Looks like a new FS built around XBOX 360 could be the end of performance issues. And with an advanced SDK for 3rd party developers that would insure compatibility, would it not be feasible to move in this direction? Are USB controller already accessible with XBOX 360 or no? It would seem there is ample horsepower to overcome performance issues anyone is currently having. I wonder if they could still have much of the breadth the 3rd party add ons now enjoy in the PC environment. I don't much care for the console concept, but I sure like the fact the gaming world has relatively inexpensive processing that is significantly ahead of anything the common gaming PC can offer in terms of raw throughput from what I read. Sure be nice to access that! Noel

Sure, nothing against XBOX, it has great power, but, it will never happen!Why? Simple: Addons.

Well, the concept could be the 3rd rail of our world of flight Simming. This concept has been in the shadows for a while. I hope we can hear more of this from MICROSOFT .They alone can clear the mystery up. But as of today,most of us we are still wondering about a future FS. Those who may know,ain't talking.Wish I was a fly on the wall of their marketing and development war room.While FS9 may be considered a game,we know it to be a living ,changing,realistic, flight simulator,and not some exciting arcade game,quickly mastered.Thanks NOEL,a provocative thought. Regards to you! VIN

Hi Noel, I would really welcome the idea that MS releases a XBox360 FS version. Simply because it would signify the implementation of multiple CPU/core support for the PC version. :-) But would I buy an XBox if..? Nope. AFAIK, the XBox360 doesn't outpower a modern PC's display adapter capabilities to name one detail. There's even a certain doubt it really is HDTV capable. Kind regards Jaap

>AFAIK, the XBox360 doesn't outpower a modern PC's display>adapter capabilities to name one detail. There's even a>certain doubt it really is HDTV capable. Kind regards >>JaapThat has been a puzzle for sure. When you look at XBOX basic components:"Up close, the hardware is vaguely reminiscent of an insane-specially-built-for-gaming-high-performance PC. The brain, capable of one teraflop, is three symmetrical IBM cores running at 3.2 GHz each. Stellar graphics performance is provided by a 500 MHz custom ATI graphics processor and backed up by super fast memory, 512 MB of GDDR3 RAM that is shared with the CPUs via a unified memory architecture. All games are supported in high definition at 16:9, 720p and 1080i with anti-aliasing as well as standard definition. A detachable 20 GB hard drive is available; this comes with the premium package and will be used primarily for saving game demos and profiles." . . . I can't help but wonder why they didn't design in the flexibility to connect to modern PC's displays--not the adapter per se, just your PC display would have done it for me. Maybe it does I don't know. I always thought the best model for XBOX was to also have the Windows OS connect with XBOX via an "XBOX on a card" concept, or just a way to connect XBOX360 via video out PLUS a USB2 or whatever connection to the OS for the sole purpose of sharing . . .1. All connect controllers (designed to be 100% compatible with XBOX AND Windows2. Drive space on the PC3. Video out to a PC monitor, and give the user the capability of setting the XBOX resolution.Imagine buying that XBOX, connecting it to your one unused video in port on your display, then connecting to your PC via USB2, powering up your PC, and choosing XBOX boot up, then . . . away you go. I think this is a marketing idea that I guess they are exploiting somewhat:"It's possible to connect an mp3 player via a USB port and play your music on your Xbox 360

NOEL,Please excuse me for not grasping all of what your are saying here.But ,it sure sounds good to me.Something gotta happen to propel this Flight Siming to a different level.I for one am getting tired trying to catch up every time something new pops up.I rather be flying,than playing a virtual hanger mechanic on my PC. Like any entertainment device ,our Sim players should not have to be tinkered with to get max performance. The case for uniformity in playing equipment sounds wise.That tail has wagged this old dog enough.Gotta spend close to $3.000. tips and all to play the BASIC $30.Sim .Maby the numbers of dedicated simmers are not sufficient enough to prompt Microsoft to focus on what we do. It would be smart for them to consolidate their sales,and take control over the playing equipment.Of course the big question is not what we may gain,but what we would give up. Never the less FS9 as we know it,will continue to be the purest approach to simming to date,until a new system proves it self.Microsoft is not talking. That troubles me. But again ,NOEL ,your very convincing.We shall see. I'M LISTENING VIN

I am getting a tad tired of this topic. FS on XBOX360 - you must be kidding. With all the add-ons and without any keyboard support, how would you handle/operate all the complex addons, for example the PMDG 737? Please, just think practical. Any flight sim on a console would be merely an action-oriented stripped-down version of the original. Ever seen a good strategy game on a console? No. For the exact same reason.Besides: All gaming consoles are sub-par compared to PCs. Everyone was raving about the PS2 and XBOX, while I could have it all (and better) on my PC. Granted, my PC is about 4x as expensive as a console, but you get what you pay for.

