... It has a new name (just Microsoft Flight), and it's free. In its new incarnation, you play it as an online game, and the adventure takes place in and around Hawaii. Other planes and environments are, or will be, available but these will be optional paid-for extras.(http://i.imgur.com/fJVAW.jpg) (http://www.microsoftflight.com/)
Before you can play, you'll need to download the Windows client for Microsoft Flight. From my testing, this seems to work best from Internet Explorer. Also, note that you'll need a decent games-spec graphics card in your PC, so check the requirements on the web site carefully. It also requires Windows 7.
Both look quite impressive!
Thanks for sharing :)-ewemoa (March 04, 2012, 02:49 AM)
Well, there is a rather nice (and free) one for space vessels called: 'Battleships Forever (http://www.wyrdysm.com/games.php)'.-Shades (March 08, 2012, 05:29 AM)
I eventually found a config file for my joystick (there was a specific file supplied as part of the install but it didn't work properly - unless you like to spin on the spot) but then I found if you did any sort of aerobatics the artificial horizon was way out afterwards.-Carol Haynes (March 08, 2012, 09:56 AM)
I tried Oribiter too - I am sure is very clever but it looked like too steep a learning curve for me!
Sounds works for me but I don't find the sound terribly inspiring - mainly just roaring noises of the engines.-Carol Haynes (March 31, 2012, 11:09 AM)
PS: I have MS FlighstSim X and am just downloading Free MS Flight.
I have now discovered why they haven't gone for a new packaged version!
The base game is free but lots of stuff that was in X now has to be bought as an addon - and they are not cheap at all.-Carol Haynes (March 31, 2012, 11:30 AM)
A couple of those 'addon' packs would probably cost more than the complete MS FS X (which by the way still runs fine on Windows 7, including 64 bit).
For Orbiter sound you have to download and install the sound bits separately (http://orbiter.dansteph.com/index.php?disp=d). Not sure why they did it that way.-Carol Haynes (March 31, 2012, 11:09 AM)
A couple of those 'addon' packs would probably cost more than the complete MS FS X (which by the way still runs fine on Windows 7, including 64 bit).
Yeah, but barely :-) It's another story. I bought FSX and MS Flight within days from each other. MS FLight, with all the detailed terrain, weather, lighting and shadows, runs fine at max quality settings on my system. In FSX, by contrast, I have to pull the terrain, weather and all other sliders to minimum just to get a frame rate that's usable but still not smooth. FSX really shows its age; I've read that it doesn't offload any graphics rendering to the GPU, so the CPU has way too much to do. In fact, with the default terrain both ugly (water!) and boring, I am seriously underwhelmed. MS Flight only gives you Hawaii, but in an amazing detail and quality. I fly just to look around, and it's awesome. (And the airports and other landmarks check out against Google Maps in satellite view - there's a lot of actual terrain, not generic textures).-tranglos (March 31, 2012, 12:12 PM)
A couple of those 'addon' packs would probably cost more than the complete MS FS X (which by the way still runs fine on Windows 7, including 64 bit).
Yeah, but barely :-) It's another story. I bought FSX and MS Flight within days from each other. MS FLight, with all the detailed terrain, weather, lighting and shadows, runs fine at max quality settings on my system. In FSX, by contrast, I have to pull the terrain, weather and all other sliders to minimum just to get a frame rate that's usable but still not smooth. FSX really shows its age; I've read that it doesn't offload any graphics rendering to the GPU, so the CPU has way too much to do. In fact, with the default terrain both ugly (water!) and boring, I am seriously underwhelmed. MS Flight only gives you Hawaii, but in an amazing detail and quality. I fly just to look around, and it's awesome. (And the airports and other landmarks check out against Google Maps in satellite view - there's a lot of actual terrain, not generic textures).-tranglos (March 31, 2012, 12:12 PM)
Strange FS X seems to run fine on my system with everything cranked to max ???-Carol Haynes (March 31, 2012, 12:23 PM)
Where do you buy the extras? I can only see Hawaii Adventure Pack and three planes. Is that all there is?
MSFlight vs X-Plane 10? = Gimme X-Plane any day!-Stephen66515 (March 31, 2012, 01:46 PM)
MSFlight vs X-Plane 10? = Gimme X-Plane any day!-Stephen66515 (March 31, 2012, 01:46 PM)
Tried that too, the trial. Got a god-awful frame rate, even though my system falls well within their specs. No idea why, but it was so bad I uninstalled it after one try.
Will try again some time, when I've had enough of MS Flight, but in my initial impression it was somewhat frustrating to get started with. Does it have tutorials? Aircraft info?
It's probably quite lame of me, but I find it tedious to stay up in the air for hours without anything interesting to look out the window at. Hawaii was a good choice for MS, as is Alaska, since the terrain is varied and beautiful (and provides for many challenges if you want). Don't know about X-Plane, but in FSX Hawaii looks totally bland, and anywhere else is only worse. Add-on scenery is expensive, limited and it would probably make the frame rate unplayable.
But I *am* hooked and I finally have a reason to upgrade my hardware. The only problem is I'm not sure any hardware upgrade will help in FSX, since it really depends on the CPU clock only, and the clocks today are pretty much what they were five years ago.-tranglos (March 31, 2012, 02:03 PM)
I have absolutely no problem running MS FS X.
6-core AMD Phenom II
Sapphire Radeon HD6870
16Gb memory
Windows 7 64-bit
I would be surprised if I did have problems running it as it is supposed to work on much lower spec.
WRT veering - I wonder if it is your joystick config? I had a similar problem with my joystick in FlightGear (went round in circles!).-Carol Haynes (March 31, 2012, 07:18 PM)
my first impression was: Wow. This is awesome. And terrible. And beautiful. And ugly. And compelling. And boring
MSFlight = Shitty Flying Game - No user created addons - Must pay out your ass for a single airplane - NOT a simulator.-Stephen66515 (April 15, 2012, 07:14 PM)
Flight Simulator X = Pretty Decent Simulator, Huge Community, nice amount of aircraft as default, map = WHOLE WORLD
X-Plane = Incredible, although difficult. (And not all that expensive) - Only downfall = Requires insane Graphics capabilities to run in anywhere near "Top" GFX mode
Tranglos, do you fly online (FSX)? - If so, PM me, I am looking for some flying buddies :) - I only fly single/dual prop, no Jets, Jets are no fun for me...(Take off, hit AP, wait till you get close, disable AP, land...)
I've never used multiplayer since I tried that in Quake all those years ago and couldn't last 10 seconds. I don't really know yet how it works in FSX or if my system can take the additional load. Besides, no-one wants to see me fly at this stage :-)-tranglos (April 15, 2012, 07:40 PM)
• Microsoft shuts down Microsoft Flight development (http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2012-07-26-microsoft-shuts-down-microsoft-flight-development)-lanux128 (July 26, 2012, 09:56 PM)
Alaskan Wilderness, the latest - and now presumably last - add-on, launched just three weeks ago.-http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2012-07-26-microsoft-shuts-down-microsoft-flight-development
• Microsoft shuts down Microsoft Flight development (http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2012-07-26-microsoft-shuts-down-microsoft-flight-development)-lanux128 (July 26, 2012, 09:56 PM)
Um... This DLC launched just yesterday:-Deozaan (July 26, 2012, 11:30 PM)