Microsoft Flight Simulator 2004: A Century of Flight Reviews

• Will be completely awesome

  
  By AVB3K8NHYOEFJ on 2003-06-14
  This flight simulator release will be the best yet. The weather effects are greatly enhanced, and you can now fly in real-time weather. (say it's raining in Seattle, and when you start your game there, it's raining). There's also major improvements to overall graphics, improved ATC (Air traffic control), and 24 planes to fly (9 old ones, such as the Wright Brothers plane). FS2004 also includes 2000 more airports, bringing it up to 24,000 worldwide.

  I can't put URLs here, but do yourself a favor and search for some screenshots of this game.

  In short, get this game!

  The system requirements are:
  Windows PC
  2000/XP - 128 MB Ram
  98/Me - 64 MB Ram
  Processor:450 MHz minimum
  Available hard drive space:1.8 GB
  DirectX 9 or later (included with Microsoft Flight Simulator: A Century of Flight)
  Video card: 8 MB/3D with DirectX 7.0 or later drivers
  Other: mouse, joystick/yoke, sound card, speakers/headphones
  Online/multiplayer: 56.6 kbps modem or LAN
  
  

• i like this game

  
  By A1S5OUTTG978MQ on 2003-08-05
  Key New Features
  Dynamic weather system based on realistic atmospheric physics, with true three-dimensional clouds that form and dissipate, and automatic real-world weather updates when you're connected to the Internet.
  Weather "themes" that generate a wide variety of stunning-and challenging-flying conditions with just a few clicks of a mouse
  Enhanced interactive air traffic control (ATC), including traffic at all airports around the world (including non-towered airports), altitude changes en route, pop-up IFR clearances, and precision and non-precision approaches to multiple runways
  Interactive 3D "virtual" cockpits-tune radios and operate key aircraft controls and avionics by pointing and clicking in the virtual cockpit view.
  Scenery improvements, including taxiway and runway signs, enhanced auto-gen 3D objects, more high-detail airports, and improved lighting and sky effects
  Garmin 500 and 295 series GPS with color moving maps and airport/facility information
  Improved full-color map view with terrain display
  Improved support for 3D graphics hardware acceleration in multiple windows and across multiple monitors
  Learning Center--a "Web site on the disc" available while the simulation is running that includes a Key Topics visual guide to the features in Microsoft Flight Simulator, direct links to flights and lessons, flight briefings, how-to procedures, aircraft handbooks, and more.
  New and expanded lessons and ground school topics
  Kiosk mode for unattended demonstrations
  Core Features from Previous Versions
  Worldwide scenery with accurate 3D terrain and auto-gen objects that fill in the world with appropriate buildings and vegetation no matter where you fly.
  Jeppesen NavData database, including VORs, NDBs, ILS, low- and high-altitude airways, intersections
  Approximately 24,000 airports worldwide (increased from about 22,000 in Microsoft Flight Simulator 2002).
  Flight planner to create realistic VFR and IFR flight plans and navigation logs
  Flight analysis to play back a flight on a moving map that shows ground track, key flight data, and a vertical profile
  Instructor's station--link two PCs so that one pilot can observe a Flight Simulator session, change weather, fail systems, and provide comments and help via a chat window.
  IFR training panels for selected aircraft that include all key instruments, avionics, and controls in one window for realistic IFR flights.
  Multiplayer capability over a local network or the Internet.
  System Requirements
  Windows PC
  2000/XP - 128 MB Ram
  98/Me - 64 MB Ram
  Processor:450 MHz minimum
  Available hard drive space:1.8 GB
  DirectX 9 or later (included with Microsoft Flight Simulator: A Century of Flight)
  Video card: 8 MB/3D with DirectX 7.0 or later drivers
  Other: mouse, joystick/yoke, sound card, speakers/headphones
  Online/multiplayer: 56.6 kbps modem or LAN
  i like this game.
  it is very best than flight simulator 2002 Professional.
  microsoft sidewinder force feedback2 joystick is a suitability for it.
  
  

• Awesome flight simulator � Highly Recommended...

  
  By AVNS01M0DHQU3 on 2003-12-07
  I've owned every version of MS Flight Simulator, since years before Microsoft bought Sublogic's Flight Simulator and made it the basis for Microsoft Flight Simulator.

  I've spend many entertaining hours playing Microsoft Flight Simulator, and for the most part, they've added new and very, appealing and worth-while features in each new release. This is also the case in Flight Simulator 2004. I upgraded the day FS 2004 was released, and I've never looked back.

  Microsoft Flight Simulator 2004 is a highly entertaining, very realistic looking, and quite realistic acting flight simulator. Overall, I consider it the best Flight Simulator out there. Some people will argue that X-Plane has more realistic flight models and they're probably right. MS FS however, is a close second, and when it comes to the overall gaming experience and look and feel of everything - the MS FS is a clear winner!

  IF YOU'RE UPGRADING FROM FS 2002:
  * Greatly improved dynamic weather system - You can now have the system automatically update itself in the background with real weather conditions as often as every 15 minutes. The clouds look a lot more realistic than in FS 2002.
  * New weather themes - Gives you both static and dynamic weather themes such as a brewing thunderstorm etc.
  * Enhanced ATC (Air Traffic Control) - Altitude changes in flight, ATC at all airports, request new flight plan en-route (especially useful if your current one gets cancelled).
  * Better 3D virtual cockpits
  * Some scenery enhancements, such as signs on taxiways. Most scenery changes are quite subtle.
  * Old GPS system has finally been scrapped, and instead replaced by two real life looking Garmin GPS's (slightly stripped down versions, but quite impressive still - Color and all).
  * The rain has been improved - Looks more realistic.
  * New planes of course - all of them are historic aircraft such as Douglas DC-3, the "Kitty Hawk", the "Spirit of St. Louis", Piper Cub etc.

