The guessing games are now over as Microsoft has officially announced the release of their next version of their Flight Simulator software, currently on version 9. The announcement was made at the Computer and Electronics Show in Las Vegas.

Here are a few links to some more screen shots:

• Avsim.com
• FSPlanet

There were some cool shots on a German site showing European scenery, but I lost the link. :(

So far, all we are seeing and hearing about is generally what I put in the "eye candy" category. The software (I can't bring myself to call it a game) won't be released until later in the year, just in time for Christmas, no doubt. I'm sure Microsoft will slowly release more details as time passes.

No doubt, the new graphics look great. The roads actually look like roads, they even put cars on them, the water looks like water finally, it looks like they may have fixed the issue with overcast skies, and they've even added wet runways when it is raining. All very cool. Although this goes a long way to the "immersion" of flying, I sure hope they don't forgo the actual details of flying.

Some things I would love to see added that I feel would to add the realism:

• Proper hand offs between approach/departure control and the control tower (under VFR). Currently, flying into a Class C airport VFR isn't very realistic.
• Ability to open/close flight plans via FSS
• Departure/arrival procedures (SIDS/STARS)
• More flexibililty with Tower on runways
• Visible ice and function de-ice boots, hot plates, etc

As you can see, my main issues are with ATC. MS2004 made huge strides in ATC and I'm thankful for it. I think just a little bit more work and it would be hard to complain. The ability to experience in-flight icing I think could be very educational, too. I use FS 2004 as a procedures trainer to help with my proficiency, so anything that helps me with that is good.

That's not to say I don't like the eye candy! More accurate and precise terrain (elevation data) as well as better textures and autogen are all welcome. The birds look interesting, too.

I'll be one of the first in line to buy FS X when it is released (I got FS2004 two days early becasue Circuit City had it on the shelves when they shouldn't have.). Yep. I'm a geek.

-- Chris