Misplaced Pages

Revision as of 05:04, 19 December 2006

Microsoft Flight Simulator X (known in the Flight Simulator community also as simply FSX) is the next version of Microsoft Flight Simulator after Flight Simulator 2004. It includes a graphics engine upgrade as well as compatibility with Windows Vista, having been hailed as the most important technological milestone in the series to date.

Introduction

Flight Simulator X marks the tenth version of the popular line of simulators. PC Gamer had incorrectly reported in its January 2006 edition that the game will be released in February 2006. This report was premature and Microsoft has since corrected the information in subsequent press releases. It was officially released to the US market on October 17. According to Microsoft's Web site for the game, a standard edition (USD $49.99) will feature 18 planes, 28 detailed cities, and 40 highly detailed airports. A deluxe version ($69.99) will feature 24 types of aircraft, 38 highly detailed cities, and 45 highly detailed airports.

Microsoft has released details and screenshots of the upcoming simulator including mission-based gameplay with mission specific aircraft as well as an upgraded rendering engine capable of increased detail. Flight Simulator X was officially unveiled at the 2006 international Consumer Electronics Show (CES) as a gaming showcase for Microsoft Windows Vista. Microsoft has released screenshots as well as a list of frequently asked questions as a press release on Microsoft Flight Simulator Insider, as well as numerous flight simulator communities (see External links).

Following the Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3) in May 2006, new screenshots, videos and an official trailer were published by Microsoft. The overall reaction by the community has been quite positive, and the graphical quality of the simulator has greatly increased.

Demo versions

Flight Simulator X is notable for being the first product in Microsoft's Flight Simulator series to have a game demo, which contains a subset of features of the retail product. Note: Windows XP Service Pack 2 is required for installing the demo.

The first limited demo of Flight Simulator X was released to the public on August 9, 2006, and put up for download on the official website. Even though playable, the August demo represented a beta release of the product, and had a number of bugs, some of which were recognized in the official installation's README file. On October 2, 2006 the demo was superseded by a newer release, which, besides having fewer bugs, is almost identical to the first demo. The DHC-2 Beaver was removed in favor of a Learjet 45. Both the demos feature Saint Maarten, Netherlands Antilles and the surrounding area only (as opposed to the entire world), including the Princess Juliana International Airport. There are four playable aircraft (Bombardier CRJ-700, Beechcraft 58, DHC-2 Beaver/Learjet 45 and an ultralight aircraft), and three missions, one of which is actually an introductory tutorial.

Standard vs. Deluxe Edition

Flight Simulator X was released in two editions, Standard and Deluxe. As can be seen below, Deluxe incorporates some additional features, which are known to include an on-disk Software Development Kit (SDK), three airplanes with the Garmin G1000 Flight Deck, and player Air Traffic Control.

In addition, the Deluxe Edition features 24 aircraft compared to 18 in the Standard Edition, 45 high-detail airports compared to 40, 38 high-detail cities compared to 28, and 50+ structured missions compared to 30+.

New features

The presently known new features in Flight Simulator X include:

• Improved graphics including enhanced texture resolution, new Earth model facilitating polar flights, true road data, region-specific textures, 3D animals, star constellations, etc. Also, the scenery textures now line up with the automatically generated (Autogen) buildings. Maximum rendering-engine-supported scenery resolution of 7cm/pixel (not available with default scenery).
• Improved default airport functionality — appropriate dynamic vehicles, jetways etc. now featured by default where they exist in reality.
• The built-in GPS support has been upgraded to include Garmin G1000 integrated glass cockpit, (select aircraft in the Deluxe version only).
• Improved ATC featuring certain non-FAA procedures where appropriate (for example, altimeter/QNH scale in European units) and numerous minor updates such as an improved progressive-taxi feature.
• Improved and new default aircraft including, for example, an Airbus A321. Default aircraft systems modeling is rather extensively improved, featuring, for example, APU, fire protection, passenger advisory sign switches etc.
• Improved weather system, including better visibility modeling.
• Revamped multiplayer functionality featuring Shared Skies, a feature allowing multiple users to share the same cockpit.
• Tower Controller, a feature in the Deluxe version allowing users to simulate local control at many airports worldwide (multiplayer only).
• Revamped sound system with support for 5.1 surround sound.
• Proprietary SimConnectAPI to allow FSUIPC-like access to Flight Simulator functions and variables.

• Mission engine allowing creation of dynamic missions with developer control of many simulation variables, sound file playback, AI aircraft traffic etc. in relation to what the user is doing -- essentially an evolution over the APL and ABL adventure programming languages featured in previous versions of the software. Dozens of missions ship with the product, and a mission level editor is expected to be released on-line shortly after release of the main product.
• Most of the vintage aircraft that were a key theme in the previous version have been dropped, with the exception of the DC-3 and Piper J-3. The DC-3 is featured in one of the default missions that ship with the product.
• Mouse-as-yoke, a feature that allows the mouse to be used in steering the aircraft, is re-introduced, after having been absent for two versions. This will make FSX more accessible, for instance, to many users with motor disabilities.
• The maximum altitude in the game has been increased to 100,000,000 feet, as opposed to FS2004's 99,999 feet.
• Realistic flexible wings in some commercial airplanes, the wings flexes when the aircraft is going through turbulence, increase rate of ascend or descend, major plane movements, flaps getting fully armed, general vibrations to the plane, etc. An example of an aircraft with this wing movement is the Boeing 747-400.
• New water effect which has 3D waves with curled up object reflection according to the wave movements and with sunshine reflection.
• Aircraft can cast shadows on themselves.

Aircraft

Missions & Rewards

The inclusion of Missions adds a new facet to the simulation, adding task oriented goals, and encouraging users to fly worldwide, rather than just from their home field. Although a similar concept was available in previous versions, the new implementation of multipath & event oriented situations substantially extends the potential for user interaction.

Pilots earn Rewards for completing various missions, and reaching specific accomplishments throughout the game, (in 'Free Flight'). Some of the rewards exist as hidden "easter eggs" to be discovered by pilots. Some missions have multiple and hidden rewards, receipt being dependent on performing additional actions.

Problems and Criticizm

There have been many reports of bugs and problems, especially low framerates and choppy gameplay from people who have outstanding graphics cards. This has probably been due to the lack of testing and fixing on the bugs and a lot of hastily done programming. Compared to Flight Simulator 2004, framerates are choppy even though you've got a good graphics card. Even though you set the settings to something you think is programmed to work good, the framerates are still choppy. Pretty soon, you have "Air Traffic" at minimal, "Effects" at minimal, and you just think that you'll get some nice, smooth gameplay, but nope. The graphics are still choppy. There has been lots of criticism from people who bought this product. Rumor has it, that Flight Simulator X is just the "stepping stone" to a much better version to be put out later in the decade. This decision can be agreed upon, because it's not "fun" unless you have a nice smooth gaming environment.

See also

• Microsoft Flight Simulator
• Flight simulator
• Computer simulation

References

1. "AirSideTV's Video Coverage of AirVenture 2006". AirSideTV. July 28 2006. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
2. Flight Simulator X – Product Information
3. "Aeroclub Simuvuelo's Coverage of FSX". Simuvuelo. July 24 2006. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
4. "Easter Eggs in FSX?". P-12C Pilot. October 18 2006. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)

External links

• Flight Simulator X – Official Site
• Microsoft.com – Flight Simulator X
• Microsoft Flight Simulator Insider – Flight Simulator X Information and Downloads

Template:Microsoft Flight Simulator Series

• 2006 computer and video games
• Microsoft games
• Flight simulation computer and video games
• Windows games
• Games for Windows