  IF YOU'RE NEW TO MICROSOFT FLIGHT SIMULATOR, OR YOU HAVEN'T UPGRADED IN A WHILE:
  * Real-World weather - with dynamic updates and dynamic weather changes. Multiple cloud layers. Plain and simple, the clouds look fantastic!!! The rain and snow need some improvement, but is still very good.
  * Worldwide scenery with accurate 3D terrain.
  * Scenery Auto-Generation - Buildings are generated on the fly based on what type of area you're flying over.
  * More than 24000 worldwide airports - a lot of them very realistic looking.

  * 2D and 3D cockpits.
  * Various types of planes - Boeing 737, 747, 777, Learjet, Cessna 172 and 182, Extra 300, a couple of more propeller planes, a sailplane, a helicopter, and of course all the historic planes that are new to this version.
  * Jeppeson NavData database - ILS, VORs, NDB data etc.
  * Landmarks all over the world - Eiffel tower, Statue of Liberty, Alcatraz, Empire State Building, USS Nimitz, the Red Square/Kremlin in Moscow etc.
  * Multiplayer capability - Can play over network or internet (MSN Zone).

  I still miss the World Trade Center Towers, and the Concorde, but realistically enough, they're both gone from this version. *sniff*

  Conclusion: I highly recommend this game, both as an upgrade or if you're buying MS FS for the first time... FIVE STARS!!!
  
  

• Much improved

  
  By A1P7K58GMOIKID on 2003-06-29
  FS2004 is really FS2002 SP1. The scenery is all the same, but the environmental engine is completely changed.

  The new cloud generator is awesome, clouds will actually build up, and frontal systems will look like frontal systems. ATC will now let your select alternate airports, and change altitude enroute.

  Major improvements:
  Frame Rates
  Cloud generator
  ATC

  Bottom line, is this release really fixes stuff that should've been in FS 2002, but it's still a must buy if you're serious about flight sim.
  
  

• Once again, a truly magnificent game

  
  By A1A6KQ2MPGA00E on 2003-07-29
  Fligh Simulator 2004: A century of Flight was anticapated ever since Microsoft anounced the game's release date. The game has yet to be known as the most well improved Flight Simulator ever since FS5. Speaking of FS5, it was the first game i played. FS5 had improved much more than its prodeccesor. Its prodeccesor (FS4)had only two colours included in the game. Blue (for sky) and green (for land) and its series was highly improved. And the same thing goes for us right here. What is the new feature(s) in this game? Is it just an addition of one or two planes, plus highly improved graphics? well, the asnwer is no. After reading forums, checking out sites such as fsgateway.net or fs2004.com, i realised that the game has more than just 2 features. Try 5 new improvments discluding the graphics design. So what else is there in the improvments section...well theres: 1.Enchanced Weather Systems: finally, weather is not a stable issue. Throught time to time, the weather changes. Ofcourse, you can always keep it stable or be more realistic and start off with a clear sky at take-off and end with a terrible storm while approaching the airport of your destination. You have a variety of different weather effects, from storm, to clear sky, to cloudy overcast, and remember, they all change naturally. They move, they bond with other clouds to form rain, all which you can expect. Ok, we finished with weather improvments, and more are yet to come. 2.Virtual Cockpit: though appeared in fs2002, it wasnt accessible. Well, now it is, and not only that but now you have a full view of the cockpit so you can see everything but not only the instruments panel above the throttle. You can turn your plane by moving the throttle using your mouse, you can even change the virtual cockpit view. I dont mean different angles, i mean changing the view as if turning your head around. Which means you have free movement; smooth movement. Not like before in which all you had was a front, front left and front right buttons to pick from. Now you can move the camera in any angle using your mouse. So that is another major feature of fs2k4. 3.Improved AI and GPS modes: unlike before, GPS will be very helpful this time. It'll give you different view modes of the map. Instead of the boring black back-ground, you can change into the virtual satellite image and see rivers, mountains and more in the GPS screen. The GPS nowadays are easier to use plus can prepare you a very easy approach. It can help you navigate your way even without having it activated in the screen. Red markers, arrows or metric units can tell you where the destination is, which direction, how fast you should go and how far away it is from you. As for AI aircrafts, they respond better and quicker. Now a days, AI planes wont land in the same runway as to which you're cleared to land in. Well they can if there's time. But it was alwaysa problem before, so you can now select your runway you want to approach towards by confirming it with the AI tower. If you're flying a robinson however, you can also land in helipads or before preparing the flight, can choose to start off at the heli pad instead of a gate lol. 4.Additional Airports: the biggest complaint lead Mircosoft into adding more airports. Here's another thing you should know about the airports in fs2k4. Theyre more improved than before. Number one, the addition of taxi signs made it easier to navigate without purple tracks for you to taxi to the runway or to the gate! Number two, the green taxi lights appear for the first time. These lights help you find the centre of the taxi way, also helps you in knowing when to turn or when the next available turn is coming to you. Before, many people taxied off the path 'casue it was hard in knowing when the turn was without the green lights. Now, there's nothing to worry about no more. 5.Nine historical planes: will allow you to experience the best historical planes and how hard they were to fly. From the wrightbrother's planes to the Spirit of St. Louis and all the way to the not so modern DC-3 (the first official passenger airplane) With the new special features such as virtual cockpit, you'll enjoy your time even more now. So these were the features, and last of all, we have two other features which are known as minor features but can also change your perspective view towards this game: 1. Graphics: more improved, plus all those new water effects including the new weather feature which will make graphics even better for clouds, rain/snow effects etc. etc. 2. AutoGen: now has been extended to its second level which means that there are no more odd-ball buildings. This means, there's a huge variety of buildings. Nowadays, towns in islamic nations can also have mosques. Some places have churches, in others you'll also be able to find gas stations etc. so do expect alot from this year's game. Now onto the sound effects. Really, not much of an improvment but do expect the engine noise better than before. Do expect to hear strong sounds from take-off and landing, it's going to be much much better, i guarantee. Lastly, i would like to recommend this game for anyone interested in flights, aviation, simulations and any kinds of mass transportations ;) it's a very excellent game, and i know you'll love it. If you're just a beginner, check out the training section and the manual book. Also be sure to check the resources centre where you can check the information on all historical planes, and modern ones too ;) good luck, i hope this review was helpful to you
  
