This looks promising http://paul-flightsi...om/default.aspx

How is this promising? All I see is a guy who owns a blog, who thinks he might have something to talk about in the future. That does not mean at all that he knows anything about the development of Flight. It could simply mean that he has heard of the news and thinks it'll make an interesting topic to post about - indeed, speculating, like we have done for the past two days or so.

How is this promising? All I see is a guy who owns a blog, who thinks he might have something to talk about in the future. That does not mean at all that he knows anything about the development of Flight. It could simply mean that he has heard of the news and thinks it'll make an interesting topic to post about - indeed, speculating, like we have done for the past two days or so.

Probably you are over here from a short time, Paul is (was) a ACES lead game designer, and when ACES was dismissed he kept his job at Microsoft...

Paul should be pretty well informed Ben:http://www.linkedin.com/pub/paul-lange/a/172/11b

I think this will wind up being wait and see. I don't know if this is a real or fake video at this point, and I really have to wonder how it will be handled gameplay wise. Will it be more MSFS or HAWX will become the real question.

awaiting "Microsoft Flight" developers to throw some light on this new project , here on Avsim ForumsWe have a 2 very simple questions:1. Is it a Simulator or just a Game2. When is the expected Launch Date.

3. Will it be open source allowing third party developers.4. Will you be able to connect to a MP network other than Microsoft (Vatsim, IVAO).Mark.

Paul should be pretty well informed Ben:http://www.linkedin....lange/a/172/11b

But remember that anyone who has real access to inside information will be subject to an NDA or equivalent and will not be able to publish it. Therefore, any unofficially published "inside information" should be treated with skeptisism.

The fact is, most games are now sold via online systems such as Steam, that's just the way it is going these days as more high street computer outlets close and buying habits change. And whilst I prefer ones that can run independent of Steam (which many can even if you've bought them via Steam), I've still bought many sims via Steam, as it is convenient so long as you have a decent download speed.You can still throw independently developed add-ons into stuff sold via Steam (for example SWG, Railworks etc) so being sold via a network is no indication of third party developers being shut out, or of any real limitations on where you choose to buy add-ons. The only thing you have to be certain of, is having a decent big hard drive and to back up any serial number info.The answer to the question: 'Is it a sim or is it a game?' - it's a game, just as FSX and FS9 are games. But they are games that can be used seriously as sims despite their status as games, since we know that FSX in a slightly altered form is the basis for a genuine approved sim that can be used to build some time for real world flying.There were many gaming aspects added to FSX, notably the mission system, the badges and postcards etc, and these have not only broadened the appeal of FS, but also enhanced its capabilities in being able to be used as a serious sim. One only has to look at what Wilco did with their 'Aviation and Mission PIC 737' add-on to see that. It offers an excellent platform for learning how to fly a 737 in the correct way in FSX via the mission system, and anyone who has tried out Aerosoft's African Airstrip Adventures will know that the gaming aspect it adds to FSX via the mission system, far from being a bad thing, is actually a great step forward which makes FSX massively entertaining.All that aside, as we all know, many real-world pilots (including me) use FS to supplement real world flying activities thanks to photo-realistic terrain and the greater fidelity of third party add-ons for the base 'game' that FS is straight out of the box. Microsoft know that the appeal of FS was and is the 'sandbox' capability it offers to third party developers, who make it more than a game, but that does not mean they have to leave out appealing to those who would prefer more game-like aspects in a flight sim; as FSX proves, you can please both camps.Al

I'm really sceptic about this, I have a feeling this will be a game only and it'll have nothing to do with an actual simulation

Actually I have exactly the same feelings. Fortunately I have FSX and multiple addons for it to live with.

Good to see something new in the flight simulation scene, even if it doesn`t say simulator in the title. Looking forward to hearing more about it..James

3. Will it be open source allowing third party developers.4. Will you be able to connect to a MP network other than Microsoft (Vatsim, IVAO).Mark.

MSFS was never open source. It had a good add-on SDK architechure, but I never was able to find the source files for the exe in the SDK, so it doesn't fall under the category of open source.

