1980s
Microsoft Flight Simulator
1982 · Simulation · PC/DOS
Overview
Microsoft Flight Simulator is a classic 1980s simulation game developed by Bruce Artwick / subLOGIC for PC/DOS.
Deep Dive
Microsoft Flight Simulator is a classic 1980s simulation game developed by Bruce Artwick / subLOGIC for PC/DOS.
Developer Story
Microsoft Flight Simulator was originally developed by subLOGIC and programmer Bruce Artwick, who created it as a technical demonstration of 3D graphics rendering for early personal computers. Microsoft licensed the FS1 Flight Simulator in 1982. It became the longest-running software franchise in Microsoft's history and is still published today. Artwick was one of the first programmers to create real-time 3D rendering on consumer hardware.
Did You Know?
- Flight Simulator was originally a technical demo to show off the 3D graphics capabilities of the Apple II — a product became from a capability demonstration.
- Microsoft's version has been continuously published since 1982, making it one of the longest-running software products in history.
- The game was used as a benchmark for computer hardware performance for years — if a machine ran Flight Simulator smoothly, it was considered fast.
- Early versions were used by actual student pilots for familiarisation training, a real-world application no other game could claim.
