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Post by jesse on Jan 26, 2009 9:29:56 GMT -5
Each Monday morning I receive the AvWeb Flash, an online periodical related to all things aviation. The following is an extract from today's posting.
Jesse
MICROSOFT FLIGHT SIMULATOR ON THE CHOPPING BLOCK? With the announcement of 1400 layoffs, Microsoft seems to be closing its game studios, and the future of Microsoft Flight Simulator appears at best uncertain, according to two publications devoted to computer gaming, Gamasutra and Venture Beat. Gamasutra, which spoke with developments sources, printed that "multiple reports" indicate that "the entire Flight Simulator team has been axed." However, Microsoft's official offering on the subject is the statement that "all we're announcing at this time is what we are committed to flying games." According to Microsoft, Flight Simulator X, the game's most recent incarnation, "is the culmination of nearly 25 years" of the franchise, and "the most significant addition to date." The question for many is how committed the company might be to its flight games line if they do in fact lay off the teams that develop the games. While other flight simulator programs exist, Microsoft's Flight Simulator programs have been in circulation since the early 1980s and have developed a very large and dedicated fan base, as well as a loyal following of pilots who sometimes use the program to help them stay sharp. Many future pilots, too, have shot complex ILS approaches on their home computers before ever joining the ranks of airborne pilots. And, if the game's maker does close the storefront for Flight Simulator, there may be many entrepreneurial computer programmers waiting in the wings who may soon see new opportunities. More...
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Post by Tom/CalClassic on Jan 26, 2009 10:15:20 GMT -5
Hi,
As I understand it, they are putting the FS11 program (what there is of it) on DVD's and shutting everything down. They could return to it's development later, or not. Their "commitment" to flight sim is that they will continue to sell FSX...
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Post by jesse on Jan 26, 2009 11:49:04 GMT -5
::)Tom, I do have FSX but I'll only be using it as a last resort. I think as long as FS9, aka ACOF holds up, I'll continue with that.
Jesse
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Post by johnfromoz on Jan 26, 2009 17:41:33 GMT -5
I see on other forums some members are going into tailspins of depression! I think mostly it's the fraternity who always want the latest, and when they get it they want the next version already.
But the calmer ones rightly say that we can now get comfy with our favoured version, FS2004 (my own preference) or FSX. I am not over concerned, I like FS2004 and it lends itself nicely to the community doing things MS never anticipated.
I look at MS Train Sim, with no new version for years since it's one release, and never the size of following FS has, but still with an active community. It'll stay that way till someone buys the rights, MS get back in the saddle, or something better comes out. If someone else had a sim as good as FS2004 and as friendly to "fiddling" I wouldn't object.
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Post by jesse on Jan 26, 2009 18:52:41 GMT -5
I have had MS Train Sim since the day it rolled out of the round house. I also have all the files required to make my own routes and there are enough rolling stock out there to make up just about any consist I would want.
My favorite is still the Donner Pass Route and the Great Storm.
Jesse
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Post by Col7777 on Jan 26, 2009 18:56:24 GMT -5
I used to have Train Sim and enjoyed it, I looked for my copy but it seems to have got lost, don't know how but I havn't got it anymore, I must look on Ebay and see if I can still get it.
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Post by qxtoolman on Jan 27, 2009 4:28:47 GMT -5
It's funny that MSTS is being brought-up. I have been kind of quiet here lately, as I have gone back to it. I left it alone for about 6 years. Now I have gone back and seen the amount of routes that have been made over the time of my hiatus. The lack of routes was the thing that drove me away, but now with the new routes I find it fun again. In fact I am trying my hand at painting locomotives & cars. Trains is my first love. In a twist of luck this past Holiday season, I was surprised to get several boxes. It was my HO train collection that when I moved from Milwaukee WI to Portland 11 years ago, I left them with a good friend's little boy for him to play and learn with, as I knew I would never have the space, or time. Well that little boy grew up, & remembered who gave them to him, so while on Christmas break from College he took the time to pack up very carefully all my stuff, and some stuff he bought, and send them to me, with a nice letter of thanks, and a picture of what his layout looked like. It was thrill for me, and timing is good because I have now got a house. Of course My Wife saw the boxes and what was in them, and shouted "Oh good grief here we go again!". I apologize for hi-jacking this thread..... ALL ABOARD!!!
