Editing Microsoft Flight Simulator 2002

{{Short description|2001 video game}}
{{Infobox video game
| title = Microsoft Flight Simulator 2002
| image = Microsoft Flight Simulator 2002 cover.jpg
| alt = 
| caption = 
| developer = [[Microsoft]]
| publisher = Microsoft
| producer = Ken Lavering
| designer = Carl Edlund
| artist = Rick Welsh<br>Jason Waskey
| series = ''[[Microsoft Flight Simulator]]''
| engine = 
| platforms = [[Windows]]
| released = {{vgrelease|NA|October 23, 2001<ref>{{Cite web |last=Walker |first=Trey |date=October 23, 2001 |title=Flight Simulator 2002 in stores |url=http://gamespot.com/gamespot/stories/news/0,10870,2819711,00.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20011108021904/http://gamespot.com/gamespot/stories/news/0,10870,2819711,00.html |archive-date=November 8, 2001 |access-date=December 11, 2023 |website=[[GameSpot]]}}</ref>|EU|October 26, 2001}}
| genre = [[Amateur flight simulation]]
| modes = [[Single-player]], [[multiplayer]]
}}

'''''Microsoft Flight Simulator 2002''''', also known as '''''FS2002''''', is a video game released in October 2001, and is the 8th installment of the ''[[Microsoft Flight Simulator]]'' video game series. A version called ''Professional Edition'' was released at the same time as standard edition that added two aircraft, a [[flight instructor]] feature, and an [[Game development tool|editor]] to create buildings and aircraft.

==Gameplay==
{{unreferenced section|date=July 2020}}
[[File:FS2002.png|'''FS2002 (8.0) ''' – Autogen allowed the environment throughout the world to be true to its surroundings. A Cessna C172SP Skyhawk above the default Meigs Field Airport in Chicago.|thumb|right]]

FS2002 (8.0) improved vastly over previous versions. In addition to improved graphics, FS2002 introduced [[air traffic control]] (ATC) and [[artificial intelligence]] (AI) aircraft enabling users to fly alongside computer controlled aircraft and communicate with airports. An option for a target framerate was added, enabling a cap on the framerate to reduce stutter while performing texture loading and other maintenance tasks. In addition, aircraft feature a 3D virtual cockpit, creating in effect a view of the cockpit from the viewpoint of a real pilot. The external view also featured an inertia effect, inducing an illusion of movement in a realistic physical environment.

== Alterations due to September 11 attacks ==
Microsoft removed the scenery of the [[World Trade Center (1973–2001)|original World Trade Center]] from the game to respect the [[Casualties of the September 11 attacks|victims]] of the [[September 11 attacks]] shortly before it was released.<ref>{{Cite web|title=World Trade Centre to be removed from MS Flight Simulator|url=https://www.theregister.com/2001/09/17/world_trade_centre/|access-date=2020-08-19|website=www.theregister.com|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=CNN.com - Microsoft to alter 'Flight Simulator' game - September 14, 2001|url=https://www.cnn.com/2001/TECH/ptech/09/14/microsoft.flight.sim/|access-date=2020-08-19|website=www.cnn.com}}</ref>

==Reception==
===Sales===
In the United States, ''Flight Simulator 2002'' debuted at #12 on [[NPD Intelect]]'s computer game sales rankings for October 2001, at an average retail price of $70.<ref name=oct2001>{{cite web | archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20011202103635/http://gamespot.com/gamespot/stories/news/0,10870,2828791,00.html | url=http://gamespot.com:80/gamespot/stories/news/0,10870,2828791,00.html | title=''Hot Date'' holds off ''Harry Potter'' | author=Walker, Trey | date=November 29, 2001 | archivedate=December 2, 2001 | work=[[GameSpot]] | url-status=dead | access-date=April 3, 2020 }}</ref> It was absent from the top 20 by November.<ref name=nov2001>{{cite web | archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20020213013550/http://gamespot.com/gamespot/stories/news/0,10870,2833845,00.html | url=http://gamespot.com:80/gamespot/stories/news/0,10870,2833845,00.html | title=''Hot Date'' rules November | author=Walker, Trey | date=December 19, 2001 | work=[[GameSpot]] | archivedate=February 13, 2002 | url-status=dead | access-date=April 3, 2020 }}</ref> By the end of 2001, the game's domestic sales totaled 130,954 units, for revenues of $9 million.<ref name=2001nyu>{{cite web | archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20040619191112/https://cat.nyu.edu/current/news/media/marklesimcity.pdf | url=https://cat.nyu.edu/current/news/media/marklesimcity.pdf | title=Markle Forum on Children and Media | author=Bradshaw, Lucy | authorlink=Lucy Bradshaw (game developer) | date=January 31, 2002 | publisher=[[New York University]] | archivedate=June 19, 2004 | url-status=live }}</ref> Internationally, the game received a "Silver" sales award from the [[Entertainment and Leisure Software Publishers Association]] (ELSPA),<ref name=silverelspa>{{cite web |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20090221154943/http://www.elspa.com/?i=3942 |url=http://www.elspa.com:80/?i=3942 |title=ELSPA Sales Awards: Silver |work=[[Entertainment and Leisure Software Publishers Association]] |archivedate=February 21, 2009 |url-status=dead }}</ref> indicating sales of at least 100,000 copies in the United Kingdom.<ref name=gamasutrasales>{{cite web|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20170918063107/https://www.gamasutra.com/view/news/112220/ELSPA_Wii_Fit_Mario_Kart_Reach_Diamond_Status_In_UK.php |url=https://www.gamasutra.com/view/news/112220/ELSPA_Wii_Fit_Mario_Kart_Reach_Diamond_Status_In_UK.php |title=ELSPA: ''Wii Fit'', ''Mario Kart'' Reach Diamond Status In UK | author=Caoili, Eric | date=November 26, 2008 |work=[[Gamasutra]] |archivedate=September 18, 2017 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

