Found this on the next issue! http://www.pcpilot.net/view_issue.asp?ID=1025"FEATURES Microsoft Flight This issue sees the start of an exclusive new series that will serve as a developer’s diary, in the form of Q&A sessions, which over time will reveal the key aims and objectives of the Microsoft team, as well as the main features to be included in Microsoft Flight."Ill be getting myself a copy! Anyone know if its hit the local B&N yet?

Yes, I bought it today!

Mind summing up the juicy bits from the article?

It's very nebulous, really. Few specifics about gameplay. The long and short of it is that they want to extend the appeal of flight simming, while still retaining the realism for afficianados. They are not removing any of the existing fidelity, just adding more facilities for the more casual user. The game will work offline fine, but won't display what Flight has to offer to it's best advantage. There will be intergrated facilites for buying "products" (not sure if they mean planes, scenery or what) which is what the windows live bit is for. They want to reduce the developement time and make product enchancements more responsive to user demand, so I suppose that means that there will be lots and lots of updates via windows live, maybe this will be another income stream for them, maybe not. There's obviously a lot of smoke and mirrors involved and very little specifics.Although they refuse to comment in detail on gameplay, the next part of the article will (they promise!) be significantly more detailed so we'll have to wait and see. The most impressive thing is a bunch of screenshots that I've not seen before which look a lot more natural than anything I've ever seen on fs9/fsx. Visually, it looks good, and they are making promising noises about perfoemance as well, but, again, no specifics.

So, who's going to be the first to scan us in a few shots? :(

So, who's going to be the first to scan us in a few shots?

Well, i'm a subscriber but, delivery is all over the place: sometimes it's a week early, or three weeks late.But i love that rag. My wife bought my subscription.If i get it soon i'll see about a few pics.

Well! well! well!......where did I see a post about ...if you want to play Flight get online to see what Flight has to offer....stay offline and it will not display what Flight as to offer.......I found one of his post ...scroll down http://forum.avsim.n...-my-four-cents/ and another one....scroll down again... http://forum.avsim.n...ty-development/ "There will be intergrated facilites for buying"............ does that mean that the addons will have to be purchased and installed online to see what Flight has to offer....you "betcha"..Offline and you'll get the FSX SP3, online and you'll get all the goodies the dev. have to offer.....$$ to them and MS......

My concern with the added revenue stream possible with "live" is that they are going to start nickel and dimeing us......for instance, the offline airports and scenery could be bare bones and if you want to see detailed airports at big hubs,you have to click on the live feature to buy terminal buildings, taxi signs, things that used to be included in FSX. This is pure speculation on my part, and I usually stay out of this Microsoft Flight discussion because speculation is not my cup of tea, but I must admit that I have been worried ever since I learned of the online Live experience being integrated in Flight. Imagine flight simulation turning into the experience of the massive online games like World of Warcraft where there is a commercial underworld where people pay for upgrading their game status, or charging money for upgraded weapons. It may be a far fetched idea, but I have to wonder what is going to be sold online, I'm hoping they don't charge for features that were included in FSX/FS9....that it's going to be like the "unbundling" of features used by the Airlines to charge for baggage, window or aisle seats, you get the idea. LOL, if that happens and the flight simulation experience adopts a la carte pricing, Microsoft Flight! will truly be as "real as it gets!" :biggrin:I hope Microsoft isn't viewing this thread, I don't want to give them any ideas!

My concern with the added revenue stream possible with "live" is that they are going to start nickel and dimeing us......for instance, the offline airports and scenery could be bare bones and if you want to see detailed airports at big hubs,you have to click on the live feature to buy terminal buildings, taxi signs, things that used to be included in FSX. This is pure speculation on my part, and I usually stay out of this Microsoft Flight discussion because speculation is not my cup of tea, but I must admit that I have been worried ever since I learned of the online Live experience being integrated in Flight. Imagine flight simulation turning into the experience of the massive online games like World of Warcraft where there is a commercial underworld where people pay for upgrading their game status, or charging money for upgraded weapons. It may be a far fetched idea, but I have to wonder what is going to be sold online, I'm hoping they don't charge for features that were included in FSX/FS9....that it's going to be like the "unbundling" of features used by the Airlines to charge for baggage, window or aisle seats, you get the idea. LOL, if that happens and the flight simulation experience adopts a la carte pricing, Microsoft Flight! will truly be as "real as it gets!" :biggrin:I hope Microsoft isn't viewing this thread, I don't want to give them any ideas!

