Here is my view on the subject.FS2004 is a small step forward but moving away from 767PIC is a BIG step backward. Staying with FS2002 and PIC is no step at all. When something comes along in an airliner that comes close to 767PIC, I will consider taking a step, but it won't be backwards. FS2002 will stay on my system for a LONG time for AAL327. I did not spend all those hours tweaking and adding scenery to blow it all out for prettier clouds and a couple pieces of eye candy.

Amen to that, looks like several of us will be running two sims on our comps.

PIC 767 - THE premier add-on for FS2000/FS2002/(FS2004 - dreaming)Still top of the pile and seeing off all challengers - FS2004 included.

Yep. Weird uh? ;)PIC is falling behind though, with its lack of eye candy like VC, cabin, etc.I will get fs2k4, and will get 737ng for it. As far as I'm, concern, the 737ng will have to be the PIC for 2k4 for now.

Screw the eye candy, that's not what PIC's about at all. Besides, imagine how much of the comp's resources that would take up, both the PIC panel AND the virtual cockpit, reflective surfaces, etc...

I look at it this way, time moves on and you either move with it or get left behind. I agree, PIC is the premier a/c for FS but one must move forward. It's more than just "prettier clouds", the entire wx engine is re-done. I just saw a post in the SS forum were Geofa posted screenshots of an actual moving front going through upper Mich. It was quite impressive. While I to wish I could take PIC with me to FS2004, there will be others to fly including the PMDG 737, SSW's A310 releasing on July 14th and PSS's secret project they are releasing by end of summer. Just my opinion.

Hi,>>>It's more than just "prettier clouds", the entire wx engine is re-done.Negative. The 2004 is a little more "eye-candy" (optimized AutoGen, some replaced Ground Textures and - indeed - 3D clouds). But that's in fact all (No changes in physics, 3D engine overall...). Be sure you need a more powerful CPU and GFX Card when using the 3D Clouds and Hardware FSAA than the FS2k2 requires. For *real* simmers the "new" FS is no step forward. Needless to say that I'm not interested to the MS ATC stuff ;)

Hmm..many a post from actual Gold version owners state the wx engine has been redone, one of them being Chris Willis from FS Skyworld fame. I tend to take his word.>>For *real* simmers the "new" FS is no step forward<

Calm down Eric. The differences between the FS2004 and FS2002 are much less than the step from FS2000 to the 2k2 Release was. I'm personally interested in simulating well adapted Aircraft and Panel, such as the PIC 767 or the PMDG 737 (in the future), and I think the FS2004 won't provide any outstanding new features for Panel Developers (of course I'm not sure!). In consequence: I'm not willing to use the FS as an alternate screenshot generator. EDIT: Friendly greets to the PS1.3 simmers ;)BTW: Quoted and translated from an interview with Bruce Williams (Q: Simflight.de)"For us (Microsoft) it's not possible to adapt all wishes the users have. We must concentrate us to some parts of the simulator, this time we've improved ATC, AI Traffic, Weather and Sceneries [...]"Sorry. I don't need all of these improvements in general to have my serious fun with "cockpits" like the PIC, Eurowings A/C or others. BTW: Why is the PIC 767 such an outstanding aircraft? At least it uses not the Microsoft Autopilot Routines ... You know what I mean?

>I thought I read somewhere that any add-ons that were>compatible with 2k2 will be compatible with 2k4They are - provided (again provided) they have regard for the SDK. PIC was an FS2000 aircraft patched to work in FS2002 and was too sosphisticated for the MS SDK.

Hey Mike...Guess what?a little bird told me that M$ AGAIN reduced the number of multiplayer connections!!!!!! From 16 pilots + 16 observers we had in FS2002 (and 255 pilots & observers in FS2000) they are now sixteen (16) slots in TOTAL!!!!!Online flying screwed once more!... FS2002 is here to stay for long.Anyone with the Gold FS2004 to confirm this MP rumor please???George DorkofikisAthens, Greece

"...From 16 pilots + 16 observers we had in FS2002 (and 255 pilots & observers in FS2000) they are now sixteen (16) slots in TOTAL!!!!!"That is disturbing... You think MS would be smart enough to realize the size of the online flight simming community that they are shutting out with moves like this.

I'd reather have real flight modelling versus eye candy

I will be staying with FS2002 for the same reasons as AAL327. To much tweeking to go screwing around for a few clouds and a bunch of old slow aircraft.

Agreed. In all likelyhood though I will probably wind up having both installed. That's what I did with FS2000/2002 until PIC was patched.I'll be keeping 2002 for PIC767 and will have FS2004 for the new aircraft that will likely be produced. I think PMDG will have a winner with the 737NG when they get the kinks worked out.