  
• Big Improvement from FS2002. Excellent.
  By A2WPL6Y08K6ZQH on 2004-05-02
  I am in love with avaiation, and therefore FS has become a part of my computing experience. I purchased FS 1998, and though it was a tolerable product, I in no way felt that it was a great simulation of flight. It just didn't have the look and feel of flight. However, I was blown away by the progress made in FS 2002. Though the clouds were not always realistic (modeling gave them a two-dimension look that was disconcerting to say the least), I thought that the overall experience was pretty good.

  I saw FS 2004, and I thought it was probably mot much of an improvement based on reviews I had read. Let me just say that the first reviews I read were wrong. FS 2004 is a major improvement over FS 2002, and it stands as a all-time gret product for aviation buffs like me.

  Improvements:

  1. Weather: for the first time, flying on FS2004 simulates almost perfectly the experience of actually flying. Clouds have the mist look when you fly through them. The weather systems seem to generate randomly, just as in the non-virtual world. Also, I like the weather themes that can generate snow conditions, thunderstorms, and fair weather with high altitude stratocumulus clouds. In short, the weather is a fantastic approximation of reality. FS 2004 truly represents a quantum leap in simulations. (although IL-2 still has the best clouds).

  2. ATC: FS2002 had the feel of real ATC but with some stupid problems. For example, if you fly using IFR (insturment flight rules), and you failed to reach your assigned altitude, the ATC would terminate their services (what the heck is that about?). If you wanted to fly at a different altitude you couldn't. Also, you couldn't change you IFR route, or change from VFR (visual) to IFR in flight. FS2004 makes those changes. For the first time you can change your altitude, you can change your route, and you can switch between IFR and VFR. Yea!.
  Another big improvement is the ATC feel itself. For the first time, I actually feel as though I am flying in a populated world. Lots of traffic at big airports, just like in reality. Fly into San Francisco International, and you may just see airplanes lined up to land. This is a big improvement.

  3. GPS: In FS2002, the GPS was very basic and frustratingly difficult to use. It was based on a second generation handheld, and consequently, there were few features. The GPS in FS2004 ahs lots of features, is far easier to use because of a new interface window that you can access in flight (see above), and you can switch to terrain features and in-flight messages. It is a more realistic approximation of a GPS device you would use in flight.

  4. The World: FS2004 adds signs at airport runways so you can see where your going! It lso adds more features to the world around you, such as construction cranes, and different buildings not seen in previous models of FS. Although I have noticed a new "Chick-fil-a" looking restaurant, I can state definitively that no such place exists in San Diego, CA next to the Lindbergh field runway. However, the scenery looks a lot better than FS2002. Little details really add up and make flying in FS2004 much better. The airports really look great. Denver Int'l looks very realistic now, as does Seattle-Tacoma. ( I would rate more but I just havent had the chance to fly all over to world yet!)

  5. Computer: For some reason, FS2004 sees to run better on my machine than did FS2002. No "slide shows" (bad framerate) that I have found yet, and the computer seems to run better with FS2002. I like this very much. I haven't added to many third-party add-ons with FS2004 yet, but it just seems to function better than does FS2002, so perhaps FS2002 had some unresolved framerate problems.

  6. Open architecture: In general, MSFS has open architecture which allows aviation geeks like me to ad-on scenery, and hundreds of planes, general, military and specific airlines as well. Most of the products and downloads I have found are excellent and work well with FS2004.

  Complaints:
  Given how I feel about this product, I have very few complaints.
  I wish the ground textures were better. However, you can either download or purchase products that have photo-realistic scenery, so you can really fly though England of Souhern California and really recognize the ground.
  Also, I wish the aiports had more realistic aircraft in them. Sometimes flying through LAX, I realize that Cessna would probably not be at that airport.
  However, these are minor probelems, and overall Microsoft FS2004 is an excellent product and is well worth a purchase.
  
  

• Game is definently a 5 star!
  By on 2003-06-29
  This game is one of Microsoft's best products on the line. People, such as the one above as what are called Beta TEsters for the game rated it a 99.4%! I was a beta tester and what the person above forgot to tell you was the overall rating that everyone put down. ATC is a great plus as well as weather, new aircraft, new terrain features, etc. Flight Simulator 2004: Century of Flight is something that is a must buy for all Flight Sim enthusiast. Don't let people make you think this game isn't what you think until you've played it! Remember, there's always the receipt. Have fun flight simmers, I know I will with the new flight sim! See ya online
  
  
• Truely "As Real As It Gets"
  By A1P6D0JHQXAVJZ on 2005-08-21
  I am a private pilot and granted no simulator (under a million dollars) will truly simulate flying, Microsoft at least gives good practice on various skills on REAL WORLD airports. I truly enjoy what Microsoft has done with their Flight Simulator series.
  
  I am impressed on the details at even the smallest airports, generally speaking, even the hangars are in close proximity to where they truly are. Rivers are in the right place, and most highways are running the right way as well! The scenery is close enough that I can manage to use pilotage and dead reckoning to find places and airports without the use of a map or GPS. In my mind that is impressive for software that costs under $50!!!
  
  Although nothing can replace the experience you get in a real aircraft, flying on MSFS can certainly help you with familiarizing with various approaches. With weather settings you can easily bring visibility down to 0 until 10 feet off the runway! I prefer the true to life clouds as opposed to just a white or gray screen that some professional simulators use.
  
