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#3487261 - 01/04/12 07:14 AM
MS Flight to be Released Spring 2012
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Senior Member
Registered: 02/25/07
Posts: 2969
Loc: Seattle,USA
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Press Release on MS Flight's site: http://www.microsoft.com/games/fligh...takes_to_skies January 4th, 2012 – Microsoft Flight Takes to the Skies Today, Microsoft Studios premiered Microsoft Flight, a PC game that lets players jump into the challenge, fun, and freedom of flight. Microsoft Flight will be available as a free download this spring, giving players the freedom to fly the skies over the beautiful Big Island of Hawaii, complete a variety of exciting missions, test their skills in flying challenges, or find hidden aerocaches on the island. In Microsoft Flight, players view the world from above in a visually stunning and realistic representation of the earth, complete with region-specific weather patterns, foliage, terrain and landmarks. Players can choose to take the helm using highly rendered, accurate cockpits and authentic piloting procedures, or simply use their mouse and keyboard to control the plane in an exterior view. More experienced players can tailor the flight controls to match their skill level, making Microsoft Flight easy for beginners while still challenging for the most accomplished PC pilots. “Many people dream of flying, but few have the chance to experience the fun of exploring the world from above. Microsoft Flight provides players the opportunity to explore that curiosity and interest,” said Joshua Howard, executive producer of Microsoft Flight. “Aviation can be incredibly technical, but we’ve taken great care to build an experience that makes taking to the skies thrilling and accessible for everyone.” Start Exploring For Free After downloading Microsoft Flight for free, players can jump into hours of exciting gameplay on the Big Island of Hawaii. In addition, players who sign in to their Games for Windows – LIVE account automatically receive additional free content, including the legendary Boeing Stearman plane, supplementary missions, and access to Achievements and an Online Pilot Profile. Those looking to deepen their experience can purchase and download additional content that adds new aircraft, regions and customization options. The frequently released new content for Microsoft Flight includes daily aerocache challenges and updates that make every flight unique and fun. January 4th, 2012 – Microsoft Flight Takes to the Skies Today, Microsoft Studios premiered Microsoft Flight, a PC game that lets players jump into the challenge, fun, and freedom of flight. Microsoft Flight will be available as a free download this spring, giving players the freedom to fly the skies over the beautiful Big Island of Hawaii, complete a variety of exciting missions, test their skills in flying challenges, or find hidden aerocaches on the island. In Microsoft Flight, players view the world from above in a visually stunning and realistic representation of the earth, complete with region-specific weather patterns, foliage, terrain and landmarks. Players can choose to take the helm using highly rendered, accurate cockpits and authentic piloting procedures, or simply use their mouse and keyboard to control the plane in an exterior view. More experienced players can tailor the flight controls to match their skill level, making Microsoft Flight easy for beginners while still challenging for the most accomplished PC pilots. “Many people dream of flying, but few have the chance to experience the fun of exploring the world from above. Microsoft Flight provides players the opportunity to explore that curiosity and interest,” said Joshua Howard, executive producer of Microsoft Flight. “Aviation can be incredibly technical, but we’ve taken great care to build an experience that makes taking to the skies thrilling and accessible for everyone.” Start Exploring For Free After downloading Microsoft Flight for free, players can jump into hours of exciting gameplay on the Big Island of Hawaii. In addition, players who sign in to their Games for Windows – LIVE account automatically receive additional free content, including the legendary Boeing Stearman plane, supplementary missions, and access to Achievements and an Online Pilot Profile. Those looking to deepen their experience can purchase and download additional content that adds new aircraft, regions and customization options. The frequently released new content for Microsoft Flight includes daily aerocache challenges and updates that make every flight unique and fun. Be the First to Fly the Definitive Light Sport Aircraft ICON A5 Microsoft Studios worked with the personal airplane manufacturing team at ICON Aircraft to give aviation fans the exclusive opportunity to fly the all-new ICON A5 before real-world production starts at the end of 2012. Designed by the world-class aeronautical engineers behind the Voyager spaceship, X-Prize winning SpaceShipOne, and Virgin Galatic’s SpaceShipTwo, the ICON A5 is the “jet ski for the skies,” a high-wing amphibious monoplane with a carbon fiber airframe and a comfortable, automobile-inspired cockpit with space for two. The ICON A5 will be the first aircraft available to players for free in Microsoft Flight. “ICON Aircraft and Microsoft Flight both share the goal of making the fun of flying accessible to everyone who’s ever dreamed about it. ICON does this by fusing world-class product design with the very best engineering, and Microsoft by combining the excitement of a great gaming experience with the authenticity of a top notch flight simulator,” said ICON Aircraft CEO Kirk Hawkins. Be the First to Experience Microsoft Flight Additionally, sign-ups for beta are still open! Be among the first to try Microsoft Flight by applying for the closed beta at: https://connect.microsoft.com/site11...=FLY-BRQX-BXTB.The voyage continues at this year’s Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas from January 10 – 13. Those that attend will have the chance to play Microsoft Flight before it releases this spring at the Microsoft booth, located in the Central Hall. So it seems to confirm initial release will be Hawaii only and marketed as sim light, but lets hope there is some harcore sim underneath and support for additional scenery locations and airplanes, especially a SDK so developers outside MS can bring some quality/realistic airplanes/helos/scenery. Update: More details here (seems Free2Play with pay DLCs for more scenery areas and planes, but maybe not the full world scenery) http://uk.pc.ign.com/articles/121/1215651p1.html
Edited by kludger (01/04/12 07:25 AM)
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#3487339 - 01/04/12 09:49 AM
Re: MS Flight to be Released Spring 2012
[Re: kludger]
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Member
Registered: 12/23/08
Posts: 1866
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Yea, I just read about the previews a lot of sites have released today.
