ArticleslgStudy

computer science

History of Microsoft Flight Simulator

History of Microsoft Flight Simulator is a computer science topic covered in the lgStudy science library. This page brings together a partial reference excerpt, illustrations, worked examples, real-world applications and a short study plan, so you can understand History of Microsoft Flight Simulator rather than just read about it. In short: 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.

History of Microsoft Flight Simulator — main illustration
History of Microsoft Flight Simulator — illustration

Key takeaways

  • History of Microsoft Flight Simulator belongs to computer science; place it in that map before memorising details.
  • Learn the definition first, then one example that makes the definition concrete.
  • Connect History of Microsoft Flight Simulator to a quantity you can measure, compute or draw — that is where exam questions come from.
  • Reproduce the core statement of History of Microsoft Flight Simulator from memory before moving on to harder problems.

Reference excerpt

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.

Sublogic flight simulators

First generation (Apple II, TRS-80)

− January 1980 for Apple II − Later 1980 for TRS-80

Second generation (Color Computer 3, Apple II, C64, Atari 8-bit)

− December 1983 for Apple II − June 1984 for Commodore 64 − October 1984 for Atari 8-bit computers − Sometime in 1987 for Color Computer 3

Third generation (Amiga, Atari ST, Mac)

− March 1986 for Mac − November 1986 for Amiga and Atari ST In 1984, Amiga Corporation asked Artwick to port Flight Simulator for its forthcoming computer, but Commodore's purchase of Amiga temporarily ended the relationship. Sublogic instead finished a Macintosh version, released by Microsoft, then resumed work on the Amiga and Atari ST versions. Although still called Flight Simulator II, the Amiga and Atari ST versions compare favorably with Microsoft Flight Simulator 3.0. Notable features included a windowing system allowing multiple simultaneous 3d views - including exterior views of the aircraft itself - and (on the Amiga and Atari ST) modem play. Info gave the Amiga version five out of five, describing it as the "finest incarnation". Praising the "superb" graphics, the magazine advised to "BEGIN your game collection with this one!"

Microsoft Flight Simulator

Flight Simulator

− Released in November 1982

Flight Simulator 2.0

− Released in 1984 In 1984, Microsoft released their version 2 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 monitors (4-color CGA graphics), the IBM PCjr, and (in later versions) Hercules graphics, and LCD displays for laptops. The new simulator expanded the scenery coverage to include a model of the entire United States, although the airports were limited to the same areas as in Flight Simulator 1. 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.

Flight Simulator 3.0

− Released in mid-1988 Microsoft Flight Simulator 3 improved the flight experience by adding additional aircraft and airports to the simulated area found in Flight Simulator 2, as well as improved high-res (EGA) graphics, and other features lifted from the Amiga/ST versions. The three simulated aircraft were the Gates Learjet 25, Cessna Skylane, and Sopwith Camel. Flight Simulator 3 also allowed the user to customize the display; multiple windows, each displaying one of several views, could be positioned and sized on the screen. The supported views included the instrument and control panel, a map view, and various external camera angles. This version included a program to convert the old series of Sublogic Scenery Disks into scenery files (known as SCN files), which could then be copied to the FS3 directory, allowing the user to expand the FS world.

Flight Simulator 4.0

− Released in late 1989 Version 4 followed in 1989, and brought several improvements over Flight Simulator 3. These included improved aircraft models, random weather patterns, a new sailplane, and dynamic scenery (non-interactive air and ground traffic on and near airports moving along static prerecorded paths). The basic version of FS4 was available for Macintosh computers in 1991. Like FS3, this version included an upgraded converter for the old Sublogic Scenery Disks into SCN files. A large series of add-on products were produced for FS4 between 1989 and 1993. First from Microsoft and the Bruce Artwick Organization (BAO) came the Aircraft and Scenery Designer (ASD) integration module. This allowed FS4 users to build custom scenery units known as SC1 files which could be used within FS4 and traded with other users. Also, with the provided Aircraft Designer Module, the user could select one of two basic type aircraft frames (prop or jet) and customize flight envelope details and visual aspects. ASD provided additional aircraft including a Boeing 747 with a custom dash/cockpit (which required running in 640 × 350 resolution). Mallard Software and BAO released the Sound, Graphics, and Aircraft Upgrade (SGA), which added digital and synth sound capability (on compatible hardware) to FS4. A variety of high resolution modes also became available for specific types of higher end video cards and chipsets, thus supplying running resolutions up to 800 × 600. As with ASD, the SGA upgrade also came with some additional aircraft designed by BAO, including an Ultra-light. Another addition was known as the Aircraft Adventure Factory (AAF), which had two components. The first, the Aircraft Factory, was a Windows-based program allowing custom design aircraft shapes to be used within FS4 utilizing a CAD-type interface, supported by various sub menu and listing options. Once the shape was created and colors assigned to the various pieces, it could be tied to an existing saved flight model as was designed in the Aircraft Designer module. The other component of AAF was the Adventure module. Using a simple language, a user could design and compile a script that could access such things as aircraft position, airspeed, altitude, and aircraft flight characteristics. Other add-on products (most published by Mallard Software) included: The Scenery Enhancement Edition (SEE4), which further enhanced SC1 files and allowed for AF objects to be used as static objects within SEE4; Pilots Power Tools (PPT), which greatly eased the management of the many aircraft and scenery files available; and finally, a variety of new primary scenery areas created by MicroScene, including Hawaii (MS-1), Tahiti (MS-2), Grand Canyon (MS-3), and Japan (MS-4). Scenery files produced by Sublogic could also be used with FS4, including Sublogic's final USA East and West scenery collections.