  The variety of aircraft is impressive, from GA aircraft all the way up to Airliners and everything in-between, whatever your pleasure is, you can be quite sure that you'll find it. I also have been able to download many of the aircraft I have flown as a pilot. Although they do handle differently on a simulator (as should be expected) I still enjoy the detail that has been put into each and every one of them to make me feel as if I am right in the cockpit, without paying the fuel prices!!!
  
  
  
• 1 Star for misleading system requirements... 5 for the sim!
  By A13251HBWRMQ8W on 2003-11-24
  BUYER BEWARE: Although it has always confounded me why some software developers insist on
  setting system requirement so low when in fact you need a much larger to machine to just get a
  title up and running (smoothly)... it's not lost on most people why they do it, simply put they need
  to get gamers into the seats. So what if they have to stretch the truth a bit to sell units, after all, if
  the program will at least load at the stated system requirements who's hurt right? To be honest
  the developer, publisher and consumer. Now there's no question our friends at Microsoft
  develope the best flight sim programs in the world (I gave Flight Sim 2002 5 stars) but stand by
  for the dirty little truth about Flight Sim 2004, at the bare minimum system requirements of...
  Windows 98/2000/XP/Me, Pentium 450 or greater processor, 64 MB RAM for 98/Me, 128 MB
  RAM for 2000/XP, 8 MB/3-D with DirectX 7.0 or later videocard, 1.8 GB hard drive space,
  (as stated on the pretty tin box) it's questionable if you could run it at all. I tested it on a PII 450,
  256 MB Ram, Win 98 machine with a 32 MB ATI video card with current drivers and found that
  I couldn't leave the ground at more than 4-8 frames per second (fps) or cruise at more than 11 or
  12 fps with settings a rock bottom! The world outside my cockpit was jagged and twisted as my
  777 chugged painfully through the not so friendly skies like a wounded wildebeest trying in vain
  to outrun a charging cheetah! Now if you've got the flight sim bug and are ready to plunk down a
  heap of cash on the latest greatest that Microsoft has to offer in flight simming but you don't have
  a high end machine (say a P4, 2.2 GHZ, XP machine with at least 256 MB of ram and a huge,
  very fast hard drive) to launch your pretty aluminum cylinder into the stratosphere take a deep
  breath and spend less on more... Flight Sim 2002, which on the test machine I mentioned above
  runs fairly smoothly (16fps-40fps +) with options set nominally, it may not be quite as gorgeous
  as you'd like but at the very least it will run and will no doubt allow you to get your feet wet until
  Christmas when you get that mother of all gaming machines you've been hinting at all year long.
  P.S. Dear Microsoft, how about listing the your recommended system requirements? After all, not everybody's as well off as Billy Gates. :-)
  
  
• Alright boys and girls, we have lift off!
  By A13251HBWRMQ8W on 2004-03-09
  A while back I gave Microsoft's Flight Simulator 2004 one star (see review from 23 November) where in I took issue with MS's listed minimal system requirements ...Windows 98/2000/XP/Me, Pentium 450 or greater processor, 64 MB RAM for 98/Me, 128 MB RAM for 2000/XP, 8 MB/3-D with DirectX 7.0 or later videocard, 1.8 GB hard drive space... I ran it at those specs (on a Windows 98 machine) and as I noted in my review... "I couldn't leave the ground at more than 4-8 frames per second (fps) or cruise at more than 11 or 12 fps with settings a rock bottom! The world outside my cockpit was jagged and twisted as my 777 chugged painfully through the not so friendly skies like a wounded wildebeest trying in vain to outrun a charging cheetah!"... well although I still stand by my disgust for misleading minimum requirements stickered to the side of software boxes (Microsoft not being the only offender) something wonderful happened on the way to my virtual airport the other day, I slapped down the cash for a new system...
  Presario 8000T, Pentium 4 - 3.20E GHz processor, XP Home Edition, 256MB DDR ATI Radeon 9600 (Direct X 9) video card, 1 GB DDR / PC3200 Ram, 160GB 7200 rpm Hard Drive... and what a wondrous world I discovered at ground level and 35,000 feet! With all settings to high including "Building Storms" selected in weather and AI aircraft set to 100 percent my performance has jumped to the stunningly beautiful and silky smooth new heights of 25 to 35 fps on the ground at large busy airports (Chicago O'Hare or Miami International) and 40+ at smaller strips like say Rapid City, SD or Madison, WI! "Volumetric" clouds build in the distance, spraying twisted flashes of lightning across the sky as you would see in real life and as I climb through these true to life cotton balls, I'm seemingly enveloped by a fine mist, breaking in and out of the dense cover and able to spy specks of light from towns and highways far below. Gone are the 2D "sprite" clouds from previous incarnations of MSFS, this truly is as real as it gets! And did I mention my frame rates remain at a rock solid 24-30+ fps as I slice through the weather just beyond the safety of my cockpit?! (Note: the images you see on your NTSC TV only run at 30 fps with PAL and film running at 24 fps) ...to top it off my frame rates frequently soar to 45-50+ fps and beyond when the atmosphere opens up! On a personal note may I recommend flying at dusk? Brilliant! The terrain fading smoothly into a hazy horizon and the setting sun, wow! MSFS 2004 is truly a world to behold with too many extra's technically and visually to list here, just know however that there's a realism and flight model setting for every level of experience (or lack there of) and the graphics (if you can take advantage of them) are nothing short of stunning! You can ran run it on a lesser machine to be sure but for best results a P4 2ghz + machine with a bare minimum of 512 DDR ram and a 128 Mb (Direct X 9 compatible) video card is recommended. And oh yes don't forget (at the very least) a good joy stick, say a Logitech Extreme 3D Pro (5 stars) with twist handle (for rudder) to make your day of flying complete.
  
