Editing Microsoft Flight Simulator 98

{{Short description|1997 video game}}
{{Infobox video game
| title         = Microsoft Flight Simulator 98
| image         = Microsoft Flight Simulator 98 cover.jpg
|caption        = German cover
| developer     = [[Microsoft]]
| publisher     = Microsoft
| designer      = 
| series        = ''[[Microsoft Flight Simulator]]''
| platforms     = [[Microsoft Windows|Windows]]
| released      = {{vgrelease|NA|September 17, 1997<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.pcgamer.com/news/news-1997-09-15.html|title=Releases and Masterings|author=Staff|date=September 17, 1997|magazine=[[PC Gamer]]|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/19980218070511/http://www.pcgamer.com/news/news-1997-09-15.html|archive-date=February 18, 1998|url-status=dead|access-date=December 5, 2019}}<br />"New games continue to hit the shelves every day. Now available: Flight Simulator '98..."</ref>|UK|September 25, 1997<ref>{{Cite news |date=September 25, 1997 |title=PC World - The Latest Games Now Available |pages=14 |work=[[The Independent]] |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/719931996/?terms=%22flight%20simulator%2098%22&match=1 |access-date=December 11, 2023 |quote=''Microsoft Flight Simulator 98'' - New £39.99}}</ref>}}
| genre         = [[Amateur flight simulation]]
| modes         = [[Single-player]]
}}

'''''Microsoft Flight Simulator 98''''', abbreviated commonly as '''''FS98''''', is a flight simulator video game. It was released in September 1997 for [[Microsoft Windows]].

==Gameplay==
''Flight Simulator 98'' (version 6.1) is generally regarded as a "service release", offering minor improvements, with a few notable exceptions: The simulator now also featured a helicopter (the [[Bell 206|Bell 206B III JetRanger]]), as well as a generally improved interface for adding additional aircraft, sceneries, and sounds.

Other new "out of the box" aircraft included a revised [[Cessna 182]] with a photorealistic instrument panel and updated flight model. The primary rationale for updating the 182 was [[Cessna]]'s return to manufacturing that model in the late 1990s. The [[Learjet 45|Learjet Model 45]] business jet was also included, replacing the aging [[Learjet 35]] from earlier versions. The Dynamic Scenery models were also vastly improved. One of the most noticeable improvements in this version was the ability to have independent panels and sounds for every aircraft.

A major expansion of the in-box scenery was also included in this release, including approximately 45 detailed cities (many located outside the United States, some of which had been included in separate scenery enhancement packs), as well as an increase in the modeled airports to over 3000 worldwide, compared with the approximately 300 in earlier versions. This major increase in scenery production was attributable partially to inclusion of the content from previous standalone scenery packs, as well as new contributions by MicroScene, a company in San Ramon, California who had developed several scenery expansions released by Microsoft. The scenery files for ''[[FS95]]'' are forwards compatible with ''FS98''.<ref name="cgw"/>

This release also included support for the [[Microsoft Sidewinder]] Pro Force Feedback joystick, which allowed the player to receive some sensory input from simulated trim forces on the aircraft controls.

This was the first version to take advantage of 3D-graphic cards, through Microsoft's [[DirectX]] technology. With such combination of hardware and software, FS98 not only achieved better performance, but also implemented better haze/visibility effects, "virtual cockpit" views, texture filtering, and sunrise/sunset effects.

