Combat Flight Simulator WWII Europe Series
Encyclopedia
Combat Flight Simulator World War II Europe Series (CFS1) is the first version of combat flight simulator
s from Microsoft Game Studios
, released November 1, 1998. CFS1 is set in the European Theater
of World War II
.
were actually a preview of Microsoft Flight Simulator 2000 (FS2000), and NOT Flight Simulator 98 (FS98) as many believed. Combat Flight Simulator could incorporate scenery from either Microsoft Flight Simulator 98 or 3rd party scenery and also numerous 3rd party developed add ons were created. CFS1 is designed with an Open architecture
so that third party
Add-ons can be devolved without risk of violating copyright infringement
laws. The CFS1 ground scenery was very limited and used .BMP files for the entire ground so many designers expanded this game with Freeware
to encompass: World flight; Hundreds of Flyable Aircraft; Varied flight utilities; and many other additional files and upgrades for this game. Several websites are devoted to the free distribution of these add-ons. Online multiplayer games are posted at Tradeip Flightboard Network (see 'external links' below). Internet play is very possible with only a dial-up connection, and broadband connection works very well.
CFS4 was on the drawing board, and Microsoft
even hired designers for this game, or at least were recruiting them when the plug was pulled on the series due to lack of interest in CFS2 and CFS3, coupled with the growing capabilities and popularity of CFS1's main rival IL-2 and its upgrade packages.
Online multiplayer in 2008- amazingly, there is still a small but dedicated community who fly together online. They can be found at Sim Outhouse http://www.sim-outhouse.com/ under the CFS1 forum. Games can be set up for direct play via IP address, either through forums, or using Trade IP (see 'External Links' below). There is also a replacement for the now-defunct CFS1 area of Microsoft's Gaming Zone: the World Gaming Centre http://wgcenter.com/ cd-ROM client software (this requires that you install Microsoft's ".Net framework").
Microsoft
currently only produces Microsoft Flight Simulator
, the latest being Flight Simulator Ten
(FSX) the tenth version of the commercial flight simulator from Microsoft
.
Flight simulator
A flight simulator is a device that artificially re-creates aircraft flight and various aspects of the flight environment. This includes the equations that govern how aircraft fly, how they react to applications of their controls and other aircraft systems, and how they react to the external...
s from Microsoft Game Studios
Microsoft Game Studios
Microsoft Studios is the video game production wing for Microsoft, responsible for the development and publishing of games for the Xbox, Xbox 360, Games for Windows and Windows Phone platforms. They were established in 2002 as Microsoft Game Studios to coincide with the release of the Xbox, before...
, released November 1, 1998. CFS1 is set in the European Theater
European Theatre of World War II
The European Theatre of World War II was a huge area of heavy fighting across Europe from Germany's invasion of Poland on September 1, 1939 until the end of the war with the German unconditional surrender on May 8, 1945...
of World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
.
Game design
CFS1 utilized a new flight sim engine when it was released in 1998, with superior graphics. The graphics and game engineGame engine
A game engine is a system designed for the creation and development of video games. There are many game engines that are designed to work on video game consoles and personal computers...
were actually a preview of Microsoft Flight Simulator 2000 (FS2000), and NOT Flight Simulator 98 (FS98) as many believed. Combat Flight Simulator could incorporate scenery from either Microsoft Flight Simulator 98 or 3rd party scenery and also numerous 3rd party developed add ons were created. CFS1 is designed with an Open architecture
Open architecture
Open architecture is a type of computer architecture or software architecture that allows adding, upgrading and swapping components. For example, the IBM PC and Apple IIe have an open architecture, whereas the Apple IIc and Amiga 500 computers have a closed architecture...
so that third party
Third-party software component
In computer programming, a third-party software component is a reusable software component developed to be either freely distributed or sold by an entity other than the original vendor of the development platform...
