I would love if MS/Asobo did a nice 200+page Hardback book containing the full 40 year history of Microsoft Flight Simulator. Full of articles and anecdotes from all the people involved in it. Showing design documentation (if preserved) from previous versions. Articles from 3rd party developers who have around throughout the years . Lots & lots of glossy full page pictures of planes and 3d models.
13 Likes
not a bad idea - but could you change the title of your thread to reflect that idea?
Too many inscrutable thread titles lately…
2 Likes
Done…thank you.
2 Likes
Obviously not a book / what you are looking for, but I did find the Wiki interesting.
1 Like
I’d read that! Sounds very interesting.
5 Likes
I am an author. I was also a pioneer in fs as one of the first third party developers and company owners. I will do this book if Asobo is willing to approve and not block me.
5 Likes
For those of you who haven’t seen this. I had the 1984 version. It’s come a long way since then.
@KJKerr, I have a completely random question for you.
On page 27 of the VIP Classic Airliners Manual… Theres an aircraft featured in a picture at the top of the page, what kind of aircraft is it, and what airline is it flying for?
I have found my boxes. I have two editions of Classic Airliners. One has the DC-3 on the ground with the Comet flying overhead. This is Classic Airliners 2000. The earlier edition has only the comet in the box. Both of these are sealed originals. I had no intention of opening these pristine souvenirs of my old company, but tell me which edition you have and I shall unseal it to get the manual.
1 Like
@KJKerr , please don’t open them. I don’t have any of my old flight simulator stuff unfortunately.
This was in response to this old post I found. See below, the question for FS98 owners:
https://www.flightsim.com/vbfs/content.php?3205-VIP-Group-News
Oh my goodness. I just looked at that link. How can it be 22 years since I wrote that? Thank you so much for bringing memories back. I miss those times. I loved being in this business, and I have tried to find a way back into it without success so far. But, if Asobo/Microsoft approves, I will write the book that this thread is about. Since my VIP days, I have written more than ten paperback and hardback books. Most are out of print and (sadly) little known. But what a thrill it would be to combine my FS passion and experience, with my writing passion and experience. We shall have to see. Thanks for the trip down memory lane today.
3 Likes
Not sure if it helps, but there is a UK publisher called “Bitmap Books” who are very successfully release very nice hardback books on all genres of video games. They might be a good place to start . They seem to be very open to interesting ideas about all things video game related and produce very high quality books. Given that MSFS is one of the longest running video game franchises, I could see them being interested.
Thank you. I will look into that company. I have used a different one for my books in the past, but it is always good to re-assess options.
Interesting idea. However it would mainly be a book of screenshots from over the history of FS. Nothing you can’t easily find on the web and youtube videos.
no - there’s more to it than that. The way the models are created has changed significantly over that span of time, as has the effort to capture real world audio and flight dynamics. More of a story than a few screenshots could tell for sure. Add to the flight side of things the atmospheric modeling and now photogrammetry, lighting, satellite and drone camera augmentation and there’s a fairly big story to tell - and that’s before telling the human side of it, about the talented people who took enough interest in bringing Flight Simulation to the masses of aviation enthusiasts around the world to actually make it happen and make the improvements we’ve seen over time.
1 Like
Yeah I’d buy that book!!
Yes! That would be a really neat feature! I’d grab a copy!
Add me as a potential customer/reader.
Sorry about the deleted post. I tried to dictate it on my phone, and Siri does not get my Scottish accent. It was easier to delete than continue. On main computer now.
I have reached out to Asobo to express my interest and willingness to write such a book. I have shared my credentials as one of the first third party developers and flight sim company owners back in the 1990s, and also as an author of more than ten non-fiction books.
I will only undertake such an expansive project with the blessing of Asobo and Microsoft. I would hate to put massive time, effort, money, and commitment into it only to find it was legally challenged later for not asking permission to use trademark names in the text, and screenshots as illustrations. Besides, I would want their help in accessing personnel and other research sources.
I am willing to bring all my professional experience and effort to this potential book, but now await some response from Asobo/Microsoft to give their approval or at least their blessing on it.
- Kenneth
2 Likes
Contact Bitmap Books. They have helped with books dealing with some of the largest video game designers and publishers in Japan, who can be notoriously apprehensive about dealing with western companies.
If they are interested in the idea , they would be good starting place help it happen. The specialize soley in Videogame genres and franchises.
I have several of their books and am really impressed with the quality and content. Check out their website . They are very well respected in their field.