– ANNOUNCEMENT –




Microsoft Flight Simulator 2002
Reported by the Editors – AVSIM Online
March 13, 2001




Microsoft Flight Simulator 2002 is the new edition of Microsoft's highly realistic, graphically advanced flight simulator, the best-selling PC flight simulation game ever. Flight Simulator 2002 is a revolutionary release in the history of the Flight Simulator franchise. It includes real-time, interactive Air Traffic Control (ATC), stunning new scenery and visual effects using Microsoft's new "AutoGen" technology and new airplanes - including the Boeing 747-400 and Cessna's highly successful Caravan in both land and amphibious configurations.

Interactive Air Traffic Control (ATC)
For the first time, Flight Simulator includes realistic, detailed air traffic control. Through pop-up menus and key commands, you ask for permission for taxi, takeoff, en route clearances, approach, and landing, and you hear ATC's instructions.

Auto-Generated Scenery
As you fly above cities, towns, farmland, and landscapes, Flight Simulator 2002 automatically adds buildings and vegetation appropriate to the scenery below. These objects smoothly blend in at the horizon and fill the area with detail that adds unprecedented depth and reality to the scenery in FS.

Crowded Skies
While AutoGen fills in the ground details, the new AI system generates air traffic around and between airports. You're no longer the only plane in the sky.

Stunning Aircraft Models and Effects
The detail and special effects you saw in Combat Flight Simulator 2 now appear in Flight Simulator 2002. High-detailed aircraft models with subtle lighting effects and more animated parts, puffs of smoke from the tires at touchdown, splashes from floats, and improved clouds and weather add to the realism and immersion.

New Aircraft
The most popular and asked for planes in Flight Simulator history are now at your control. Now you can pilot the Cessna Caravan on amphibious floats, the Boeing 747-400, and the Cessna 172S Skyhawk.

Improved Virtual Cockpits
If you have a 3D graphics card, you can enjoy Flight Simulator 2002 from a new perspective - 3D cockpits with working instruments.

Flight Analysis
Pilots working to improve their skills and enthusiasts looking for new challenges and bragging rights can check the precision of their flying against a detailed record of their flights that uses a map and graphs to show how well they maintained course, altitude, and speed.


New Lessons and Challenging Flights
The addition of the floatplane and other aircraft opens new possibilities for engaging activities. You can be a bush pilot in Alaska, fly a 747, or earn an instrument rating in the Skyhawk. We've added many new lessons and adventures that help new users get into Flight Simulator for the first time and challenge experienced Flight Simulator pilots.

Tools for Add-on Developers
We're including gMax, a 3-D modeling tool from Discreet. Add-on developers can create scenery objects using an industry-standard format. We've also included a vastly improved Flight Dynamics Editor that makes modifying and creating Flight Simulator aircraft much easier.

Further information is expected to be available at Gamestock.





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