Software:Microsoft Flight Simulator 98

From HandWiki
Short description: 1997 video game
Microsoft Flight Simulator 98
German cover
Developer(s)Microsoft
Publisher(s)Microsoft
SeriesMicrosoft Flight Simulator
Platform(s)Windows
Release
  • NA: September 17, 1997[2]
  • UK: September 25, 1997[1]
Genre(s)Amateur flight simulation
Mode(s)Single-player

Microsoft Flight Simulator 98, abbreviated commonly as FS98, is a flight simulator video game released in September 1997 for Microsoft Windows.

Gameplay

Flight Simulator 98 (version 6.1) is generally regarded as a "service release", offering minor improvements, with a few notable exceptions: The simulator now also featured a helicopter (the Bell 206B III JetRanger), as well as a generally improved interface for adding additional aircraft, sceneries, and sounds.

Other new "out of the box" aircraft included a revised Cessna 182 with a photorealistic instrument panel and updated flight model. The primary rationale for updating the 182 was Cessna's return to manufacturing that model in the late 1990s. The Learjet Model 45 business jet was also included, replacing the aging Learjet 35 from earlier versions. The Dynamic Scenery models were also vastly improved. One of the most noticeable improvements in this version was the ability to have independent panels and sounds for every aircraft.

A major expansion of the in-box scenery was also included in this release, including approximately 45 detailed cities (many located outside the United States, some of which had been included in separate scenery enhancement packs), as well as an increase in the modeled airports to over 3000 worldwide, compared with the approximately 300 in earlier versions. This major increase in scenery production was attributable partially to inclusion of the content from previous standalone scenery packs, as well as new contributions by MicroScene, a company in San Ramon, California who had developed several scenery expansions released by Microsoft. The scenery files for FS95 are forwards compatible with FS98.[3]

This release also included support for the Microsoft Sidewinder Pro Force Feedback joystick, which allowed the player to receive some sensory input from simulated trim forces on the aircraft controls.

This was the first version to take advantage of 3D-graphic cards, through Microsoft's DirectX technology. With such combination of hardware and software, FS98 not only achieved better performance, but also implemented better haze/visibility effects, "virtual cockpit" views, texture filtering, and sunrise/sunset effects.

Reception

Reception
Review scores
PublicationScore
CGWStarStarStarHalf star[3]
GameSpot7.9/10[4]
PC Zone94/100[5]
GameStar76%[6]
Gamezilla89/100[7]
PC Joker77%[6]

By November 1997, Flight Simulator 98 had shipped one million units, following its September launch.[8][9] It received a "Gold" award from the Verband der Unterhaltungssoftware Deutschland (VUD) in August 1998,[10] for sales of at least 100,000 units across Germany, Austria, and Switzerland.[11] The VUD raised it to "Platinum" status, indicating 200,000 sales, by November.[12]

Pete Deemer for GameSpot said "Microsoft Flight Simulator 98 is an impressive feat. With a few exceptions, gone are the glaring flaws of the previous version; coupled with its technological innovations, the sum of the parts is a unique flight experience of unprecedented realism."[4]

Denny Atkin for Computer Gaming World summarized: "Overall, though, this is a worthwhile update for FLIGHT SIMULATOR fans who have fast 3D cards."[3]

Dave Mathieson for PC Zone summarized: "[...] Flight Sim 98 is the most realistic sim around of any type, and the sheer size of this version, combined with lovely graphics, make it a bit of a must for anyone even remotely interested in flying planes."

During the AIAS' inaugural Interactive Achievement Awards, Microsoft Flight Simulator 98 won "PC Simulation Game of the Year", along with nominations for "Computer Entertainment Title of the Year" and "Outstanding Achievement in Software Engineering".[13][14]

