Product Description

FLIGHT SIMULATOR V2004 A CENTURY OF FLIGHT UK

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #416 in Computer & Video Games
• Brand: Microsoft
• Released on: 2003-08-01
• ESRB Rating: Everyone
• Platforms: Windows Me, Windows 2000, Windows XP, Windows 98
• Number of items: 1
• Dimensions: .44 pounds

Features

• FLIGHT SIMULATOR
• V2004 A CENTURY OF FLIGHT UK

Amazon.co.uk Review
Thanks to Microsoft's Flight Simulator 2004 you can now experience the real essence of flight. Billed as a retrospective look at a century of flight, it's now possible to take to the air with accurately modelled electronic copies of some of the greatest aircraft in history--from the Wright brothers' Wright Flyer to the gleaming wide-bodied 747s and medium-sized helicopters of the present.

From the word go you know this is a serious piece of kit and while the knack to flying the older aircraft revolves around not stalling it and keeping the engine revs up, the modern planes are packed to the hilt with geeky goodness. For those wishing to engage in the experience of flight there are GPS navigation systems aplenty, dozens of cockpits switches and an air traffic control system which is as lifelike as it bewildering to understand.

Understandably, not everyone is going to get to grips with this beast immediately and full marks to Microsoft for including a wealth of training information within the program in the form of tutorials and reference material--it's essential reading if you're to get a firm grip on this truly huge simulation.

To give some idea of scale, using the various game modes available it's possible to take the controls of any of the 24 planes included then take off from one of the 24,000 mapped airports and fly anywhere around the globe. And for the true aficionado you can do it all in real-time. However, for those of us with a shorter attention span it is possible to speed up time to get through the tedious bits.

Add to this truly realistic in-game weather--updated over the Internet every 10 minutes--and what you have is one of the best flight sims ever to grace a personal computer.

Flight Simulator 2004 isn't without its faults. It's graphically intensive and requires a meaty PC to get top quality visuals onscreen, the sound can become monotonous and arriving on four CDs it takes forever to install. These minor points aside, however, this is a superb piece of software and belongs firmly on the hard drive of anyone who has ever harboured fantasies of flying as a child. --Chris Russell

Manufacturer's Description
Enthusiasts around the world will experience the history of aviation with Microsoft Flight Simulator 2004: A Century of Flight. As the world celebrates the 100th anniversary of powered flight in 2003, A Century of Flight allows virtual pilots to feel what it's like to take the controls of nine historic aircraft--the record-breakers, the workhorses and the innovators--such as Charles Lindbergh's Ryan NYP Spirit of St. Louis, the Douglas DC-3 and the world's first successful powered aircraft, the 1903 Wright Flyer.

Engaging, interactive multimedia provides a wealth of historical information on the planes that shaped aviation history and the pilots who flew them. Informed and insightful articles help players discover all that Flight Simulator and its fleet of 24 aircraft has to offer. Microsoft Flight Simulator 2004: A Century of Flight also introduces an updated, dynamic weather system, enhanced automatically generated (auto-gen) scenery and detailed visual effects, as well as 15 modern aircraft, including the Robinson R-22 Beta II helicopter.

Customer Reviews

Simulator or training aid?
This is a serious simulator. I've used the whole history of MS Flight Simulators and each gets better. I've used this one for over 3 years now and still don't tire of it. Limitations yes - the principal one being that you're trying to fly an aircraft through a single window. Realistic yes - though I have to say that flying a real light aircraft in good conditions is actually easier than flying this sim! Add ons available - limitless including many free options. With full scenery optional extras (third party) you can fly over and recognise your own house. Alternatively you can plan and fly around the world in real time and weather. Up to you.

If you are already a real world pilot (as I am) you can use this to brush up on your nav skills. Navaid frequencies are real world and you can use real world charts. You can practice IFR without any risk and cost - can you navigate using VORs with a 500' cloudbase?

If you're looking for a game then look elsewhere as you'll be disappointed very quickly. FS does need to be learned and that takes time. You'll also need a good quality joystick (with twist stick to accommodate rudder input) or flight controls such as those from CH. Given that understanding you will get your value out of FS thousands of times over - it will probably be the best bit of simulation software you will ever find for a home PC!

Beginner to FS2004
I have just today bought FS2004...without a joystick. So there i was playing...or should i say trying to play the game with my keypad. BIG MISTAKE PEOPLE!! i was getting fustrated and thinkin it was a waste of my money...and because i am new to theses games i wasnt sure what to do. i read some of the review for the game on Amazon where i found reviwers were suggesting to play the game using a Joystick, so tomorrow i will go buy one and find out whether its worth it. will let u know what i think once i play using the joystick. see if it makes the game easier and more enjoyable....i will let u know by writing a comment to this review :)

Fs2004
Well, eventually I have had to upgrade (I have been an fs2002 devotee for the last few years) and it is a big improvement from the previous version. Better graphics and a wide selection of add-ons available. The only reason I didn't give it five stars is because you have to use a cd to run the game, which can be an annoyance. Otherwise this is a brilliant buy.
Oh, and I recommend the Masters of the Sky add-on (avail from Amazon) & simviation.com for free add-on stuff!