But and this is a big BUT, why is their such a negative disposition to FS9? What did it ever do wrong?

You've already had some very good responses to your question - so I hardly feel I'm adding anything new,but here goes..I've flown FS for some 25 years, starting with MS FS for the IBM PCJr..Then it was FS3, FS4, FS98, FS2000, FS2002, FS2004, and now FSX.Most every time, there were performance problems with the new great sim and a PC upgradewas in order.. I still have old hardware in the basement to prove it..The thing with FSX, IMHO is that the MS team really pushed hard to enhance the scenery enginewith way higher resolution capabilities, and the same for the virtual cockpit. Unfortunately, even thebest new PCs struggled with the combination of fabulous scenery, fabulous airports, road traffic,realistic virtual cockpits etc.So that is where I've seen a good number of FS9 users try FSX and retreat back to FS9, basicallyfor performance reasons. They could not get their great aircraft flying over this fabulous scenerywithout stutters, blurries, and single digit fps.After that, you get disappointed FS9 users arguing with delighted FSX users, many of whom werehappy to fly bush airplanes, far away from the big cities... and you and I have both read the passionatepros and cons.Fast forward to today. The hardware is becoming available to fly FSX with high levels ofcomplexity dialed in, and there is a lot of life left in FSX, as new addons are released.I've still got both installed and I happily did all my testing of the new Eaglesoft Citation X in FS9,as an example. That said, 99% of my flying is now in FSX and I've made the choices (like roadtraffic=zero) that give me good and consistent performance.Bottom line for me, if anyone wishes to tell me that FSX is no good, I'll be happy to argue theopposite and if they argue that FS9 is better, I'll try not to say anything bad about FS9, my old buddy,in defense of FSX - it really does not need it!

My answer to your question is, some (and I am only talking about a minority here) think that because they have entered flight sim via FSX that it's the only one. When they found that FSX was nothing more than a 'slide-show' they badgered daddy to upgrade their hardware.Daddy not wanting his little runt to be upset complied with the request and now little johnny can boast that he has the latest 'all singing and dancing' hardware by not telling daddy that he pulled the wool over his eyes in a big way.As you will find in other forums the subject of your question is usually caused by the under 15's. It's a sad fact though that, some of our more mature associates never really progressed any further than the previous mentioned younger users.

I take it children aren't exactly encouraged to join the southwest flight simulator group then.....? :(

I'm sort of glad FSX seems to be the last FS version for quite some time. Gives us time to settle down. I wish FS9ers the best of luck, but I hope they're convinced over to the FSX camp at some point, so that addon developers can start some more efficient single platform products. I worry that FS9ers slow down the process.

+1 IMHO the few developers that are still doing FS9 / FSX products are being distracted by "noise" from the FS9 community. If these developers just focus on FSX they will see a much better ROI. After all that's what it is all about right, ROI for developers and more focused / state of the art products for FSX users!

+1 IMHO the few developers that are still doing FS9 / FSX products are being distracted by "noise" from the FS9 community. If these developers just focus on FSX they will see a much better ROI. After all that's what it is all about right, ROI for developers and more focused / state of the art products for FSX users!

We still have a few projects which will be offered for FS9 but we are phasing out that line over the long run. :(

+1 IMHO the few developers that are still doing FS9 / FSX products are being distracted by "noise" from the FS9 community. If these developers just focus on FSX they will see a much better ROI. After all that's what it is all about right, ROI for developers and more focused / state of the art products for FSX users!

I am not sure this is absolutely true, Take REX fs9 for example, I am sure Tim Fuchs made a good return on his investment into that program, now I will accede the point that REX is an addon that benefits anyone who uses it, not just the GA flyer vs the tubeliner guy(so it has almost universal adoption), but it demonstrates that there is certainly financial viability in the FS9 user base.Also, AVSIM is the largest english speaking Aviation Website forum, but I don't think it represents all of the worlds users, in other countries in say South America or the far east, new computers may not be so readily purchased, making FS9 the defacto sim. I think I remember Matthijus Kock saying the German FS comminity is as large as the US FS community, and I would love to know what their take on the old FSX vs FS9 debate is.I am originally from India, where many of my family members still reside, and there many many users stay with FS9 as they can't afford the newest blazing i7 processors and whatnot.

It always boggles my mind how some people get so heated over pretend-flying in a pretend world.

Hallelujah!!!Wiser words have never ever been said!

Hallelujah!!!Wiser words have never ever been said!

Why are we discussing FS9 in the FSX forum? These discussions seem to pop up quite a bit here these days.

in other countries in say South America or the far east, new computers may not be so readily purchased, making FS9 the defacto sim. I think I remember Matthijus Kock saying the German FS comminity is as large as the US FS community, and I would love to know what their take on the old FSX vs FS9 debate is.I am originally from India, where many of my family members still reside, and there many many users stay with FS9 as they can't afford the newest blazing i7 processors and whatnot.

Do you really think that users who cannot afford PCs that can run FSX are going to actually purchase FS9 addons? Sure a few will but the vast majority of these FS9 users will pirate products. Just ask PMDG, they have stated that their FS9 MD11 was very heavily pirated, much more so than the FSX MD11.Not trying to offend FS9 users (most likely 99% who post in these forums are honest and will purchase product) but for every honest user there are probably 100 dishonest ones. So its not much point talking about how big the FS9 community is all over the world, as you suggest most are using FS9 because they don't have the disposable income to use FSX. That's the reality of the situation!

