Microsoft Combat Flight Simulator 3: Battle for Europe

DRAFT LAUNCH MEDIA RELEASE

October 2002

With Combat Flight Simulator 3: Battle for Europe, players can experience the excitement of being a World War II combat pilot over Europe, with the most detailed and immersive WWII combat flight simulation ever.

Wartime “Mavericks” can support the front line or battle for air supremacy over the skies of Europe as Dynamic Campaigns and missions drop you directly in the heat of battle, where your tactics determine success or failure.

Continuing its tradition in air combat simulation excellence, Combat Flight Simulator 3 returns to the WWII European Theatre. Set in Europe from 1943 to the end of the war, players take dynamically generated missions that build cumulatively from previous missions, placing the entire campaign’s fate in players’ own hands.

Players can enlist and fly for the US Army Air Force, the RAF or the Luftwaffe. With an emphasis on tactical air power, missions will focus on air superiority, close air support and tactical bombing, while the flexible campaign style of gameplay allows players’ actions to influence events, alter history and extend the timeline to add a new technological arsenal.

Take to the skies in one of 18 aircraft plus 16 variants, each with full feature 3D cockpits from the late war period, including the German Me-109 and the Ju-88 as well as America’s Curtiss XP 55 Ascender and P-51B and D Mustang. Fly in multi-position bombers and switch between pilot, gunner or bombardier positions, or choose ultramodern aircraft that barely made it into action.

Microsoft Product Manager, Richard Hirst, said, “Combat Flight Simulator 3 features a greater emphasis on on-the-ground action this time around, its spectacular new graphics engine designed specifically to show off highly detailed, enhanced 3D models and textures while flying in fast, low-altitude action. Combat Flight Simulator 3 is definitely the most immersive WWII PC combat flight simulation to date.”

Much of Combat Flight Simulator 3’s realism emits from new features allowing players to personalise their gameplay. Dynamic damage modelling makes as damaged planes harder to fly, while new features allow players to customise their own aircraft and create pilots with unique G tolerance, vision and health characteristics.

Combat Flight Simulator 3’s multiplayer options are richer than ever. Join a squadron as part of the online multiplayer experience and fly cooperative missions against enemy squadrons. Several players can even crew the one bomber for the ultimate team effort!.

Combat Flight Simulator 3: Battle for Europe will be available from November at all leading software retailers for $99.95 RRP. For more information on Combat Flight Simulator 3, visit the official Web site at: http://www.microsoft.com/games/combatfs3/

Microsoft Game Studios is a leading worldwide publisher and developer of games for the PC, Xbox video game system and online platforms. Comprising a network of top developers, Microsoft Game Studios is committed to creating innovative and diverse game portfolios for PC (http://www.microsoft.com/games/), including such franchises as "Age of Empires®," "Flight Simulator" and "Zoo Tycoon"; Xbox (http://www.xbox.com/), including such franchises as "Halo," "Project Gotham Racing" and "NFL Fever"; and Zone.com (http://zone.msn.com/), the official games channel for the MSN® network and home to such hits as "Bejeweled" and "Outsmart."

Founded in 1975, Microsoft (Nasdaq "MSFT") is the worldwide leader in software, services and Internet technologies for personal and business computing. The company offers a wide range of products and services designed to empower people through great software -- any time, any place and on any device.

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