~ MS Flight done ~

[Warhawk1130]

Same here...As soon as I got my monster back in January, I got the FSX gold pack at a cheap price...looked at flight....saw what it was....never crossed my mind again....noting ventured, nothing wasted....

[Mithrin]

No surprise. Still picked up the cub though. Compared to FSX I really haven't invested a lot of money into this and still have two vast areas to explore. It's worth the coin for that quick fix which is all I do nowadays when it comes to flightsimming. Quick 15 minute sessions.

[wombat666]

Source A: Microsoft Studios in Vancouver, the studio working on a AAA Kinect Shooter, has cancelled Microsoft Flight and Project Columbia and reportedly laid off all 35 members of its staff.
In a statement obtained by Polygon, Microsoft said: "Microsoft Studios has decided to end development on Microsoft Flight and Project Columbia. As a result of this action, some positions within the development teams have been eliminated. Microsoft human resources is working with the affected individuals to find new roles within the company."
"Microsoft Studios is always evaluating its portfolio of products to determine what is best for gamers, families and the company, and this decision was the result of the natural ebb and flow of our portfolio management. Many factors were considered in the difficult decision to stop development on Microsoft Flight and Project Columbia, but we feel it will help us better align with our long-term goals and development plans. For Microsoft Flight, we will continue to support the community that has embraced the title and the game will still be available to download for free at http://www.microsoft.com/games/flight/."
The statement continues: "Microsoft Studios is invested in British Columbia and still has several teams, both in Vancouver and Victoria, which will continue to produce the best entertainment and gaming experiences possible."
A post appearing on a Facebook page dedicated to innovation in Vancouver announced that the entire staff at Microsoft Vancouver had been laid off as a result of the project cancellations.
The post reads: "We've just gotten word that the entire studio at Microsoft Games Studios on 840 Cambie has been laid off. 35 people in total. This is nuts. We'll update with more when we can."
Some Microsoft Vancouver employees took to Twitter to hint at the lay-offs, such as Tara Mustapha who tweeted: "This is what one wears when they get laid... Off. #jobsearch" and "These guys... Hella awesome <333 adopt one today!"
Another former employee, Mia Jerri, tweeted: "Now I can add 'casualty of the Vancouver games industry' to my list of achievements. On a good note, the weather is LOVELY today."http://www.theverge.com/gaming/2012/...ncels-projects


Source B: "Microsoft Flight" was a new PC game from Microsoft Game Studios that brought a new perspective to the long-standing "Flight Simulator" franchise. Unfortunately, due to cuts, all 35 staff members have been laid off and the game is no longer in development, however, it is still being supported for the time being. "Microsoft Studios has decided to end development on Microsoft Flight and Project Columbia. As a result of this action, some positions within the development teams have been eliminated. Microsoft human resources is working with the affected individuals to find new roles within the company. Microsoft Studios is always evaluating its portfolio of products to determine what is best for gamers, families and the company, and this decision was the result of the natural ebb and flow of our portfolio management. Many factors were considered in the difficult decision to stop development on Microsoft Flight and Project Columbia, but we feel it will help us better align with our long-term goals and development plans. For Microsoft Flight, we will continue to support the community that has embraced the title and the game will still be available to download for free at http://www.microsoft.com/games/flight/." http://www.winbeta.org/news/microsof...uSEMQ8.twitter



I could care less about 'Flight' but obviously staff loyalty counts for nothing.
Bloody Muppets!!!

[n4gix]

WRT to the above post...

1. At least two employees of MS who were on the Flight team will be remaining in position to keep the support forum at Steam as well as the support email system working, as well as maintaining the aerocache server and LIVE server(s) properly running.

2. All of the folks who worked on Flight worked out a suite of offices on the Microsoft Campus in Redmond, Washington...

...not - please take note - in Vancouver!

3. The total staff working on Flight consisted of fifty-two persons. The reported thirty-seven laid off in Vancouver were part of the "Project Columbia" team.

[Panther_99FS]

Is there a correlation to when Microsoft went awry with Flight Simulator software & Bill Gates stepping way with Steve Ballmer coming to power at Microsoft

[n4gix]

I honestly believe that there is a correlation, abeit one that would be difficult -if not impossible- to prove.

[Lionheart]

Is there a correlation to when Microsoft went awry with Flight Simulator software & Bill Gates stepping way with Steve Ballmer coming to power at Microsoft

I believe so. From what I heard, Bill Gates loved the FS franchise and it was a baby of the MS empire.

When Bill left, bad things started happening.



I miss him. And I miss Steve. :( and Aces..


(Apple cancelled the 17" laptop. MORONS! Steve wouldnt have done that. But thats off topic).

[TeaSea]

I know it's tempting to cast aspersions at MS. Please note though, we are not talking about that lack of support for any Apple Flight Sim, are we?

I tend to agree with Lionheart vis a vis Mr. Gates. I think FS was one of his babies.