Add-ons can be devolved without risk of violating copyright infringement
Copyright infringement
Copyright infringement is the unauthorized or prohibited use of works under copyright, infringing the copyright holder's exclusive rights, such as the right to reproduce or perform the copyrighted work, or to make derivative works.- "Piracy" :...
laws. The CFS1 ground scenery was very limited and used .BMP files for the entire ground so many designers expanded this game with Freeware
Freeware
Freeware is computer software that is available for use at no cost or for an optional fee, but usually with one or more restricted usage rights. Freeware is in contrast to commercial software, which is typically sold for profit, but might be distributed for a business or commercial purpose in the...
to encompass: World flight; Hundreds of Flyable Aircraft; Varied flight utilities; and many other additional files and upgrades for this game. Several websites are devoted to the free distribution of these add-ons. Online multiplayer games are posted at Tradeip Flightboard Network (see 'external links' below). Internet play is very possible with only a dial-up connection, and broadband connection works very well.
CFS1 today
CFS1 is out of print but still available on various internet sales outlets.CFS4 was on the drawing board, and Microsoft
Microsoft
Microsoft Corporation is an American public multinational corporation headquartered in Redmond, Washington, USA that develops, manufactures, licenses, and supports a wide range of products and services predominantly related to computing through its various product divisions...
even hired designers for this game, or at least were recruiting them when the plug was pulled on the series due to lack of interest in CFS2 and CFS3, coupled with the growing capabilities and popularity of CFS1's main rival IL-2 and its upgrade packages.
Online multiplayer in 2008- amazingly, there is still a small but dedicated community who fly together online. They can be found at Sim Outhouse http://www.sim-outhouse.com/ under the CFS1 forum. Games can be set up for direct play via IP address, either through forums, or using Trade IP (see 'External Links' below). There is also a replacement for the now-defunct CFS1 area of Microsoft's Gaming Zone: the World Gaming Centre http://wgcenter.com/ cd-ROM client software (this requires that you install Microsoft's ".Net framework").
Microsoft
Microsoft
Microsoft Corporation is an American public multinational corporation headquartered in Redmond, Washington, USA that develops, manufactures, licenses, and supports a wide range of products and services predominantly related to computing through its various product divisions...
currently only produces Microsoft Flight Simulator
Microsoft Flight Simulator
Microsoft Flight Simulator is a series of flight simulator programs for the Microsoft Windows operating system, although it was marketed as a video game. It is one of the longest-running, best-known and most comprehensive home flight simulator series...
, the latest being Flight Simulator Ten
Microsoft Flight Simulator X
Microsoft Flight Simulator X, also known as FSX, is the latest version of Microsoft Flight Simulator after Microsoft Flight Simulator 2004...
(FSX) the tenth version of the commercial flight simulator from Microsoft
Microsoft
Microsoft Corporation is an American public multinational corporation headquartered in Redmond, Washington, USA that develops, manufactures, licenses, and supports a wide range of products and services predominantly related to computing through its various product divisions...
.
Games in the series
- Combat Flight Simulator WWII Europe Series (1998) by Microsoft Game StudiosMicrosoft Game StudiosMicrosoft Studios is the video game production wing for Microsoft, responsible for the development and publishing of games for the Xbox, Xbox 360, Games for Windows and Windows Phone platforms. They were established in 2002 as Microsoft Game Studios to coincide with the release of the Xbox, before...
- Combat Flight Simulator 2: WWII Pacific Theater (2000) by Microsoft Game StudiosMicrosoft Game StudiosMicrosoft Studios is the video game production wing for Microsoft, responsible for the development and publishing of games for the Xbox, Xbox 360, Games for Windows and Windows Phone platforms. They were established in 2002 as Microsoft Game Studios to coincide with the release of the Xbox, before...
- Combat Flight Simulator 3: Battle for EuropeCombat Flight Simulator 3: Battle for EuropeCombat Flight Simulator 3: Battle for Europe , is the latest installment of combat flight simulators from Microsoft Game Studios, released in 2002. The game is more or less a heavily updated version of the first , offering a far wider range of options to the player...
(2002) by Microsoft Game StudiosMicrosoft Game StudiosMicrosoft Studios is the video game production wing for Microsoft, responsible for the development and publishing of games for the Xbox, Xbox 360, Games for Windows and Windows Phone platforms. They were established in 2002 as Microsoft Game Studios to coincide with the release of the Xbox, before...