Might wanna be sitting down for this one...

**ananda** · January 24th, 2009, 05:56

Originally Posted by Bruce Thompson

I see fsinsider is still running.

Not at the moment :help:

**hairyspin** · January 24th, 2009, 06:06

As a user of an old sim no longer supported by MS, but still loved by many, could I suggest reports of FSX's death are somewhat exaggerated. This probably means the released code is now frozen, so developers can continue to explore all the sim is capable of without looking over their shoulders for an upcoming FS11, 12, XX. It has taken about six years to explore most of what MS Combat Flight Simulator 3 is capable of, so you've got plenty of scope.

It's not just what MS (and especially Aces) put in the shrinkwrap, it's what the community make of these open-platform products that counts in the long run.

but if there's anything for developing you need to download from MS, you might like to get it now....

***Francois*** · January 24th, 2009, 06:13

Originally Posted by hairyspin

As a user of an old sim no longer supported by MS, but still loved by many, could I suggest reports of FSX's death are somewhat exaggerated. This probably means the released code is now frozen, so developers can continue to explore all the sim is capable of without looking over their shoulders for an upcoming FS11, 12, XX. It has taken about six years to explore most of what MS Combat Flight Simulator 3 is capable of, so you've got plenty of scope.

It's not just what MS (and especially Aces) put in the shrinkwrap, it's what the community make of these open-platform products that counts in the long run.

Yes, FSX, or FS9 for that matter, isn't dead.

But there are 100 people out there with no job to go back to next Monday. There is a 25+ year 'project' thrown in the toilet.
Ms decided to turn their back on hundreds of thousands of enthusiastic FS customer overnight.
FS11 and MST2 are not seeing the light of day anytime soon if at all.

Sure, add-on development and FS usage will continue for years.... but that's not the point today. Or tomorrow.

Throwing the wrong project out of the window, and losing a bunch of very skilled and talented people, IS !

**BASys** · January 24th, 2009, 06:15

Hi Folks

Originally Posted by ananda

Not at the moment :help:

George -
It needs to be prefixed by www.
i.e. http://www.fsinsider.com/

Been like that since they moved servers last year.

HTH
ATB
Paul

**hairyspin** · January 24th, 2009, 06:40

Originally Posted by Francois

But there are 100 people out there with no job to go back to next Monday

And they have my full sympathy, but there's precisely zip I can do about that - business is also about making hard-nosed decisions, so MS's decision doesn't surprise; they are there to make money first, software products second. Nasty, but true of any successful company.

The present economic turmoil will produce more casualties before it's over and non-essential industries like simulations will suffer more than the essential ones. That - sorry! - is the point today and I hope we can all keep our jobs until better times return. But I'm not confident...

S · January 24th, 2009, 06:43

Originally Posted by CBris

Microsoft Flight Simulator is dead, long live its successor.

Amen to that hehe.

So who's first? Flight Unlimited, you still there? Get to work on an SDK...

Ah those were solid flightsims that made me fall in love with the California and Washington State area. I'd buy any new sim from them. Time to resurrect Looking Glass Studios.:ernae:

This was 1999....

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedi...ainier_eve.jpg

**Pepere** · January 24th, 2009, 07:46

My personnel thought - we, FS, got the ax, in part, because we, FS, do/did not not support Vista os. "You, fs community, don't play my, MS, way I'm taking my toys and going home!" :caked:

David

**Nick C** · January 24th, 2009, 07:53

A lot of remorse and speculation in this thread, so I'll throw in my views too.

As I've said elsewhere, my sympathies go the aces members who lost their jobs, but FS is not dead for the moment. FS9 is still being enjoyed by many thousands, as is FSX and the latter welcomes new users daily who’ve upgraded their PC’s and are able to enjoy all that FSX has to offer. However, it will be sad if Microsoft don’t continue with the development of FS in the future when the economy stabilises. I'd hate for it to follow the demise of their combat series.

To the ACES team. Wherever you end up, best of luck with your future endeavours, drop by when the dust settles and let us know how you're getting on.

:ernae::ernae::ernae:

**Kiwikat** · January 24th, 2009, 07:54

Well said, Nick. I echo every word you said. :ernae:

**Bjoern** · January 24th, 2009, 08:38

To quote a post I've made at SimHQ:

"Okay, Microsoft, you've said "A". Now say "B".

Either outsource development to a competent team or assemble a new one including some of the old dogs from ACES.

I'm not sad about seeing ACES go. The FS series desperately needs a fresh start. If it takes a whole new team to achieve this, so be it!"

I'm sure you guys know the "Tomb Raider" series, right?

While the first three parts of the series were excellent games, everything went downhill from part four on. After the awful sixth part published in 2003, the publisher canned the development team and everything went quiet until 2006 when the series made a furious comeback with "Tomb Raider: Legend", developed . And from that point on, the quality of the new games has been excellent.

I'm pretty sure MSFS will rise from the ashes someday and set a new benchmark in terms of civil flightsims.
The new technologies avaible for game engines, like SpeedTree, will make for a way better, more effective experience.

