Flight for free

[Heretic]

http://www.microsoft.com/games/flight/#press-takes_to_skies


Free to play, huh?
Okay, I might bite then for a lap or two.


Also: Told you it was (initially) Hawaii only.


P.S: DLCs as the main source of income. Uh huh.

 

[arno]

But has anybody found any information already that is interesting to developers? It seems you can buy more regions or planes. But any news on how open it will be for addon developers, if/when there will be a SDK? That's the questions I would like to know .

I mean if you can download it for free and I can (for free) insert the NL2000 scenery that we are making, that would be great news. We could reach even more people in that case than currently.

But as long as there is no more information, it is hard to tell what this means for developers like us.

 

[FrostySoftware]

But has anybody found any information already that is interesting to developers? It seems you can buy more regions or planes. But any news on how open it will be for addon developers, if/when there will be a SDK? That's the questions I would like to know .

I mean if you can download it for free and I can (for free) insert the NL2000 scenery that we are making, that would be great news. We could reach even more people in that case than currently.

But as long as there is no more information, it is hard to tell what this means for developers like us.

From Fly Away Simulation:

The game will feature it’s own marketplace, with content regulated by Microsoft. There will be no scenery development kit and hence no user created content. The Live marketplace allows for constant content flow and users that opt-in to share data, allow the team to react to user behaviors to improve the game and add more of what users want. It also allows for quicker response to user requests, fixes and general improvements. On top of that, integration with the Microsoft Flight® website offers a more direct link between team and users.

More here: http://flyawaysimulation.com/news/4317/microsoft-flight-behind-scenes-at-microsoft-studios/

 

[jonmkj]

I wouldn't trust Fly Away Simulation as far as I could throw 'em...

 

[arno]

Hi,

If that source it right, this doesn't look like an interesting platform at all. But on the other websites I haven't read this yet. So let's wait for a confirmation.

 

[theisomizer]

I'd like to keep an open mind, but this is all very worrisome. I'll be curious to see what more information says as it comes out on other sites. It would make sense to me that they wouldn't allow user-created content if the game is free, as the only way they will make money off of it is by selling more in-house content.

 

[mmann]

I'd like to keep an open mind, but this is all very worrisome. I'll be curious to see what more information says as it comes out on other sites. It would make sense to me that they wouldn't allow user-created content if the game is free, as the only way they will make money off of it is by selling more in-house content.

That's the way I see it too. Unless Microsoft is not wise in the ways of making money, which I would find very hard to believe.

 

[arno]

Yes, from their point of view it would make sense. But it would completely kill the freeware and payware community as we know it today. And I think this community has been the driving force that keeps FS2004 and FSX so interesting to so many.

But even if MS provides the market place, they could still allow freeware content in it. I just stay an optimist .

 

[cscboulder11]

So a game instead of a simulator

(Perhaps FSDev people should create their own sim.)

 

[solid]

You can bet that if there is no SDK and no way other addons can be added it will be a "Dud" like so many other "flying games" which you find all over...kids will probably get bored with it since they won´t be able to "shoot" at each other or by themselves with AI aircraft. We might be all wrong and they will finally surprise us but I doubt it....They killed "Train Simulator 2" for the reason that there was so much Freeware for "1" and their bank roll did not grow. I make Missions but really they get to be a bore after the first go!!, I get more downloads from my "Adventure Flights" were the pilot can fly all over the scenery at his own will and to anywhere else he desires. For Airplanes, God!!! if the one they will put out to start is an example, what else will be down the line???...again, if no SDK and possibility of freeware they have have just advertized the birth of their Dead Horse and We might be in the process of beating it...."two blind men once said "We´ll see"

 

[lionheart]

This is like Star Trek online, Star Wars online, and Warcraft.

So a game instead of a simulator

(Perhaps FSDev people should create their own sim.)

CSCBoulder11

Thats been my thoughts for several years now.


I have been looking at gaming platforms. I have emailed Torque3D but didnt get alot of background on it. For instance, I dont know if it supports aircraft dynamics. The farm simulator in Germany has a nice 'platform', sky, clouds, but no flight physics.

I wonder if Bruce Artwick is still around, if he has an active email?



Bill

 

[solid]

From Fly Away Simulation:



More here: http://flyawaysimulation.com/news/4317/microsoft-flight-behind-scenes-at-microsoft-studios/

Interesting article and quite complete....read it guys, if 50% is true, then Amigos, Flight is just another Game that will fade way in due time like most Games and the new "Flight Aces" will be looking for a job.......

 

[mdm248111]

I wouldn't trust Fly Away Simulation as far as I could throw 'em...

[**referring to Sean's post below**]

That's the way I see it too. Unless Microsoft is not wise in the ways of making money, which I would find very hard to believe.

Even though Fly Away may not be a trustworthy source and the statement made on there may or may not be direct from Microsoft, as Mike and Sean said, it makes no sense for them to make Flight free, then allow outside development. The "integrated" marketplace would likely be Microsoft created content only. Also, I would assume the extra "regions" that can be purchased are going to be fully equipped with good scenery, so I don't see a whole lot of room for us scenery developers to have much to do with Flight based upon what I've read and inferred...