The fact is, most games are now sold via online systems such as Steam, that's just the way it is going these days as more high street computer outlets close and buying habits change. And whilst I prefer ones that can run independent of Steam (which many can even if you've bought them via Steam), I've still bought many sims via Steam, as it is convenient so long as you have a decent download speed.You can still throw independently developed add-ons into stuff sold via Steam (for example SWG, Railworks etc) so being sold via a network is no indication of third party developers being shut out, or of any real limitations on where you choose to buy add-ons. The only thing you have to be certain of, is having a decent big hard drive and to back up any serial number info.The answer to the question: 'Is it a sim or is it a game?' - it's a game, just as FSX and FS9 are games. But they are games that can be used seriously as sims despite their status as games, since we know that FSX in a slightly altered form is the basis for a genuine approved sim that can be used to build some time for real world flying.There were many gaming aspects added to FSX, notably the mission system, the badges and postcards etc, and these have not only broadened the appeal of FS, but also enhanced its capabilities in being able to be used as a serious sim. One only has to look at what Wilco did with their 'Aviation and Mission PIC 737' add-on to see that. It offers an excellent platform for learning how to fly a 737 in the correct way in FSX via the mission system, and anyone who has tried out Aerosoft's African Airstrip Adventures will know that the gaming aspect it adds to FSX via the mission system, far from being a bad thing, is actually a great step forward which makes FSX massively entertaining.All that aside, as we all know, many real-world pilots (including me) use FS to supplement real world flying activities thanks to photo-realistic terrain and the greater fidelity of third party add-ons for the base 'game' that FS is straight out of the box. Microsoft know that the appeal of FS was and is the 'sandbox' capability it offers to third party developers, who make it more than a game, but that does not mean they have to leave out appealing to those who would prefer more game-like aspects in a flight sim; as FSX proves, you can please both camps.Al

Steam in general is good until you have to deal with servers being overloaded. Now that NPD is tracking Digital Distribution sales (which only started within the last 2 months), they have found that digital distribution makes up a sizable chunk of per dollar sales (note that per dollar does not mean actual percentage of total sold copies, as you will occasionally see a game on steam and similar networks on sale for 10-30 dollars that is normally 30-50). The reality is that with retail companies moving away from retail stocking PC games, in favor of console games, you tend to see more and more sales move to digital distribution.

Probably you are over here from a short time, Paul is (was) a ACES lead game designer, and when ACES was dismissed he kept his job at Microsoft...

Started out more or less with MSFS around december 2008, so indeed, I guess I am somewhat new... Thanks for the info!Regarding Steam, I have a rather big library of games that I bought via Steam, evben though I much prefer the good 'ol boxed copies to digital copies. The reason is rather simple: They have these MASSIVE sales that offer me the games I want with 66% off, up to sometimes even 80%! I mean, how cna I not buy a game with such an offer? I often wait for sometime before I buy a game, knowing that, some time or another, a Steam sale will make it affordable.

Geez the thing has just been announced and some are already complaining and pronouncing it a failure :oPersonally I like the direction and theme of the trailer. It reminds me of Flight Unlimited II and III, with the focus on the romance of flight and small or old airplanes. I think the challenge will be to make it enough of a "game" that joe average will go out and buy it, while not losing sight of the hardcore simmer crowd.This will hopefully mean a fresh start for the scenery and flight dynamics engines. Modern GPUs can do tessellation now, which is perfect for rendering extremely detailed terrain, with detail smoothly fading out in the distance to keep framerates high. Some rather spectacular effects can also be made, like fog, reflections etc., but also rough surfaces like rock or concrete can be made amazingly realistic. FSX depended mostly on static textures and artwork to make things look realistic. The flight dynamics could also be calculated by the GPU, instead of the 1980's style lookup tables that MSFS used throughout its life cycle.

A bit like Pilot Wings on the N64 with realistic graphics

That's exactly what I thought, the second I saw that Stearman appear in the clip.On a positive note: The "Microsoft Flight will bring a new perspective to the long-standing genre, welcoming everyone, including long-time fans" and the "Twenty-eight years after the debut of “Microsoft Flight Simulator1.0" mentioning in the press release, makes me believe it is going to be a next FS we all hope for. Only with more arcade-like missions, achievements, career-mode ("when I was a child.."), etc added to it, to make it more attractive to a broader public. Besides that, the globe, visible in the letters FLIGHT, gives me an impression this game/sim will feature the complete earth. And not just a nondescript Island or something.I'm aware that these are pure speculations, or educated guesses at best. But I for one am exited.Hugo

I'm really sceptic about this, I have a feeling this will be a game only and it'll have nothing to do with an actual simulation. If it was a real deal, MS would make sure to provide more info about it to our community? If it is in fact a continuation of the series developed and marketed by a completely brand new FS team, I can see majority of the current 3rd party developers going out of business as I'm sure add-on licensing will not be cheap, knowing MS and their greed when it comes to any licenses for their products.

Not true .. FS has normally been slow to release tons of info early in a titles development cycle.  Dont panic on the day you hear about the new sim   :(

Well, there we go, looks like it is happening. And if it's got a Stearman in it, it can't be all bad.Al

Don't let the dropping of simulator shake your confidence.  Its only a few hours into the release announcement.  Its way to early for your confidence to be shaken.

Its definitely NOT in-game visuals. Its just a pre-rendered promo video.

Thats what my guess is as well... Remember community,  the past MSFS's were promo'd with pre-rendered video.  I doubt that changed for this addition.

Whereas the positivity about this announcement is all well and good, personally I have no trust in a company that dropped ACES like an expendable afterthought and left all of us hardcore simmers high and dry as they say. I'd be shocked if "Flight" was anything but a light-hearted / silly game that appeals to the social networking/online crowd and leaves 99% of us hardcore simmers very disappointed. I hope I am wrong, we'll see.United