**empeck** · January 24th, 2009, 09:38

Originally Posted by Bjoern

I'm sure you guys know the "Tomb Raider" series, right?

While the first three parts of the series were excellent games, everything went downhill from part four on. After the awful sixth part published in 2003, the publisher canned the development team and everything went quiet until 2006 when the series made a furious comeback with "Tomb Raider: Legend", developed . And from that point on, the quality of the new games has been excellent.

After release of excellent Tomb Raider: Underworld (I think it's the best TR I've played), Eidos fired over thirty people from Crystal Dynamics in return, because it sold 'only' 1,5mln worldwide...

I'm afraid we won't see FSnext, or TS2...

**CodyValkyrie** · January 24th, 2009, 09:41

You know, if I was Austin over at X-Plane, I would be taking a huge loan out right now and hiring every developer I can think of, and members of the ACES team. There is such a huge opportunity to expand it is unbelievable. If the addon market doesn't follow, build addons in house and sell them until the market catches up.

***Francois*** · January 24th, 2009, 09:45

LOL ! I would think Austin needs to change a thing or two in his operations before he could even think about that.

**Bjoern** · January 24th, 2009, 10:01

Originally Posted by empeck

After release of excellent Tomb Raider: Underworld (I think it's the best TR I've played), Eidos fired over thirty people from Crystal Dynamics in return, because it sold 'only' 1,5mln worldwide...

I'm afraid we won't see FSnext, or TS2...

I think we will. Not before 2012/2013 though.

harleyman · January 24th, 2009, 10:09

Originally Posted by Francois

LOL ! I would think Austin needs to change a thing or two in his operations before he could even think about that.

You said it..I demoed the game last night,and could not even get into the air ..All i did for my 10 minutes was to stumble around......Plus it artifacted all over the place..Seems it does not like the 8.12 ATI drivers at all....Hmmmm

I asked for help on their forums,and the reception was IMO far from friendly...

So my new Christmas unopened present is going back to best buy..They can have it....LOL

Sorry to rant and hijack .....

**n4gix** · January 24th, 2009, 10:23

Originally Posted by harleyman

From what I hear it was due out at Christmas..but they ran over with it and it was not ready then..How far off it really was is as guess ....

Christmas 2009, not this past Christmas! :whistle:

harleyman · January 24th, 2009, 10:36

Originally Posted by n4gix

Christmas 2009, not this past Christmas! :whistle:

Hmmm I think I was refering to MSTS on that......

Was I wrong? I was pretty sure it was due out around that time....

But not FS 11....... Was not refering to that....

**GT182** · January 24th, 2009, 13:29

Originally Posted by Pepere

My personnel thought - we, FS, got the ax, in part, because we, FS, do/did not not support Vista os. "You, fs community, don't play my, MS, way I'm taking my toys and going home!" :caked:

David

My thoughs too David.

If you can't play nice and buy what I have to offer you... TS! You can't have my toys at all cause you don'
t play fair. All this from MS might just drive customers away permanently. If Apple and Mac can switch to make all MS games playable, and programs doable... they just might take over MS's coveted spot. Then where will MS be? I'm thinking here ----> :toilet:

**Holger Sandmann** · January 24th, 2009, 13:56

Hi guys,

as for the TS2 release date, now obsolete, see http://tsinsider.com/product/overview.aspx

I don't think it was in Beta yet but pretty far advanced. Can you imagine putting all that creative energy into a huge project like this and then someone from upstairs tells you and your colleagues to clear your desk within 24 hours, and don't forget to switch off the lights...

Cheers, Holger

**Pepere** · January 24th, 2009, 14:02

Originally Posted by GT182

If Apple and Mac can switch to make all MS games playable, and programs doable... they just might take over MS's coveted spot. Then where will MS be? I'm thinking here ----> :toilet:

Yep! This move by MS does leave a door wide open in sveral areas for someone or severl someones to move on in. Time will tell. :wave:

David

**SolarEagle** · January 24th, 2009, 15:50

I thought this idea was pretty good, one of the better ideas anyway. Is something like this at all feasable? Posted by Gizmo at nvnews.

Originally Posted by Gizmo

I think that the core guys from aces should get together and write a core 3d engine that can handle all the current FSX SDK complient file formats and market it just as a backend standalone 3d engine,theres really no need for them to build a completly new sim as all the content is out either free or payware FSX's engine problems are all about how it handles its files not the content or weight of those files,this would give the FS community a better platform to work from & be one in the face for the suits at M$

**Marvin Carter** · January 24th, 2009, 17:26

The sky is falling the sky is falling, run away, run away!!!! :gossip:

Marvin Carter

**Lionheart** · January 24th, 2009, 18:31

Originally Posted by Holger Sandmann

Hi guys,

as for the TS2 release date, now obsolete, see http://tsinsider.com/product/overview.aspx

I don't think it was in Beta yet but pretty far advanced. Can you imagine putting all that creative energy into a huge project like this and then someone from upstairs tells you and your colleagues to clear your desk within 24 hours, and don't forget to switch off the lights...

Cheers, Holger

So true....

Bill