Interesting Times!
Well, the time has finally come for me to say adios to Microsoft and hit the startup road. This has nothing to do with Microsoft or the Flight Simulator team/product and everything to do with my insane desire to try something new.
In fact, this was probably one of the hardest decisions I’ve ever had to make - Microsoft and in particular the Flight Simulator team is a wonderful and stimulating place to work and it is hard to walk away from eleven years of history.
What have I worked on in that time? Well in summary, back in January 1995 I joined some friends at a small 3D graphics startup in London, UK. One month later we were acquired by Microsoft and shortly joined the fledgling DirectX (then Games SDK) team. Our product, Reality Lab, became the basis for Direct3D and shipped in June 1996 as the key feature for DirectX 2. After that I worked on DirectX 3, VRML, IE4, DirectX 5 in Windows Multimedia and then moved onto Chrome (who remembers that?) and DirectX 6.
In 1997 we relocated to Redmond.
In 1998 it was time for something different, and I led feature teams on Flight Simulator 2000, Combat Flight Simulator 2, Flight Simulator 2004 and FSX, found time along the way to run the development team at a new studio, work on a bunch of Xbox stuff, build a game engine and scriping engine/language completely from scratch and generally get my fingers into a lot of incredibly interesting pies.
And now it’s time for something completely different.
For the Flight Simulator fans in the audience, let me tell you that the product is in a great place. It’ll ship on time and look astounding - I’ve made sure of that!
Anyhow, stay subscribed - my blogging will continue (does it ever stop?) and in fact I will continue to post about Flight Simulator as long as my value-add is still relevant (and the team puts up with me :-)
Although I can claim to be the first Flight Simulator Team blogger, I’m really happy that Mike, Jason, Adrian, Hal, Susan and others are now on board, and delivering a really compelling and insightful look into the world under the hood of Flight Simulator. The conversation rocks. Long may it continue.
Stay tuned…
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Good luck for you new projects Steve and thank you for all you did for us !
Matt
All the best at the new start up and thanks for all the work. But are you really sure about this???
Hi Steve,
having started my own company (at 52 years of age, wouldn't ya know !!??) last July, after having spent 20 years with one company, I can only share your excitement and cheer you on !
AND wish you LOTS of luck, success and above all SATISFACTION in wjatever you will do !
Kind regards,
Francois
Steve
Best of luck with your future endeavours, whatever they may be.
The irony of this is that without your success in convincing the Flight Simulator team of the benefits of blogging, we probably wouldn't have known that you'd left.
Anyway, best wishes. Will stay tuned in here, as I'm sure will many others.
John
Best wishes, Steve - thanks for all that you have done for the MS FS franchise!!
Best,
Owen
Steve,
I never write on the internet but this is one of the few times I will break that rule. I just wanted to say thank you for all the work and effort you put into my favorite hobby. Also, thanks for getting this blogging thing started with the MSFT. We now have new insights into the sim like never before. Best of luck at whatever you plan to do...
Marc
Steve,
If its in your heart then go do it :)
Never met you, but read a lot of your bloggs and even watched that video shot around the FS development studio. I remember thinking "How do you cope working with them goddam Americans"
Now your going, what secrets can you share on FSX? heheh.
All the best for the future
Ian
Aw........Steve steve steve.
I was kinda happy that a fellow brit was in charge of my favourite pastime. But.. having followed the same path to the US and changing venues myself a couple of times...I understand totally and ... well lets leave it at that, stiff upper lip what? lol.
Best wishes ol man, eat a madras for me and a pint of Boddintons, or Theakston or..whatever...
Searcher http://qst101.blogspot.com/
Thanks for all your work on fsim,it inspired me to get a PPL and I still love fsim more as virtual gas in england is a hell of a lot cheaper,looking forward to FSX and your future blogs even though it will not be insider! or is this a cover!!! Lol
Best wishes with your new endeavour Steve. Thanks for your contribution to FS and also the insights you have provided in your blog. I don't what your new venture is but hope it still involves 3D and computer games.
I'll continue to follow your endeavours via your blog.
cheers
Rob
all the best steve!
we never met but have worked in the same 'field' for years...
and yes, i know how 'starting up' is exciting!
best wishes!
Thank you for all you have done to make Microsoft Flight Simulator what it is today and what it will become in the future. You have a gift and we are fortunate that you shared it with the world! Good luck in whatever you do going forward...God Speed...
Wow - Thanks all!
Hi Steve
Good luck with your future ventures. It was nice to have "a contact" on the inside at MS Flight Sim. From all the known & unknown people flying virtually around the world, thanx for a your work at Flight Sim, I really can't wait to rush into my local computer shop and buy my copy of FSX. And from all gamers worldwide, thanx for your contribution to DirectX.
I'll keep reading your blog...
Cheers from South Africa
Jaco Smit