Microsoft Flight Will Offer Free-To-Play Model
Microsoft will offer a free-to-play model in its upcoming Microsoft Flight simulator for the PC.
Here's good news for fans of the original Microsoft Flight Simulator franchise: the first installment of the series reboot -- Microsoft Flight -- will provide a free-to-play (F2P) model. Microsoft made the announcement on Wednesday, reporting that fans will have the freedom to fly the skies over the Big Island of Hawaii without having to shell out a dime. Even more, the F2P model will also supply access to a variety of missions and flying challenges while allowing players to roam the island's skies in search hidden aerocaches.
"Players view the world from above in a visually stunning and realistic representation of the earth, complete with region-specific weather patterns, foliage, terrain and landmarks," the company teased. "Players can choose to take the helm using highly rendered, accurate cockpits and authentic piloting procedures, or simply use their mouse and keyboard to control the plane in an exterior view. More experienced players can tailor the flight controls to match their skill level, making Microsoft Flight easy for beginners while still challenging for the most accomplished PC pilots."
Microsoft said that players will also gain free bonus content by signing into the game with their Games for Windows - LIVE account. This additional free content will include the legendary Boeing Stearman plane, supplementary missions, and access to Achievements and an Online Pilot Profile. However those craving more will thus need to whip out the credit card and purchase additional Microsoft Points for acquiring new goodies like aircraft, regions and customization options.
"Microsoft Studios worked with the personal airplane manufacturing team at ICON Aircraft to give aviation fans the exclusive opportunity to fly the all-new ICON A5 before real-world production starts at the end of 2012," Microsoft said Wednesday. "Designed by the world-class aeronautical engineers behind the Voyager spaceship, X-Prize winning SpaceShipOne, and Virgin Galatic’s SpaceShipTwo, the ICON A5 is the 'jet ski for the skies,' a high-wing amphibious monoplane with a carbon fiber airframe and a comfortable, automobile-inspired cockpit with space for two. The ICON A5 will be the first aircraft available to players for free in Microsoft Flight."
Microsoft Flight is scheduled to launch this spring, almost six years after the tenth and final Microsoft Flight Simulator (FSX) title hit store shelves. Released in October 2006, FSX was the first (and last) in the series to be released exclusively on DVD. The upcoming Microsoft Flight will be a digital download only.
Microsoft is expected to showcase the new Flight game during CES 2012 next week. In the meantime, fans can still apply for the Microsoft Flight closed beta by heading here.
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Hope it does not get dumbed-down. Never really been into flight sims, but I might check this one out.
Hopefully PMDG and others will develop some nice add-on planes and scenery for Flight. The default aircraft in FSX and FS2004 were terrible and lacked any realism.
free or not people pirate it anyways
I would appreciate a combat flight simulator 2012 that is FTP...
Oh, and:
WHERE IS MY TIE FIGHTER II???
I'd like to see more free to try games. I am always apprehensive on shelling out full retail price for a game without knowing whether it is a dud or not. At least with console games you can sell it back at a loss. PC games you are stuck with once you install it. I've never played a flight sim game, but i would be interested in giving it a try at no cost to me.
So Microsoft are jumping on the so-called 'F2P' FAKE band wagon... Yes I said FAKE. This is because this is NOT F2P. F2P is the same game as a paying one but takes longer (a lot longer) to level up etc. Whatever happened to the term Demo? You might as well call any downloadable or disc demo a F2P, which is just nonsense.
That aside, it will be interesting to have a look but I think it will be too much for the average gamer and only really suit the hardcore SIM fanatics.
Microsoft FS was one of those games that I always found intriguing until I played it. I just couldn't get into it. But I will probably try to new Flight if it is free.
FlightGear is free and supports 64-bit Windows.
The demo of FSX enticed me to buy the full game. If the graphics are top draw then this game could be amazing. Hope the level of detail sliders are better in this game if your system can't handle it though.
This sounds great, but they need to offer a full paid version that gives you access to the whole world and a large list of planes. I don't like being nickled and dimed up to 10x the cost of a retail version just to get all the paid DLC.
I remember the good ol'days where developers would send out trials/demo's of everything they made.... I remember getting 3.5 floppies in the mail for some of the weirdest games out there....
It's too bad they don't do that hardly anymore.... I think it would cut back on the pirating a little...
But this sounds like a good plan on M$...
Digital download only? That'll be one long-arse download.
@ultraman - MS has stated that no third-party developers will have a role in Flight and there will be no SDK, so PMDG and others will not be involved. Additionally, third-party developers have stated the restrictions imposed by the DLC are not economically feasible even if they were invited to participate.
@schizofrog - the serious simming community is giving Flight a big thumbs down and it appears the game is specifically designed for the average gamer. Many of the 'hard-core' features have been stripped from the game. Take a look at the Flight facebook page and see all the negative feedback the simming community is posting about Flight.
The key phrase in the article is "...after the tenth and final Microsoft Flight Simulator (FSX) title..." with emphasis on final. Flight is definitely not good news for fans of the original MFS franchise as the article says in the first sentence. However it is good news for gamers that want to try something different. It will be interesting to see if this works for MS. I'm wondering how MS will make money if they have lost their core followers and average gamers give it a try and then move on to something else. Who is going to be left to buy the DLC?
Game demos are called now F2P?