A Trip Down Memory Card Lane Ep.62 – The Thrill of Flying: Microsoft Flight Simulator and its Evolution of Virtual Flight
Nov 4, 2021
Discover the fascinating journey of Microsoft Flight Simulator, starting from its humble beginnings in 1982 with wireframe graphics. The hosts delve into each game's evolution, highlighting advancements in realism, weather simulation, and multiplayer experiences. Learn how cloud technology and AI-driven 3D world generation transformed virtual flight in the 2020 revival. They also share personal flight experiences, from buzzing landmarks to long-distance journeys. Join them as they celebrate this iconic series and its groundbreaking legacy in gaming.
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Cloud AI Powers A Living World
- Microsoft Flight Simulator 2020 uses cloud AI and Bing Maps to generate a near-photorealistic 3D world on demand.
- The game streams processed terrain, building, and tree models from Azure to enable global exploration.
Real-Time Weather And Traffic Integration
- Flight Simulator can ingest real-time weather and air-traffic data to mirror current conditions in-game.
- That enabled players to fly into live storms and helped devs refine weather simulation after real-world tests.
Flying Into A Simulated Hurricane
- David recounts flying into Hurricane Laura's simulated conditions in the new Flight Simulator.
- The experience lacked full realism but provided unique insights that guided subsequent weather tweaks.
