I wonder if Microsoft could hire a person who could answer a question directly so as to make the answer totally transparent?For example this question and answer from the Microsoft News Page:QUOTEA number of you have asked, “Why did you drop ‘Simulator’ from the title of the game?”In addition to the FAQ on this topic, we want to directly address the concern that by dropping the “Simulator” from the name, we’re dumbing down the experience. Quite the contrary! We’ve developed on the “simulation” aspect for many years and have no intension of losing that legacy. What we’re doing now is improving the total experience while building on this legacy, enhancing the enjoyment for all who share a passion for flight. The more people who join us in the Flight experience, the greater the opportunity we’ll have to do even more.UNQUOTEThey may have given assurances that the name change will not impinged on the simulation aspect of their simulator but in no way do they answer the question they posed in the first place: “Why did you drop ‘Simulator’ from the title of the game?”Regards, Mike Mann

You mean you want them to publicly and for the record state they dropped the "Simulator" part of the name so it would be perceived as less geeky and thus appeal to a wider audience?They of course can't and shouldn't say that. Instead they say "enhancing the enjoyment for all who share a passion for flight". Given that sentence appears in the news release under the heading "A number of you have asked, Why did you drop ‘Simulator’ from the title of the game?". Well, that's exactly why.So for an excercise in contextual reading comprehension, try putting the heading title and that sentence together, followed by expliciting what's implied:

1. Microsoft:A number of you have asked, “Why did you drop ‘Simulator’ from the title of the game?”
2. Paragraph Title:(To) "enhanc(e) the enjoyment for all who share a passion for flight"
3. You, (from Context):(... so those who are not geeks, or who are but don't want their significant others to think they are, will not self-exclude because the name of the game includes the word Simulator).

Read between the lines and you have your answer. Remember, this is a news release, not some sort of a legal memorandum that needs to be interpreted litterally.So flight simming is a passion, a love affair with Flight. It's like going on a date with a girlfriend you really like. I assume you are more than willing to accept with an insinuated answer on a question that's really important to you in that case. After all, she did accept your invitation to dinner, she did keep the door open to her apartment while thanking you for the date, and she did keep looking at you all the while batting the eyelashes of her beautiful green eyes (DX11 god rays in the background). Do you want her to also send you a telegram inviting you in?So if you can and are willing to read between the lines in that case, why not do the same in this case? :-)Cheers,- jahman.

They may have given assurances that the name change will not impinged on the simulation aspect of their simulator but in no way do they answer the question they posed in the first place: “Why did you drop ‘Simulator’ from the title of the game?”

Dropping ‘simulator’ from the name is so trivial…I can’t imagine why it matters.The old names are simply out of style...way out of style.Trying to infer some deeper significance just leads to misconceptions.DannyFlight Simulator 11Flight Simulator XIFlight

Dropping ‘simulator’ from the name is so trivial…I can’t imagine why it matters.The old names are simply out of style...way out of style.Trying to infer some deeper significance just leads to misconceptions.DannyFlight Simulator 11Flight Simulator XIFlight

Yes I agree.It is so trivial that Microsoft mentions it as one of only five questions they placed in FAQ. It is so trivial that Microsoft mentions it again in only four highlighted sections of the latest News Page.Of coarse they have made it perfectly clear to everyone why they changed the name, just look at some of the responses I have received:"My guess is that dropping 'Simulator' was simply part of the deal with Lockheed Martin""The default software, whether FSX or FS9 is a game when compared to someone using it with payware aircraft, Radar Contact or Vatsim etc. as well as the miriad of scenery and controls available to purchase.""they dropped the "Simulator" part of the name so it would be perceived as less geeky"So after explaining twice their reason for changing the name, everyone is still not on the same page as to why!!Regards, Mike Mann