  
• FS 2004: A Century of F*#@ing Pain!
  By A11UMT3MKBSPW2 on 2003-12-18
  I have NEVER had a computer game do more mischievous damage to my computer than Flight Simulator 2004 did when I tried to install it! First of all, the game would not operate at all, a complete disaster! Second of all, it reconfigured my sound card settings so badly, that it took me two weeks to straighten them out. Third, in it's ActiveX whirlwind slash session through the cortex of my system, it scrambled the only other two games I had on my system. I say "had", because I had to remove them as a result of FS2004(or the Borg, as I so fondly refer to it!) It seems like any Microsoft game with the Game Studio logo under it's name, isn't worth the package it comes in! I know I'm reviewing FS2004, but Combat Flight Simulator3 is another tragic example of a MS "Game Studio" fiasco!
  In summary, I wouldn't suggest Flight Simulator 2004 to anyone, unless they have a spare couple of weeks to reconfigure a bunch of settings on their system! It's pretty bad when I get bent out of shape watching the advertisement for this game on television! Stick with FS2002, a non-"Game Studio" product, and worth every penny!
  
  
• Item Good Seller NOT
  By A6RRNN0IV54TM on 2005-02-01
  I don't have a problem with Microsoft Flight Simulator 2004. As expected it's good. The store that is selling this particular item is the problem!
  
  I've seen where many customers have had good experiences when they get what they ordered from this company but those of us that didn't get what we ordered have had nothing but problems.
  
  Don't believe the advertised Limited Edition Tin box. It isn't! When trying to contact customer service: The first time the gentleman on the phone was nice and said a manager would reply the next day. The manager didn't. After a week I called, waited on hold for 22 minutes, the lady on the phone argued with me that the manager did reply by e-mail, although my inbox showed nothing from this company other than the original purchase verification. When I asked if it could be re-sent she said no. When I asked to speak to a manager, she said he was in a meeting. Her overall tone was rude and not at all helpful!
  
  When I finally received a return authorization number, I prepared the item for return and then wanted to make sure shipping would be reimbursed also. After e-mailing Gamestop 3 times, I finally got a reply and stated only the price of the item would be refunded. (Wow their e-mail actually reached me this time!)
  
  This company has no customer service as demonstrated by the false advertising, the rude associates, the difficult customer-company communication, and the fact that when they advertised a product and didn't deliver it as advertised, they feel that they are the ones who shouldn't live up to their promises. The $29.99 price is higher than even Amazon because you think they are selling the Limited Edition. Don't be fooled, save $5 and buy somewhere else.
  
  Bottom line: DON'T SUPPORT GAMESTOP OR PURCHASE FROM THEM AT YOUR OWN RISK! I know I'll never buy anything from them ever again!
  
  
• MSFS2004: a century of flight!
  By A3E9GEMPPU5QOL on 2003-12-04
  Of course, after reading all these reviews, most people don't see the similarities. As I read, I noticed most of the people who ranked the game a 3(-)had either an ATI card, or a computer slower than 2.4 ghz.

  Now, if you have an ATI card, you will notice bad receptions as far as scenery goes, either because one of your drives or PCI cards are too close to the video card, interfering with it's operations, or because you aren't using the full potential of your video card. And as for the Computer Speed, Microsoft recommends a minimum of a Pentium 4 2.4 GHz, a MINIMUM. If you are running less than that, you may as well spread your wings and jump off a cliff, cause you will burn your PC out. I recommend getting the highest powered nVIDIA GeFORCE card you can get for the best results. (preferably a 256 MB card from tiger direct, real low pricing) Because ATI just ain't what it needs to be to harness the real power of this simulation.

  Now, onto the game. I found the enhanced ground features, such as the thuroughly adjusted airports that look a little more realistic, a plus. The runway graphics with tire tread and tire burn marks are also a plus. But most important, I appreciate the ability to choose whether I want an ILS, VOR, or Visual Approach to whatever runway can take it.

  Lets start looking at the bright side people. And start thinking, are you just not that enthused about the game, or could it possibly be that the computer you use just ain't powerful enough to see the whole thing. Get the facts first.
  
  

• Better than 2002 but I must agree with other reviewer
  By AJYGQV81FSFE2 on 2003-12-18
  When I first sat down to write this, I planned to be ecstatic. After all, the weather is more "dynamic" as some have said. When I'm flying, the plan even jerks around a little, like it would in wind, for example.

  Then there's the new planes. The DC3 is my favorite. But the Ford Trimotor is a trip, as well as the Piper Cub. And the Wright Bros. plane--flown first 100 years ago today--is a challenge, very interesting.

  And, while the program may be large, I don't have some of the problems I do with Combat Flight Simulator 3, e.g., the program running too slowly, and the plane stopping here and there in the middle of a dogfight. (!)

  But I must agree with another reviewer that it should have been an addition or supplement to 2002. It's still pretty much the same program with a few additions.

  Mind you, I'm enthused about the flight simulators, have gotten each one. They fulfill my desire to fly, which I cannot afford to learn to do. So I'm inherently enthused about the simulators. But, again, this may have been better a little cheaper as a supplement to the earlier simulator.

  If you have or get it, though, enjoy it. Note that I'm comparing it to perfection, not saying it's a bad program.
  
  

• Marginally better the FS2K2
  By A3BQ5ZYPDKNN42 on 2003-09-26
  I resisted purchasing this latest release until I read a few months of reviews. As has been stated by a few others, if you do not own FS2K2 go ahead and purchase this. For someone who is using FS2K2 with addon aircraft, scenery, etc, this is not such a sure thing. Most improvements are in scenery and clouds, ATC is also somewhat improved. A tricked out FS2K2 does just about the same. Microsoft did not put much effort into this latest upgrade IMHO. I would expect the next version to be the big push, and it might be worth waiting for that version. After I installed Century of Flight, I found myself still using FS2K2 using my addons. So buyer beware if you already are an experienced flight simmer.
  
