Purely From a gaming standpoint:Learning curve, about 20 minutes.INTERFACE: 8/10CONTENT: 3/10 (DOES NOT INCLUDE DLC)GRAPHICS: 5/10SOUNDS: 6/10REPLAY VALUE: 6/10OVERALL : 5.6/10

You have to see it from a gamers' point of view, which is what IGN did; their review is not far off the mark.

I think the flight models are poorly done, as well. I won't go on... the reviewer said it all.

You might want to read more posts here and simhq's review (not the editorial, but the actual youtube review and the supplemetanl article.)

the rest of the world views it much the same as this review.

I'm part of the "rest of the world" and I think otherwise.

especially when there is no indication that there is more

What happened to Alaska DLC?

That leaves only the people who already have an interest in flying and rather spend money on Flight instead of FSX or have enough time and money to spend on both.

That is exactly what Flight is mainly targeting at this point, not the casual gamers or every hardcore simmers.

Well, don't dismiss too easily IGN (or other gaming websites) by thinking that they can't review a sim. IGN AU gave 92 to DCS Black Shark (IGN US 80, still good), and the same is true for a lot of sims of various levels of complexity, most in excess of 80. Sadly, Flight does stick out at the bottom of this list.It does not make me happy, I'm aware that a failure for Flight is probably going to kill the franchise forever or for a good decade, but I can't help thinking that Flight won't survive long because of its lack of depth, its complete lack of PR and wide advertising, and that content might not flow fast enough to prevent a drought in the number of users/transactions. Average reviews sound like a nail in the coffin. Maybe it can still burst open with the new DLC etc. We'll see.

I don't give a rat's patootie why some reviewer didn't like a game. I'm mostly interested in why *I* might like it. The rest of my interest is in whatever I should know before deciding to buy it, which includes things like install issues or major bugs. As for missing features, I want to know, but just because a few people want these doesn't mean I do.I don't need gushing reviews and I don't need hate reviews. What I need is unbiased reporting.Based on the above, what kind of score would I give this reviewer?Hook

Before this thread goes on, I recommend we all read and compare the IGN reviews of both FSX and Flight.(both products our of the box, initial release)Microsoft Flight Simulator X http://pc.ign.com/ar...8/748753p1.html December 2006Microsoft Flight Review http://pc.ign.com/ar.../1220696p1.html March 2012Then compare the notes, scores and sidenotes given to both products.Finally, it's your own score that counts.

That is exactly what Flight is mainly targeting at this point, not the casual gamers or every hardcore simmers.

Hmm, this would mean that they targeted a niche inside a niche. That's not the kind of statement that would make me confident about its future..

Hmm, this would mean that they targeted a niche inside a niche. That's not the kind of statement that would make me confident about its future..

Not necessarily, the hardcore simmers are a small niche and we know that already. I suspect there are a lot more people interested in flying but are not willing or do not have the luxury of devoting tons of money and time into the hobby.

While I don't speak with ANY authority, want to know some more truth? For those that are hoping Flight fails and Microsoft then turns their developmental efforts towards FS11, don't get called to do a drug screen! Whatever you're smoking will show up as a positive!Like it or not, Flight is the future for Microsoft. And it's the only future for Microsoft's franchise. Let's hope it does succeed, so that down the road it's development will have progressed far enough for the disenfranchised to consider it for their "serious/hardcore simming" endeavors.Just my opinion, of course.

I don't hope for it to fail, but I don't have faith that it will succeed. sigh

I think MS might have known the risk of lower review scores when they decided to release early with less content. Some MMORPG games keeps being modified and expanded essentially being work-in-progress for the first year.Also MS Flight is also somewhat a hybrid between a game and a simulator, much like Gran Turismon is a driving simulator focusing on more accurate physics, with driving aids for beginners. Those who prefer Need for Speed probably would prefer Ace Combat too.Just like its too early to say how popular MS Flight will be once they add more aircraft and areas, the reviewers have only seen the very birth of the product... Not that much to base a review on.-

Sorry. This review failed to work for me as it sounded like yet another rant from a certain section of the hobby. As a reviewer, his job is to objectively look at a product, not lecture with his personal disappointments. Essentially, before the product was even discussed, he had made his sensabilitys known, and after that, a fair review was extremely unlikely.

The review is pretty spot on right now. In its current state, Flight is very mediocre especially value-wise. If they would have boxed this for 39.99 retail and it had one location and 5 planes, people would laugh it out of the store. I like Flight because of the potential I see in it. I do find it very lonely running around Flight, even in multiplayer. It is strange landing at Hilo without anything at all moving. It feels like I'm the last person in the world, flying around after the apocolypse. What's more, is that there is settings in the Config file for air traffic, boats, and cars, so they may add that in the future. Overall, I am spending money on Flight because there's not a new alternative. I'm a very niche market though and I don't think MS will succeed in the casual marketplace with the current business model (price wise.)

i check IGN multiple times daily...and have for several years.....to say the least...they are a typical, just say whats on their mind, and don't tread to far from the dock...any big name game will undoubtedly get a high score....theres beauty in art...blah blah blah...i took a 'shot in the dark' and guessed IGN would give the game a 5/10, mostly because i know most of their writers and i guess i was as accurate as can be.take EVERYTHING from them, with a grain of salt...in fact, use a whole shaker.

I think the review was quite accurate!!In its present form Flight is rather boring!!

Another review by SIMHQ is here:http://www.simhq.com/_air14/air_518a.htmlGuy

Another review by SIMHQ is here:http://www.simhq.com...4/air_518a.htmlGuy

Thanks Guy, that is the supplemental review I was referring to in my earlier post. Here is the link to the video review on youtube: