Flight Simulation (Psion software)
{{Short description|1982 video game}}
{{Infobox video game
| title = Flight Simulation
| image = Psion Flight Simulation cover.jpg
| caption =
| developer = Psion
| publisher = Sinclair Research
| designer = Charles Davies
| series =
| engine =
| platforms = ZX81, ZX Spectrum, Timex Sinclair 1000
| released = 1982{{Cite web|url=http://www.zx81stuff.org.uk/zx81/info.php?path=/zx81&sub=inlays&root=FlightSimulation&file=.Inside.jpg|title=ZX81 tape Flight Simulation by Sinclair Research}}
| genre = Flight simulation
| modes = Single-player
}}
Flight Simulation is a flight simulation program written by Psion and marketed by Sinclair Research for the ZX Spectrum and ZX81 home computers.
In the United States, Timex Sinclair marketed the ZX81 version as The Flight Simulator for the American version of the ZX81, the Timex Sinclair 1000.{{cite web|url=http://www.zx81stuff.org.uk/zx81/generated/tapeinfo/f/FlightSimulatorThe.html |title=ZX81 Cassette Tape Information for Flight Simulator, The |publisher=Zx81stuff.org.uk |date= |accessdate=2012-06-13}} It was also marketed as Flug-Simulation in Germany{{Cite web|url=http://www.zx81stuff.org.uk/zx81/info.php?path=/zx81&sub=inlays&root=FlugSimulation&file=.Cover.jpg|title=ZX81 tape Flug-Simulation by Sinclair Research}} and Simulador De Vuelo in Spain.{{cite web|url=https://spectrumcomputing.co.uk/index.php?cat=96&id=0001797|title=Flight Simulation|accessdate=2021-04-24}}
Gameplay
The program simulated the essential aspects of "a highly-manoeuvrable light aircraft"{{cite web|url=http://www.zx81stuff.org.uk/zx81/showmag.php?mag=SinclairUser/Issue004/Pages/SinclairUser00400054.jpg |title=Magazine Page Scan from World of Spectrum |publisher=Zx81stuff.org.uk |date= |accessdate=2012-06-13}} in flight.{{cite web|url=http://www.zx81stuff.org.uk/zx81/generated/tapeinfo/f/FlightSimulation.html |title=ZX81 Cassette Tape Information for Flight Simulation |publisher=Zx81stuff.org.uk |date= |accessdate=2012-06-13}} Despite the limitations of the ZX81, it offered a basic graphical view of the instrumentation and view through the front window, as well as navigational aids and a full-perspective moving view of the final runway approach.{{Cite web|url=http://www.zx81stuff.org.uk/zx81/info.php?path=/zx81&sub=inlays&root=FlightSimulation&file=.Cover.jpg|title = ZX81 tape Flight Simulation by Sinclair Research}}
Reception
The ZX81 version received positive reviews. Popular Computing Weekly said "No words can do justice to this most elegant of programs ... You will not see a better computer game till Psion produce one for the Spectrum".{{Cite FTP |url=ftp://ftp.worldofspectrum.org/pub/sinclair/games-inlays/f/FlightSimulation.jpg |server=ftp.worldofspectrum.org |url-status=dead |title=FTP link }}{{Cite web |url=http://icemark.net/zx/SSD-III/servlet/ssd/title/exact/Flight%20Simulation/instructions |title=SSD: Flight Simulation (Instructions) |access-date=2012-06-13 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130221154228/http://icemark.net/zx/SSD-III/servlet/ssd/title/exact/Flight%20Simulation/instructions |archive-date=2013-02-21 |url-status=dead }} ZX Computing called the program "superb", stating that it made "very good use of the power and the graphics of the ZX81".{{Cite web|url=http://www.worldofspectrum.org/showmag.cgi?mag=ZXComputing/Issue8210/Pages/ZXComputing821000074.jpg|title=ZX Computing}}
The ZX Spectrum version also received good reviews at the time of its release in early 1983. Tony Bridge of Popular Computing Weekly said the program "the best of its type" and that the Spectrum version was even more stunning than the original.{{cite magazine |title=Sinclair's Little Mascot|magazine=Popular Computing Weekly |volume=2|issue=9 |publisher=Sunshine Publications |date=3 March 1983|page=12|url=https://spectrumcomputing.co.uk/page.php?issue_id=2744&page=12|author=Tony Bridge|access-date=24 April 2020}} Malcolm Jay of ZX Computing said the program was superb but complained about the limited instructions, suggesting "would-be Spectrum pilots should obtain a book on flying from their local library".{{Cite web|url=http://www.worldofspectrum.org/showmag.cgi?mag=ZXComputing/Issue8306/Pages/ZXComputing830600042.jpg|title=ZX Computing}} Eight years later Your Sinclair magazine considered that it had not dated well.{{Cite web|url=http://www.worldofspectrum.org/showmag.cgi?mag=YourSinclair/Issue58/Pages/YourSinclair5800029.jpg|title = Your Sinclair}}
Both versions of Flight Simulation became the best selling program for their respective machines with the ZX81 version reaching number 1 in February 1983{{cite magazine |title=Top 10|magazine=Popular Computing Weekly |volume=2|issue=8 |publisher=Sunshine Publications |date=24 February 1983|page=31|url=https://spectrumcomputing.co.uk/page.php?issue_id=2743&page=39|access-date=24 April 2020}} and the Spectrum version reaching the top of the Spectrum charts in May.{{cite magazine |title=Top 10|magazine=Popular Computing Weekly |volume=2|issue=21 |publisher=Sunshine Publications |date=26 May 1983|page=55|url=https://spectrumcomputing.co.uk/page.php?issue_id=2756&page=55|access-date=24 April 2020}} Both versions were still in their machine's top ten chart over a year later.{{cite magazine |title=Top 10|magazine=Popular Computing Weekly |volume=3|issue=21 |publisher=Sunshine Publications |date=24 May 1984|page=54|url=https://spectrumcomputing.co.uk/page.php?issue_id=2807&page=54|access-date=24 April 2020}} David Potter, Psion's managing director, stated the game had sold around 250,000 copies in an interview in the January 1984 issue of Your Spectrum.{{cite magazine |title=Circe|magazine=Your Spectrum|issue=1|publisher=Sportscene Specialist Press|date=January 1984|page=97|url=https://archive.org/details/your-spectrum-magazine-01/page/n97|access-date=31 May 2024}}
{{multiple image
| align = left
| width = 288
| footer = Main viewing screen on ZX81 version (left) and runway approach on ZX Spectrum version (right)
| image1 = Psion Flight Simulation on ZX81.png
| alt1 = Main viewing screen on ZX81 version
| image2 = Psion Flight Simulation on ZX Spectrum.png
| alt2 = Runway approach on ZX Spectrum version
}}
{{clear}}
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- {{WoS game|id=0001797}}
- [http://www.zx81stuff.org.uk/zx81/tape/FlightSimulation Flight Simulation] ZX81 Collection entry with the original inlay scan and program listing. An emulator is available on the site to play the game online.
Category:General flight simulators
Category:Single-player video games