==Reception==
{{Video game reviews
| CGW = {{rating|3.5|5}}<ref name="cgw">{{cite magazine |last1=Atkin |first1=Denny |title=3D's the Charm |magazine=[[Computer Gaming World]] |date=December 1997 |issue=161 |pages=374–381 |publisher=[[Ziff Davis]]}}</ref>
| GSpot = 7.9/10<ref name="gspot1">{{cite web |last1=Deemer |first1=Pete |title=Flight Simulator 98 Review for PC |url=https://www.gamespot.com/pc/sim/flightsimulator98/review.html |website=[[GameSpot]] |publisher=[[CBS Interactive]] |access-date=3 October 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20030628201104/https://www.gamespot.com/pc/sim/flightsimulator98/review.html |archive-date=28 June 2003 |date=29 October 1997 |url-status=dead}}</ref>
| PCZone = 94/100<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Mathieson |first1=Dave |title=Reviews - Flight Simulator 98 |journal=[[PC Zone]] |date=October 1997 |issue=55 |pages=98–99}}</ref>
| rev1 = ''[[GameStar]]''
| rev1Score = 76%<ref name="mobyrev">{{cite web |title=Microsoft Flight Simulator 98 Reviews |url=https://www.mobygames.com/game/windows/microsoft-flight-simulator-98/mobyrank |website=[[MobyGames]] |publisher=[[Atari]] |access-date=3 October 2022}}</ref>
| rev2 = Gamezilla
| rev2Score = 89/100<ref>{{cite web |title=Microsoft Flight Simulator 98 by Microsoft |url=https://www.gamezilla.com/reviews/m/msflight98.asp |website=Gamezilla |access-date=3 October 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20011221093547/www.gamezilla.com/reviews/m/msflight98.asp |archive-date=21 December 2001 |url-status=dead}}</ref>
| rev3 = ''[[PC Joker]]''
| rev3Score = 77%<ref name="mobyrev"/>
}}
By November 1997, ''Flight Simulator 98'' had shipped one million units, following its September launch.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://headline.gamespot.com/news/97_11/20_fltsim/index.html |title=Flight Sim Stats |website=headline.gamespot.com |access-date=12 January 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20000304120510/http://headline.gamespot.com/news/97_11/20_fltsim/index.html |archive-date=4 March 2000 |url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name=sales1>{{cite web | author=Staff | title=Flight Sim Stats | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20000304120510/http://headline.gamespot.com/news/97_11/20_fltsim/index.html | url=http://headline.gamespot.com:80/news/97_11/20_fltsim/index.html | archive-date=March 4, 2000 | work=[[GameSpot]] | date=November 20, 1997 | url-status=dead | access-date=August 4, 2019 }}</ref> It received a "Gold" award from the Verband der Unterhaltungssoftware Deutschland (VUD) in August 1998,<ref name=vud1998>{{cite press release | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20000713050154/http://www.vud.de/infopres/cebit98.htm | url=http://www.vud.de:80/infopres/cebit98.htm | title=Uhr TCM Hannover – ein glänzender Event auf der CebitHome | date=August 26, 1998 | publisher=Verband der Unterhaltungssoftware Deutschland | archive-date=July 13, 2000 | language=de | url-status=dead | access-date=January 15, 2020 }}</ref> for sales of at least 100,000 units across Germany, Austria, and Switzerland.<ref name=gameprogold>{{cite magazine | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180718145345/https://www.gamepro.de/artikel/vud-gold-awards-2003,1290773.html | url=https://www.gamepro.de/artikel/vud-gold-awards-2003,1290773.html | title=VUD-Gold-Awards 2003 | author=Horn, Andre | date=January 14, 2004 | magazine=[[GamePro|GamePro Germany]] | archive-date=July 18, 2018 | language=de | url-status=live }}</ref> The VUD raised it to "Platinum" status, indicating 200,000 sales, by November.<ref name=vud1998-2>{{cite press release | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20000610165302/http://www.vud.de/infopres/PM-271198.htm | url=http://www.vud.de:80/infopres/PM-271198.htm | title=Neues aus der Verbandsgeschäftstelle | location=[[Paderborn]] | date=November 27, 1998 | publisher=Verband der Unterhaltungssoftware Deutschland | archive-date=June 10, 2000 | language=de | url-status=dead | access-date=January 15, 2020 }}</ref>

Pete Deemer for [[GameSpot]] said ''"Microsoft Flight Simulator 98 is an impressive feat. With a few exceptions, gone are the glaring flaws of the previous version; coupled with its technological innovations, the sum of the parts is a unique flight experience of unprecedented realism."''.<ref name="gspot1"/>

Denny Atkin for ''[[Computer Gaming World]]'' summarized: ''"Overall, though, this is a worthwhile update for FLIGHT SIMULATOR fans who have fast [[Graphics card|3D cards]]."''<ref name="cgw"/>

Dave Mathieson for ''[[PC Zone]]'' summarized: ''"[...] Flight Sim 98 is the most realistic sim around of any type, and the sheer size of this version, combined with lovely graphics, make it a bit of a must for anyone even remotely interested in flying planes."''

During the [[Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences|AIAS]]' [[1st Annual Interactive Achievement Awards|inaugural Interactive Achievement Awards]], ''Microsoft Flight Simulator 98'' won "[[D.I.C.E. Award for Strategy/Simulation Game of the Year|PC Simulation Game of the Year]]", along with nominations for "Computer Entertainment Title of the Year" and "[[D.I.C.E. Award for Outstanding Technical Achievement|Outstanding Achievement in Software Engineering]]".<ref name="Finalists1998">{{cite web |title=The Award - Updates |url=http://www.interactive.org/html/award/awardupdate.htm |website=Interactive.org |publisher=Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences |access-date=28 December 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/19980615090128fw_/http://www.interactive.org/html/award/awardupdate.htm |archive-date=June 15, 1998 |url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name="Winners1998">{{cite web |title=The Award - Winners |url=http://www.interactive.org/html/award/awardwin98.htm |website=Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences |publisher=Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences |access-date=11 January 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/19980615090115/http://www.interactive.org/html/award/awardwin98.htm |archive-date=June 15, 1998 |url-status=dead}}</ref>

==See also==
*''[[Flight Unlimited II]]''
*''[[Sierra Pro Pilot 98: The Complete Flight Simulator]]''

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
*{{moby game|id=/microsoft-flight-simulator-98}}

{{Microsoft Flight Simulator}}
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[[Category:1997 video games]]
[[Category:Microsoft Flight Simulator]]
[[Category:Single-player video games]]
[[Category:Video games developed in the United States]]
[[Category:Video games set in Europe]]
[[Category:Video games set in the United States]]
[[Category:Windows games]]
[[Category:Windows-only games]]