| 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 type | | | | York to Paris in real time. This was a major |
| of plane you can think of.The year was 1982 when the | | | | breakthrough in the history of the game. With 5.1, the |
| first flight simulator came out. It was version 1.0. | | | | ability to handle scenic libraries was added. Also, |
| Graphically, it was quite simple, but it did give the user a | | | | weather was added to the game such as storms. This |
| chance to fly a real plane. In the early editions they | | | | was done in 1995.Windows 95, which came out in |
| used vector graphics, so the view from the cockpit | | | | 1996, was the first game in the series available for that |
| was pretty much left to your imagination.As the game | | | | windows platform. More planes were added, such as |
| progressed, however, the graphics became more real. | | | | the Boeing 737. Photorealistic satellite imaging was |
| If you took a plane ride over New York, you would | | | | added to this version as well. Plus, flying lessons were |
| see a skyline that was letter perfect to what you | | | | added so you could be flying in a matter of minutes. It |
| would actually see if you were flying over New York | | | | was the easier simulator to date.Flight Simulator 98 |
| in a real plane. But the transition from version 1.0 to | | | | added 10 times the number of airports than in the |
| Flight Simulator 2002 was a slow and gradual one.In | | | | previous version so you could take off from virtually |
| version 2.0 they finally added duel support for both a | | | | anywhere in the world. More planes were added and |
| mouse and a joystick. Version 1.0 was mouse only. | | | | the graphics became even more realistic. It didn't seem |
| Plus, the simulator became more popular and versions | | | | like the game could get any better.But then Flight |
| were released on a number of game platforms.It | | | | Simulator 2000 came out. Four new planes were |
| wasn't until version 3.0 that the flight simulator went to | | | | added. Thousands more airports were added. |
| Windows. This was in 1988. The game featured the | | | | Navigation was greatly improved. Graphics were |
| first multiple windows that you could resize. It also | | | | improved. The control panels were more detailed. Just |
| featured 3D windows and panels.In 1989, Flight | | | | trying to figure out the controls for a Boeing 777 was |
| Simulator came out with version 4.0. There wasn't a | | | | a challenge. Yes, 2000 was even better than 98.But |
| huge difference between this version and 3.0 but the | | | | they didn't stop there. Flight Simulator 2002 was to be |
| scenery was more detailed. The bridges, roads and | | | | the best yet. The working instruments were more |
| buildings looked a lot better than in the earlier version. | | | | lifelike. Buildings became so lifelike that it was scary. |
| This version also created a demand for add-on | | | | New planes were added, including the first float plane. |
| products to the game by outside vendors.In 1993, they | | | | Real time interactive air traffic control was added.If |
| came out with version 5.0. More than 30,000 hours of | | | | you haven't had the pleasure of trying Flight Simulator, |
| development went into this version and it showed. It | | | | now may be the best time of all. |