woohoo that's good news direct from the top and a projected release date of Q4 2006 !

Well, Q4 2006 is still a ways off, so no 'upheaval' just yet I'm happy to see. Still - very exciting news indeed. Can't wait to see what's next in the franchise :)regards,Markhttp://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a319/markrey/lsd2.jpghttp://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a319/mar.../sup_banner.jpgXPHomeSP2/FS9.1/3.2HT/1GIG/X700pro256

As someone who likes flight simulator, I am disapointed to hear that we have to wait the better part of a year for the next version to come out.As a developer with current projects underway designed for FS2004, this news comes as a bit of a relief however.Cheers,Bryan

Some of you, maybe you Mr. Joiner, will soon probably sign NDA's and largely disappear from AVSIM forums. :) do you think that's a possibility? Or if we don't hear from JohnCi, we'll know something is up.Rhett

LOL!Don't think Microsoft will knock on my door unless they see me post here:Upgraded to new 64 bit (insert AMD or Pentium)Upgraded O/S to something resembling Windows XPI'm first getting my pilot's license out of the way since I have to finish by summer unless I want to fly in the AZ desert chop--most recreational pilots out here refer to Nov-March as flying "season" for good reason. My wife even bought me some flight/instructor time for Christmas, how nice :) Thanks to the sim and my first lessons twenty years ago, at least I know where the fuel gauge is!-John

Thanks for the info, Avsim :)FS9 is going to be 40 months old by the end of 2006 ...

I'm just tickeled to death there is a date.Now we can go back to serious stuff - like debating features.Moo!!!PS - note the press release did NOT come from Microsoft Corporate - but Microsoft Game Studios

Here are my guestimates....1. FSX released Aug/Sept '06 with full WinXP compatibilty[but not 64 bit unlocked]2. Vista released Oct/Nov '06, unleashing 64 bit architecture.3. FSX users can unlock the 64 bit features for FSX if they get Vista.I'm already prepared for the 64 bit future, but I am not buying FSX until AFTER Vista is released AND that SB3/FSINN/VATSIM is deemed compatible. I hope 3rd party guys like PMDG, LDS, FSGen, AS, TRACKIR and UTCAN/USA can have their products compatible or updated when I switch over :-[Randy

Yee Haa - We got another 12 months of being payware FS9 beta testersI always heard that you hope your car was not built on a Friday afternoon. Well Lets hope the same doesnt apply to 2006 addons.

(Yes John... I have signed such agreements in past.) And yes I know who a lot of the former testers were. I'll drop some emails. And I would be DELIGHTED to test this new FSX when and if I get that opportunity! I'll go check the betaplace web site as well...I havent done that in awhile.Eric

John,I 'think' they set out a hasty email for the news sites to post because of the premature article by PC Gamer and the misquote. Tom or Matt can correct me if I'm wrong.These things happen sometimes and have to go back and be corrected, especialy when certain companies have set up a time line for the release of information.This is actually not that big of a deal.

Everyone who was claiming PC Gamer is the gospel of truth and never gets release dates wrong can kindly go home now... ;) :DSeriously, I've seen them (and Computer Gaming World) get dates wrong so many times that the wrong ones are probably in the majority!As for "Who's testing it?" my bet is on no one at least externally. If this isn't coming out until Christmas 06, it probably won't be in beta until late spring/early summer or something like that I'd bet.

Didn't Microsoft Game Studios offer us the 777-200LR Worldliner Endurance Challenge a while ago which still hasn't happened?

Bah, and I had some hope.Well, it's one good thing about it. FS10 should be major rewrite, I hope they drop backwards compatibility at last and do not keep us all in "stone age" of technology for the sake of being able to fly some plane or use some boxy scenery.Honestly, I play FS9 sometimes I feel like in gaming museum (that includes addons too).Happy New Year everyone!

I don't think you'll have that problem anymore...lol.