  
• Same old graphics
  By on 2003-10-15
  There are not only fans who play these games to learn how to fly a plane, but there are also many people who just want to enjoy the scenery as they fly from country to country. That said, don't bother wasting your money if you already have FS2002. The graphics look almost the same as FS2002. As usual looking down at the terrain from a high altitude is great. On the other hand, once you come down to a lower altitude you can't tell if it's a field or a brown block. Sounds like they've used the same old programmers from FS2002 into 2004. Microsoft needs better programmers so we can appreciate the scenery at low altitude. They should also add farms and houses on mountains. It is completely desolate in the game with no lights at night. What happened to the Amazon rain forest in Brazil? It looks like a brown block with twigs sticking out. I can't see Microsoft making a giant leap, with regards to graphics, into FS2006. I'm going to have to wait for FS2008.
  
  
• Back to Basics
  By on 2003-10-30
  I have owned a flight simulation game before but found it to be too advanced for a beginner like me. When I read the description of FS 2004 that offered a Piper Cub as one of the aircraft I was intrigued enough to want to buy the game. After the easy installation and simple start-up, I immediately went for the Piper Cub flight and now I'm hooked. I can easily see how this sim will allow me to progress easily to more advanced planes. In the meantime I am really excited about the outstanding graphics and the sophistication of this sim. Just for fun try flying a helicopter around Paris or Rome to view the beautiful cities. Or try flying a Piper Cub over Los Vegas at night. Be careful though because you will find yourself not paying attention to your flying.

  This game is absolutely terrific as are the sights, sounds and realism. If you have not bought this flight sim game yet, shame on you.
  
  

• A century to learn. . .
  By AYI3BMSH1NUS5 on 2003-11-25
  Loading FS2004 into Windows ME, using a 1 gig, 256 MHz, system takes a little longer than the 2002 version and you'll need to load disc #4 every time you fly. But many of the new aircraft and the improved scenery were worth the wait and bother. I'm sorry to say; I found the Wright flyer a disappointment. You'll overcome the "challenge" of keeping it in the air for over 12 seconds, in no time, and then you'll find yourself flying from the Kill Devil Hills, out over Manteo Island and Albermarle Sound or maybe touring Mann's Harbor. The new Garmin GPS system is wild, and great, if you want to sit in the left seat like the real flyboys. Believe me, at the minimum, most of us will want to print the 41-page guide for this NAV aid, from the fabulous library of manuals in the Learning Center. I know I will also have to go back and do Mr. Machado's ground school for real to make use of most of the GPS's features. I do miss the dynamic map coordinates available in the FS2002 Pro.'s GPS. Remember the frustrating 1983 Kilauea eruption flight and the useless update to it in the 2002 "read me" file? I found that by looking up Kilauea's map coordinates in an atlas, then plotting a course using the appropriate radial from the Hilo VOR (212 degrees), I could check my track against the updated longitude and latitude as I flew to where I hoped the volcano would be. I have to pause the flight every time I want an update, now. The Kilauea eruption flight is no longer listed but you can still enjoy the eruption by clicking the "World" tab and using the calendar feature as a Wayback Machine, before you head out to find it. The biggest challenge in FS-2004 will be learning to use all of the features of the new Garmin GPS 500 or GPSMAP 295. Once you do, then a lot of flying is done for you. That's why pilots can doze at the stick in modern aircraft. I didn't buy the FS2004 as a sleeping aid. Another reviewer panned the panel lighting. I agree, but, I imagine the DC-3 just had a bright dome light, anyway. If you fly that machine in the dark, you'll need it, too. Positive vs. negative, would I still buy it. Yup!!!! Oh. I think you'll have even more fun if you get an M.S. Force Feedback 2 Joystick. Try getting "funny" with the DC-3 using that stick. It kicks . . ..
  
  
• An improvement
  By on 2003-07-31
  Well, this game is an improvement from fs2002, but I would have liked to see more improvements made in more important areas. I'll give you the easy look at the pros and cons of this game.

  PROS
  1. You can finally use more than one runway with ATC.
  2. Finnally, there are signs on the runways and taxiways.
  3. The gps system is 100 times better than in 2002.
  4. The weather effects are much better, and realistic.
  5. The scenery and terrain including the airports are 100 times better and look way more realistic.

  CONS
  1. No new planes, except for a bunch of old planes that nobody wants to fly and can barely make it off the ground for more than a few mins.
  2. Still no crash effects when your plane crashes. It just freezes at the point of the crash!!
  3. Still no gates, refueling trucks, baggage trucks, or anything of the sort at the terminals.
  4. The worst thing about this game is that its WAY to taxing on the system. Flying in major airports can end up looking like a slide show the frames move so slow. And I have a very efficient system.

  Overall, Id suggest to everyone to get this game. But dont expect to be awed by it because its basically the same thing as 2002 with a few minor changes. But its still better than 2002.
  
  

• fs2004
  By on 2003-06-17
  its great although microsoft has came along way but fs2004 hasnt shown improvement. only the atc and the addition of aircrafts are improved. i was a beta tester for fs2004. I will only buy this product beacuse i want to keep flying with pilots and soon fs2002 will die out like fs2000 once fs2002 came out.

  .:| spend your money on something else |:.
  
  

• Good Sim, But Remember the "Sim" Part!
  By A29ONHWOAKOVDI on 2004-12-13
  I have been using flight simulators since MS Flight Simulator 4.0, and have more diverse experience than only Microsoft's offering to call upon. While any simulator can be made quite realistic with the latest hardware and enough money, it is important to note that Microsoft's offering is no different - you cannot, as they say, make a silk purse out of a pig's ear. This means that if you're running an underpowered system, you will not be able to run the simulation optimally.
  
