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Microsoft Flight Arrives

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A couple of months ago I started my participation in the Microsoft Flight beta program, the details and the NDA meant that I couldn't speak about the beta, but now Microsoft Flight is available.  

Now i've been using Microsoft Flight Simulator since the early days, when it booted of it's own 5.25" disk so I've watched this program evolve over the years.  A couple of years Microsoft disbanded the Flight Simulator development team, and to be honest never really explained why, I believe the group very easily funded it's own development.  After they laid off that team, they created a new one which would build what became Microsoft Flight.

Now Microsoft Flight and Microsoft Flight Simulator have a number of things in common, they both have Microsoft Flight in their name, they both involve flying aircraft and they're both from Microsoft, and that's about it.

Microsoft Flight does not have simulator in it's name and that's for good reason, Microsoft Flight is not a simulator, it's a game.  Microsoft is really aiming Microsoft Flight at an online audience that wants to fly against others and do challenges.  The program is free, with users having options to buy additional planes and locations etc. in the future.  Similar to the model being used by simraceway with an online racing community.  Microsoft Flight will take a new user through a tutorial on how to fly the included planes, and will take them through a number of challenges, progressively getting harder.

So what's my take on it?  Well I like that it's free, and you get to fly around part of Hawaii for free, but it's a game, it's no simulator.  I like that it doesn't use GameSpy which is the biggest POS for connecting to and was the major downside to online connections with Flight Simulator (why oh why Microsoft can't you replace that online engine with an update?)  I had no trouble connecting to the new online service during the Beta, but my brother (also on the beta) did have some problems, but we think they were Beta related.  Flight does require an internet connection to function.  If you're looking for an update to Microsoft Flight Simulator, this isn't it, but if you want to get your feet wet just flying a plane with simple physics etc. then at the price it can't be beat.  For online play that's interesting they better add guns pretty sharpish, this working together lark is lots of fun, but after a while you just want to become the Red Baron or Biggles and shoot people down.  Oh and a PS for Glen, they have  Stearman.



Comments

Gravatar Image1 - A simulated Stearman is like virtual sex, if it's all you have and all you've ever know, then you know no better.

Gravatar Image2 - Me and my son have been beta testing Microsoft Flight as well, and just as you say, it is a game, not a simulator. I don't see Erik or me switching over from Flight Simulator X, but I can see us firing it up for a quick flight around ocassionally...

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