 | |
Type of site | Gaming |
|---|---|
| Owner | FlightSim.Com Inc. |
| Created by | Nelson Anderson |
| URL | http://www.flightsim.com/ |
| Commercial | Yes |
| Registration | Free, First Class |
| Launched | 1996 |
| Current status | Active |
FlightSim.Com is a flight simulation review and resource website that focuses heavily on Microsoft Flight Simulator. It is one of the main flight simulation websites along with Avsim.com [1] [2] and provides users access to information and addons for the flight simulator series of video games. [3]
The website sources its origins to Bulletin Board System discussion groups for flight simulation dating back as far as 1985 and was one of the earliest flight simulator sites on the internet. [4] The existing library of files dates back prior to the website in its current format, with some existing files originating from when the website was run on the BBS provider Xevious BBS, which was established by the FlightSim.Com creator Nels Anderson in 1983 and still runs as part of the site today. [5] [6]
The website partnered with UGO Networks in 1999 with the aim of providing all content free of charge, and gaining its revenue through an advertising model. [7] Throughout the early 1990s and into the new millennium, the website gained increasing popularity on the back of increasing interest and sales of the Microsoft Flight Simulator series of products. [8] As of 2006 the website no longer appeared to be partnered with UGO Networks and gets revenue from its own sale of banner advertisement space in addition to membership subscriptions.
The website is popular within the video game genre of flight simulation. Commentators within the flight simulation and aviation community consistently rate the website as a "must visit" [3] among fans of the genre, along with the similar website Avsim.com. [1] The website has also received coverage in a number of publications over the years when the media require comment on issues relating to flight simulation. [9] [10] While the website has continued to gain popularity the basic format and provision of services has changed little since it became commercially oriented in 1996. [11] The website is commonly referenced in literature as a source for downloading aircraft files for use with Microsoft Flight Simulator further increasing the websites popularity among the community. [12] [13]
The main focus of the website is providing additional content that users can use within a Flight Simulator. Additionally the website provides users with reviews of commercial content created for use with a flight simulator such as Microsoft Flight Simulator. Full commercial reviews are covered as special features listed on the websites main page. Guides on how to operate the simulator and other aspects of flight simulation are collected in articles, information, and how-to sections of the website aiming to provide resources to those interested in flight simulation.
The following additional content is commonly indexed by the website and available for download:
Much of this content is created by freeware developers and offered to the community without charge. Occasionally, payware commercial developers will release products free on the site to generate interest in their other products. A section of the website provides background and information on development of additional content for flight simulators, including a list of prominent developers and members of the community. [14] The website also offers a developers award and excellence program aiming to highlight both commercial and non-commercial successes within the boutique industry of flight simulation content development.
Along with community websites such as Avsim.com, the website has been identified as a key component in bringing community members together to discuss the topic of flight simulation, with real world meetings and events of website community members common. [15] The website also provides a news service that covers both commercial releases and important announcements from developers and virtual airlines within the community. Community forums are provided for both the website community and the flight simulation community in general, with many of the early virtual airlines having forums and websites hosted by the site. Both X-Plane and Microsoft Flight Simulator forums are featured on the website. Another site, Train-sim.com, is also owned by Flightsim.com and similarly serves the train simulator community.
Users must subscribe to the website to access file downloads. While the base level subscription is free and provides access to all areas, there is some limitation on download speed. First-class memberships are offered that feature unrestricted downloading and higher speeds.
Microsoft Flight Simulator is a series of flight simulator programs for MS-DOS, Classic Mac OS and Microsoft Windows operating systems. It was an early product in the Microsoft application portfolio and differed significantly from Microsoft's other software, which was largely business-oriented. As of November 2022, Microsoft Flight Simulator is the longest-running software product line for Microsoft, predating Windows by three years. Microsoft Flight Simulator is one of the longest-running PC video game series of all time.