I must say Im disapointed. I hoped the rumors about it being hawaii only were wrong, but it appears my worst fears have been confirmed. I can deal with just ignoring the game aspects and looking at it as a better optimized FSX, but it doesnt seem they are marketing this as a replacement for fsx, just a lite sim for casual players.
Im not sure this has a market. Most of the people I know who are into flightsims are into simulating things to the extreme level which is like watching paint dry for those not into flight sims.
There may be those somewhere in between, but not enough to keep this game going for long. I haven't read anything about addon makers being able to release stuff for it or if any fsx addons will work with it
( i doubt they would) but this would be the only reason I would migrate to it.
Ill download the free version and play around with it and then go back to FSX until flight either blooms into something good or falls by the wayside.
The one good thing is I dont feel bad about buying all these FSX addons Ive bought recently.
Rob
Edited by Scoobe (01/04/12 09:50 AM)
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#3487342 - 01/04/12 09:54 AM
Re: MS Flight to be Released Spring 2012
[Re: kludger]
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Member
Registered: 07/24/09
Posts: 116
Loc: Poland, Lodz
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If it does not have full world = I'm not interested. For me that was the primary selling point of the series.
"Many people dream of flying, but few have the chance to experience the fun of exploring the world from above" - right, because flying around Hawaii is "exploring the world"...
The fact that they made this a "free to play" thing indicates that MS themselves don't consider this a serious product. Might as well buy xplane...
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#3487343 - 01/04/12 10:02 AM
Re: MS Flight to be Released Spring 2012
[Re: kludger]
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Senior Member
Registered: 02/25/07
Posts: 2969
Loc: Seattle,USA
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Yeah I agree Rob, I will be trying this out as I would any other flight sim and probably enjoy the light flightsim experience when not in the mood for hardcore stuff, but I no longer worry that I spent money last year on lots of quality FSX scenery and aircraft that would be made redundant by MS Flight. It is now confirmed that MS will not be providing an SDK for payware developers, it looks like they want to control the add-ons pretty strictly, a nice article with more indepth details here: http://flyawaysimulation.com/news/4317/m.../#ixzz1iViQ3c2q I can't really blame MS for going this direction, worst case this will introduce a lot more "gamers" to flightsims and can possibly be a gateway product to creating many more flight simmers if they catch the bug and then decide to explore more serious products. Also since this does not seem to compete with FSX hopefully MS will also not stand in the way of Lockheed Martin's progress with Prepar3D and so I am hoping we will indeed see Prepar3D with DirectX11 and multi GPU support sometime soon, Orbx devs seem to be very excited about the upcoming Prepar3D 2.0 so I am hopeful. Either way it is good to see MS back in the flight sim genre, as long as they don't stifle other developers with license restrictions MS Flight should just be a good complement to the other titles IMHO.
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#3487353 - 01/04/12 10:17 AM
Re: MS Flight to be Released Spring 2012
[Re: kludger]
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Member
Registered: 03/13/09
Posts: 376
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I don't know it kind of sounds like it is going to have the hardcore stuff in there as well....or at least that is how I read it. It seems like they are trying to make their money off of the expansion of the base product....i.e. we will give you the base content free (which is limited in both planes and location) but if you want to fly anything else or anywhere else we are going to charge you for it......kind of like tracks and cars for Iracing. I would think their expectation is to make much more money off of purchase of scenery and planes than if they included everything in a large product for a single price. I'll at least check it out
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#3487354 - 01/04/12 10:18 AM
Re: MS Flight to be Released Spring 2012
[Re: kludger]
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Junior Member
Registered: 07/02/07
Posts: 33
Loc: OR, USA
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I like (most of) this. I only use a tiny portion of FSX, it's aircraft and scenery, and think that $ flowing in to MS will encourage expansion. The bit I'm not sure about is 3rd party stuff. I hope they either open up the software to expansion by others or don't at least confurbulate it so as to prevent 3rd party development.
