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Game puts you in the cockpit
By Marc Saltzman
Editor's Note: The opinions expressed in this column are solely those of Marc Saltzman, a freelance technology journalist whose reviews also appear on the Gannett News Service. Whether it's slashing orcs, sniping terrorists or blasting aliens, most video games are grounded in fantasy or other interactive fiction that serves as a getaway to our often mundane day-to-day lives. But Microsoft Game Studios' latest offering, "Flight Simulator 2004: A Century in Flight," soars along a much different path -- one that's all about realism and authenticity. This challenging title is part simulation, part history lesson and a lot of fun for novices and enthusiasts alike. The 20th anniversary edition of the best-selling "Flight Simulator" franchise is unique in that it looks back at the first 100 years of powered flight, beginning with the Wright Flyer in 1903. Climb inPlayers can climb into the cockpit of two-dozen historical or contemporary civilian aircraft, including the twin-engine Beechcraft Baron 58, the Boeing 747-400 passenger jumbo jet, the aerobatic Extra 300S or the dependable Cessna Grand Caravan C2088. As you might expect from a simulation, each aircraft has its own unique physics and handling (some planes are much easier to control than others), plus all the cockpits are rendered in 3-D and are interactive so users can use the mouse to select dials and knobs. Dynamic weather that can change while in flight, enhanced Air Traffic Control (ATC) communication, about a thousand new airports (now totaling roughly 24,000 worldwide) and a thorough collection of tutorials and video clips to teach newcomers the basics of flight are new to this version. The title also features a "history of flight" encyclopedia with numerous articles from Flying magazine. The main interface breaks down flights into two key options: • "Select A Flight" challenges players to recreate famous flights such as Keith and Ross Smith's 11,000-mile trip from England to Australia in 1919 -- a flight that'll take 136 hours over multiple sessions in the game. Looking for a shorter commitment? Pilot Orville Wright's aircraft in 1903 at Kitty Hawk, North Carolina, for an entire 12 seconds. There are dozens of historical flights to choose from. • "Create a Flight" allows simulation fans to select the aircraft, airport, time of day and weather conditions. You can even instruct the program to download real weather conditions from the Internet (updated every 15 minutes). Players also can choose to pilot helicopters and fly over the Grand Canyon or through Hawaiian mountains. Other choices from the main menu include multiplayer options to fly with someone else online (or to watch as a spectator), downloadable "Flight Simulator"-related news and community information and plenty of helper aids, lessons and tutorials. Graphically, "Flight Simulator 2004" is the most attractive yet, especially in the clouds department, though the ground scenery looks much better higher up; objects such as skyscrapers, greenery and airport towers aren't as detailed up close. What hardware is required?Players should be aware of a few hardware requirements. While it's possible to control the aircraft with the keys on the keyboard's number pad, you'll want to play the game with an optional flight stick with throttle in order to truly enjoy it. A flight stick with rudder controls is ideal for controlling older planes, but any stick that twists side-to-side should do the trick. The game ships on four CDs and consumes 2.6 gigabytes of hard disk space, so computer owners with small hard drives should take note. The game also plays most smoothly on high-end Pentium III or Pentium 4 computers with plenty of memory and a decent 3-D video card. Overall, armchair pilots can look forward to the finest "Microsoft Flight Simulator" yet in "A Century of Flight," thanks to the robust number of options, game-play challenges and historical and educational bonuses.
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