Microsoft Flight

Overview

Microsoft Flight is a free-to-play flight simulator developed by Microsoft Game Studios Vancouver and published digitally by Microsoft for the PC on February 27, 2012 (via Games For Windows - Live) and April 3, 2012 (via Steam). It was later removed from both marketplaces on August 22, 2013 (but can still be downloaded with limited functionality).

A lightly-featured reboot of the Microsoft Flight Simulator franchise, Microsoft Flight features a smaller scale experience, including a limited number of planes and easier flying assistance for beginners. Players fly around both Hawaii and Alaska in aircraft ranging from amphibious light-sport monoplanes to World War II biplanes, participating in various activities including landing challenges, delivery/sightseeing jobs, and finding hidden collectibles (known as Aerocaches). The game made use of GFWL functionality, including online multiplayer and achievements.

The game featured a basic 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 available as payable downloadable content.

Microsoft Flight was later discontinued on July 25, 2012 after Microsoft shut down the Vancouver studio. The game was delisted from both marketplaces on August 22, 2013 and its GFWL functionality (including online multiplayer and ability to purchase DLC) were shut down on October 14, 2014.

Gameplay

Microsoft Flight features a much smaller scale experience than previous entries in the Flight Simulator series. Whereas Microsoft Flight Simulator X featured several dozen high-quality cities and some level of coverage for the entire globe, Microsoft Flight takes place entirely in the big island of Hawaii, with its surrounding islands and the state of Alaska as optional DLC (which, as of August 22, 2013, can no longer be acquired).

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 cockpit views and associated interactive instruments and checklists. Most aircraft were available as downloadable content, with most Basic aircraft sold for $6.99 and most Deluxe aircraft sold for $14.99. All purchasable aircraft had a bonus preview option (as free DLC), which only shows the plane's model in the hangar. As of August 22, 2013, no DLC items can be acquired.

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.

Note: The De Havilland DCH-2 Beaver and Cessna 208 Caravan were added as DLC, but not sure if Deluxe or Basic?

Deluxe

• Icon A5 - Included with the base game.
• Boeing-Stearman Model 75 - Unlocked by signing in to Games For Windows - Live.
• Vans RV-6A - Iincluded with the "Hawaiian Adventure Pack" DLC (for $19.99).
• Maule M-7-260C (DLC)
• Cub Crafters Carbon Cub (DLC) - Released on ?

Basic

• North American P-51 Mustang (DLC)
• Mitsubishi A6M2 Zero (DLC) - Released on 3/27/2012.
• Curtiss P-40B Warhawk (DLC) - Released on 4/24/2012.
• Vought F4U-1D Corsair (DLC) - Released on 5/30/2012.
• "RED TAILS" North American P-51 Mustang (DLC) - Released on 6/27/2012 for free. Cross-promotion with the DVD/Blu-Ray release of the film Red Tails.
• Cub Crafters Carbon Cub - Released on ? and included with the "Alaskan Wilderness Pack" DLC (for $14.99).
• C-46 (DLC) - Released on ?

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