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#3487401 - 01/04/12 11:39 AM
Re: MS Flight to be Released Spring 2012
[Re: kludger]
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Hotshot
Registered: 12/30/00
Posts: 8704
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#3487589 - 01/04/12 03:56 PM
Re: MS Flight to be Released Spring 2012
[Re: Snapdad2112]
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Member
Registered: 12/15/09
Posts: 1315
Loc: South East PA
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Which part? The part about MS spitting in the face of the third party developers? The part where they destroy the longest running entertainment software franchise in history for a quick sell out? or the part where MS completely turned it's back on an audience that's supported it for decades? Oh, there's also the part where some moron at MS thought that people want to fly...in a game...but without guns...and without any kind of realism... exclusively on PC...with a mouse? I suppose the good news is that person we'll be loosing their job soon. Personally, January 4th, 2012 marks the day I converted to X-plane.* *This does not mean I'm abandoning FSX though!
Edited by AggressorBLUE (01/04/12 03:58 PM)
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#3487628 - 01/04/12 05:00 PM
Re: MS Flight to be Released Spring 2012
[Re: kludger]
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Hail To The King Baby!!
Member
Registered: 06/07/11
Posts: 1547
Loc: Germany( Milwaukee, WI)
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I agree blue. X plane just won in my book. Although until I make the switch to X-plane(payday and when the box arrives) FSX will be good!
I can't believe that the next version of flight simulator is going to be like this. I just hope that it doesnt turn into the Ace combat of flight sims......
_________________________
"Whoever appeals to the law against his fellow man is either a fool or a coward. Whoever cannot take care of himself without that law is both. For a wounded man shall say to his assailant, "If I Die, You are forgiven. If I Live, I will kill you." Such is the Rule of Honor."
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#3487646 - 01/04/12 05:18 PM
Re: MS Flight to be Released Spring 2012
[Re: kludger]
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Hotshot
Registered: 12/31/00
Posts: 7251
Loc: St. Cloud MN USA
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Much angst from such a small press release!  I'll take a "wait and see" attitude until we see how this pans out. Even with all it's warts, I can see enjoying FSX for a long time to come; I haven't even scratched the surface of what it has to teach me about navigation, etc.
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#3487714 - 01/04/12 07:48 PM
Re: MS Flight to be Released Spring 2012
[Re: kludger]
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Member
Registered: 05/29/06
Posts: 141
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I don't know about anyone else, but I just got an invite to the MS Flight Beta and I'm downloading it as we speak.
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#3487719 - 01/04/12 08:04 PM
Re: MS Flight to be Released Spring 2012
[Re: kludger]
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Member
Registered: 12/23/08
Posts: 1866
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Im keeping an eye on Prepar3ed for now. I think ill give it another try, now that more addons are starting to support it. I think v2 will be out soon with DX11 support.
Rob
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#3487722 - 01/04/12 08:08 PM
Re: MS Flight to be Released Spring 2012
[Re: kludger]
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Member
Registered: 08/26/07
Posts: 367
Loc: Sydney, Australia
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Just got the invite as well and am in the process of downloading
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#3487740 - 01/04/12 08:33 PM
Re: MS Flight to be Released Spring 2012
[Re: Li'lJugs]
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Member
Registered: 12/15/09
Posts: 1315
Loc: South East PA
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Much angst from such a small press release! I'll take a "wait and see" attitude until we see how this pans out. Even with all it's warts, I can see enjoying FSX for a long time to come; I haven't even scratched the surface of what it has to teach me about navigation, etc. You have to understand Jugs, I did take a wait-and-see approach. MS confirmed Flight won't have the entire planet mapped, won't have airliners or other complex aircraft (at launch), and won't have a third party SDK. What's left to wait for? It doesn't matter to me (and I'll bet a whole lot of flight simmers) if it has the most advanced flight model of any FS title before it. Without the environment to explore, or a library of free and paid aircraft to pull from, it's still an empty shell of it's formal self. Frankly, the lack of third party support alone would be enough to drive me away. (heh, remember when we were all worried about our mods carrying over?) Z248, I hear ya, the price for X-plane is a tough pill. But if that's what it takes to protect the last of the great civilian flight sims, so be it.
Edited by AggressorBLUE (01/04/12 08:34 PM)
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#3487839 - 01/05/12 01:54 AM
Re: MS Flight to be Released Spring 2012
[Re: kludger]
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Hail To The King Baby!!
