Microsoft Flight Simulator 2004: A Century of Flight
by Microsoft
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Video Game Reviews of Microsoft Flight Simulator 2004: A Century of Flight
Customer Review: Nicely done. Someday, I'll really appreciate the effort.
Summary: 4 Stars
Why does Microsoft release a game with options that can't be selected with todays technology?I've flown this sim on several high-end (P4 2.4 to 3.2) computers, and nobody has been able to use the highest details simultaneously without the sim turning into a slide-show.
Still, when you back off the detail settings, the sim can run smoothly. I like the idea of interaction with ATC, and having flown real aircraft for the past 14 years, the calls are close to accurate.
This is one of those games/sims that you'll really appreciate sometime in the fall of 2004, when you've upgraded to the next faster machine. For now, at playable settings, it won't look much different than what you've flown before.
Customer Review: Well Rounded Flight Simulator For Everyone
Summary: 4 Stars
If you have even a passing interest in aviation simulation, then the experience provided by MFS2004:ACOF (FS9) is one you don't want to be without.This incredibly open environment will give you literally limitless experiences. The Microsoft Flight Simulator community is extremely large and there are literally thousands of add-on's (aircraft, panels, textures, sounds) that are public domain freeware. There are also many high-quality commercial add-on's to choose from as well. How well aircraft resemble their real counterparts is dependent on how much data the developer listed in the aircraft configuration file. The simulator uses a physics engine to process the data. This data can be changed by the user by just using a text editor.
The weather engine for FS9 is simply stunning. Real-time, photorealistic, weather generated dynamically from weather stations across the globe.
Through third parties (free and commercial), artificial intelligence with traffic is possible to the extent of real-world commercial flights in the simulator that are based off real-world flight schedules. Have an airline ticket with American Airlines for next week? Well, in the simulator you can go to your airport, today, and set the time and date for that flight. At the departure time, you will see that aircraft with correct details of aircraft type, airline, flight number, pull up to the runway and ask for IFR departure to your intended destination city!
All of this comes at a cost. The cost is hardware resources. You simply can't have enough resources for this extremely large program. This program is more of an environment than an application.
The mininum specifications listed is a joke. With the exception of the CPU, multiply all that by three. Multiply the CPU by FOUR.
You will want to have a video card with at least 128 MB. Even then, you should be looking at 256 MB video cards.
Yes, its that dependent on raw processing power!
This simulator isn't perfect, but it is the most well-rounded flight simulator that everyone can enjoy. If extreme realistic detail with flying a commercial heavy is more important to you than stunning graphics, then there are other simulators that will better serve your needs. Take a look at Aerowinx's "Precision Simulator" for this need, which is the most detailed (procedures and systems) 747 simulator that consumer money ($250+) can buy. "Precision Simulator" is designed for functionality, not pleasant graphics. In fact, it is a DOS application. I would not recommend "Precision Simulator" to anyone unless they knew exactly what they were getting with it. The learning curve is intense and in comparison it makes "Microsoft Flight Simulator" look like an arcade game. If you have just a passing interest in some of the more advanced avionics of a commercial heavy, I would recommend using PMDG's 737NG with FS2004. This third party add-on aircraft is put together very well and even has a partially functional CDU. While it doesn't have the depth of "Precision Simulator", this CDU does allow you to have the majority of the FMC capabilities -- including SID/STAR procedures.
In short, if you have the system resources and want to fly around mainly in general aviation aircraft and view stunning scenery, then FS9 is for you. General windows knowledge (copy/paste files, editing files with text editors, create/delete directories, using archives) is mandatory if you want to get the full potential out of this software.
Customer Review: DON'T BUY THIS GAME!
Summary: 1 Stars
I installed this Microslut game on a relatively new dell desktop, xp, latest video card and drivers, etc. After install it wouldn't even load up when I tried to start it,,,got the splash screen then it quits. Tried all of the so-called fixes from MS, clean boot, reinstall, video+audio drivers and settings, etc. etc. etc. and still nothing! Apparently there is an "issue" somewhere. screeew it, compusa can have the dam thing back!!!Customer Review: Check out Microsoft's Game Player website before purchas...
Summary: 2 Stars
DO NOT BUY THIS GAME AS A GIFT...Instead purchase an Amazon Gift Certificate and let your friend(s) do their own shopping on Amazon. And, here is the reason why... Compatablity issues. If the games requirements are not met it will not work. I don't mean the requirements stated on the box but the real requirements that remain unstated. (www.microsoftgamesinsider.com)
Now for the good stuff. The game has great techinical accuracy which is something I really like about this game . Flying real 172 is pretty close to Flight Simulator 2004 (I dont know about the rest but the 172's flight envelope is close). You do have to work with some techinical aspects of the aircrafts.
This is not a good game for those who like the arcade action type games. This is nothing like it. This is a simulator. For such a person this game would be a bore.
The reason for the 2 stars is because of the compatablity issues rather than for the game techinical merit. I really do like this game though.
Customer Review: FS 2004: A Century of F*#@ing Pain!
Summary: 1 Stars
I have NEVER had a computer game do more mischievous damage to my computer than Flight Simulator 2004 did when I tried to install it! First of all, the game would not operate at all, a complete disaster! Second of all, it reconfigured my sound card settings so badly, that it took me two weeks to straighten them out. Third, in it's ActiveX whirlwind slash session through the cortex of my system, it scrambled the only other two games I had on my system. I say "had", because I had to remove them as a result of FS2004(or the Borg, as I so fondly refer to it!) It seems like any Microsoft game with the Game Studio logo under it's name, isn't worth the package it comes in! I know I'm reviewing FS2004, but Combat Flight Simulator3 is another tragic example of a MS "Game Studio" fiasco!In summary, I wouldn't suggest Flight Simulator 2004 to anyone, unless they have a spare couple of weeks to reconfigure a bunch of settings on their system! It's pretty bad when I get bent out of shape watching the advertisement for this game on television! Stick with FS2002, a non-"Game Studio" product, and worth every penny!