X-Plane is a flight simulation software initially launched by Laminar Research in 1995. Commercial desktop versions are sold for macOS, Windows, and Linux. In addition, Laminar Research also distributes FAA-certified versions for professional use. A mobile version has been available for Android, iOS, and webOS since 2009 as well.
Gmax is an application based on Autodesk's 3ds Max application used by professional computer graphics artists. 3ds Max is a comprehensive modeling, animation and rendering package with some secondary post-production and compositing features. Gmax is much more limited due to its singular intended use—game content creation. Infrequently used tools and features, or the ones completely unrelated to creating 3D game models, were removed, leaving the core modeling, texturing, and basic animation rigging and keyframing capabilities. In 2005, the promotional freeware software was discontinued after version 1.2.
Microsoft Train Simulator is a 2001 train simulator game developed by UK-based Kuju Entertainment and published by Microsoft Games for Windows. It was released on June 18, 2001.
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Rail Simulator is a train simulation published by Electronic Arts (EA). It was produced by Kuju Entertainment. After release of the EU version, EA's support and further development of the title was taken over by Rail Simulator Developments Ltd, who continued to provide updates, fixes, official expansion packs and new content to players. RSDL has also released a sequel to the first game called RailWorks.
Microsoft Flight Simulator began as a set of articles on computer graphics, written by Bruce Artwick throughout 1976, about flight simulation using 3-D graphics. When the editor of the magazine told Artwick that subscribers were interested in purchasing such a program, Artwick founded Sublogic Corporation to commercialize his ideas. At first the new company sold flight simulators through mail order, but that changed in January 1979 with the release of Flight Simulator (FS) for the Apple II. They soon followed this up with versions for other systems and from there it evolved into a long-running series of computer flight simulators.
RailDriver is a desktop cab controller for train simulation software. It replaces keyboard and mouse operation as far as possible to provide a more realistic train driving experience. It is designed to be compatible with Microsoft Train Simulator. N3V's Trainz, BVE Trainsim and World of Subways also support RailDriver. As of December 2020, Dovetail Games' Train Sim World 2 added an open beta for Raildriver on PC. Other software may be controlled using downloadable resources.
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AVSIM is a nonprofit flight simulation social networking service that focuses on Microsoft Flight Simulator, Prepar3D, and X-Plane. It features a community forum, file library, and product reviews. The website is maintained by a group of volunteers. Bandwidth and equipment is paid for by donations and advertising. It is one of the world's largest flight simulation websites and provides users access to information and add-ons for the flight simulator series of games. On May 12, 2009, the website was attacked by a hacker which resulted in a catastrophic loss of data. AVSIM was able to fully recover from the hack with the help of IT support from around the world.
Microsoft Flight Simulator, commonly known as Microsoft Flight Simulator 5.0 or FS5, is a flight simulator video game. It was released in late 1993 for the MS-DOS. A port for PC-98 was released in 1994. It was the last game in the series for DOS and the last game to appear on a non-Microsoft platform. An updated version, 5.1, was released in 1995. In November 1995, Microsoft acquired the Bruce Artwick Organization (BAO) from Bruce Artwick. Employees were moved to Redmond, Washington, and development of the series continued in-house at Microsoft.
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Dovetail Games (DTG), a trading name of RailSimulator.com Ltd (RSC), is a British simulation video game developer and publisher established in 2008 by former Electronic Arts executive Paul Jackson, Fund4Games backers Tim Gatland and Charlie McMicking, and a development team from Kuju Entertainment.
Microsoft Flight Simulator is a flight simulation video game developed by Asobo Studio and published by Xbox Game Studios. It is an entry in the Microsoft Flight Simulator series which began in 1982, and was preceded by Microsoft Flight Simulator X in 2006. The game is a return of the series after 14 years, with development beginning six years prior to its release. It was released on August 18, 2020, for Windows, with a virtual reality (VR) version released in December of the same year as part of the free Sim 2 update. Microsoft Flight Simulator is the first game in the series to see a VR and console release, with it being released on the Xbox Series X and Series S on July 27, 2021.
flightsim.com.