Finally, Microsoft Updates Flight Website

After several days of angry forums and what felt like a lack of honesty, Micrsoft have finally updated the Flight website with some details about the future of Flight.  I will post it here for your perusal.



We know there are a number of questions out there in the community about the discontinuation of development for Microsoft Flight. We wanted to make to be sure to clarify a few things. While we will not be continuing active development, we are committed to keeping Flight available for our community to enjoy. All the content you have paid for is still valid, and the content that is available for sale will continue to be available on
http://www.microsoft.com/games/flight/



If any further information becomes available for us to share, we will do so. If you do have questions about errors you run into or have gameplay questions;


1. First, check out the following support links; your question may be answered in one of them.

Flight Handbook

Support Documentation

2. Ask the Flight community. We monitor community channels and try to respond there when possible. Other users may also be able to answer your question as well.

Flight Steam Forums

Facebook Page

3. If neither of the above methods helps you find an answer, email us at Tell MS Flight.

Please note: The support alias offers English-language support only, and for Microsoft Flight only (for assistance with FSX and earlier entries in the Flight Simulator franchise, please visit http://support.microsoft.com).

Why I Love Flight SIms

A Call to Arms Fellow Armchair Pilots

There is nothing that I would have loved more in life than to be sat behind the controls of a jet fighter when I was a kid.

I went to the right school, got the right qualifications and was set for a career in the R.A.F until I met with an unfortunate accident before I could sign up.

My career was over before it started. Surely I thought, there must be another way to satisfy my dream of flying?

There was, and I found it in Flight Simulators.

So, what are Flight Simulators?

Simply put, they are a genre of video game that recreates the sensation of flying, and of recreating the flight model and systems of the plane you wish to fly. Sure, they can be complicated and intimidating to start with, and very few can claim to be "pick up and play" titles, but no arcade style flight game can come close to what these big hitters can do.

You Had Me at Simulator

Flight Simulators can be broadly split into two groups, Combat Flight Simulators and Civil Aviation Flight Simulators.

In these upcoming articles, I aim to provide you, the reader, with a run-down of what I consider to be the best Flight Simulators you can get your hands on right now in both categories. These are personal opinions, and I have bought and currently fly all of the sims I will go into here, I would also like to add that I am in no way affiliated with any of the companies I talk about, other than as a paying customer who enjoys their products!

It's Official, Development STOPPED on Microsoft Flight!!

So, it's time for Flight to fly off into the sunset.  I for one, am gutted.  First off, it was a bold idea that has not been given the time to mature into the great game it could have been, but I guess the writing has been on the wall for a while.  By completely ignoring the flight sim crowd's reaction and feedback to the game, they shot themselves in their collective arrogant foot.

Secondly, I have bought every bit of DLC.  So what the hell do I do now?  How long will the servers stay on for this huge investment, seeing as you need to be online to play?

So, heres the official statement.

Microsoft Studios is always evaluating its portfolio of products to determine what is best for gamers, families and the company, and this decision was the result of the natural ebb and flow of our portfolio management. Many factors were considered in the difficult decision to stop development on "Microsoft Flight" and "Project Columbia," but we feel it will help us better align with our long-term goals and development plans. For "Microsoft Flight," we will continue to support the community that has embraced the title and the game will still be available to download for free at http://www.microsoft.com/games/flight/.

Source http://kotaku.com/5929141/microsoft-shuts-down-vancouver+based-studio

So, one final note on the passing of this dead in the water flight simulator, FUCK YOU MICROSOFT, you wouldn't know a good idea if it bit you on the arse, and next time listen to your fucking community instead of blocking all comments from the website, retards...

Quick update on Micrsoft Flight Alaska

Geez, I know Microsoft of all people should support "in house" software, but for Christ's sake ditch the damn Windows Marketplace.  Apart from trying to charge me 3 times for the same item then not letting me download it, the software just sucks and makes it damn hard to do anything.  And why the hell allow people to get Flight on STEAM, and then make them use Marketplace and Live anyway...

Anyway, finally installed and checked out, and guess what, its not bad.

However, there area a couple of turds in the punch bowl.  First off, the new plane is without cockpit...  Whilst you might get a shiny new cub, with Arctic Tundra tires, there is little joy for me flying it in an arcade style 3rd person view.  Perhaps a bigger problem is that there is still NO OTHER TRAFFIC, so the whole of Alaska feels even more empty than usual, and is quite depressing.  Even at the airports, there is just no life whatsoever.

3rd major problem, there just still isn't enough to actually do.  It's all very nice flying around, but the frame rates have taken a bit of a battering as well, leaving me wondering if any FSX style missions are going to arrive any time soon before I loose the will to live.

It is just such a shame as it has great potential, but still feels like a step backwards...

Microsoft Flight Alaska DLC Released !!

And it's actually great value for money at only $15.00 or £9.99 (ish)

Here follows a bit from the website, I am currently installing and will report back soon with piccies and more!

Continue the Microsoft Flight experience with the Alaskan Wilderness Experience Pack! Fly new challenges and jobs, and locate all-new Aerocaches as you explore over 586,000 square miles of aviation playground. Test your piloting skills against brutal weather and majestic terrain in a basic version of the Cub Crafters Carbon Cub, an iconic bush plane capable of accessing the most demanding locations. For Games for Windows—LIVE users, the Alaskan Wilderness is now available in the in-game Marketplace for 1200 Microsoft Points, and it can be purchased by everyone on Xbox.com. The DLC will be available soon on Steam.

Looks like the Alaska update is nearly ready, but alarming news, the plane pictured above will come with the expansion, but once again, the retards are releasing it WITHOUT a cockpit...

Anyway, here's the official line

Prepare for takeoff! While exploring over 600,000 square miles of new scenery, 565 airports and 137 seaplane bases in the Land of the Midnight Sun, you’ll encounter new Gold Rushes, Challenge Courses and Landing Challenges. You’ll also receive a basic version of the Carbon Cub. Get ready to tackle the Alaskan wilderness, coming soon on Games for Windows—LIVE and Steam.