The flying area encompasses the whole world, to varying levels of detail, including over 24,000 airports. Microsoft Flight Simulator is less a game than an immersive virtual environment it is usually frustrating, complex and difficult to new users due to its realism, but it can be rewarding for the skilled flightsimmer at the same time. The most recent versions of this simulation, Microsoft Flight Simulator 2004 and Microsoft Flight Simulator X, cater to pilots, would-be pilots and people who once dreamed of being pilots alike. Flight Simulator X, released in 2006, has returned to dual editions with a "Standard Edition" and a "Deluxe Edition". The 2004 (version 9) release marked one hundred years of powered flight, and had only one edition.
The 20 versions, were available in a standard edition and a Professional Edition which included more aircraft, tools and more extensive scenery than the regular version. Microsoft has consistently produced newer versions of the simulation, adding features such as new aircraft types and augmented scenery. Microsoft Flight Simulator reached commercial maturity with version 3.1, and then went on to encompass the use of 3D graphics and graphic hardware acceleration. Meanwhile, Bruce Artwick left subLOGIC to found Bruce Artwick Organisation to work on subsequent Microsoft releases, beginning with Microsoft Flight Simulator 3.0 in 1988. subLOGIC continued to develop the product for other platforms, and their improved Flight Simulator II was ported to Apple II in 1983, to the Commodore 64, MSX and Atari 800 in 1984, and to the Commodore Amiga and Atari ST in 1986.
In the early days of less-than-100% IBM PC compatibles, Flight Simulator was used as an unofficial test of the degree of compatibility of a new PC clone model, along with Lotus 1-2-3. In 1980 subLOGIC released a version for the Tandy TRS-80, and in 1982 they licensed an IBM PC version with CGA graphics to Microsoft, which was released as Microsoft Flight Simulator 1.00. In 1979 subLOGIC released FS1 Flight Simulator for the Apple II.
When the magazine editor said that subscribers wanted to buy the program, Bruce Artwick incorporated a company called subLOGIC Corporation in 1977 and began selling flight simulators for 8080 computers such as the Altair 8800 and IMSAI 8080. Microsoft Flight Simulator began life as a set of articles on computer graphics written by Bruce Artwick in 1976 about a 3D computer graphics program. Microsoft Flight Simulator X will remain available at retail stores and web retailers, the Flight Sim community will continue to learn from and encourage one another, and we remain committed to the Flight Simulator franchise for the long term. This difficult decision was made to align Microsoft’s resources with our strategic priorities. Due to job cuts at Microsoft less of the old development team are still working on FS. It has been reported that Microsoft Flight Simulator may be the longest running PC game series of all time.
One of the longest-running, best-known and most comprehensive home flight simulator series, Microsoft Flight Simulator was an early product in the Microsoft portfolio – different from its other software which were largely business-oriented – and at 25 years it predates Windows by three years. Microsoft Flight simulator is a series of flight simulators, which are a key part of Microsoft's entire company.