I use both sims in other thread I posted my disappointment that there would be no fs9 version of there aircraft I like to have the option of ether using fs9 or fsx. performance is the real main problem with fsx many users dont have the hardware to run it like they should. Then you have other people bashing fs9 users because they ask the developers to please consider developing for both sims some say hey go buy a system that can run fsx! well I think most people would love to have in updated system I mean honestly who in this world doesn't want the best.The funny thing is that I have seen some people bashing fs9 users which are usually the ones with Intel I7 and the latest tech of course you will not have so much trouble with that kind of power. I had just realized that many game developers and software developers ether become lazy or even worse bad programing modeling, and you and up with a game that has way to much to process just the other day I was reading a few of the game requirements for the latest games and its insane most people dont have that kind of hardware its like were going backwards. look I love both fs9 and fsx of course my main now is fs9 because of performance problems but to call people cry baby's or insulting them is just childish.

I've been using FSX since it came out, prior to that FS9 and before that 2002, and then 2000, and FS 98 too!What are the reasons they give? Mostly that they have too many dollars invested in FS9 addons and that they cannot afford to upgrade to FSX capable hardware and repurchase addons for FSX.By all means keep flying your FS9 but stop badgering developers and the FSX community (especially in a FSX forum :( )Of course all IMHO!

I tend to disagree, I think the primary reason (I still hear at least) is that they prefer to fly heavy iron at FL 350 or above into large hubs at higher FPS... As others have pointed out though with modern hardware and the glorious work of forum members like ******* even that is "becoming" a non-issue. I do wish money would stop coming up in these conversations though... For a lot of people it is about preference although their are some that for whatever reasons ( alot of people have other life commitments) the cost of upgrading to FSX is not feasible. For others it is about choice but at the same time, yes the FS9 development hayday is behind us but there are still some very good releases so there is no need to take such a dismissive attitude or ASSUME it is strictly a financial decision. I also agree with what others have said that I think FSX is obviously the platform for some time to come and that is a blessing to the community. It means as h/w continues to progress our investments will last for quite some time opposed to the typical 4 year cycle and developers don't have to worry about ACES changing something that breaks everything else... It does not mean that FS9 users are a distraction to the community as you seem to be implying. They are not noise...I also agree with what others have said about some FS9 users being VERY defensive and taking the same negative disposition to FSX but I also know a lot who respect FSX for a certain type of flying and FS9 for another although as I mentioned a few lines up FS9 users are not angels with halo's in this situation... I also think for a lot their "initial" experience with FSX was extremely negative and has left them skewed but as someone else mentioned I too hope they eventually give FSX its credit!!Perhaps it really is the bad apples that sour the bunch mentality because there have been a lot of reasonable, respectful and sensible opinions expressed here!I don't know if that last line was directed at me or FS9 users in general but it is exactly the type of attitude I am talking about... No one is badgering anyone here we are trying to have a respectful conversation.Paul

This not my own actual opinion, however, some could just as easily and correctly say that FSX is getting in the way of development of FS9 software.I am reading the same old, "My preference should have a higher priority because it is better", stuff creep in to this issue.It is simply business for the developers to go in the direction of FSX, and easily understandable.On one of my rigs, the one with FS9 on it. If I don't have a certain aircraft yet, then I probably don't really need it. No developer has ever done any version of my areas airports so I learned GMAX and a whole host of other software to make my own. Three years and 4 versions and it is still a work in progress. I don't blame the developers for not doing KTOL nor do I blame FSX for getting in the way. I blame myself for loving this hobby enough that it turned me into a masochist. By the time I'm in a retirement home I should be done and have it converted to FSX, which will run at 1000 frames per second by then but be horribly out of date. In the mean time I will make the most out of what FS9 and FSX have to offer and continue to enjoy this hobby based what I can do with each Sim.Best regards to all,Mel

I don't know if that last line was directed at me or FS9 users in general but it is exactly the type of attitude I am talking about...

You need to read what I say more carefully.

As I recall, there are many who always stay with the previous versions of FS and are reluctant to upgrade knowing that many of the commercial addons they spent a lot of money on will no longer function as well in the newer version. FS9 is no exception. It has just been around a little longer due to the demise of the Aces Team. The same goes with operating systems. Some upgrade immediately and some stay with the old OS as it does everything they need. My reasons for upgrading were because of the ads and enticements of DX10 technology which, in the end, didn't work out well with FSX, and the fact I like to play with the latest and greatest. There was also an AVSIM Conference out near Washington Dulles just before the release of FSX and attendees were given the opportunity to play with it with many Aces Team members in attendance. There is really nothing wrong with FS9. It works just as well and there are some excellent addons made for it. But, if you're still playing with the first version of FS, you might have a problem....Best regards,Jim

yawn....

Thanks Jim,Some really good feedback here everyone, greatly appreciated! Always interested to hear an honest discussion of people's thought process (or lack-there-of sometimes :( )All the best and again, appreciate all the feedback,Paul