Is This The End For Popular Software?

At first glance, last week's news of 5,000 layoffs at Microsoft wouldn't seem to be an aviation story. But among the cuts is the complete shutdown of ACES Studios, the developer of the Flight Simulator series of gaming software.

The history of the game dates back more than a quarter-century, to a time when DOS roamed the earth. It is considered Microsoft's oldest product, first shipping in 1982... years before the first Windows operating system.

The game's latest incarnation is Flight Simulator X. In addition to top quality graphics and a wide variety of "aircraft" available (including hundreds from third-party vendors,) FSX allows online collaboration among users who set themselves up as virtual pilots, air traffic controllers, and some who've even organized entire virtual airlines flying virtual passengers around in cyberspace.

So, does this mean MSFS is dead? We're not sure. Microsoft tells PC Magazine the company remains committed to the franchise. "You should expect us to continue to invest in enabling great Live experiences on Windows, including flying games, but we have nothing specific to announce at this time."

For serious online fans of MS Flight Simulator, this development could change lives.

For those serious online fans who have lives, of course...

FMI: www.microsoft.com/games/flightsimulatorX