Microsoft Flight Simulator 2.0 | |
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Developer(s) | Sublogic |
Publisher(s) | Microsoft |
Designer(s) | Bruce Artwick |
Series | Microsoft Flight Simulator |
Platform(s) | IBM PC, IBM PCjr, PC AT, IBM PC Convertible, MS-DOS, IBM PS/2 |
Release | May 1984 |
Genre(s) | Amateur flight simulation |
Mode(s) | Single-player |
Microsoft Flight Simulator, commonly known as Microsoft Flight Simulator 2.0 or FS2, is a flight simulator video game. It was released in 1984 [1] for the IBM PC as a self-booting disk.
In May 1984, Microsoft released their version 2 (v2.10) [1] for IBM PCs. This version made small improvements to the original version, including the graphics and a more precise simulation in general. It added joystick and mouse input, as well as support for RGB (4-color CGA graphics) and composite monitors [2] and IBM PCjr.
The new simulator expanded the scenery coverage to include a model of the entire United States, [2] although the airports were limited to the same areas as in Microsoft Flight Simulator 1.0 .
Version 2.10a, [1] released in August 1984, added PC AT support and minor bug corrections.
Later versions (2.11, [1] unreleased and v2.12, [1] [3] released in April 1985) fixed a no color problem on PCjr graphics, adding Hercules graphics and EGA support.
Version 2.13, [1] released in August 1986, added support for IBM PC Convertible, enhanced keyboard, 3.5" inch floppy drives, MS-DOS 3.2 and laptop LCD displays.
Version 2.14, [1] released in June 1987 brought IBM PS/2 support.
Over the next year or two, compatibility with Sublogic Scenery Disks was provided, gradually covering the whole U.S. (including Hawaii), Japan, and part of Europe.
David Florance for Compute! said "shortcomings are easily outweighed by the sheer delight this program brings." [4]
Jason Durbin for PC World said of v. 2.13 "for the timid types who wouldn't be caught living or dead at 10,000 feet, Microsoft Flight Simulator is an excellent way to enjoy the thrill of flight vicariously." [2]
Dick Aarons for PC Magazine said "I've found that the peaceful world of flying in the Microsoft Flight Simulator can provide hours of realistic flying fun." [5]
Microsoft Flight Simulator, Version 2.0 was reviewed in 1989 in Dragon #142 by Hartley, Patricia, and Kirk Lesser in "The Role of Computers" column. The reviewers gave the game 5 out of 5 stars. [6]
The Tandy 1000 is the first in a line of IBM PC compatible home computer systems produced by the Tandy Corporation for sale in its Radio Shack and Radio Shack Computer Center chains of stores. Introduced in 1984, the product line was aimed at providing affordable but capable systems for home computing or education, with some of its Tandy specific features like graphics, sound and joystick port making it more appealing for home use.
The Hercules Graphics Card (HGC) is a computer graphics controller formerly made by Hercules Computer Technology, Inc. that combines IBM's text-only MDA display standard with a bitmapped graphics mode, also offering a parallel printer port. This allows the HGC to offer both high-quality text and graphics from a single card.
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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.
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Microsoft Flight Simulator 2000, abbreviated commonly as FS2000, is a flight simulator video game. It was released in late 1999 for Microsoft Windows. A Professional Edition was released alongside the standard edition. It added two airplanes, six cities, and a flight model/instrument panel editor.
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