''Microsoft Flight Simulator'', commonly known as ''Microsoft Flight Simulator 3.0'' or ''FS3'', is a flight simulator video game. It was released in mid-1988 for the
MS-DOS
MS-DOS ( ; acronym for Microsoft Disk Operating System, also known as Microsoft DOS) is an operating system for x86-based personal computers mostly developed by Microsoft. Collectively, MS-DOS, its rebranding as IBM PC DOS, and a few oper ...
.
Gameplay
''Microsoft Flight Simulator 3'' improved the flight experience by adding additional aircraft and airports to the simulated area found in ''
Microsoft Flight Simulator 2.0
''Microsoft Flight Simulator'', commonly known as ''Microsoft Flight Simulator 2.0'' or ''FS2'', is a flight simulator video game. It was released in 1984 for the IBM PC as a self-booting disk.
Publication history
In May 1984, Microsoft releas ...
'', as well as improved high-res (
EGA) graphics, and other features lifted from the
Amiga
Amiga is a family of personal computers introduced by Commodore International, Commodore in 1985. The original model is one of a number of mid-1980s computers with 16- or 32-bit processors, 256 KB or more of RAM, mouse-based GUIs, and sign ...
/
ST versions.
The three simulated aircraft were the
Gates Learjet 25,
Cessna Skylane, and
Sopwith Camel
The Sopwith Camel is a British First World War single-seat biplane fighter aircraft that was introduced on the Western Front in 1917. It was developed by the Sopwith Aviation Company as a successor to the Sopwith Pup and became one of the be ...
. ''Flight Simulator 3'' also allowed the user to customize the display; multiple windows, each displaying one of several views, could be positioned and sized on the screen. The supported views included the instrument and control panel, a map view, and various external camera angles.
This version included a program to convert the old series of
Sublogic
Sublogic Corporation (stylized as subLOGIC) is an American software development company. It was formed in 1977 by Bruce Artwick, and incorporated in 1978 by Artwick's partner Stu Moment as Sublogic Communications Corporation. Sublogic is best kn ...
Scenery Disks into scenery files (known as SCN files), which could then be copied to the FS3 directory, allowing the user to expand the FS world.
Reception
Richard Sheffield for ''
Compute!
''Compute!'' (), often stylized as ''COMPUTE!'', was an American home computer magazine that was published from 1979 to 1994. Its origins can be traced to 1978 in Len Lindsay's ''PET Gazette'', one of the first magazines for the Commodore PET c ...
'' said ''"If you earned your wings on an old Flight Simulator version, you'll enjoy and appreciate the improvement made to version 3.0. If you're new to the hangar, this is the package to start with."''
Robert Luhn for ''
PC World
''PC World'' (stylized as PCWorld) is a global computer magazine published monthly by IDG. Since 2013, it has been an online only publication.
It offers advice on various aspects of PCs and related items, the Internet, and other personal tec ...
'' said ''"if you're anxious for the next step in flight simulation, pick up version 3.0."''
Steve Williams for ''
Family Computing
''Family Computing'' was a U.S. computer magazine published during the 1980s by Scholastic It covered all the major home computer platforms of the day including the Apple II, VIC-20, Commodore 64, Atari 8-bit family, as well as the IBM PC and M ...
'' said ''"The graphics of Version 3.0 look better; the game system allows for more flexibility; and the improved planes give flying aces fresh challenges while the new options help novice pilots ease into flying. Flight Simulator 3.0 leaves all the other flight simulators flapping their wings."''
Reviews
*''
ACE (Advanced Computer Entertainment)
''ACE'' (Advanced Computer Entertainment) was a multi-format computer and video game magazine first published in the United Kingdom by Future Publishing and later acquired by EMAP.
History
ACE launched in October 1987, roughly the same time as ...
'' - Sep, 1988
*''
ACE (Advanced Computer Entertainment)
''ACE'' (Advanced Computer Entertainment) was a multi-format computer and video game magazine first published in the United Kingdom by Future Publishing and later acquired by EMAP.
History
ACE launched in October 1987, roughly the same time as ...
'' - Oct, 1988
*''
Jeux & Stratégie
''Jeux'' (''Games'') is a ballet written by Claude Debussy. Described as a "poème dansé" (literally a "danced poem"), it was written for Sergei Diaghilev's Ballets Russes with choreography by Vaslav Nijinsky. Debussy initially objected to the ...
'' #55
References
External links
''Microsoft Flight Simulator 3.0''at
MobyGames
MobyGames is a commercial website that catalogs information on video games and the people and companies behind them via crowdsourcing. This includes nearly 300,000 games for hundreds of platforms. The site is supported by banner ads and a small ...
{{Microsoft Flight Simulator
1988 video games
DOS games
DOS-only games
Microsoft Flight Simulator
Single-player video games
Sublogic games
Video games developed in the United States
Video games set in the United States