Smart man, at least somebody is getting it......follow the $$$...

Smart man, at least somebody is getting it......follow the $$$...

It’s true - you need to follow the money…and you need to consider all the economic factors.There’s a wider picture here you’re missing. I guess we’ll see ;)

It’s true - you need to follow the money…and you need to consider all the economic factors.There’s a wider picture here you’re missing. I guess we’ll see ;)

That's to easy, you have to make a prediction about the wider picture before it happen to see if you got it right....

My concern with the added revenue stream possible with "live" is that they are going to start nickel and dimeing us......for instance, the offline airports and scenery could be bare bones and if you want to see detailed airports at big hubs,you have to click on the live feature to buy terminal buildings, taxi signs, things that used to be included in FSX. This is pure speculation on my part, and I usually stay out of this Microsoft Flight discussion because speculation is not my cup of tea, but I must admit that I have been worried ever since I learned of the online Live experience being integrated in Flight. Imagine flight simulation turning into the experience of the massive online games like World of Warcraft where there is a commercial underworld where people pay for upgrading their game status, or charging money for upgraded weapons. It may be a far fetched idea, but I have to wonder what is going to be sold online, I'm hoping they don't charge for features that were included in FSX/FS9....that it's going to be like the "unbundling" of features used by the Airlines to charge for baggage, window or aisle seats, you get the idea. LOL, if that happens and the flight simulation experience adopts a la carte pricing, Microsoft Flight! will truly be as "real as it gets!" :biggrin:I hope Microsoft isn't viewing this thread, I don't want to give them any ideas!

The customers- we simmers- can only be nickeled & dimed so far. We already have good alternatives in FS9/FSX.If Flight doesn't meet our hopes for a next level sim, then MS will have to do without us.And I would bet that MS would dearly like to have the hardcore simmers on board to lend some credibility to the great unwashed gamers out there who may be ready to purchase the "arcade" version.My bet is that we will be pleasantly surprised with Flight.AR

...Offline and you'll get the FSX SP3, online and you'll get all the goodies the dev. have to offer.....$$$ to them and MS......no $hit.

FSX SP3 would be terriffic, followed bt SP4, 5, 6.Cheers,- jahman.

That's to easy, you have to make a prediction about the wider picture before it happen to see if you got it right....

Lol, you’re absolutely right :)It’s just that I’ve written pages on this already - so I’m basically off the topic ;)January sums it up nicely…+1 As a fan I support the next version…but make no mistake if MS decided to ride roughshod I would go elsewhere - lot's would.That’s something their designers are very mindful of. They’re more beholden to fans than we appreciate.I say while we may not be the so called ‘target market’, we are still the opinion makers. (- lot’s disagree with that)We’re Lindsay Lohan – and they’re opening a new West Hollywood club :( They’ll do best if our hobby thrives…otherwise I believe they risk being canceled. That’s always a genuine risk.But, we just don’t know… There’s no way we can assume Flight even has a say in the Marketplace matter. That’s a little scary –I’d don’t see the Marketplace as a money grab…it’s a service that entails a lot of MS risk and investment.It’ll need to be attractive to both users and developers.And I think it’s a great idea. - Particularly if they can continue to attract excellent add-ons over the long term.

Lol, you’re absolutely right :)It’s just that I’ve written pages on this already - so I’m basically off the topic ;)January sums it up nicely…As a fan I support the next version…but make no mistake if MS decided to ride roughshod I would go elsewhere - lot's would.That’s something their designers are very mindful of. They’re more beholden to fans than we appreciate.I say while we may not be the so called ‘target market’, we are still the opinion makers. (- lot’s disagree with that)We’re Lindsay Lohan – and they’re opening a new West Hollywood club :( They’ll do best if our hobby thrives…otherwise I believe they risk being canceled. That’s always a genuine risk.But, we just don’t know… There’s no way we can assume Flight even has a say in the Marketplace matter.I’d don’t see the Marketplace as a money grab…it’s a service that entails a lot of MS risk and investment.It’ll need to be attractive to both users and developers.And I think it’s a great idea. - Particularly if they can continue to attract excellent add-ons over the long term.

Fair enough, good post.....so let's wait....:(