Microsoft Flight (0)

Microsoft Flight
First release date
2012-02-27
Platform
PC
Developer
Microsoft Studios
Publisher
Microsoft Studios
Theme
Microsoft Flight Simulator
Franchise
Microsoft Flight Simulator

Overview

Microsoft Flight is a developed and published digitally by for the (via ) on February 27, 2012. It was also released via on April 3, 2012. It was later removed from both marketplaces on August 22, 2013 (but can still be downloaded with limited functionality).

A lightly-featured of the franchise, Microsoft Flight features a smaller scale experience, including a limited number of planes and easier flying assistance for beginners. Players fly around and in aircraft ranging from to , participating in various activities including landing challenges, delivery/sightseeing jobs, and finding hidden collectibles (known as Aerocaches). The game makes use of GFWL functionality, including , and bonus aircraft/locations as paid .

The game featured a free-to-play business model, with the core game only making the Icon A5 available and giving players access to only the Hawaii mainland. Additional landmasses and planes were purchasable (with some as free downloads). The game's online functions (including multiplayer, Aerocaches, and DLC downloading) were shut down on October 14, 2014.

Gameplay

Microsoft Flight features a much smaller scale experience than previous entries in the Flight Simulator series. The game takes entirely in Hawaii and its surrounding islands (as well as the state of Alaska with added DLC), whereas Flight Simulator X featured several dozen high-quality cities and some level of coverage for the entire globe.

The flying has also been simplified from previous entries in the series, offering an easier difficulty for newcomers that allows them to bypass most of the complex parts of take-off and landing, as well as making the actual act of flying a bit easier. All of this assistance can be turned off if desired, providing a much more of a traditional flight simulator experience. Besides the standard mouse and keyboard controls Microsoft flight also features gamepad and joystick support, as well as support for TrackIR.

Aircraft

The game's aircraft are split into two categories: Basic and Deluxe. Only Deluxe version have functional and associated interactive instruments and checklists. The aircraft are then put into further different categories, restricting the choice of aircraft for most missions, most commonly due to cargo or passenger capacity. All planes have at least two paint schemes though some need to be unlocked. Some aircraft have unique features (such as an-cockpit 'GPS' map or the ability to land on water) corresponding to their real-world models.

All purchasable aircraft have a bonus preview option (as free DLC), which only shows the plane's model in the hangar.

  • Icon A5 (Deluxe) - Included with the base game
  • Boeing-Stearman Model 75 (Deluxe) - Unlocked by signing in to
  • Vans RV-6A (Deluxe) - Included with the "Hawaii Adventure Pack" DLC ($19.99)
  • Maule M-7-260C (Deluxe) - Purchasable as DLC ($14.99)
  • (Basic) - Purchasable as DLC ($6.99)
  • Mitsubishi A6M2 Zero (Basic) - Released on 3/27/2012 as DLC ($6.99)
  • Curtiss P-40B Warhawk (Basic) - Released on 4/24/2012 as DLC ($6.99)
  • Vought F4U-1D Corsair (Basic) - Released on 5/30/2012 as DLC ($6.99)
  • "RED TAILS" North American P-51 Mustang (Basic) - Cross-promotion with the DVD/Blu-Ray release of the movie . Released on 6/27/2012 as DLC (Free)
  • Cub Crafters Carbon Cub (Basic) - Included with the "Alaskan Wilderness Pack" DLC ($14.99)
  • Cub Crafters Carbon Cub (Deluxe) - Purchasable as DLC ($14.99)
  • C-46 (Basic) - Purchasable as DLC ($6.99)

Locations

The Alaskan Wilderness
  • "Big Island" (Hawai'i) - Included with the base game.
  • Hawaiian Islands - Included with the "Hawaii Adventure Pack" DLC ($19.99)
  • Alaska - Included with the "Alaskan Wilderness Pack" DLC ($14.99)

System requirements:

Minimum System Requirements

  • OS: WinXP SP3
  • CPU: Dual Core 2.0 GHz
  • GFX: 256 MB card capable of shader 3.0 (DX 9.0c compliant)
  • RAM: 2.0GB
  • HDD: 10 GB Hard Disk Drive space

Recommended System Requirements

  • OS: Win7 SP1 64-bit operating system
  • CPU: Dual Core 3.0 GHz
  • GPU: 1024 MB ATI Radeon HD 5670 or 1024 MB NVIDIA GEFORCE 9800 GT or equivalent
  • RAM: 6GB
  • HDD: 30 GB hard drive space

Cancellation

Microsoft Flight was after Microsoft shut down the Vancouver studio responsible for its development. The C-46 was near completion at the time and was released after this date, and some features such as "Aerocache of the Day" continue to be updated.