Yes I agree.It is so trivial that Microsoft mentions it as one of only five questions they placed in FAQ. It is so trivial that Microsoft mentions it again in only four highlighted sections of the latest News Page.Of coarse they have made it perfectly clear to everyone why they changed the name, just look at some of the responses I have received:"My guess is that dropping 'Simulator' was simply part of the deal with Lockheed Martin""The default software, whether FSX or FS9 is a game when compared to someone using it with payware aircraft, Radar Contact or Vatsim etc. as well as the miriad of scenery and controls available to purchase.""they dropped the "Simulator" part of the name so it would be perceived as less geeky"So after explaining twice their reason for changing the name, everyone is still not on the same page as to why!!Regards, Mike Mann

You want MS to forward you the internal memo covering their discussions as to how and why they decided on the new name? You are starting to fail the Turing Test, my friend...

You want MS to forward you the internal memo covering their discussions as to how and why they decided on the new name? You are starting to fail the Turing Test, my friend...

You on the other hand probably bought Microsoft Bob and made heavy use of the Microsoft Office Assistant Clippit (aka Clippy).Regards, Mike Mann

Dropping ‘simulator’ from the name is so trivial…I can’t imagine why it matters.The old names are simply out of style...way out of style.Trying to infer some deeper significance just leads to misconceptions.DannyFlight Simulator 11Flight Simulator XIFlight

I don't care if they call it Mickey Mouses Flying Adventures and it comes in a DVD box shaped like Donald Duck with a free movie pass to 101 Dalmations taped to the front of it. Just give me sloped runways, make ATC sound like they at least have a clue what they're doing, and don't make me have to have a computer powered by plutonium in order to run it, and I'll be in heaven.

Yup, they can call it 'Hello Kitty Island Shiny Plane Game' for all I care, what matters is what will be featured in the sim, and it clearly is a sim even if they drop that from the name.And I bet you fifty quid everyone will end up calling it Microsoft Flight Simulator anyway LOLAl

Yup, they can call it 'Hello Kitty Island Shiny Plane Game' for all I care

Nope, they can't do that... I think Aerosoft trademarked that name for their upcoming sim :( By the way, is the Aerosoft sim still on?

Nope, they can't do that... I think Aerosoft trademarked that name for their upcoming sim :( By the way, is the Aerosoft sim still on?

I can't seem to find any recent posts on the Aerosoft Forums from Mathijs Kok (Aerosoft Forum Administrator) giving any updates as to the status of what they tentatively named AEROSOFT FLIGHT SIMULATOR 2012. Some are already adding a year to that number calling it AFS 2013, while some feel that with Microsoft Flight announced that maybe Aerosoft has had second thoughts. The only thing for certain is that whatever the intentions of Aerosoft, they have not kept their own Forum (started by Mathijs Kok) updated.Regards, Mike Mann

Thats great news! I knew it there were listening to us! :( I'm really happy about the newsletter and about the performance with current hardware, it makes me wonder about the gui you think there going to eliminate allot of the sliders and I guess leave some of the hardcore and tweaking too the msflight .cfg ?

"We see a compelling social aspect to the experience inherent in the fun, and we need to better enable and support this dynamic to strengthen the entire Flight experience for everyone."I wonder if they are going to take a run at replacing the Vatsim experience. IF they have ambitions of having LOTS of pilots flying in a online environment, ATC seems like something they will need to address.Of course, that's a lot to assume from one news sentence, but the possibilities are interesting.

I really doubt they are looking to create a new VATSIM. That's a totally different ball game. It'd be more comparable to FSX's default multiplayer mode.

The videos aren't in game!

Wrong sir! :( Webisode 2 is in-game. :( The trailer and webisode 1, however, are renderings.

Wrong sir! :( Webisode 2 is in-game. :( The trailer and webisode 1, however, are renderings.

Can you share how you arriwe this conclusion? Thanks!Cheers,- jahman.

Can you share how you arriwe this conclusion? Thanks!Cheers,- jahman.

It's quite obvious that the first two videos published are not in game. Especially the trailer when compared to the latest webisode. The latest webisode looks similar, but not identical to FSX. (Tree shadows, improved autogen, etc, but otherwise looks like FSX) So I come to the conclusion that it is in game.