See also

References

  1. ↑ "PC World - The Latest Games Now Available". The Independent: pp. 14. September 25, 1997. https://www.newspapers.com/image/719931996/?terms=%22flight%20simulator%2098%22&match=1. "Microsoft Flight Simulator 98 - New £39.99" 
  2. ↑ Staff (September 17, 1997). "Releases and Masterings". http://www.pcgamer.com/news/news-1997-09-15.html. 
    "New games continue to hit the shelves every day. Now available: Flight Simulator '98..."
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 Atkin, Denny (December 1997). "3D's the Charm". Computer Gaming World (Ziff Davis) (161): 374–381. 
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 Deemer, Pete (29 October 1997). "Flight Simulator 98 Review for PC". CBS Interactive. https://www.gamespot.com/pc/sim/flightsimulator98/review.html. 
  5. ↑ Mathieson, Dave (October 1997). "Reviews - Flight Simulator 98". PC Zone (55): 98–99. 
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 "Microsoft Flight Simulator 98 Reviews". Atari. https://www.mobygames.com/game/windows/microsoft-flight-simulator-98/mobyrank. 
  7. ↑ "Microsoft Flight Simulator 98 by Microsoft". https://www.gamezilla.com/reviews/m/msflight98.asp. 
  8. ↑ "Flight Sim Stats". http://headline.gamespot.com/news/97_11/20_fltsim/index.html. 
  9. ↑ Staff (November 20, 1997). "Flight Sim Stats". GameSpot. http://headline.gamespot.com:80/news/97_11/20_fltsim/index.html. 
  10. ↑ "Uhr TCM Hannover – ein glänzender Event auf der CebitHome" (Press release) (in Deutsch). Verband der Unterhaltungssoftware Deutschland. August 26, 1998. Archived from the original on July 13, 2000. Retrieved January 15, 2020.
  11. ↑ Horn, Andre (January 14, 2004). "VUD-Gold-Awards 2003" (in de). GamePro Germany. https://www.gamepro.de/artikel/vud-gold-awards-2003,1290773.html. 
  12. ↑ "Neues aus der Verbandsgeschäftstelle" (Press release) (in Deutsch). Paderborn: Verband der Unterhaltungssoftware Deutschland. November 27, 1998. Archived from the original on June 10, 2000. Retrieved January 15, 2020.
  13. ↑ "The Award - Updates". Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences. http://www.interactive.org/html/award/awardupdate.htm. 
  14. ↑ "The Award - Winners". Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences. http://www.interactive.org/html/award/awardwin98.htm. 
  • MobyGames is a commercial database website that catalogs information on video games and the people and companies behind them via crowdsourcing. This includes over 300,000 games for hundreds of platforms.[1] Founded in 1999, ownership of the site has changed hands several times. It has been owned by Atari SA since 2022.

Features

Edits and submissions to the site (including screenshots, box art, developer information, game summaries, and more) go through a verification process of fact-checking by volunteer "approvers".[2] This lengthy approval process after submission can range from minutes to days or months.[3] The most commonly used sources are the video game's website, packaging, and credit screens. There is a published standard for game information and copy-editing.[4] A ranking system allows users to earn points for contributing accurate information.[5]

Registered users can rate and review games. Users can create private or public "have" and "want" lists, which can generate a list of games available for trade with other registered users. The site contains an integrated forum. Each listed game can have its own sub-forum.

History

Logo used until March 2014

MobyGames was founded on March 1, 1999, by Jim Leonard and Brian Hirt, and joined by David Berk 18 months later, the three of which had been friends since high school.[6][7] Leonard had the idea of sharing information about computer games with a larger audience. The database began with information about games for IBM PC compatibles, relying on the founders' personal collections. Eventually, the site was opened up to allow general users to contribute information.[5] In a 2003 interview, Berk emphasized MobyGames' dedication to taking video games more seriously than broader society and to preserving games for their important cultural influence.[5]

In mid-2010, MobyGames was purchased by GameFly for an undisclosed amount.[8] This was announced to the community post factum , and the site's interface was given an unpopular redesign.[7] A few major contributors left, refusing to do volunteer work for a commercial website.{{Citation needed|date=June 2025} On December 18, 2013, MobyGames was acquired by Jeremiah Freyholtz, owner of Blue Flame Labs (a San Francisco-based game and web development company) and VGBoxArt (a site for fan-made video game box art).[9] Blue Flame Labs reverted MobyGames' interface to its pre-overhaul look and feel,[10] and for the next eight years, the site was run by Freyholtz and Independent Games Festival organizer Simon Carless.[7]

