PCPP: Tell us about the graphics upgrades for this edition. What type of detail can you make out on the ground now?

SF: The game offers players a rich and innovative gaming experience with new technological advancements, incredible graphics and added realism including weather, time of day and seasons. As mentioned in the beginning, the move to DVD has given us greater detail in the base underlying scenery and terrain dramatically increasing the visuals of the surrounding area from a level of 5m per pixel (in FS2004) down to 1m per pixel! There is also much more variation in the automatically generated scenery world-wide. Pilots can watch moving cars and detailed buildings in cities below; traffic on highways; indigenous houses, farmland and livestock; and wildlife in its natural habitats.


PCPP: What does Vista and DirectX 10 allow that wouldn't have been possible in previous games?

SF: The new Vista operating system brings several new features designed to enhance the PC gaming experience.

· An entirely new UI
· The Vista Games Explorer – connecting users and friends at the O/S level before entering a specific game
· Improved parental controls limiting online and single player game access and duration

Direct X 10 will be the quantum leap in visual experience that will drive player immersion to an entirely new level. In addition to the immense visual improvements in FSX under Direct X 9, the added power of the new Direct X 10 hardware and software will launch FSX users into the most immersive experience ever!


PCPP: Tell us about some of the new missions that you have added to the mix. What type of challenges do you have lined?

SF: Missions will span a wide variety of skills, aircraft, duration, and geographic locations across eight different categories.

· Tutorials
· Just for Fun
· Challenges
· Backcountry
· The Good Life
· Pilot for Hire
· Airline Pilot
· Emergency

At the beginner level, missions will feature the more easy to fly aircraft and focus on developing the fundamental skills to increase success and enjoyment. Some of the more favourite beginner missions include the Flour Power mission, the Sitka Approach, and the introduction to soaring. The intermediate missions will feature a variety of challenges such as air show events and completing real-world tasks. Favourite Intermediate mission include Find the Missing Elephant, Helicopter Manoeuvres – Part 1, and the Loopy Larry challenge.

Advanced missions are designed to recreate "real world" pilot activities and challenges such as search and rescue, airline flights, and backcountry "bush flying." Some of the favourite Advanced challenges include the Foul Weather Water Rescue, the 747 Test Flight, and the Monsoon Approach. Expert missions will push virtual and real pilots to the limits of their skills with true tests against the most difficult of challenges. Think you're good? Fly the Red Bull Air Race Challenge or the Oil Rig Transport mission. Best of luck!