  Published system requirements:
  * Pentium 450 or greater processor
  * 64 MB RAM for 98/Me, 128 MB RAM for 2000/XP
  * 8 MB/3-D with DirectX 7.0 or later videocard
  * 1.8 GB hard drive space
  
  My recommendation:
  * P4 2.x GHz processor; the faster, the better
  * 512MB RAM, with ideally 1GB under the hood
  * 128MB / 256MB AGP video card that pushes TONS of pixels - the more, the better
  * At least 5GB free hard drive space - You'll want to do a full install, and that comes in just under 3GB (2.88GB, I think)
  
  I run on:
  * P4 3.0GHz processor
  * 1GB RAM
  * Windows XP PRO (SP1)
  * 256MB 8xAGP GeForce 5700 series NVidia video card
  * Sidewinder joystick (soon to go, thanks to some pedals and a yoke I ordered!)
  * On-board surround sound processor
  
  The software itself is practically infinitely extendable, with software and hardware add-ons supported. A quick look around in the flightsim community will support my assertion that the software is CHEAP compared to what can be done to augment it. Add-on packages are available to augment FS2004's admitidedly weak "ground mesh" mapping - flying through Norway's waterways and coasts with the default scenery is nothing next to the real thing, and pales in comparison to some of the add-on packages (both for photo-texturing and mesh-building) out there. But of course, these things cost money (sometimes), as does building and maintaining a system that can fully take advantage of the software.
  
  This is a SIMULATOR, remember - a dozen years ago something like this with a set of pedals and yoke would have been a BIG deal and far out of the reach of the home consumer. Now, as the bar of admission lowers, it is important to realize just how MANY numbers are being crunched every second (most of those in graphics routines), and spec a system appropriately. It might not be a multi-million dollar prospect to own any longer, but to adaquately run the simulator and get something "real" out of it, it is certainly not unheard of to run multi-head (throwing many monitors onto a machine) for a partial panoramic view - but, of course, realism comes at its price.
  
  
• Worth every dollar
  By APCS0FWM12ZQO on 2003-10-21
  I've owned FS2002. Now it is true, that you won't see a whole lot of change in graphics. There are huge improvements however in weather control, tutorials, the new Garmin GPS system, and the programing of flights and weather.

  I've just started my Private Pilot Lessons 2 months ago. It's amazing how much of a jump start this program has given me. I purchased the CH flight sim yoke and rudders. Both of these are about $300. They are worth every dime if you are going to take flight lessons.

  In all reality, this game and the controls could save your life if you are going to fly a real plane. There are emergency manuevers and taxiing practices that I've done which I can't do for real. Also, since you can control your own weather scenarios, it's the best practice you can get for cross - controlled landings, high wind take offs, and stalls.

  There's no better product out there for any price that I'm aware of.
  
  

• Check out Microsoft's Game Player website before purchas...
  By ATSI43FPFX6BB on 2003-12-21
  DO NOT BUY THIS GAME AS A GIFT...

  Instead purchase an Amazon Gift Certificate and let your friend(s) do their own shopping on Amazon. And, here is the reason why... Compatablity issues. If the games requirements are not met it will not work. I don't mean the requirements stated on the box but the real requirements that remain unstated. (www.microsoftgamesinsider.com)

  Now for the good stuff. The game has great techinical accuracy which is something I really like about this game . Flying real 172 is pretty close to Flight Simulator 2004 (I dont know about the rest but the 172's flight envelope is close). You do have to work with some techinical aspects of the aircrafts.

  This is not a good game for those who like the arcade action type games. This is nothing like it. This is a simulator. For such a person this game would be a bore.

  The reason for the 2 stars is because of the compatablity issues rather than for the game techinical merit. I really do like this game though.
  
  

• The best FS till date!
  By A1LUIKUWVI74HV on 2005-04-08
  I've had MSFS2004 for the last 3 months and there's not a single day that I haven't played it. Its just that absorbing! Some reasons for this are much improved GPS navigation, more interactive ATC and ofcourse, the new airplanes.
  
  But I'm not a huge fan of classic aircraft, and I fly my favourite plane, the 737, all the time and it is an absolute joy to fly it on MSFS2004 with the new GPS system. Its accurate to the T for precision landings. The detail paid to accuracy is mindblowing, specially runways and airport layouts. I live in a relatively smaller city of India and I was stunned to find that the airport layout is almost exactly the same as the real one here!
  
  I do face some problems with the game, mainly with screen resolution which flickers when I have the game on high or ultra-high display settings. Also, external scenery transition isn't smooth with high display settings. Microsoft could also have done a better job with the aircraft paint jobs - the orange scheme of Soar Airlines is disgusting.
  
  PROS:
  
  - New additions like GPS and interactive ATC are excellent
  - Airports are accurately detailed (there are almost 25,000 of them!)
  - Good value for money
  
  CONS:
  
  - Doesn't work smoothly with high display settings. Images are not crisp
  - Cockpit graphics are substandard
  
  TIPS:
  
  - If you're looking for some real challenge alongwith great scenery, try flying the ILS approaches into Princess Juliana Airport in St. Maarten, Madeira in Portugal, Male in the Maldives and Osaka Kansai Airport in Japan (built on an artificial island)
  - Try flying the polar route and check out the Northern Lights at night! Eg: Taipei-Anchorage, Moscow-New York etc.
  
  Also, I have a question which I hope readers can help me with. I'm unable to turn the aircraft left or right while on pushback. I've tried using the numbers 1 and 2 key as mentioned in the handbook, but it doesn't work. Can somebody help me with this? I would really appreciate the help.
  
  Enjoy this game!
  
  
  
  
• Superb improvement
  By A3AUECYM0M0YSX on 2003-08-18
  I'd just like to address a few of the incorrect things "A gamer from Miami FL" states. Among other things, he says:

  > 1. No new planes, except for a bunch of old planes that nobody wants to fly and can barely make it off the ground for more than a few mins.

  Incorrect. There are many new planes. And aircraft such as the Vega and the DC-3 are hardly "planes that can barely make it off the ground" that nobody wants to fly. Ask pilots what their favorite plane is and many will tell you the DC-3.

