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Post by Joe on Jul 28, 2012 13:55:56 GMT -5
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Post by Joe on Jul 28, 2012 14:01:25 GMT -5
kotaku.com/5929141/microsoft-shuts-down-vancouver+based-studioThere's the original story and here's the official BS: "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 www.microsoft.com/games/flight/."
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Post by Tom Goodrick on Jul 29, 2012 17:07:31 GMT -5
This is not a big surprise. Whenever M$ tried to market FS as a simple game, it has found no acceptance in the marketplace. When they show it as a more practical learning tool, then it does well - as long as they let other people write addons for it.
So what we are left with is nothing but a world and a bunch of airplanes we can fly in that world using reasonably realistic techniques. I don't need anything else from M$ to have a good time. FS9 and FS10 both work.
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Post by Joe on Jul 29, 2012 20:59:29 GMT -5
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Post by Allan_Lowson on Jul 30, 2012 13:59:27 GMT -5
They posted a loss in the 4th quarter of about $500m due to writing off the entire $6.2b investment in something or other.
Apart from that they still made enough money to buy a bus load of politicians or the odd car manufacturer. Buying politicians of any or all persuasions is probably the more profitable way to go.
Talking of profitably buying politicians, and the odd passing Royal, of course Lockheed have purchased the basic engine of FSX for simulation work as Prepar3d and sell a student licence for some $50. I believe anyone qualifies as a student.
Apparently it is more frame rate friendly than the base FSX, and most aircraft are reported to port over without too much trouble. So friendlier to pilots than the F-104 it seems.
Of course that leaves MS in a quandary over what to do next in the simulation stakes if they want back in.
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Post by Joe on Jul 30, 2012 19:11:59 GMT -5
I remember that a few ppl in the community were talking about going to Prepar3d when Flight was released, but it just seemed like an overpriced version of FSX.
REX Essentials was a letdown. I bet I couldn't pick out a screenshot of the old REX Overdrive from one with the new REX Essentials. Luckily it was a free update/"upgrade".
For now I'll stick with FSX. (I have Acceleration, REX, GEX, and the FSGenesis terrain mesh, so it isn't the FSX of 2006 at least).
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Post by hanspetter on Aug 9, 2012 17:35:41 GMT -5
There are three good options these days--FS 2004, FSX and X-Plane. Whichever we choose (have chosen) we're into this because we're flightsimmers rather than gamers. MS has made some marketing decisions and hoped to attract more gamers. This didn't work as intended for flight simulation. Hoprfully, there'll be a continuation of the FS series but whatever MS decides to offer there'll still be flight simulators for serious simmers.
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Post by Tom Goodrick on Aug 12, 2012 7:36:05 GMT -5
I still have some work to do. I have not yet visited every airport in every country in the FS2004 world. Presently, I am finding routes to Orr, Minnesota where the average high temp in summer is about 70F. Pelican Lake is a pretty place.
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