Directly from Microsoft are two recent job postings for the Flight project team, which I have included below for your reading pleasure. The first one was posted December 8th and is for an aircraft and systems modeler. Hmmm, interesting. The second second one posted on December 13th and is for a creative lead that will "work with the studio leadership to define the vision and execute on that vision". Interesting again.Let's all speculate. Oh, unless that offends you. If so, just skip the thread.Numero Uno:

Job Category: Software Engineering: Development Location: United States, WA, Redmond Job ID: 779112 Division: Interactive Entertainment Business

Microsoft Studios is seeking an aircraft simulation engineer to help build Microsoft Flight. We are looking for a strong engineer with a passion for aviation and real world systems modeling. The successful candidate will be responsible for improving and adding features to the C++ software components that simulate aircraft and systems such as avionics, engine, aerodynamics model, auto pilot and other feedback control systems . Other responsibilities will include tuning the data used by the systems to recreate realistic behavior of individual aircraft under various conditions.Qualifications:• Strong math and physics background.• Demonstrable C++ programming skills• Experience mathematically modeling aircraft and aircraft systems behavior. • Passion for aviation• Ability to make progress given ambiguous requirements from multiple sources, working on a multidisciplinary team of programmers, artists, and game designers.• Aeronautical/Aerospace science or engineering degree or equivalent experienceIdeal:• BS in Computer Science or equivalent experience• Games programming experience• Private pilot license*To consider similar job openings within Microsoft Game Studios on MS Career, use keyword: MGSNumero Two

Job Category: Software Engineering: Creative Location: United States, WA, Redmond Job ID: 779637 Division: Interactive Entertainment Business

Join the team responsible for building the most fun and rewarding flying experiences available on any platform. Microsoft Flight is a reinvention of the classic software franchise, bringing the wonder of flight to whole new audiences. The Creative Lead will be part of the core studio leadership team, responsible for defining and driving the vision of the product while providing inspiration, leadership, and creative focus, for the team. Boundless imagination is balanced with a deep understanding of the game development process; the ability to ideate is combined with the communication skills to concisely direct the creative efforts for the team. As Creative Lead you will work with the studio leadership to define the vision and execute on that vision with excellence. If you are a strong, collaborative creative leader who wears many hats, thinks conceptually and strategically and is passionate about all things Flight, this position may be the perfect place for you. Responsibilities:Direct the tone and timber of the project with an eye towards technical innovation, experiential innovation and cross platform immersion.Set clear creative goals and deliverables; lead and focus efforts across the team to ensure a cohesive experience on all platforms and services.Anticipate threats to quality and innovation and work effectively with the team leads to mitigate.Build and maintain a collaborative relationship with Art, Dev, Design, Audio, and Production.Contribute to the building of a strong and successful creative team.Communicate, document, and represent direction to team members, senior management and key stakeholders.Expertly craft documentation to represent the team’s vision around user experience, including: storyboards, schematics, style guides, movies, PPTs and prototypes.Ensure the experience vision is driven by a well-defined nucleus of user needs, tasks, marketing and business requirements.Effectively communicate with team through implementation phase to realize creative vision.Requirements:5+ years working on internal development teams in a senior creative role (Art Director, Creative Director, Design Director, etc.).Experience in design of a consumer experience with an emphasis on conceptual, visual, interaction design and strategic thinking.Have strong visual design skills, think conceptually about design, present excellent problem solving skills, and exercise the ability to work well in a collaborative team environment.Excellent communication, presentation and organizational skills.Multiple shipped titles from concept to reality.Ability to shepherd non-creative people through the creative process.Understand the array of technical constraints, user goals and business requirements that shape a product.Demonstrate ability to work confidently with other Creatives, Program Management, Development, Product Planning, Brand, Marketing and Usability.Proficiency with Premier, Photoshop, Illustrator, 3DMax/Maya, with an understanding of rapid prototyping platforms such as Flash, Director and After Effects.A minimum of a BA/BS degree.

Skipped .......

Why would they be putting in an AutoPilot if it's Hawaii only? I mean... yes, you could use autopilot in such a small area but from what other people are claiming, its more of a feature used for simulation rather than for a game. I'd score this one for the "Flight isn't just Hawaii" team It also leads me to think that Flight is still a lot further away than many of us think (hope).

• Ability to make progress given ambiguous requirements from multiple sources, working on a multidisciplinary team of programmers, artists, and game designers.orEnsure the experience vision is driven by a well-defined nucleus of user needs, tasks, marketing and business requirements.Creative-v-Development and never the two shall meet Both do make mention of cross-platform involvement that does lend itself to a certain amount of speculation.