Member
Registered: 06/07/11
Posts: 1547
Loc: Germany( Milwaukee, WI)
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I have always liked X-plane. Its flight model is wonderful. The only thing I didnt like was the ATC in X-plane. FS seemed to have the better ATC. But from what I have heard XP 10 has a ATC system. So there is hope. Also I dont think X-plane will ever go away from third party. If they did one of their biggest selling points, Plane maker, would go away. I just don't see that happening. As for the price, Yeah 80 is a bit steep but the if you look at everything you get with it, it really isnt that bad.
As for Flight, I am curious as to what the guys who have played the BETA think.
_________________________
"Whoever appeals to the law against his fellow man is either a fool or a coward. Whoever cannot take care of himself without that law is both. For a wounded man shall say to his assailant, "If I Die, You are forgiven. If I Live, I will kill you." Such is the Rule of Honor."
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#3487863 - 01/05/12 03:27 AM
Re: MS Flight to be Released Spring 2012
[Re: kludger]
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Member
Registered: 01/30/03
Posts: 645
Loc: Frome/Bath UK
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I always thought Microsoft owned "Microsoft Flight Simulator" (the clue is in the name). Thus, they can do with it what ever they like. If you no like-y, then go elsewhere. I don't remember seeing any agreements in past FS editions where MS are contractually obliged to anyone's view/aspirations of the program's future.
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#3487866 - 01/05/12 03:39 AM
Re: MS Flight to be Released Spring 2012
[Re: kludger]
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Junior Member
Registered: 03/30/09
Posts: 5
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I got beta today and played for 2 hours.
I would say feels like Forza(with airplanes) a lot for some reason. the FM feels pretty solid. and cockpit is clickable
what i like the most is the checklist feature, it guides you through all the procedures in takeoff/navigation/landing with on screen instructions, like the ones in DCS A-10 tutorials.
currently there's no trackir support, which is a little bit let down, maybe they'll add it later.
the missions and challenges are in fact really fun to play, similar to those in fsx but more refined. quickmatch in multiplayer is working pretty well, again reminds me think of Forza a lot.
For casual market, i actually think this game will do really well.
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#3487882 - 01/05/12 04:29 AM
Re: MS Flight to be Released Spring 2012
[Re: kludger]
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XBL: Matador McNasty
Member
Registered: 10/08/10
Posts: 866
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It makes me feel a little ill thinking about what they did to Flight Simulator. I'll probably try it when it comes out since it is free, but I just can't take it seriously. I'm really starting to think it is time for me personally to get out of the flight sim genre. Cliffs of Dover was the biggest flight sim disappointment I've ever had, and I really can't seem to get myself into Rise of Flight and DCS A-10 for very long. I hate the arcadey flight games, so I think I'm pretty much over the whole flight thing now.
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#3487888 - 01/05/12 04:38 AM
Re: MS Flight to be Released Spring 2012
[Re: kludger]
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Junior Member
Registered: 04/13/11
Posts: 40
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I go the beta access email as well, but somehow I get a page not found when trying to download after signing in :-( Pooo.
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#3487961 - 01/05/12 06:09 AM
Re: MS Flight to be Released Spring 2012
[Re: Li'lJugs]
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Member
Registered: 05/24/01
Posts: 1132
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Much angst from such a small press release! I'll take a "wait and see" attitude until we see how this pans out. Even with all it's warts, I can see enjoying FSX for a long time to come; I haven't even scratched the surface of what it has to teach me about navigation, etc. Don't bother. It's panned out exactly like the press release. This isn't a sim it's a cash shop with no flight model. Got an email last night and tried it, and NDA be damned this thing pisses me off to the point that i don't care. Never seen a company piss on a games legacy this bad before. If you have a windows smartphone and ever played that flight sim game on that, this is similar.
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#3487967 - 01/05/12 06:11 AM
Re: MS Flight to be Released Spring 2012
[Re: kludger]
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Member
Registered: 08/10/02
Posts: 329
Loc: Eslöv, Sverige
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Sounds like you went in with confirmation bias. If you want it to be a #%&*$# game it probably will be a #%&*$# game.
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#3488124 - 01/05/12 10:14 AM
Re: MS Flight to be Released Spring 2012
[Re: kludger]
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Hail To The King Baby!!
Member
Registered: 06/07/11
Posts: 1547
Loc: Germany( Milwaukee, WI)
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I agree with evil if you think its going to be crap then it will be. However I think if you go in expecting a simulator and get a hybrid sim/game then it is also going to be crap.
Intresting 2 people posted their BETA thoughts and one liked it and the other not so much. Anyone know if MS will release this on the Xbox? If they do I think I will get it for the Xbox. There is a good chance I might get it when it comes out but I will wait for more info on it.
_________________________
"Whoever appeals to the law against his fellow man is either a fool or a coward. Whoever cannot take care of himself without that law is both. For a wounded man shall say to his assailant, "If I Die, You are forgiven. If I Live, I will kill you." Such is the Rule of Honor."
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iRacing/RFactor 2: Jason Bader
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