Flightsimming FS2004 and Who?

[Guest]

Looking down the list of other flight sim groups at Avsim its sad to see that they all have their die hard enthusiasts but alas they are no more.Thinking of the heady days of Pro Pilot, Flight unlimited, fly! and all the promise of future versions and ideas that came to nothing we are now as a community dependant on our friends at Microsoft to churn out new versions every couple of years.Microsoft Flight simulator has been the foundation for a whole industry of addons yet in many ways I miss the competition, the intersim forum banter, the competition of ideas that the smaller competing sims brought.Being realistic flight simming is Microsoft. We are dependant on Microsoft to keep on churning out new versions, but what if the powers that be decide to call it a day? Will there be a MSFS 2010? or will it be a distant memory by then?Oh I wish those guys at IL2 would make a GA Sim just to bring back a taste of those heady days ;-)just incase!Peterhttp://forums.avsim.com/user_files/26187.jpg

[ErnieAlston 33]

>Thinking of the heady days of Pro Pilot, Flight unlimited, fly! and >all the promise of future versions and ideas that came to nothing >we are now as a community dependant on our friends at Microsoft to >churn out new versions every couple of years.Actually in March TRI acknowledged there were making plans for another release of FLY, but you probably won't see it until 2005 though.Regards.Ernie.

[Geofa 108]

Competition is always good. I miss those days too.Pro Pilot with all of its warts certainly put the pressure on and is responsible for real worlds terrain, clouds,built in atc, and realistic cockpits.I do wonder how our quality of virtual lives would change if MS like the others, decides to throw the towel in at some point.p.s.-Great shot!http://mywebpages.comcast.net/geofa/pages/Geofdog2.jpg

[TonyB 1]

I agree with you Peter. I got into civilian simming with the original Fly! Now I love FS2002 and eagerly await delivery of FS2004. I too miss the inovation and competition between the different groups. What I don't miss is all the bickering between forum members over who was best. Of course, we now all bicker within the same forum. ;) I believe FS2002 and FS2004 are what they are today, partly because of what the Pro-Pilots, Flys and Flight Unlimiteds have show can be done. I know the folks at Microsoft are dedicated to Flight Sim with a passion, but I hope the lack of competion doesn't make them complacent. From what I have read regarding FS2004, this has not happend yet.It is difficult to imagine another publisher being able to compete with Microsoft in the civilian market. Not only do they have huge financial resources, but the sales numbers of Flight Sim support continued developement, unlike previous competitors. Then you factor in Microsoft's ability to sign exclusive agreements with companies like Cessna and Jepssen. It would be a tough nut to crack.I am curious about the mention of a new Fly. That is the first I have heard of it. I wonder what it will be without Richard Harvey.Tony

[Guest AJ]

I can't agree with you more Peter. As long as there is a flihgtsim industry MS will be the big moeny maker, but they desperately need competition to keep them on their toes. There is still X-plane, at least. Your suggestion that Oleg Maddox and his Il-2 team make a GA sim certainly brings a smile to my face :-) That would be something, wouldn't it? An airliner designed to Maddox standards would be something to see, and worldwide scenery done to the quality of the Lenigrad map in FB would also give Microsoft a run for their money. That team's dedication is flat out amazing and the quality of their work speaks for itself. Alas, I suspect that very dedication will keep them doing what they do best. Those are people who specialize in one genre and they do it very very well. All the best,Andrew

[alastairmonk 0]

"What if the powers that be decide to call it a day?If FS2002 or FS2004 were to be the last version, we'd still be able to play on a wonderful platform. Given all of the superb 3rd-party add-ons, I suspect that that the "final version" would merely act as a base on which constant improvements were made.Alastair

[Vulcan 14]

>We are dependant on Microsoft to keep on churning out new versions, but what if the powers that be decide to call it a day? :( After two years we would be happy with FS2004 if previous experience is anything to go by. We all #### about the new version and say how wonderful the old c**p one wasc) We could at long last save up for a PC worthy of running FS with everything maxed out and know it would not need to be upgraded. The money we saved could be spent on RL flyingd) Developers would not have to fear a backlash from users when their add-on, made for FS98, will not work with FS2006e) Those with the know-how could finally get PIC767 running on FS2004 and then enjoy it without having to worry about how to get it to work with the enxt versionf)There would no longer be a need for us reinstall, or purchase new, all our add-on scenery that worked in FS2004 but won't work in the latest version.See, it's not such a bad thing after all :-)

[Guest]

Andrew Im surprised that if they dont want to do a GA sim that the platform isnt licenced to someone to work a GA Sim alongside the Combat version.I wouldnt even see the GA version as worldwide coverage but maybe covering just Northern Europe or North America as a more specialised Sim.It would be Great if there was another version of Fly! but ???? I would be surprisedPeter

[Guest Joshieca]

I wish the people who develop software for REAL flight simulators would bring out a version for the home user...but then again, that software runs on what is equivalent to 500 Pentium class computers....maybe 64 bit CPU's will help. :)[div align=center][link:www.jetdoc.com/STO/]Visit The Bookstore & Gift Shoppe][/b

[Guest JohnN]

Hi All,All you guys who are champions of "Competition" ought to stop and think about its implication: There is a winner and one or more loosers. I think we should all be thankful that the winner in this case has the resources to pour in the money to give us continual improvement that takes advantage of the the improved technology - even if it is every two years.Also, Microsoft's position is strong enough to provide for - even encourge - third party participation in improving its product. It's one thing to come up with a program which is better in one or two facets of the flight simming experience, but it's another ball game when one has to try to have the best in all aspects of it.Regards, John

[Guest]

Great post Peter! People forget that the reason the MSFS series is so damn good is because of the competition in recent years. I miss the days when every year or so some flight sim was coming out from some company. Propilot, FLY, FU series, they were all fantastic for their time and provided me with lots of entertainment - not to mention MSFS. I hope to get my copy of FS2k4 tommorrow - if it's not blown off the shelves before I get home from work.Enjoy them all.knader

[Guest Paul_W]

Hello Peter. From my personal perspective MS will very likely be a distant second in the near future when it comes to providing the most realistic experience of flight on a PC. That's because I don't mind flying around in a jet fighter as long as the experience is realistic, and I believe LOMAC will be bringing all-around realism, from the deck on up, to PC flying very soon.I think the key to competing with MS in flight simulation is not to attempt to deliver the entire world, because that requires too many generalizations. If a competitor takes a limited geographic area and delivers it in high fidelity, well, that's all I need to experience simulated flight. I've often thought the British Isles would be a great location for a limited area/high fidelity approach. As it is, it looks like I'll be getting a lot more familiar with the Crimea pretty soon.

[Guest]

Like Falcon4, EAW, and other great military sims...I do see the end of the line approaching too. In fact I somewhat suspected FS2002 to be the last version when Tri went out of business, Sierra announced they were getting out of simulation, EA stopped the Jane's brand, etc. etc..With development cost running to many times that of most other games for a customer base that's a lot smaller profit margins on flight simulators are some of the lowest in the software industry.My guess is the only thing that keeps the Redmond bunch :-lol going is a true love of aviation and programming more than the profits to be gained (and yes this IS Microsoft we're speaking of). Remember that the next time you bash them for some minor flaw, these guys are doing it for the love of the craft as much as (if not more than) the income they get from it. If you sprinkle insults to the team into your posts (as I've seen people do) you're reducing the chances of those people wanting to go on with development (if all you get for your work are insults, where's the incentive to continue?).Hats off for the Microsoft FlightSimulator project team for over a decade of quality products at decent prices, and for going on where all others stopped because it was more profitable to make a first person shooter!