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  • This was the first Microsoft Flight Simulator in 1982.

  • And this is Microsoft Flight Simulator in 2020.

  • Not only does it have phenomenal graphics.

  • It is also the first actual open world game.

  • Meaning you can fly anywhere.

  • Above the skyscrapers in New York,

  • the Pyramids in Egypt and even your own home.

  • For those wanting to control airplanes

  • and explore the world from the comfort of your home,

  • there has never been a more exciting time!

  • Ladies and gentlemen, buckle up as we journey through

  • the evolution of Microsoft Flight Simulator!

  • It all started with a pilot named Bruce Artwick, who was interested in computers.

  • Bruce founded a software company named Sublogic.

  • And developed 'Flight Simulator' in 1979.

  • At the time, computers couldn't handle much more than a few lines at once,

  • and it's easy to understand why if you look at the specifications

  • of the Apple II, for which Flight Simulator was developed.

  • It was an 8-bit computer that only had 4 kilobytes of RAM

  • and a processor running at 1 megahertz.

  • Microsoft gained interest and obtained the license from Sublogic

  • to create the first Microsoft Flight Simulator in 1982,

  • also referred to as Flight Simulator 1.0.

  • It featured improved graphics, with color this time,

  • variable weather and the time of day.

  • Advertisements boldly claimed

  • "If flying your IBM PC got any more realistic, you'd need a license".

  • Yeah… I don't think so.

  • Version 2.0 was launched in 1984.

  • Minor improvements were made to the graphics and the game's precision.

  • With version 2.0 it was also possible to use a joystick or a mouse.

  • In 1988, Microsoft released version 3.0

  • It came in a box with a floppy disk inside to play the game.

  • Version 3.0 added new airports, had higher framerates,

  • better graphics, and it was finally possible to use external camera angles

  • In the following year, Flight Simulator 4.0 was released.

  • The box was almost similar to the previous Microsoft Flight Simulator.

  • It wasn't very clear which version you had,

  • since all the box said was, 'new version'.

  • You had to know what artwork to look for.

  • Version 4.0 had upgraded aircraft models,

  • dynamic scenery, random weather and special modes,

  • like a mode where you could fly a World War 1 airplane and shoot down enemy airplanes.

  • It also had some very beautiful nostalgic music.

  • Released at the end of 1993, Flight Simulator version 5.0 ramped up

  • the realism using textures to create scenery for the first time.

  • Graphics and aircraft models were further

  • improved, weather systems upgraded,

  • artificial intelligence was introduced

  • and users could modify their cockpits for each aircraft.

  • In 1995, Microsoft Flight Simulator 5.1 was the first version

  • to be released on CD-ROM.

  • It featured satellite imagery,

  • faster performance, and it had many weather effects.

  • There was also a program to build your own airports and cockpit panels.

  • After the release of Windows 95,

  • Microsoft developed Flight Simulator for Windows 95.

  • It was almost the same as its predecessor,

  • except for the improved frame rates and additional aircraft.

  • It also included major airports outside Europe and the US for the first time.

  • The next edition,

  • Flight Simulator 98 came in 1997.

  • The game was a huge success and sold over 1 million copies.

  • It was the first to take advantage of 3D with graphic cards

  • through Microsoft's DirectX technology.

  • Flight Simulator 98 had better performance, more modeled airports,

  • distinct sounds for every type of aircraft, and a helicopter!

  • Two years later, Flight Simulator 2000 was released.

  • Many were disappointed that the game demanded a high-end

  • computer to play the game, and even on high-end systems,

  • framerate stuttering was a problem in some dense areas.

  • Flight Simulator 2000 was a considerable improvement

  • in terms of graphics and details,

  • incorporating rain and snow for the first time,

  • and allowing users to download real-world weather conditions.

  • It also added GPS and new airplanes, like the Concorde and the Boeing 777.

  • But the most notable addition was the 17,000 new airports

  • that were added, bringing the total to over 20,000 airports.

  • Flight Simulator 2002 was released in 2001,

  • shortly after the 9/11 terrorist attacks.

  • Microsoft was at the center of controversy because reports showed the terrorists

  • had used Flight Simulator to prepare the attacks.

  • Due to the terrorist attacks and to respect the victims,

  • the Twin Towers were removed from the game.

  • The game introduced Air Traffic Control to communicate with airports

  • and artificial-intelligence aircrafts

  • to fly alongside computer-controlled aircrafts.

  • It continued the upwards trend in graphics

  • and Microsoft also managed to make the game run smoother.

  • Flight Simulator 2004: A Century of Flight,

  • celebrated the 100th anniversary of the Wright Brothers' first flight.

  • It featured several historical aircrafts,

  • including the Wright Flyer used by the Brothers.

  • The weather engine was improved,

  • it allowed for 3D clouds and localized weather conditions for the first time.

  • GPS and air traffic control were also improved.

  • Then came Flight Simulator X in 2006.

  • The game had improved graphics,

  • higher resolution textures and a better multiplayer experience.

  • Flight Simulator X had the ability for players to be an Air Traffic Controller

  • and for two players flying in a single airplane.

  • The game included 18 planes, 28 detailed cities and over 24,000 airports

  • for the standard version,

  • while the deluxe version had even more planes and detailed cities.

  • An expansion pack called "Flight Simulator X: Acceleration"

  • was brought out one year later, and included new missions and aircraft.

  • All of which brings us to the latest Microsoft Flight Simulator

  • released on August 18, 2020.

  • After a gap of almost 14 years since the last major release, Microsoft unexpectedly

  • launched this magnificent game.

  • Let's just take a moment to appreciate how gorgeous it is!

  • This, ladies and gentlemen, truly is the future of gaming.

  • This game is the first actual open world game.

  • It simulates the entire earth using textures and data from Bing Maps.

  • Microsoft partnered with Blackshark.ai, who developed a solution

  • that uses the ground-breaking technology of Microsoft Azure

  • and artificial intelligence to analyze map data, and generate

  • photorealistic 3D models of buildings, trees, water and so on.

  • Flight Simulator does not only look ultra-realistic.

  • It also simulates the real world as much as possible,

  • with realistic physics and real-world weather data.

  • Meaning if there is a storm somewhere in real life,

  • there is also a storm in-game in the same place.

  • In total, the game includes a staggering 37,000 airports,

  • of which 30 are handcrafted in the standard edition.

  • The number of airplanes varies from 20 to 30 through the different editions.

  • While Microsoft Flight Simulator has long loading times

  • and you need a beast of a PC to obtain the ultra-graphics,

  • you can't help to be blown away

  • by the scale and photorealism of this simulator.

  • Satellite imagery and real-world technology combine to provide

  • an extremely satisfying and realistic experience,

  • allowing players to travel to pretty much any destination

  • and explore the world with remarkable accuracy.

  • Flying has never been so much fun!

  • And, thanks to Corona, probably the only way we'll be flying anytime soon.

This was the first Microsoft Flight Simulator in 1982.

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