New MS Flight announcement:
http://www.microsoft.com/games/flight/#news-flight_launch

Feb 29 release date.

Some additional info:

In addition to exploring the Big Island of Hawaii for free, you can unlock access to the skies over the remaining Hawaiian Islands by purchasing the Hawaiian Pack, the first in a series of expansions for Microsoft Flight, which includes:

Hundreds of miles to explore
Stunning recreations of landmark features, from the breathtaking Waimea Canyon in Kaua’i to the high-rise hotels of Waikiki
New challenges
20 new missions
The Vans RV-6A, a two-seat, single-engine, low-wing homebuilt airplane made famous for its speed and maneuverability.

The Hawaiian Adventure Pack will be available via Games for Windows –LIVE for 1600 Microsoft Points ($20USD)

Tour the Skies in Two All-New Planes:

The Maule M-7-260C including a richly detailed external model and a beautifully created cockpit will be available via Games for Windows—LIVE for 1200 Microsoft Points. ($15USD)

The North American P-51 Mustang is a historical fighter plane with strong performance characteristics, maneuverability and sharp looks. Stripped of guns and some weight, this version represents a restored Mustang that might be found at airshows today. The Mustang’s superb agility makes it a great option to choose to complete hoops courses and master many other skilled challenges and missions found in the game. The North American P-51 Mustang flyable from the outside will be available via Games for Windows—LIVE for 640 Microsoft Points. ($8USD)



Since I was not good enough to be picked for the beta (maybe they already had too many old simmers) :-) I am looking forward to checking this out, not as an FSX replacement but as something to mess around with... I doubt I will go for the DLC scenery or aircraft unless I really like it.

Anyhow let's not relive the pro/anti MS Flight discussion but at least it will be out of beta and available free to all soon, also good to hear they have they added the RV6 that should be a fun plane.

$20 for all of Hawaii and the RV6 is a pretty good price for what you get. $15 for the Maule is a little more than I had hoped, but it’s still not bad.

Looking forward to it.

Ive been playing the Beta for a while on and off. Overall, I think Flight will do well to draw in some new people to the the hobby, which is always needed. Some poeple are intimidated by FSX & Xplane. Thinking that they have to know something about flying to use it. Also the addon market can be confusing to a newbie who doesnt know what to get or how to install it. Flight makes this a lot more accessible and thats a good thing.

Eventually, some of these new people, will get bored flying around Hawaii in a small plane and may want to move on to something more complex, or fly over their home town. Thats where FSX & Xplane come in, Bringing new users into those products. Later, they want to buy addons and the developers eventually get a piece of that market. I think flight will( in the long run) help this hobby regardless or how disapointed we may be that its not a hardcore sim.

Ill probably pick up the extra islands pack and maybe a plane or 2 when its released. The price is cheap and it makes a nice diversion from FSX when I need it. I also like to support the genre, even if its not what im looking for. Flight is not a replacement for FSX, but it will still be good for this hobby.

Rob

One thing I do like about flight it’s set up to be mission/job based. I actually really enjoy that aspect of Flight. It gives me a little more sense of purpose and direction.

I know I can do the same thing in FSX, either by just “pretending” I’m flying a job or by buying payware, but I like the way Flight spoon fed it to me…

Looking forward to it!

Looking forward to it. Price seems a little steep for the scenery initially but I might change my mind based on what it looks like. At least its free to try out :-)

Must admit to having misgivings about this bit:

The North American P-51 Mustang flyable from the outside

sounds like no cockpit.

You would be correct about that. Sounds like the P-51 simply isn't finished yet. I would guess that if you buy the incomplete plane, you get the cockpit at a reduced price when it's ready.

The lack of a cockpit in the P-51 doesn't mean anything for the cockpits in the rest of the aircraft. They seem to be very well done and functional.

Yeah outside only airplanes are not for me, but I am looking forward to seeing what the quality of the Stearman is compared to what I normally fly on FSX (Ant's, Carenado, RealAir etc.)

I think once I try it if I happen to like Flight plus see that the airplanes and Hawaii scenery are well done, then the 8 islands plus the RV-6A for $20 might be a good deal, assuming it is on par with FSX payware scenery and aircraft, big caveat that since I am not in the beta I don't know.

MS' new moneymaking strategy is obscene. Basically, they are doing what drug dealers do. Create a market by going into a community and giving away a taste, a good taste, for free. Just enough to get 'em interested, till they gotta experience more. Then you come back to the block and make your real money because the customers are sweating for more. That first taste was soooo good, but incomplete. That's why you don't give all of Hawaii away for free. You sell it a little bit at a time, make sure they get addicted.

Who knows? They might sell California county by county. Before you know it, the addicts have spent 500 bucks apiece just to get the entire state of California. You know why they keep buying? It's the age old rationalization: "Well, I got this thing started, I can't stop now. I can't have just half of a state! I gotta keep going! Maybe I can get a loan from someone!"