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Post by Col7777 on Jan 27, 2009 5:08:59 GMT -5
Hey QX why did you post that? ;D You've set me off again, I too left MSTS because of the routes, I could never figure out how they made them and I left it, but I haven't looked at it for years like you and never knew or thought about them adding new routes. I must get back in to it, We haven't really sent this thread off topic as MS have axed this as well as FS so they are kind of related. Came back to add: I just bought a copy off Ebay, I noticed there are a lot of addons as you say so I will be getting some of those too.
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Post by jesse on Jan 27, 2009 12:21:26 GMT -5
It's funny that MSTS is being brought-up. I have been kind of quiet here lately, as I have gone back to it. I left it alone for about 6 years. Now I have gone back and seen the amount of routes that have been made over the time of my hiatus. The lack of routes was the thing that drove me away, but now with the new routes I find it fun again. In fact I am trying my hand at painting locomotives & cars. Trains is my first love. In a twist of luck this past Holiday season, I was surprised to get several boxes. It was my HO train collection that when I moved from Milwaukee WI to Portland 11 years ago, I left them with a good friend's little boy for him to play and learn with, as I knew I would never have the space, or time. Well that little boy grew up, & remembered who gave them to him, so while on Christmas break from College he took the time to pack up very carefully all my stuff, and some stuff he bought, and send them to me, with a nice letter of thanks, and a picture of what his layout looked like. It was thrill for me, and timing is good because I have now got a house. Of course My Wife saw the boxes and what was in them, and shouted "Oh good grief here we go again!". I apologize for hi-jacking this thread..... ALL ABOARD!!! I guess we all have our little secrets. Here is My little 4 x 8 layout called Mountain Valley. It is an on going project with still a few more buildings and lighting to put in. The train is the Santa Fe Superchief ABBA. Jesse
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Post by Col7777 on Jan 27, 2009 16:36:18 GMT -5
That's nice Jesse, I like it. I worked with a guy a few years ago and he used to make the buildings for train layouts. What he did was get photographs of actual signal boxes etc and make the replica, he used to sell them on the Net or through magazines. He used to work on them during his tea breaks, he took his time as he wanted it to be just right, the end results were fantastic.
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Post by johnfromoz on Jan 27, 2009 17:41:06 GMT -5
I recognise some of those buildings, Jesse! Since we are all coming out of the closet (or at least our train sets are) I had MSTS installed until the recent PC crash. I even downloaded all the many components needed for Aussie runs, including even the coastal tram line running from about 100 yds from where I am typing this, to the beach. As a kid I had a trainset. Being British Commonwealth, our main sources were Hornby or Tri-Ang, and my first train was a British "Princess Victoria" steam loco and cars. I can still smell burning transformers (that was from before a "transformer" was a killer robot!) Nice thread hijack! Although when you think about it, real, physical trainsets is something from the CalClassic period. ;D I think this digression shows how unfazed we are by the FS issue. In fact most of my sim associates are undisturbed. Generally the feeling is it won't vanish and there's plenty left for us to play with.
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Post by Col7777 on Jan 28, 2009 10:34:46 GMT -5
Well it seems that has gone in to a MSTS (Train Sim) thread, as I said earlier I bought a copy off Ebay, it arrived this morning and it's installed. I had forgotten a lot since i used it a few years ago, it slowly came back and I'm enjoying it, I downloaded the 'No CD' patch for it and that worked OK too. So it's a new learning curve getting to know it and I'm looking forward to adding bits and bobs and of course new tracks/routes which the lack of drove me away years ago. I have only done the first route the Japanese diesel, I took it slow first time then speeded up the second run at it.
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Post by Johan Dees on Jan 28, 2009 10:39:43 GMT -5
Planes, trains and automobiles.. where are the latter ?
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Post by aspen31 on Jan 28, 2009 12:39:03 GMT -5
Hi all For Jesse Just to confirm -- is that an HO train set in your photo? Thanks Warren
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Post by ashaman on Jan 28, 2009 14:25:11 GMT -5
Planes, trains and automobiles.. where are the latter ? There are no automobiles simulators who aren't race games first and foremost. Cars just don't lend themselves well to simulators, when it suffices getting inside your real one and drive it for real. "Simulators" - among quotes - of super-powered sports car a common layman would find difficult to buy like a Ferrari, Lamborghini, or whatever are simply games.
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