Microsoft Accepting Beta Applications for Flight Sim Reboot

Microsoft's Flight Simulator has seemingly been around forever, and for many, resides in the PC gaming Hall of Fame along with DOOM, Quake, X-Wing Vs. TIE Fighter, Descent, Diablo, EverQuest and numerous other classics. The first version hit store shelves way back in 1982 while Flight Simulator X brought the series to a close in 2006. However Microsoft refused to let the concept die and announced a reboot of sorts in August 2010 with the upcoming launch of Microsoft Flight.

"With Microsoft Flight we're approaching the virtual flight genre from the ground up, with the focus on the universal appeal of the experience of Flight," the company said. "We believe the simplicity of Microsoft Flight perfectly captures that vision while welcoming the millions of existing Flight Simulator fans. The new Microsoft Flight retains the full fidelity simulation longtime fans have come to expect while offering all players a whole new look and feel, a wide range of new game play and challenges, persistent experiences and social connectivity."

According to Microsoft, the company is now accepting applications for the Flight beta program taking to the skies in January 2012. To enter, interested gamers can head here via Microsoft Connect, but there's a catch: a nondisclosure agreement means you can't take photos, videos or audios of the software, nor can you post such items anywhere online. Information obtained about the game cannot be disclosed, nor can the client be hacked or copied for distribution amongst forum friends and strangers... typical NDA stuff that many ignore anyway.