Flight Simulator 5.0

… excerpt ends here. Continue reading the full article.

Illustrations

History of Microsoft Flight Simulator: FS 3.0 – Many more buildings and additional aircraft. For the first time, users had an option to view the aircraft from the outside. A Cessna Skylane flying over Chicago is shown here.
FS 3.0 – Many more buildings and additional aircraft. For the first time, users had an option to view the aircraft from the outside. A Cessna Skylane flying over Chicago is shown here.
History of Microsoft Flight Simulator: FS 4.0 – Now with dynamic scenery, more detailed roads, bridges, and buildings. Allowed users to design their own aircraft.
FS 4.0 – Now with dynamic scenery, more detailed roads, bridges, and buildings. Allowed users to design their own aircraft.
History of Microsoft Flight Simulator: FS95 (6.0) – More scenery and aircraft. Notice the texture mapped runway, aircraft, and sky, and high density of 3-D buildings.
FS95 (6.0) – More scenery and aircraft. Notice the texture mapped runway, aircraft, and sky, and high density of 3-D buildings.

Worked examples

Example 1 — a first encounter with History of Microsoft Flight Simulator

Start with the simplest possible case. Write down what History of Microsoft Flight Simulator claims or describes in one sentence, then invent the smallest concrete situation in which that sentence is true. In computer science, the smallest case is usually a single object, a single equation or a single measurement. Check that every symbol or term in your sentence has a meaning in that case.

Example 2 — changing one variable

Take the situation from Example 1 and change exactly one quantity: double it, halve it, or set it to zero. Predict what should happen to History of Microsoft Flight Simulator before you calculate. Comparing your prediction with the result is the fastest way to find out whether you understand the idea or only the words.

Example 3 — an exam-style question

Typical questions about History of Microsoft Flight Simulator ask you to (a) state it precisely, (b) apply it to given data, and (c) explain a limitation. Practise writing all three answers in under five minutes; the third part is what separates a full-mark answer from an average one.

Applications of History of Microsoft Flight Simulator

In research
History of Microsoft Flight Simulator appears in computer science research whenever the underlying quantities have to be modelled precisely. Papers usually cite it as a starting assumption and then explore where it breaks down.
In technology and industry
Engineering practice reuses History of Microsoft Flight Simulator in design rules, simulations and safety margins. Knowing the idea lets you read a specification sheet and understand why the numbers look the way they do.
In the classroom
History of Microsoft Flight Simulator is common in secondary-school and first-year university syllabi. It links to neighbouring topics History of Microsoft, History of software, History of video games, so understanding it makes those chapters shorter.
In everyday life
Look for History of Microsoft Flight Simulator outside the textbook — in sport, cooking, traffic, electronics or the sky above you. An example you found yourself is remembered far longer than one you were given.

Affiliate

Preply — study more efficiently by working with a personal tutor. 50% off.

How to study History of Microsoft Flight Simulator in 20 minutes

  1. Read the reference excerpt below once, without taking notes.
  2. Close the page and write down what History of Microsoft Flight Simulator means in your own words.
  3. Compare your version with the excerpt and mark what you missed.
  4. Work through the three examples above with pen and paper.
  5. Explain History of Microsoft Flight Simulator out loud to somebody else — or to Teacher Smith in the lgStudy chat.

Frequently asked questions

What is History of Microsoft Flight Simulator in simple terms?

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 Corp…

Why does History of Microsoft Flight Simulator matter?

Because it connects several computer science ideas at once: it gives you a definition you can apply, a quantity you can calculate, and a way to check whether a result is plausible.

How should I study History of Microsoft Flight Simulator?

Read the excerpt, restate it from memory, then work through the examples and applications listed on this page. The five-step study plan above takes about twenty minutes.

What does this page cover?

It gives you a compact reference excerpt plus original lgStudy explanations, examples, applications and study material on History of Microsoft Flight Simulator.

Tags

  • History of Microsoft
  • History of software
  • History of video games
  • Microsoft Flight Simulator
  • Microsoft games
  • Video games developed in the United States

Keep exploring