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Hardware

Dinosaur Sighting: Microsoft Flight Simulator for the IBM PC Jr.

By Mark W. Kaelin August 22, 2008, 1:55 AM PDT

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Dinosaur Sighting: Microsoft Flight Simulator for the IBM PC Jr.

Flight Plan

Flight Plan

ntOne of the first “killer” game applications for what was then the nascent personal computer gaming market in 1983, was Microsoft Flight Simulator. While the graphics weren’t spectacular by today’s standards, they were graphics; which were a change from what had come before. With the IBM PC Jr. up and running, it turned out to be a good time to take a look at this dinosaur application.

n

ntThis gallery was originally published in August 2008.

Dinosaur Sighting: Microsoft Flight Simulator for the IBM PC Jr.

One floppy to rule them all

One floppy to rule them all

If there is one thing that emphasizes the difference between then and now it is how much storage media is needed to load a game. For this version of Microsoft Flight Simulator it is one low-density 5 1/4 floppy.

Dinosaur Sighting: Microsoft Flight Simulator for the IBM PC Jr.

How to fly

How to fly

Before you can fly a simulated airplane you have learn how to fly.

Dinosaur Sighting: Microsoft Flight Simulator for the IBM PC Jr.

Where to land

Where to land

You also have to know how to find an airport so you can land. This is a simulation – you can’t just land anywhere.

Dinosaur Sighting: Microsoft Flight Simulator for the IBM PC Jr.

Flight plan

Flight plan

Notice the table of coordinates. You can input those into your instruments and fly on autopilot.

Dinosaur Sighting: Microsoft Flight Simulator for the IBM PC Jr.

License to fly

License to fly

The box claims that Flight Simulator is so realistic I might just have to get a license. Funny, I have heard that Doom was so realistic that I might qualify as a mass-murderer.

Just a note to the oblivious — neither is correct.

Dinosaur Sighting: Microsoft Flight Simulator for the IBM PC Jr.

Opening screen

Opening screen

You put the Microsoft Flight Simulator into the floppy disk drive and turn on the IBM PC Jr. and this is what you see.

Before you can fly you have to answer a few questions. RGB — that’s us.

Dinosaur Sighting: Microsoft Flight Simulator for the IBM PC Jr.

Resolution

Resolution

One this old monitor, the high resolution, four color display looks the best.

Dinosaur Sighting: Microsoft Flight Simulator for the IBM PC Jr.

Demo mode

Demo mode

Since I was taking photos, I chose Demo Mode.

Dinosaur Sighting: Microsoft Flight Simulator for the IBM PC Jr.

Chicklet treatment

Chicklet treatment

The chicklet IR keyboard that came standard with the IBM PC Jr. has to be compensated for.

Dinosaur Sighting: Microsoft Flight Simulator for the IBM PC Jr.

That's right - 40 minutes

That's right - 40 minutes

The demo has you taking off from an airport in metropolitan New York (correction Chicago) to see the sights, including the game’s representation of the World Trade Center.

Dinosaur Sighting: Microsoft Flight Simulator for the IBM PC Jr.

Clear for takeoff

Clear for takeoff

This is our starting position. Give it throttle and down the runway we go.

Dinosaur Sighting: Microsoft Flight Simulator for the IBM PC Jr.

Chocks away

Chocks away

We are moving – get up to speed and pull back on the stick – gently!

Dinosaur Sighting: Microsoft Flight Simulator for the IBM PC Jr.

Up, up and away

Up, up and away

We are off the ground looking back at the airfield.

Dinosaur Sighting: Microsoft Flight Simulator for the IBM PC Jr.

Looking good

Looking good

We ascend into the sky, just crossing 1000 feet now.

Dinosaur Sighting: Microsoft Flight Simulator for the IBM PC Jr.

World Trade Towers

World Trade Towers

In the distance the John Hancock Building looms.

Dinosaur Sighting: Microsoft Flight Simulator for the IBM PC Jr.

Around the tower

Around the tower

The demo is taking us around the John Hancock Building. We are circling around heading east looking out the right side window.

Dinosaur Sighting: Microsoft Flight Simulator for the IBM PC Jr.

The ocean

The ocean

Out the other window we see open ocean.

Dinosaur Sighting: Microsoft Flight Simulator for the IBM PC Jr.

Banking

Banking

Just like a real airplane, we bank when we turn.

Dinosaur Sighting: Microsoft Flight Simulator for the IBM PC Jr.

More banking

More banking

Note the red building out our right window. Is that the Sears Tower?

Dinosaur Sighting: Microsoft Flight Simulator for the IBM PC Jr.

Heading back

Heading back

We have made our 180 degree turn around the John Hancock Building and are now heading back toward the airport.

Dinosaur Sighting: Microsoft Flight Simulator for the IBM PC Jr.

Change it up

Change it up

Not only could you simulate flying, you can simulate weather conditions, time of day, and Europe 1917.

Dinosaur Sighting: Microsoft Flight Simulator for the IBM PC Jr.

Red Baraon

Red Baraon

The 1917 dog fight scenario was one of my favorites. I had several strategies for surviving my infiltration into enemy territory.

Dinosaur Sighting: Microsoft Flight Simulator for the IBM PC Jr.

Strange

Strange

Strangely enough, the cockpit of a 1917 warplane is very similar to that of a modern day Cessna.

Dinosaur Sighting: Microsoft Flight Simulator for the IBM PC Jr.

Machine guns - cool

Machine guns - cool

Not sure how well you can see it, but I just fired my machine guns – a hunting we will go…

Dinosaur Sighting: Microsoft Flight Simulator for the IBM PC Jr.

Sights

Sights

Now you can see some tracer rounds passing through the gun sights.

I have fond memories of Microsoft Flight Simulator, but after a short time the simulation got repetitive. From here I graduated to military strategy games and started expanding my horizons for personal computer generated entertainment.

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By Mark W. Kaelin
Mark W. Kaelin has been writing and editing stories about the information technology industry, gadgets, finance, accounting, and tech-life for more than 25 years. Most recently, he has been a regular contributor to BreakingModern.com, aNewDomain.net,
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