On November 24, 2021, Atari SA announced a potential deal with Blue Flame Labs to purchase MobyGames for $1.5 million.[11] The purchase was completed on 8 March 2022, with Freyholtz remaining as general manager.[12][13][14] Over the next year, the financial boost given by Atari led to a rework of the site being built from scratch with a new backend codebase, as well as updates improving the mobile and desktop user interface.[1] This was accomplished by investing in full-time development of the site instead of its previously part-time development.[15]

In 2024, MobyGames began offering a paid "Pro" membership option for the site to generate additional revenue.[16] Previously, the site had generated income exclusively through banner ads and (from March 2014 onward) a small number of patrons via the Patreon website.[17]

See also

  • IGDB – game database used by Twitch for its search and discovery functions

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Sheehan, Gavin (2023-02-22). "Atari Relaunches The Fully Rebuilt & Optimized MobyGames Website". https://bleedingcool.com/games/atari-relaunches-the-fully-rebuilt-optimized-mobygames-website/. 
  2. ↑ Litchfield, Ted (2021-11-26). "Zombie company Atari to devour MobyGames". https://www.pcgamer.com/zombie-company-atari-to-devour-mobygames/. 
  3. ↑ "MobyGames FAQ: Emails Answered § When will my submission be approved?". Blue Flame Labs. 30 March 2014. http://www.mobygames.com/info/faq7#g1. 
  4. ↑ "The MobyGames Standards and Practices". Blue Flame Labs. 6 January 2016. http://www.mobygames.com/info/standards. 
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 Miller, Stanley A. (2003-04-22). "People's choice awards honor favorite Web sites". Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. 
  6. ↑ "20 Years of MobyGames" (in en). 2019-02-28. https://trixter.oldskool.org/2019/02/28/20-years-of-mobygames/. 
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 Plunkett, Luke (2022-03-10). "Atari Buys MobyGames For $1.5 Million". https://kotaku.com/mobygames-retro-credits-database-imdb-atari-freyholtz-b-1848638521. 
  8. ↑ "Report: MobyGames Acquired By GameFly Media". Gamasutra. 2011-02-07. https://www.gamedeveloper.com/game-platforms/report-mobygames-acquired-by-gamefly-media. 
  9. ↑ Corriea, Alexa Ray (December 31, 2013). "MobyGames purchased from GameFly, improvements planned". http://www.polygon.com/2013/12/31/5261414/mobygames-purchased-from-gamefly-improvements-planned. 
  10. ↑ Wawro, Alex (31 December 2013). "Game dev database MobyGames getting some TLC under new owner". Gamasutra. https://www.gamedeveloper.com/business/game-dev-database-mobygames-getting-some-tlc-under-new-owner. 
  11. ↑ "Atari invests in Anstream, may buy MobyGames". November 24, 2021. https://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/2021-11-24-atari-invests-in-anstream-may-buy-mobygames. 
  12. ↑ Rousseau, Jeffrey (2022-03-09). "Atari purchases Moby Games". https://www.gamesindustry.biz/atari-purchases-moby-games. 
  13. ↑ "Atari Completes MobyGames Acquisition, Details Plans for the Site's Continued Support". March 8, 2022. https://www.atari.com/atari-completes-mobygames-acquisition-details-plans-for-the-sites-continued-support/. 
  14. ↑ "Atari has acquired game database MobyGames for $1.5 million" (in en-GB). 2022-03-09. https://www.videogameschronicle.com/news/atari-has-acquired-game-database-mobygames-for-1-5-million/. 
  15. ↑ Stanton, Rich (2022-03-10). "Atari buys videogame database MobyGames for $1.5 million". https://www.pcgamer.com/atari-buys-videogame-database-mobygames-for-dollar15-million/. 
  16. ↑ Harris, John (2024-03-09). "MobyGames Offering “Pro” Membership". https://setsideb.com/mobygames-offering-pro-membership/. 
  17. ↑ "MobyGames on Patreon". http://www.patreon.com/mobygames. 
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