| Afraid to fly? No problem. Microsoft's | | | | the first game with photorealistic scenery |
| Flight Simulator, one of the oldest | | | | and a map of the whole world. You could |
| simulation games around, will take you flying | | | | travel from New York to Paris in real time. |
| anywhere in the world in just about any type | | | | This was a major breakthrough in the history |
| of plane you can think of.The year was 1982 | | | | of the game. With 5.1, the ability to handle |
| when the first flight simulator came out. It | | | | scenic libraries was added. Also, weather |
| was version 1.0. Graphically, it was quite | | | | was added to the game such as storms. This |
| simple, but it did give the user a chance to | | | | was done in 1995.Windows 95, which came out |
| fly a real plane. In the early editions they | | | | in 1996, was the first game in the series |
| used vector graphics, so the view from the | | | | available for that windows platform. More |
| cockpit was pretty much left to your | | | | planes were added, such as the Boeing 737. |
| imagination.As the game progressed, however, | | | | Photorealistic satellite imaging was added to |
| the graphics became more real. If you took a | | | | this version as well. Plus, flying lessons |
| plane ride over New York, you would see a | | | | were added so you could be flying in a matter |
| skyline that was letter perfect to what you | | | | of minutes. It was the easier simulator to |
| would actually see if you were flying over | | | | date.Flight Simulator 98 added 10 times the |
| New York in a real plane. But the transition | | | | number of airports than in the previous |
| from version 1.0 to Flight Simulator 2002 was | | | | version so you could take off from virtually |
| a slow and gradual one.In version 2.0 they | | | | anywhere in the world. More planes were |
| finally added duel support for both a mouse | | | | added and the graphics became even more |
| and a joystick. Version 1.0 was mouse only. | | | | realistic. It didn't seem like the game |
| Plus, the simulator became more popular and | | | | could get any better.But then Flight |
| versions were released on a number of game | | | | Simulator 2000 came out. Four new planes |
| platforms.It wasn't until version 3.0 that | | | | were added. Thousands more airports were |
| the flight simulator went to Windows. This | | | | added. Navigation was greatly improved. |
| was in 1988. The game featured the first | | | | Graphics were improved. The control panels |
| multiple windows that you could resize. It | | | | were more detailed. Just trying to figure |
| also featured 3D windows and panels.In 1989, | | | | out the controls for a Boeing 777 was a |
| Flight Simulator came out with version 4.0. | | | | challenge. Yes, 2000 was even better than |
| There wasn't a huge difference between this | | | | 98.But they didn't stop there. Flight |
| version and 3.0 but the scenery was more | | | | Simulator 2002 was to be the best yet. The |
| detailed. The bridges, roads and buildings | | | | working instruments were more lifelike. |
| looked a lot better than in the earlier | | | | Buildings became so lifelike that it was |
| version. This version also created a demand | | | | scary. New planes were added, including the |
| for add-on products to the game by outside | | | | first float plane. Real time interactive air |
| vendors.In 1993, they came out with version | | | | traffic control was added.If you haven't had |
| 5.0. More than 30,000 hours of development | | | | the pleasure of trying Flight Simulator, now |
| went into this version and it showed. It was | | | | may be the best time of all. |