MS Flight for Free has spring release date

[sprocky]

Did anybody read the wikipedia page about Flight? Bad example of a wiki article... anybody can make changes and I doubt some of the lines were written without being at leased pro Flight

[DaleRFU]

Check out this promo vid

http://flyawaysimulation.com/images/med ... -gameplay/

[james84]

Flight can be downloaded for free from today.
I've taken a quick look on the default scenery (Hawaii Island with the Icon amphibious aircraft) and I must say that graphics wise it's quite nice, but it's a real videogame, very "console style". There are a couple of simple lessons to show you how to fly an aircraft (slalom among ballons, landing, take off and landing on water) and some missions, but you can also explore the whole Hawaii Island.
A useful feature is the possibility of moving the aircraft over the map and choose where you want to go. It is also possible to change weather (also real world), season and day time.
I tried to move over the Oahu island but once the game loads an icon telling you that you have to purchase the scenery appears, but you can fly over it although you will see no details or terrain mesh.
Don't expect a complicated aircraft management as in FS2004 or FSX, just directional and elevation controls, throttle, engine on and off, lights and gear. The virtual cockpit of the aircraft is nice and it's very easy to move within, but you cannot press any button.
The look of the clouds and some textures remind me of FS2004 but the terrain and the coast lines are much more defined. No need to say that you need a brand new PC if you want to get the best and most spectacular graphic experience.
I would have posted some screenshots but Snapper didn't work with it and I have already uninstalled the program.
If you want to take a look, it DOESN'T interact with the FS2004 folder at all, although I preferred to make a backup first and rename the FS9 folder in order not to have trouble (with 35 gigabytes of FS9 it's more than worth). Don't know what happens with FSX, but Flight is installed in its own folder.

[delbydoo]

Well I think that just about sums it up - FS2004 it will be forever more amen

[sprocky]

Thanks for the report.

Well I think that just about sums it up - FS2004 it will be forever more amen

+1

[mikewmac]

Flight can be downloaded for free from today.
I've taken a quick look on the default scenery (Hawaii Island with the Icon amphibious aircraft) and I must say that graphics wise it's quite nice, but it's a real videogame, very "console style". There are a couple of simple lessons to show you how to fly an aircraft (slalom among ballons, landing, take off and landing on water) and some missions, but you can also explore the whole Hawaii Island.
A useful feature is the possibility of moving the aircraft over the map and choose where you want to go. It is also possible to change weather (also real world), season and day time.
I tried to move over the Oahu island but once the game loads an icon telling you that you have to purchase the scenery appears, but you can fly over it although you will see no details or terrain mesh.
Don't expect a complicated aircraft management as in FS2004 or FSX, just directional and elevation controls, throttle, engine on and off, lights and gear. The virtual cockpit of the aircraft is nice and it's very easy to move within, but you cannot press any button.
The look of the clouds and some textures remind me of FS2004 but the terrain and the coast lines are much more defined. No need to say that you need a brand new PC if you want to get the best and most spectacular graphic experience.
I would have posted some screenshots but Snapper didn't work with it and I have already uninstalled the program.
If you want to take a look, it DOESN'T interact with the FS2004 folder at all, although I preferred to make a backup first and rename the FS9 folder in order not to have trouble (with 35 gigabytes of FS9 it's more than worth). Don't know what happens with FSX, but Flight is installed in its own folder.

That sounds a lot like the original FS1 back in the day with modern graphics.

Mike M.

[sr01]

Well I think that just about sums it up - FS2004 it will be forever more amen

Daryl I quite agree !Especially with packages like the recent Wiliamtown one

[Jumpshot724]

Anyone think if this tanks they'll go back to the "simulator" style??

[Firebird]

My opinion for what it's worth.

[delbydoo]

My opinion for what it's worth.

Harsh Steve.........but true so

And I think that if this does tank, that will be it for flight simulators full stop; let's face it there are, to quote Commandant Lassard, "many, many wonderful...." stand alone flight sims, admittedly combat-orientated, that don't go into the navigational and ATC-impacted environment like FS9 or FSX offers IMHO, so to effectively have to start from scratch again, when there are two universally well-based platforms (and not forgetting X-plane either) could be a phenomenal undertaking that may not be justified by any one company........perhaps one day the MRCA or Eurofighter of flightsims may arrive, but I don't think it will be in this decade.

[petebramley]

Was bored yesterday so decided to try it for myself.

BIG MISTAKE

Utter crap




Straight to the Recycle bin

[reconmercs]

I honestly think we need to organize some sort of boycott, if we hit them in their pockets maybe they'll listen for a change.

[Firebird]

Well, if people are dumping freeware from them then they won't be buying the addons.

This whole Flight thing is about MS trying to control the hobby and the revenue stream from it. It must kill them that people buy addons for FS9 and FSX that cost more than the original game.

[delbydoo]

It'spretty much the same as plastic modelling - you get a manufacturer publishes a kit of, say, a Spitfire in 1/48th scale.....cost about £7-8.......then the aftermarket specialists will reproduce BETTER quality replacement parts like tyres, exhausts, cocokpit set etc...which will set you back another £15-20......people and companies out there know that you want to make your sim or model MUCH better than the original, and we are prepared to pay for it, because we know that we can improve the end result......however, there are times when you just cannot improve on a bad thing, and it's best then to say " nah!!"

[campbeme]

MS Flight is no more.

http://tablet.pcmag.com/?ref=300782&url ... 2%2C00.asp

Mark

[MIKE JG]

Mark, that link looks fishy, you got a better one, one for PC's maybe??

[reconmercs]

I didn't click the link, but it's true, they were talking about it over at SimHQ. It's really sad for the workers that laid off but Microsoft put the nail in their own coffins with that garbarge they called "Flight". Its amazing how out of touch some companies can be....

[btaylo24]

http://www.techspot.com/news/49544-micr ... yoffs.html

[NelsAnderson]

This was all over the net yesterday. It just confirms our early suspicions that their idea for marketing "Flight" was just wrong. I am pretty amazed how quickly they threw in the towel on it though...it has not even been six months six the original release.

[ronniegj]

I never bothered to d/l the free startup of Flight. After doing due diligence on the game (as apposed to sim) I felt that this thing was not aimed at our user base, but rather, totally causal users with limited interest. Although it could have been a really good sim, they were after gamer types, and it doesn't have the elements that gamer's are looking for. The team that put this whole thing together completely misjudged the real target group for a flight sim type game all together. In short, they are probably wonderful programmers, but a not simmers. Total fail, and a huge community of users left unfulfilled. FS has been around for years, and made a pile of money for MS because of the huge and loyal user base. The base is still there, but the vision at MS is not. What a shame! Sure hope someone else will pick up the baton and run with it!

Ron