===Reviews and awards===
''Flight Simulator 2002'' won ''[[PC Gamer US]]''{{'}}s 2001 "Best Simulation" and the [[Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences]]' "[[D.I.C.E. Award for Strategy/Simulation Game of the Year|PC Simulation]]" awards.<ref name=aias2001>{{cite press release |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20020306070041/http://www.interactive.org/newsandevents.asp |url=http://www.interactive.org:80/newsandevents.asp |title=Academy of Interactive Arts and Sciences Announces Recipients of Fifth Annual Interactive Achievement Awards |date=March 1, 2002 |publisher=[[Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences]] |archivedate=March 6, 2002 |url-status=dead |location=[[Las Vegas]] }}</ref><ref name=pcgamerusawards2002>{{cite journal |date=March 2002 | title=The Eighth Annual ''PC Gamer'' Awards | volume=9 | number=3 | pages=32, 33, 36, 36, 37, 40, 42 | journal=[[PC Gamer US]] | author=Staff }}</ref> The former publication's editors wrote that the game "narrowly prevailed" against ''[[IL-2 Sturmovik (video game)|IL-2 Sturmovik]]'', and commented that its winning despite having no "guns, missiles or explosive pyrotechnic effects of any kind is remarkable testimony of the bleeding-edge quality of Microsoft's benchmark product."<ref name=pcgamerusawards2002 /> ''[[Computer Games Magazine]]'', ''[[EP Daily|The Electric Playground]]'' and ''[[Computer Gaming World]]'' all nominated ''Flight Simulator 2002'' as the top simulation of 2001, but these awards went instead to ''IL-2 Sturmovik''.<ref name=blister2001>{{cite web | archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20031013014200/http://www.elecplay.com/feature.html?article=8152&page=1#mr_toppy | url=http://www.elecplay.com:80/feature.html?article=8152&page=1#mr_toppy | title=Blister Awards 2001 | author=Staff | archivedate=October 13, 2003 | work=[[EP Daily|The Electric Playground]] | url-status=dead | access-date=April 3, 2020 }}</ref><ref name=cgwpremier2001>{{cite magazine | author=((Editors of ''Computer Gaming World'' ))| magazine=[[Computer Gaming World]] | title=Games of the Year; The Very Best of a (Sometimes) Great Year in Gaming |date=April 2002 | issue=213 | pages=69–73, 76–84 }}</ref><ref name=cgm11th>{{cite journal | author=Staff | journal=[[Computer Games Magazine]] | title=11th Annual ''Computer Games'' Awards |date=March 2002 | issue=136 | pages=50–56 }}</ref> ''Computer Gaming World''{{'}}s editors called ''Flight Simulator 2002'' "an excellent iteration of the esteemed series," and a game that "took on the daunting task of increasing the detail level of the entire world at least a hundredfold."<ref name=cgwpremier2001 />

==Reviews==
*[[GameSpot]] - Nov 07, 2001
*[[Computer Gaming World]] - Feb, 2002
*[[Jeuxvideo.com]] - Nov 26, 2001
*[[IGROMANIA]] - Jan, 2002

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
*[https://www.mobygames.com/game/microsoft-flight-simulator-2002 ''Microsoft Flight Simulator 2002''] at [[MobyGames]]
*[https://www.mobygames.com/game/microsoft-flight-simulator-2002-professional-edition ''Microsoft Flight Simulator 2002: Professional Edition''] at MobyGames

{{Microsoft Flight Simulator}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:2001 video games]]
[[Category:Impact of the September 11 attacks on the video game industry]]
[[Category:Microsoft Flight Simulator]]
[[Category:Multiplayer and single-player video games]]
[[Category:Video games developed in the United States]]
[[Category:Windows games]]
[[Category:Windows-only games]]