http://forums.steampowered.com/forums/showthread.php?p=31948901

Well don't I feel silly. Luckily I didn't spend much money it. I know a lot of people thought it was garbage (apparently including M$), but I really liked where it seemed to be going.

Now, where is that hard drive with all my FSX addons...

Yep - a news link too

http://kotaku.com/5929141/microsoft-shuts-down-vancouver+based-studio

Holy Cow.

The market spoke. None of those gamers came back for a second look I'm afraid. There was just NO GAME to be had there (and there could have been!). You can only transport so many monkeys before you get bored.

I'm still shocked though.

PS - Until I see an actual statement from MS..I'd remain leery of this news..

I believe I have alot of "I told you so"s due my way.

I'll graciously accept them now.

No.. I don't think anyone should be happy to see Flight go. To tell you the truth, I was hoping they'd see the light, open the sim up to 3rd party developers, and get someone in management with some GAMING background to make the sim fun for the lite simmers. I mean..how HARD would it have been to create some awesome flight adventures for that title with all the cool graphics and nifty voiceover capabilities?

They dropped the ball. The failure does not reside with those that criticized it, or didn't buy it (or continue to buy it), or FSX or X-Plane. It failed because of a lack of delivery on the core aspect - bringing a fun flying game to a wider audience. It was pretty, and it had a certain appeal to even us hardcore simmers, but it had almost no longevity for someone who hopped over from Grand Theft Auto for a bit to try out this flying game.

I suspect we haven't heard the end of the engine itself. I hope it rises like a Phoenix with content that will truly appeal to a wide spectrum of flight and game enthusiasts.

BeachAV8R

Now, what happens to the code? Think of what it could have been, and then lets hope there is a buyer out there interested in doing it differently.

FWIW - I blame the whole fiasco on Michelle Jenneke.. The whole Flight team was probably busy replaying that video in HD all day long instead of working on Virtual Cockpits and Missions..

She is worse than Farmville when it comes to demolishing productivity...

BeachAV8R

A product positioning disaster: A game that that lacked enough depth to satisfy flight sim fans, whilst still lacking the fun and sense of exploration to satisfy casual players.

They underfunded it, marketed almost 100% incorrectly and somehow failed to capitalize on a 30 year legacy of one of the crown jewels of PC gaming.

At least the end was quick. I find it frustrating and sad; so much indignity for an old friend that was so mismanaged by these muppets.

There will be sat staring at Excel somewhere a pencil-necked, kahki/polo shirted Lead Program Manager wondering what to do now - let's hope that they sell off to those less incompetent or at least open up the license/core for others to build something from the ruins. I don't have a lot of faith they'll make the right decision for that either.

Bah.

The Microsoft Bob of PC games.