Microsoft Shuts Down 'Flight Simulator' Game Studio

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aardvark2zz
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Microsoft Shuts Down 'Flight Simulator' Game Studio

Postby aardvark2zz » Sat Jan 24, 2009 8:16 pm

Microsoft Shuts Down 'Flight Simulator' Game Studio

As the rest of the tech world scrambles to assess the implications of the recently announced 5,000 layoffs at software giant Microsoft, news has come in that might potentially spell the end of the company's nearly 30-year-old Flight Simulator series.

Microsoft confirmed Friday that the software giant has shuttered ACES Studios, the developer of the Flight Simulator series of games, whose latest incarnation is Flight Simulator X. The simulation is considered Microsoft's oldest product, whose original version first shipped in 1982.

However, a Microsoft spokeswoman said that while the studio has been closed, the software company remains committed to the Flight Simulator franchise, without explaining how future products can be launched without a dedicated software development team backing them.

"We can confirm the closing of ACES Studios, which was responsible for the Flight Simulator franchise," Microsoft spokeswoman Kelda Rericha told Appscout. "Following our annual strategy review process, IEB [Microsoft's Interactive Entertainment Business unit] is making adjustments within our business to align our people against our highest priorities. The closure of ACES Studios was one of those specific changes." .......
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ZeroAltitude
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Re: Microsoft Shuts Down 'Flight Simulator' Game Studio

Postby ZeroAltitude » Sun Jan 25, 2009 11:12 am

Hopefully, some smaller game-development shack will hire the entire crew and launch a new sim, using their know-how.
Nevertheless, I can imagine that FSX will stay alive another 10 years or so even without development support from Microsoft's side.
There are more than enough small outfits dedicated to the product and its enhancement.
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VectorForFood
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Re: Microsoft Shuts Down 'Flight Simulator' Game Studio

Postby VectorForFood » Thu Apr 09, 2009 1:31 am

I'll be honest, I hope FSX stays for a good 5-6 more years, there's absolutely no need for another Flight Sim right now... just updates by developers are fine!

Lots of guys still use FS2002.

PurduePilot
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Re: Microsoft Shuts Down 'Flight Simulator' Game Studio

Postby PurduePilot » Thu Apr 09, 2009 3:20 pm

I'll be honest, I hope FSX stays for a good 5-6 more years, there's absolutely no need for another Flight Sim right now... just updates by developers are fine!

Lots of guys still use FS2002.
What about FS2000? That was a beautiful program... ;)

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ocelot
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Re: Microsoft Shuts Down 'Flight Simulator' Game Studio

Postby ocelot » Thu May 28, 2009 11:02 am

There's always flightgear...


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