  Gamer should note this program is called "A Century of Flight." It's a historical hommage to the great planes of the last 100 years. It's not called "Flight Simulator 2004: Cooler, Faster, Meaner Planes." There are other games for that.

  > 2. Still no crash effects when your plane crashes. It just freezes at the point of the crash!!

  That's intentional. Microsoft doesn't want you playing "Con Air." Real simultors don't show fireballs when planes crash either. It's a flight simulator, not a crash simulator.

  > 3. Still no gates, refueling trucks, baggage trucks, or anything of the sort at the terminals.

  Gamer should get a more poweful system that can generate these objects, or tweak the system he has. These things are there, as they were in the 2002 game.

  > 4. The worst thing about this game is that its WAY to [sic] taxing on the system. Flying in major airports can end up looking like a slide show the frames move so slow. And I have a very efficient system.

  Apparently he doesn't. Again, gamer should get a more powerful system, or tweak the one he has. He's not seeing anything close to the whole show.

  In short, there are some problems with this program (missing bridges are among them), but all the "objections" Gamer has are the result of his own inadequate system, his poor piloting ability or his misunderstanding of the game.
  
  

• "As Real As It Gets" says it all!
  By on 2003-08-31
  Since the first days of flight simming the achievement of what has been made for a home computer is mind boggeling. There is no doubt with the addition of random weather, with the best clouds in the civilian flight sim arena, and the ATC upgrade that Microsoft Flight Simulator 9 (aka 2004 COF) will go down as one of the best. Now IFR flying is truly a challenge and realistic as it gets to date. No matter if there are small quirks...compared to the past years I have not wasted my money here. I've dreamed of such a flight simulator for 15 to 18 years like this one. I just hope it doesn't stop here, I hope they can smooth it out and go further. The online prospects of this could be real sweet. If your a real fan support the cause, you won't be disappointed. The people behind this one are making a programming legend and nothing pushes the technology like a great flight sim!
  
  
• Not for everybody.
  By on 2004-01-26
  This is not a game. It is a SIMULATOR used mostly by pilots and student pilots. If you are looking for a game of great adventure or excitment get combat flight simulator. But if you are a pilot, student pilot, or looking for a challange this the thing for you.
  This does not have the best graphics but this is more about the handling of the aircraft rather than the looks, but it does have very good graphics just not the best.

  Thank you for your time. vp134
  
  

• Buggy
  By A1BASJNE5R9U1A on 2003-07-30
  I got all excited when I heard the new FS was comming out, and bought it right away.
  First of all, the sceneries are nicely improved. The clouds are rather nice looking, the runway lights are gorgeous, the runways themselves are really lifelike, so are the taxiway markers and tha parking points at the gates. The liveries are also pretty nice. I particularlly like the new Learjet 45 Anniversary livery. The weather engine is fantastic in its premise. The addition of payload is really cool; it's nice to tweak with the aircraft's center of gravity. The improved ATC is wonderful when you hit bad weather; you can climb or descent in the middle of an IFR flight. The GPS unit is accurate to the real thing.
  I have to give this game three stars just because I found a bunch of bugs. Little things perhaps, but things that Beta testers should've seen and reported. But the thing that [upset] me the most was the intrusive gauges in the middle setting of the front cockpit view (the one you toggle with W). I use this setting on my final approach so I can see the runway, and my speed, VS, altitude, and horizon, but now, the individual gauges for the planes block the view and there is no way to move them. The real weather engine is great, but you cannot access the "weather debriefing" before starting the flight. The GPS unit is hard to learn, and the "declutter" function does not serve its purpose. As always, you hit heavy traffic when on final approach, and "go-around" instructions are issued, although you get to choose a different runway (if there's a parallel or an alternate active). After closing the program, it screws with the video settings and turns my screen into a wuzzy 12" screen. I've had to restart the computer every time I finish playing.
  I should've waited to buy this version. Maybe they'll come out with a revised version or a "Professional" edition in the months to come.
  
  
• A great simulator, but needs a great pc
  By A3OF35T3XTWUWR on 2003-08-28
  As I started last year with the Flight Simulator 2002 with my pentium 4 processor, 1.8Ghz, and 256 Ram the problems begins with my PC, now I have a 2.4 Ghz 1G RAM, Nvidia Video Card, and a 17" monitor (believe me, I do all this changes in order to have much better improvement with my simulator, and finally now with this F2004 I have a better flying experience.) If you don`t have a good PC you might be in troubles, because you need speed and memory and a really good video card, and I tried to keep away from third party add ons because they always slow the performance. but talking about the simulator, has a little more changes from FS2002, now with Taxiways signs and the More ATC comunication make flying a good experience. I hope that in the next two years, microsoft can finally put real world airlines and try with more detailed sceneries. Overall I like this game with 5 stars but I vote 4 because the performance capabilities from the pc. Anyway, if you love to fly just do it with this simulator, and if you can upgrade your PC will be very helpful.
  
  
• Truely is as real as it gets
  By on 2003-08-31
  It is an amazing game, the realism is truely noticed on high res monitors. It is fun because it is ones chance to fly a plane and not die when the mess up landing. It is, though, a hard drive space eater, and requires very high system requirements to run at high. Amazing game, lot of fun.
  
  

• PC Gamer (1-year)
• CorelDRAW Graphics Suite 11 Upgrade
• Digital Image Suite 9
• Powerquest Drive Image 7

• CH Products Flight Sim Yoke USB ( 200-615 )
• Logitech Extreme 3D Pro Joystick (963290-0403)
• CH Products Pro Pedals USB Flight Simulator Pedals ( 300-111 )
• Microsoft Flight Simulator 2004: A Century of Flight
• Microsoft Flight Simulator 2004: A Century of Flight: Official Strategies & Secrets