PCPP: What is your favourite mission? Why?

SF: Tough one! For quick sessions or low complexity, you can’t beat the Flour Power (dropping flour bombs on targets) and Loopy Larry (landing a Piper Cub on a moving Bus).
For more advanced challenge and high speed action, I'll have to say the Red Bull Air Race challenge and its endless addictive replay! It is one thing to complete the course. But once done, you will forever be trying to beat your best time (or the times of your friends!)


PCPP: What do you think will impress people the most about FSX?

SF: I would have to say:

· Ease of entry for users of all skills and interests. This certainly will be the easiest to use and friendliest version ever – a must for the entire family!
· The visuals
· The variety of game play from free flight, to missions and tutorials, and collaborative online fun.
· The pure global adventure


PCPP: What element in FSX have you become hooked on? In other words what features would make it hard to go back to number nine?

SF:
· The out-the-window experience
· The mission play. Ok, the Red Bull Air Race!
· The enhanced fidelity in the cockpit (and G1000!)
· The new online features between shared cockpit and ATC/Tower controller


PCPP: What new features do you have for the modding community?

SF: Flight Simulator X will be a very exciting release for third party developers. We are introducing a brand new API programming environment specifically for Flight Simulator and designed to integrate all the areas of the product. More power, more coverage, less complexity!
The Missions will be extensible so the community at large can create new missions, extensions to the in-the-box challenges, or entire new expansion themes!
For the first time, we will be shipping the SDK in-the-box. We have invested heavily in the process of supporting our developers including a dedicated technical writer on staff, advanced disclosure of new features to better prepare developers for initial launch, advanced details on the architectures, and the commitment to update the development environment from our web (www.fsinsider.com) on a regular basis.



For more on Flight Simulator X, be sure to check out our review in PCPP#132, on sale October 18.