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