Sad news, it's the end of Flight Simulator.
 

http://flyawaysimulation.com/postt35097.html

We can thank Oleg to invest in a sector that doesn't seem se lucrative.

You do know this happened last year?

I don't feel bad at all.
MS flight sims never deserved the attention they got. MS just throws some buggy code on the market and lets the community pull their hair trying to make it work.
Let it die I'd say.
Let the developers that care and suport their games, get the suport and market.

I have FSX ... the terain sucks ...

however ... flight model and the feel of it is quite detailed ..

I will never un-install FSX, it made me a beter "virtual pilot".

Interesting. There are a lot of people here and on other boards who post the exact opposite.

fsx has its ups and downs

Microsoft announced their new title "Microsoft Flight" in August 2010.

For more info see:
http://www.microsoft.com/games/flight/
and
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Microsoft_Flight

I just hope they don't come out with some crappy WWII Combat Flight sim that millions will buy ignoring SOW like they did with IL-2 buying CFS3 buy the truck loads

Flight looks like a more casual flight "simulator" that is aimed at the civilian market only. Given the teaser video that we saw...

I overall agree with this idea.


Consider:
Late 2009 Microsoft announced massive layoffs of the Flight Sim dept, some day completely closure of that unit.
Mid 2010 MS announces a new sim, "MS Flight", which is LIVE enabled, and they emphasis more users inviting and friendly interface.


My opinion:
The huge backlash against MS over FSX further hurt MS's very sorry image. Eventually (after a few months, that is) the numskulls leading MS realized the screwed up and are starting MAJOR DAMAGE CONTROL.
HOWEVER, in trying to show people FS is not dead, they instead make it ARCADE like, IOW, not really a Sim anymore.

"LIVE" is service to make it easier for players to connect, which is OK in a way.
However I think MS will make FS default to a super easy to fly mode to get more players in on it. I am sure players can crank up the realism, it may put off the core of the FS community.

Why?
Game consoles are domination the game market, but I have yet to see the type of quality Fight Sim / True Air Combat on that platform.
I am sure MS saw its FSX product decline in sales and decided it was no longer worth investing, but then decided, finally, it was a really stupid idea...
BUT they where smart enough to see they had to change how it was accessed.

The question is, will MS crash and burn, or make something worthy? Given MS track record, odds not good.