A Small Dive into the Popularity of the MS Flight Simulator Games

      Written by Alisa Campbell

       Photo from MS Flight Simulators Steam Page

Back in November 1982, Microsoft dropped Flight Simulator 1.0 (FLIGHT-SIMMER) on us. It's a game series where two certified flight instructors take you through the ropes of becoming a pilot, just like in real life. They teach you flight skills, how to master Flight Simulator, and even how to use it as a tool to get your pilot's license (West, J. V., May 19, 1982). But let's be real, Flight Simulator never really took off in terms of popularity. If you check out Google Trends, you'll see it never gets higher than a measly 2 out of 100 when compared to universally loved games like the almighty Pac-Man. Ouch! So, what does Microsoft need to do to get their game back in the spotlight? Well, they gotta spice things up, make it more exciting, crank up the difficulty, and cut out those pesky microtransactions from the newer games.

    One big reason Flight Simulator didn't become a massive hit is 'cause it's just not challenging enough and, let's be honest, it's a bit dull. IGN flat-out called it "boring" and "confused," with nothing interesting happening (Goble, G., March 14, 2012). It lacks that distinct personality you find in other simulation games like The Sims. I mean, come on, The Sims is all about simulating life, but it still manages to throw in supernatural mods, hilarious deaths, and enough wacky events to keep you on your toes. It's got a fun and goofy vibe. Flight Simulator, on the other hand, feels like a snooze fest. However, here's the kicker—even with nothing super captivating, the game still scored well with an 87% rating from Google Users. Gamespot even called it an "incredible piece of software" (Lackey, J., n.d.) ( which makes it sound more like an educational tool than a game.) Critics generally agree that the game has beautiful graphics in the modern era, but it's just too dang easy.

    Now, let's talk about those dreaded microtransactions that everyone loves to hate. Oxford says they're those tiny online financial transactions that in this instance are used to buy game content. (Oxford, n.d.). And guess what? Microsoft Flight Simulator is full of them. They bombard you with pricey add-ons that cost more than the game itself. Can you believe that? Just take a look at the Steam Store page for FSX. You'll find a bunch of add-ons that, when added up, could cost you a whopping $4,613.52. That's enough to buy Super Smash Bros Ultimate 76 times! Talk about breaking the bank, right? No wonder reviews range from 3/10 to 8/10. Sure, the base game may be a snooze, but it's those add-ons that bring the excitement. The problem is, many of those add-ons should've been included in the original game without draining our wallets (Smith, D., April 22, 2015). These microtransactions and DLCs make players feel like they're not getting the full game experience unless they keep forking over more cash.

  Finally, The graphics barely change from game to game (Marc W., October 28, 2008), while still being so damn intense that you need a supercomputer to run the game on anything higher than the lowest graphics settings. But hey, props to them for those stunningly realistic visuals and controls that make you feel like a real pilot. With a little elbow grease, Microsoft might be able to bring this forgotten game back to life.

Sources

FLIGHT-SIMMER (Writer). (2016, November 8). History of Flight Simulator - A Timeline from 1979 to 2016 [Television series episode]. In FLIGHT-SIMMER. Youtube.

Goble, G. (2012, March 14). Microsoft Flight Review. Retrieved December 17, 2018, from https://www.ign.com/articles/2012/03/14/microsoft-flight-review

J. P. (n.d.). How much it costs to buy The Sims 4 and all the DLCs. Retrieved December 17, 2018, from https://www.pcgamesn.com/the-sims-4/sims-4-dlc-priceLackey,

 J. (n.d.). Microsoft Flight Simulator X Review. Retrieved December 17, 2018, from https://www.gamespot.com/reviews/microsoft-flight-simulator-x-review/1900-6159886/

Oxford. (n.d.). Microtransaction | Definition of microtransaction in English by Oxford 

Dictionaries. Retrieved December 17, 2018, from https://en.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/microtransaction

Rahming, A. (2018, March 23). Overpriced Simulator Add-Ons Make Microtransactions Look Minor. Retrieved December 17, 2018, from https://www.pcinvasion.com/overpriced-simulator-add-ons-make-microtransactions-look-minor/

West, J. V. (1182, May 19). Microsoft Flight Simulator X For Pilots: Real World Training. Retrieved December 17, 2018, from https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/microsoft-flight-simulator-x-for-pilots-jeff-van-west/1125442664?st=SEM&sid=BNB_DSA&sourceId=SEMGoNBR&dpid=tdtve346c&2sid=Google_c&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI0Yavrvin3wIVzUoNCh0QNgUcEAAYAyAAEgJOcvD_BwE

Smith, D. (2015, April 22). I miss the days when I only had to pay once for a video game. Retrieved December 17, 2018, from https://www.businessinsider.com/microtransactions-are-ruining-video-games-2015-4

10 Reasons Why Fsx Sucks And I'll Stick With Ms Fs Ii For Dos. (2008, October 28). Retrieved December 17, 2018, from https://forum.aerosoft.com/index.php?/topic/20662-10-reasons-why-fsx-sucks-and-ill-stick-with-ms-fs-ii-for-dos/