Microsoft Flight Simulator
1982 · Simulation · PC/DOS
Overview
Microsoft Flight Simulator (1982) brought subLOGIC's flight simulation to the IBM PC: fly a light aircraft between real airports in real time.
Deep Dive
Microsoft Flight Simulator grew from Bruce Artwick's subLOGIC Flight Simulator, which began as a demonstration of 3D graphics on early microcomputers. The IBM PC version put players at the controls of a light aircraft over areas around real US cities, with working instruments, weather settings and the freedom to fly between airports. Because it pushed hardware hard, it became an informal test of PC compatibility and speed. The series has continued ever since, one of the longest-running in software.
Developer Story
Microsoft Flight Simulator was originally developed by subLOGIC and programmer Bruce Artwick, who created it as a technical demonstration of 3D graphics rendering for early personal computers. Microsoft licensed the FS1 Flight Simulator in 1982. It became the longest-running software franchise in Microsoft's history and is still published today. Artwick was one of the first programmers to create real-time 3D rendering on consumer hardware.
Did You Know?
- Flight Simulator grew out of Bruce Artwick's work on real-time 3D graphics; subLOGIC's first version ran on the Apple II in 1979.
- Microsoft's series ran from 1982 to 2006, then returned in 2020 — one of the longest-lived names in software.
- The game was used as a benchmark for computer hardware performance for years — if a machine ran Flight Simulator smoothly, it was considered fast.
- Early versions were used by actual student pilots for familiarisation training, a real-world application no other game could claim.
Sources & further reading
- Microsoft Flight Simulator (2020 video game) — Wikipedia