>I am getting a tad tired of this topic. FS on XBOX360 - you>must be kidding. With all the add-ons and without any keyboard>support, how would you handle/operate all the complex addons,>for example the PMDG 737? Please, just think practical. Any>flight sim on a console would be merely an action-oriented>stripped-down version of the original. Ever seen a good>strategy game on a console? No. For the exact same reason.>>Besides: All gaming consoles are sub-par compared to PCs.>Everyone was raving about the PS2 and XBOX, while I could have>it all (and better) on my PC. Granted, my PC is about 4x as>expensive as a console, but you get what you pay for.Never thought FS would come out on XBOX 360, so you can perk up as this is not what the post was about. I actually took care to state "Looks like a new FS built around XBOX 360 could be the end of performance issues . . ." It was simply a "what if" proposition: what if XBOX and OS can be connected to allow for dual boot if you will: one to PC, one to console. Obviously this is not fully the direction MS has gone towards, but it is a compelling one. It would certainly be easy enough to develop a new compatibility standard for input devices that would be XBOX/XP compatible, so that when you boot up to XBOX460 [if you will], you get to use your USB yoke n peddles. Simple enough, you just have to design it that way. I don't think making XBOX460 capable of sending its video out to a standard PC monitor would be rocket science. And finally, giving XBOX a keyboard connector and driver also would not be an issue. Or better yet, have the XP code that runs during "XBOX" boot up allow for use of the keyboard via USB2 or whatever to XBOX460. Again, certainly no big deal to design in.So the question becomes, why do this? The answer is simple: 1. You now can sell XBOX460 to people who wouldn't buy it otherwise {like me for example, and others who won't make room or don't like consoles per se). 2. You design code that runs most efficiently on XBOX which is 100% dedicated to running the sim (or other game). No need for clean booting, disabling services, yada yada. I dare say friend, were FS9 able to run on XBOX 360 were it designed to . . . would run way way smoother, ie, you would get way better performance at the same visual quality settings. Just a guess but I'd better $$ on it. So now, with keyboard, display and file support, what's not to like? For plenty of games, you put in your game dvd or cassette or whatever they are, and viola you have a rock solid, good performaning game. No fuss, no muss.MS could then deploy SDK's that give tools on developing 3rd party addons. I don't think add-ons and console are mutually exclusive, though they have been historically. Again, design all this in because I'm afraid we are going to see pull back in video and CPU rate of performance improvement because consoles have too much to offer the common gaming consumer, and at less front end and game development cost. I predict you will see more and more differential between PC and console in terms of performance in the years to come. I think the time is actually now where the console, task for task with the image & audio quality, will outperform PC. At least from what I have read about XBOX360 it would seem to be the case. This will only intensify IMO. In the end, this is the direction gaming has and will continue to go. For me, I would just like to have a console that would do what I described, for then you could count me in the console world. Also, this paradigm would continue to allow for a long product cycle (via XBOX/XP SDKs), and therefore one with the potential for a robust 3rd party dev community. I'm afraid if MS does not move in this direction, we will in fact see FS disappear, or move towards a truly fixed product without the depth that 3rd party development brings.. So, we had all hope they fully integrate console and OS! Here's another compelling reason: why not develop a separate processing unit for gaming? Simplifies development, and geez--how much horsepower do you need to surf the web, use your word processor, do digital audio, yada yada? The PC I have now is overkill for all these tasks--so I'd rather not upgrade the entire rig just to allow me to play next gen games. Give me a $400 XBOX560 upgrade and call it good!Cheers

The nice thing about the PC is that you can upgrade your rig at any time. All gaming consoles will be more or less disposable after a new version comes out. So far I am fairly disappointed in the selection of games for the consoles, as 90% of the market caters to the average teenager that likes to blow up things or wander around as a wizard. Simulation games or even strategy games are simply not-existent on gaming consoles.If this is where gaming in the future will come to, then you can write me off and I will unpack all my good ol' board games. Personally, I can't see myself camped out in the living room with all the gear that I have for my FS. It is simply not practical. Besides the upgrade question, how are you supposed to get updates or 3-party add-ons on your XBOX? What about AFCAD files, add-on scenery, aircraft configs, load editors that you might want to tweak with notepad? What about your 2GB Ultimate Traffic scenery? Sure, you could interface it 'somehow' with a PC - Bottom line is that you need a PC to do that.As for the cost factor: I just upgraded my computer with the latest processor, mainboard and graphic board for $400 and it'll still outperform any console.What about the next XBOX generation? Most, if not all consoles are not backwards-compatible, so your precious FS XBOX setup will appear soon for $100 on eBay.The neat thing about the FS is that you can tweak it to your liking!As far as performance goes: The XBOX360 has a graphic CPU that is capable of rendering 500 million polygons per second. A Geforce 6800 Ultra has 600 million. The processing power sounds nice, but we have no idea yet on how the core CPU will compare to the PC. FS is and will be pushing the boundaries of PCs, because they are simply outperforming any console. Unless you want a stripped-down version of FS.The seperate processing unit for gaming is called the graphic core and people buy a Geforce or ATI card for exactly that reason.Sure, any of us would like to have a stable, maintenance-free gaming environment, but as the operating systems improve, the relability and ease to use any computer will greatly improve as well.Now, if a console would support a gaming OS with all the features that I need for my current FS setup - sure, I'd probably get it. But we're not there yet.