JOB CUTS GROUND FLIGHT SIMULATOR

-Sweex · 06-02-2009, 06:21 PM

The future of Microsoft's long running Flight Simulator series has been cast into doubt, after the software maker US laid-off the entire development team.

Microsoft says it is "committed" to the series, despite shutting the Aces studio when it cut 5000 jobs.

But third party developers say Microsoft needs to outline its plans for the game in more detail.

MS Flight Simulator is arguably the longest running computer game series ever, first launched back in 1982.

Nels Anderson, founder of enthusiast website FlightSim.com said the studio closure was a "dark day" for the flight sim market.

Speaking to the BBC he said he was baffled by the decision.

"Microsoft have apparently cancelled a 27 year franchise. Flight sims were one of the few things about Microsoft people actually liked. It made them money and had an enormous following.

"To cancel something like that is an amazing thing to do," he said.

Just Flight's director, Dermot Stapleton, which publishes third party add-ons for MS Flight Simulator, told the BBC that as Microsoft had only announced the studio closure, people would have to draw their own conclusions as to what future plans the firm had in store for the game.

"It's the end of the line for their in-house development studio, but that doesn't mean it's the end of the line for the game.

"All Microsoft did was name a group of developers working on the game Aces Studio and now, as they've laid them and a load of other developers off, they have been somewhat hoisted on their own petard.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/7874937.stm

Jordy · 06-02-2009, 06:31 PM

Not surprised, FSX got completely ridiculous, it was not very popular in the end because it required an incredibly good computer, it was released about 2 years before computers were good enough to play it well.

If they wanted to continue it they should of brought it to the Xbox 360 which might ruin it for some fans but it'd make them more money and at least it'd live on.

Agnostic Bear · 06-02-2009, 06:33 PM

Microsoft aren't that stupid, they're obviously planning something.

xxMATTGxx · 06-02-2009, 06:39 PM

Already knew this was coming a few weeks back when Microsoft reported job cuts. Such a shame as Flight simulator is used by loads of people. Although, I was never a big fan of the new "FSX". I shall conitunue to use FS9, which is still used by many people today