1 - Developer... really... writing software (lots of it) professionally since 1979.2 - XBox 360 owner... 'benefit' of having offspring.3 - Add 1+2... starting to get the picture??

Because making it more complex would be beyond your particular capabilities, which I am sure are considerable, does not mean that it is beyond the capabilities of others.

Because making it more complex would be beyond your particular capabilities, which I am sure are considerable, does not mean that it is beyond the capabilities of others.

We're talking about the user interface. It's using the XBox UI... which actually is limited and has nothing to do with whether or not a programmer has capabilities. The XBox UI is intentionally restrictive because of the reduced user input available.

Xbox UI is not mouseable. In fact, you cant use a mouse on the Xbox. At least its not the XP UI. Ugh. That thing is a NIGHTMARE!!!

I think there are extremes of Ui's. One extreme is something so oversimplified that not enough information is given to complete a task.. The other gives so much information that users are lost in an avalanche of complexity, and again, are unable to complete tasks.Since its hard to argue that the FLIGHT! interface does either of those, its probably just about right.

I think there are extremes of Ui's. One extreme is something so oversimplified that not enough information is given to complete a task.. The other gives so much information that users are lost in an avalanche of complexity, and again, are unable to complete tasks.Since its hard to argue that the FLIGHT! interface does either of those, its probably just about right.

Interface doesn't bother me, but there seems to be fewer things to tweak. Certainly the "menu is up top" UI metaphor is nearly dead now. Perhaps this is timely given the way Windows 8 proposes to work.

I lean on the side that its overly simplistic. There are a lot of things you CANT do with Flight's UI right now, but that does not mean it cant be done.Things like advance configuration of the joystick. Curvs, more axis controls and so on NEED to be added. They did add more in the beta, so its possible.Also things like better weather control in the map screen is NEEDED. You can select from a list of pre-set weather conditions, and thats fine for most pilots, but I want to be able to set the wind speed and directions to shoot cross wind landings, in fog, full ILS. You cant really do that right now because its too simple. I want more solid control over Flight, but I feel the UI is just too basic to allow that right now. Could it get better? I have no doubt about that. UI systems today are modular by nature and easy to tweak. Its come a long way from the original hand coded UI systems that were intergrated into the base systems. It would be nice of MS did some sort of "advanced" UI that made it more to the style of FSX for advanced users. Right now the advanced users are not the target market, so I dont see that high on there priority.

#insert $0.02

1. UI - nothing wrong with it. I don't particularly care about the UI in games, especially Flight sims - I'd rather the effort go into the feel of flying than the UI. That said, I think the UI is pretty, seems functional enough for what is in Flight at present. Added components can clearly add UI elements very easily - all the files are coded in XML, or something called ACESXML.
2. No Helicopters as yet - a bit of a disappointment, Hawaii is a great spot for helis. There don't seem to be any support files for helis lurking, but the aircraft type files are seperate packed archives, so presumably a heli module could be added.
3. Clouds - I agree with the comments about clouds - it looks like the static pics we have seen previously use a different cloud model? Maybe better ones coming? I hope so, they are same as default FSX. Yes, things like REX are better. REX was not available for FSX on Day 01 if I recall?
4. The little cargo missions are a bit quirky: 635kg of cats? Hopefully this can be localised: in Hawaii it should be macadamias, surfboards, bananas, fish, pigs or Spam! :P

Things I have discovered :

• *.PAK files are just ZIP files. 7-zip is your friend.
• Many of the core files, especially the UI are XML-based. This is good. UI modding perhaps?
• Every file seems to have a *.meta file - my guess is checksum / package DRM?
• Some changes to aircraft package structure, but the changes look GOOD - there are what seem to be separate package files for SHADERS! If you use 3DS Max, that should excite you! Also it looks like all gauges are now XML based - good or bad, I don't know, but I can only write XML gauges, C is beyond me.
• Scenery file format looks to be still *.agm / *.bgl
• There are added files in scenery that are possible dynamic elements or missions?
• Avatars appear to be modular packages, so we don't all have to look like the same person
• Trainer voicepacks appear to be modular packages - addon ATC perhaps?

Things that really impress me - How good do the rendered surfaces look? The Icon has exactly the right shine for fibreglass, the others look just right for metal. To my eye they look much better than the textures in FSX. To compare - Carenados lovely Cessna 337 has ambient occlusion 'baked' textures, which are very nice though not dynamic; Flight looks to have full dynamic ambient occlusion active - ie. aircraft self-reflect diffuse light. This brings the rendering engine up to date with most other modern rendering engines, and is likely related to the shader packages. Next thing to try is fooling around with these packed files to see how much modding we can do...

Good post corinoco. I TOTALLY agree with the helicopters being a BIG missing feature. When my friends talk about there tours in HAwaii, they tell us about these amazing helicopter rides they took! Typically MD-500's. They never tell about amazing STEARMAN tours they took. ITs clear though that the initial release of Flight is fixed wing though. Maybe choppers will be added via DLC? As for the cats, thats new to me. In the beta, you hauled pigs and chickens. If you stalled the aircraft and went into -g's, the pigs would go fricken CRAZY!!!! SQUEEEEL!!!! Damn near died laughing! Wonder if the cats do the same? Need to take up the Maule and test that out...

.PAK files are just ZIP files. 7-zip is your friend.

I wondered about that, but was too busy (and probably lazy) to explore further.Edit: another thing to mention about the UI is that MS are probably constrained a bit about in how complex things can become. This interface likely has to remain accessible to those with no mice or keypads, using just the Xbox controller, as well.

Edited February 29, 201214 yr by HiFlyer'

First. The CLOUDS! My GOD the CLOUDS are BAD!!!! When the Flight Conditions are set to "fair weather" it looks really bad. The clouds are all the same shape, same size, and spread evenly over the sky. THIS NEVER HAPPENS IN NATURE! The very nature of clouds are there random shapes and size!!! Thats why every kid loves to look at clouds as they pass by and make out shapes. I tried the same thing in Flight, and all I saw was "cotton ball, cotton ball, another cotton ball". Dense Fox, and Among the Giants is GREAT, but why the cotton balls in fair weather? Thats my biggest gripe by far. FSX clouds are not much better, but the add-ons like REX really puts Flight to shame.

I read your post and went to check out the clouds, and mine don't look like that. They are somewhat similar at "Fair Weather", but they were differet shapes and not evenly placed.

Edited February 29, 201214 yr by Arklight1

In the beta I noticed that on one of the tips screens that used to come up when you were waiting for something to load up mentioned that a helicopter would be useful for getting hard to reach aerocaches so I reckon there will probably be a helicopter DLC at some point.

Edited February 29, 201214 yr by ckukmale

Edit: another thing to mention about the UI is that MS are probably constrained a bit about in how complex things can become. This interface likely has to remain accessible to those with no mice or keypads, using just the Xbox controller, as well.

Um, I can't say I've ever seen a PC without a keyboard, and these days I doubt you'd find one without a mouse either! :Thinking:

1 - Developer... really... writing software (lots of it) professionally since 1979.2 - XBox 360 owner... 'benefit' of having offspring.3 - Add 1+2... starting to get the picture??

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Um, I can't say I've ever seen a PC without a keyboard, and these days I doubt you'd find one without a mouse either! :Thinking:

How quaint!

Ah yes, the famous "voice activated mouse" that had Scotty baffled! :Party: