Because of its algorithm-based map creation system, glitches in Microsoft Flight Simulator are resulting in some hilariously surreal results, ranging from water that defies the laws of physics to skyscrapers becoming so tall that they are hazards to plane traffic.
Fourteen years since the last Microsoft Flight Simulator comes the most recent installment in the amateur flight program. The game's premise is as simple as it sounds: flying different kinds of planes around a realistic depiction of Earth. And it graces the gaming community at arguably a perfect opportunity: during a nearly worldwide lockdown. In lieu of getting on a plane to fly to a dream destination, players can at least simulate flying the full sixteen-hour distance between Los Angeles and Dubai, if they want to. Now, in the 2020 version of Flight Simulator, it's the most graphically realistic and physically accurate addition yet—or, at least, it's supposed to be.
To create such an accurate virtual depiction of the globe, Flight Simulator utilizes an algorithm to create the world. It's a graphical marvel, shaping up to be one of the most astonishingly beautiful games of 2020. But by generating a projection of reality through AI software, it results in a nearly flawless version of the world, with the keyword being 'nearly,' making the errors in the AI-generated universe stand out all the more.
Currently, the subreddit for Microsoft Flight Simulator is flocked with the mistakes found in the algorithm. The intuitive AI is meant to replicate any real-world monuments or locations within the game for players to visit. But one of many bugs that pilots have found in the early hours Flight Simulator's release is a strange-looking Buckingham Palace that's a little less than accurate. Instead of a gorgeously crafted piece of architecture, the entire palace has been replaced with a generic 90s-style office building, which is far less appealing.
But the game offers a unique opportunity to virtually travel the globe and admire its scenery from the comfort of players' own homes. While they fly around, comparing the artistic beauty of Australia to its virtual in-game depiction, gamers might come across a skyscraper in their plane's path. A bug in the code caused this Melbourne tower to stretch 212 stories tall in Flight Simulator. Other bizarre landmarks include a strange hump in River Thames and the wonder of Stonehenge that only protrudes a mere inches from the ground, at least until Microsoft fixes the game's code.
Microsoft Flight Simulator 2020 is available for PC and Xbox One.
Source: Polygon