Ability to shepherd non-creative people through the creative process.

Wonderful

Why would they be putting in an AutoPilot if it's Hawaii only? I mean... yes, you could use autopilot in such a small area but from what other people are claiming, its more of a feature used for simulation rather than for a game. I'd score this one for the "Flight isn't just Hawaii" team It also leads me to think that Flight is still a lot further away than many of us think (hope).

Where's the autopilot part in the job description?

Numero Uno:

Job Category: Software Engineering: DevelopmentLocation: United States, WA, RedmondJob ID: 779112Division: Interactive Entertainment Business

Microsoft Studios is seeking an aircraft simulation engineer to help build Microsoft Flight. We are looking for a strong engineer with a passion for aviation and real world systems modeling. The successful candidate will be responsible for improving and adding features to the C++ software components that simulate aircraft and systems such as avionics, engine, aerodynamics model, auto pilot and other feedback control systems . Other responsibilities will include tuning the data used by the systems to recreate realistic behavior of individual aircraft under various conditions.Qualifications:• Strong math and physics background.• Demonstrable C++ programming skills• Experience mathematically modeling aircraft and aircraft systems behavior.• Passion for aviation• Ability to make progress given ambiguous requirements from multiple sources, working on a multidisciplinary team of programmers, artists, and game designers.• Aeronautical/Aerospace science or engineering degree or equivalent experienceIdeal:• BS in Computer Science or equivalent experience• Games programming experience• Private pilot license*To consider similar job openings within Microsoft Game Studios on MS Career, use keyword: MGS

Where's the autopilot part in the job description?

Here

Ideal:• BS in Computer Science or equivalent experience

Hey, WE have LOT'S of people here that qualify for this!!! ....................

Why would they be putting in an AutoPilot if it's Hawaii only? I mean... yes, you could use autopilot in such a small area but from what other people are claiming, its more of a feature used for simulation rather than for a game. I'd score this one for the "Flight isn't just Hawaii" team It also leads me to think that Flight is still a lot further away than many of us think (hope).

Because small planes do usually have some kind of autopilot too. And also whole area of Hawaii islands is still pretty big for average Xbox live user to fly by hand with small slow plane.

Because small planes do usually have some kind of autopilot too. And also whole area of Hawaii islands is still pretty big for average Xbox live user to fly by hand with small slow plane.

No

Hey, WE have LOT'S of people here that qualify for this!!! ....................

+100

Because small planes do usually have some kind of autopilot too. And also whole area of Hawaii islands is still pretty big for average Xbox live user to fly by hand with small slow plane.

Zero chance this is on Xbox. You can stop trolling now.

Job Category: Software Engineering: DevelopmentLocation: United States, WA, RedmondJob ID: 779112Division: Interactive Entertainment Business

Microsoft Studios is seeking an aircraft simulation engineer to help build Microsoft Flight. We are looking for a strong engineer with a passion for aviation and real world systems modeling. The successful candidate will be responsible for improving and adding features to the C++ software components that simulate aircraft and systems such as avionics, engine, aerodynamics model, auto pilot and other feedback control systems . Other responsibilities will include tuning the data used by the systems to recreate realistic behavior of individual aircraft under various conditions.Qualifications:• Strong math and physics background.• Demonstrable C++ programming skills• Experience mathematically modeling aircraft and aircraft systems behavior.• Passion for aviation• Ability to make progress given ambiguous requirements from multiple sources, working on a multidisciplinary team of programmers, artists, and game designers.• Aeronautical/Aerospace science or engineering degree or equivalent experienceIdeal:• BS in Computer Science or equivalent experience• Games programming experience• Private pilot license*To consider similar job openings within Microsoft Game Studios on MS Career, use keyword: MGS

Yeah, this is obviously going to be an arcade game.

Why the jobs selection comes now when the game is already on its beta stage ?

Why the jobs selection comes now when the game is already on its beta stage ?

The beta hasn't started nor do we know what the public beta will consist of content wise or how long it will take.This game isn't going to be released anytime soon. Summer 2012 at the earliest I think.

Yeah, this is obviously going to be an arcade game.

Are you saying that somebody with those qualifications would not be able to design a simplified flight simulator?Besides, everybody knows that job postings almost always inflate the qualifications for two reasons: 1) It prevents people who are obviously under-qualified from applying ; 2) Sure, they would love to get somebody with those qualifications -- that's basically their dream candidate -- but they'd gladly hire somebody who is sufficiently skilled and knowledgeable to do the job even if they don't meet the standards stated in the job posting.