In the past year or two, racing simulations have taken a beating on consoles. In response studios are turning to the PC where they can create the type of racing simulations they want, without the creative or financial constraints large bloated publishers were placing on them.The former developer of the Need for Speed "Shift" series has done just that, but has even gone one better! The community "buys" into the cost of development via membership. This funds the project. In return, those that donate (depending on amount) can attend actual development meetings, have access to builds of the game, or just have their voice heard in the way the sim is created. So far the simulation looks spectacular.http://www.wmdportal.com/projects/cars/I wish all flight simulator enthusiasts could pull something like this together with a developer like PMDG.

In the past year or two, racing simulations have taken a beating on consoles.

I wouldn't say they've taken a beating - Forza 4, F1 2011, and GT5 are examples of console racers that have done quite well. Some of the "edgier" titles have not fared as well - the most recent Shift offerings come to mind.That being said, you make an excellent point! If that were a possibility - there was a company willing to try it - the ability to be "in on" the development process would be great! Perhaps other companies are waiting to see how this does?This also raises another point - both Forza 4 and GT5, while having HUGE content initially, keep interest alive with periodic high quality DLC. This may be where Microsoft is going with Flight - to get a good portion of the market that third party developers have enjoyed with FS9 and FSX. If it's quality at a reasonable price, I'm all for it.

I'd happily help fund a new flight sim if it were an FS11 type thing.

I wish developers and hardware manufacturers would get together to create a core flight simulation-- basically just the world... then let all the third parties make the aircraft and other addons.

In the past year or two, racing simulations have taken a beating on consoles. In response studios are turning to the PC where they can create the type of racing simulations they want, without the creative or financial constraints large bloated publishers were placing on them.The former developer of the Need for Speed "Shift" series has done just that, but has even gone one better! The community "buys" into the cost of development via membership. This funds the project. In return, those that donate (depending on amount) can attend actual development meetings, have access to builds of the game, or just have their voice heard in the way the sim is created. So far the simulation looks spectacular.http://www.wmdportal.../projects/cars/I wish all flight simulator enthusiasts could pull something like this together with a developer like PMDG.

not sure I follow .. the PC will have (your words) "...creative or financial constraints large bloated publishers were placing on them." as well.

@Tierborn, yes there are always creative and financial constraints...There are different definitions of what construes "creative and financial". For me a creative constraint on a flight sim game might be that not every single airport is modeled in 100 percent realism. To a company like MS, their creative constraint might be that there are no airports and just hoops to fly thru.

Without meaning to berate, people need to stop suggesting 'ideas' like this. It is a colossal amount of work to build a modern game engine. An informal group of flight sim enthusiasts wouldn't stand the first chance of making something to rival FS2000, let alone something like XPX or FSX.

Without meaning to berate, people need to stop suggesting 'ideas' like this. It is a colossal amount of work to build a modern game engine. An informal group of flight sim enthusiasts wouldn't stand the first chance of making something to rival FS2000, let alone something like XPX or FSX.

I agree, it is one thing to model a closed track with an image backdrop and a indycar vs modeling a complete 3D world, weather, complex aircrafts... FlightGear has gone very far, but yet still far behind what FS has to offer.

To a company like MS, their creative constraint might be that there are no airports and just hoops to fly thru.

Either you weren't looking in the right place or you just chose to see what you wanted to see.

No offense taken, but if we-- the community doesn't push for new development then what?? Do we settle for FSX for the rest of our lives? How long will joystick and controller companies keep manufacturing before they stop because all Flight (if it is even around) needs is an Xbox controller or mouse. Xplane was made by one guy. DCS A-10 is made by a small group. There is a new helicopter combat game being made by one or two guys. It's not like there aren't game engines already on the market that can be used. Hard work? Yes, but if we don't try then we need to settle for what we have.

And all FSX needs is a mouse, but most users don't use the fly-with-mouse option. The same is true with Flight ... I'm using my Saitek X52 joystick and throttle and my Thrustmaster pedals.

And all FSX needs is a mouse, but most users don't use the fly-with-mouse option. The same is true with Flight ... I'm using my Saitek X52 joystick and throttle and my Thrustmaster pedals.

Well said Arwen, just because the least required input hardware is a mouse does not mean it is the best. I see no reason why Logitech, Saitek, or CH would pulled themselves out of the controller market. The argument about being able to fly with the mouse has been repeatedly used against Flight, while a lot of people were fond that MS reinstated this feature in FSX.

Xplane was made by one guy.

Years ago that may have been true. It's certainly not true now......but your point is valid, since it is also a much smaller team than MSGS, and that's a fact! :(

And all FSX needs is a mouse, but most users don't use the fly-with-mouse option. The same is true with Flight ... I'm using my Saitek X52 joystick and throttle and my Thrustmaster pedals.

ummm...that NDA didn't mean much...

ummm...that NDA didn't mean much...

Using mouse for flying in Flight is already known to the public.

ummm...that NDA didn't mean much...

You've GOT to be kidding!How does what I wrote break the NDA in ANY way?Watch the Webisode 6 Trailer, and pay particular attention to what is highlighted at 1:56.The problem is that some of you have become so jaded by what you THINK Flight is, that you're not even seeing the big picture here. Open your eyes and stop selectively filtering out (or trying to debunk) everything that is contrary to your narrow view of Flight.