I also have absolutely no reason to believe that the current FS community will be dramatically changed by this. If anything from looking around the different forums (Avsim, Flightsim, to name a few) it seems like people are upset and are now going to stick to FSX/FS9 more than ever.

 

[solid]

Yes, from their point of view it would make sense. But it would completely kill the freeware and payware community as we know it today. And I think this community has been the driving force that keeps FS2004 and FSX so interesting to so many.

But even if MS provides the market place, they could still allow freeware content in it. I just stay an optimist .

I don´t think that this game would kill the "freeware and payware community"of FS9, FSX or X-Plane. This community, the way I see it, does not indulge in "Games" it is a Flight Simulation one which for years has shaped its own status. If MS has decided to make a "Flying Game"
its their own business which will cater to those who like "Games" and "Gamy play"....Many in the Sim community will completely ignore the Game and continue as alive as ever as they have with FS9, FSX and X-plane. MS will definitely not get at least 50% of this community and maybe more since we think of ourselves not as Game players even though its just a shuffle of words whatever we call our hobby...I have a feeling that "Flight The Game" will probably get our community MORE fueled up to come out with more Scenery, Aircraft, Utilities etc...since we as a community will desire more of it to make the Sims better.....maybe MS, with the "Gamy Stuff" will help and enhance our hobby More!! I encourage all Simers to Buy more add ons and download more freeware.....there is an old spanish saying " No hay mal que por bien no venga"..in English it would be " Every cloud has a silver lining"......

 

[Heretic]

The "free base and payware content" business model works very well for Rise Of Flight (and that could be where MS got the whole idea from), so why not for a civilian sim?

Yes, from their point of view it would make sense. But it would completely kill the freeware and payware community as we know it today.

Payware can move over to X-Plane, freeware can help FlightGear becoming even better.

(Perhaps FSDev people should create their own sim.)

FlightGear.

I have been looking at gaming platforms. I have emailed Torque3D but didnt get alot of background on it. For instance, I dont know if it supports aircraft dynamics. The farm simulator in Germany has a nice 'platform', sky, clouds, but no flight physics.

I wonder if Bruce Artwick is still around, if he has an active email?

FLIGHTGEAR!




- Edit:
Furthermore, FSX and FS9 won't die for a few more years. Flight will pull away all the casual simmers, but those who have already invested tons of $/€ and appreciate things like AccuSim and NGX-like aircraft won't quit.

 

[solid]

Quote "The "free base and payware content" business model works very well for Rise Of Flight (and that could be where MS got the whole idea from), so why not for a civilian sim?

Rise Of Flight is just another Shoot them up Game, kids like games, that´s why they sell well.... Real Pilots, Retired Pilots, Frustrated Pilots, Aviation enthusiasts, Airplane lovers, like the civilian sims........Do you fly the tiny piece of real state in ROF in the Red Baron´s Fokker just for the fun of it, where you go if two Pups jump you

 

[Heretic]

Rise Of Flight is just another Shoot them up Game, kids like games, that´s why they sell well.... Real Pilots, Retired Pilots, Frustrated Pilots, Aviation enthusiasts, Airplane lovers, like the civilian sims........Do you fly the tiny piece of real state in ROF in the Red Baron´s Fokker just for the fun of it, where you go if two Pups jump you

RoF is pretty darn difficult.
I tear up an entire flight of MiGs in IL-2 and SF2, but I can't even down a baloon in RoF.

Map size does not always matter.
In combat sims, all the action is in dogfights, flak, SAMs and nursing your plane home if damaged, but everything else is usually incredibly boring until you cross the front line.
In a civilian jet, the world can't be big enough.



FlightGear has a "bombable" module for (low-level) air and ground combat...

 

[solid]

RoF is pretty darn difficult.
I tear up an entire flight of MiGs in IL-2 and SF2, but I can't even down a baloon in RoF.

Map size does not always matter.
In combat sims, all the action is in dogfights, flak, SAMs and nursing your plane home if damaged, but everything else is usually incredibly boring until you cross the front line.
In a civilian jet, the world can't be big enough.



FlightGear has a "bombable" module for (low-level) air and ground combat...

You see, you keep talking "games, shooting, just games no matter how difficult they can be...just shooting games.... Booom!!!

 

[Heretic]

First unofficial info:
http://simhq.com/forum/ubbthreads.php/topics/3487871/Re_MS_Flight.html#Post3487871

So much for being a "game".

 

[SkippyBing]

You see, you keep talking "games, shooting, just games no matter how difficult they can be...just shooting games.... Booom!!!

Yes, because flying an aircraft while trying to shoot down another one is obviously so much more of a game than just trying to fly an aircraft.

They're all games, just because you don't blow something up doesn't mean it's a serious mature simulator. Real simulators have about 100x the system modelling even FSX is capable of and about 1/10th the graphics detail. You still don't catch on fire when you die though.