the Aces team is supposedly still gone !

I'm afraid that's probably true. Of course computers are only now reaching the point that FSX can be used with all the sliders maxed out, and the add on market is really coming out with some great enhancements for FSX and FS9. If they make a "game" those of us that use FSX seriously will just ignor it.

I'm not optimistic. Looks like a step in the wrong direction.

There's always X-Plane

I have practically learned how to fly in real life through practice on FSX. Barnstormer16, you are right that if they make a "game", alot of users would show no interest. I hope they do certain things to the new version, such as add sloped runways. Maybe then they would get the FAA certification that X-Plane has been given.

If we're lucky they'll coordinate with Garmin and come up with fully operational glass panels.

I think MS missed the boat by not having a route to FAA certification. FSX certainly allowed me to save hundreds of dollars working my way through NDB approaches. I still use it to run through the approaches I plan to fly for currency before I rent a plane. An improvement in the GPS and an updated set of approaches and fixes would be nice. I don't care too much for scenery. I keep the weather simple and the overcast down to around mins. It seems to run better on my computer that way.

According to a former MSFS team member quite a few of the ACES team are still with MS and working on MS Flight. Sounds like it will be an online game. :-(

I agree with jmcf, there's always X-Plane and from what I have seen and heard the new version 10 will be something worth waiting for.

Yea, I picked Beta over VHS too. There is always X-Plane. I tried that on a Precision platform at Airventure. It was fine. Too many code heads playing with it on that install. The Garmin was pretty well implemented.

Flight sim is alive and well. Many add-ons to Microsoft Flight Simulator are out there. FMC's Garmin G1000 Glass Cockpits....you can build a simulator at home now for less than you would expect. Heck you can even have radio in the virtual cockpit via SkyBlueRadio.com's Wee Tune Beastie program. Those of us who love flight sim are pleased with this news. Many were devastated when MS closed Aces Studio. There is an entire "Cottage" industry out there with add-ons...planes, helicopters, scenery, airports, etc etc... Many real world pilot hone their skills on simulators at home and it even helps with a new pilot as training costs less than renting a 172 wet with a CFI. It's not a substitute of course, but you go with the CFI, do your thing, then go home, practice on FSX the same things you just did real world....it's very realistic.

The visuals look appealing, but 'arcade-like' gameplay will kill it for me. I still work my FS9 pretty hard, and log onto VATSIM if I want to interact with others while simming. If I want a "game", I'll fire up the trusty old Sega Genesis.

FlightGear is a good free option. I have been with MSFS since version 2 (first version for PC). I fairly recently discvovered FlightGear. It is open source software, and consequently is a constant work in progress, though the current version 2.0.0 on a 2.4 GHZ homebuilt system with a decent 1 GHZ video card will produce 50 + framerates through mountainous terrain on a partly cloudy day. It is amazing to fly though the clouds with these framerates. It is something I have never achieved with MSFS. The link is www.flightGear.org.

Microsoft makes a return to flight. Awesome! Just hope we get some qualtiy aircraft with the detail we have seen from third parties. I'd like to see some new slant on instructional material, hopefully, a feww more lessons and tutorials for 'quality' aircrsft. Let's wait in optimistically.

ernest7