Hi, All,Does anyone notice the instrument in the cockpit?They actually have Nav Radio, Altimeter tune and trim etc.Also, the legends of the map show available VOR, NDB and ILS, and the airport gives the radio frequency info.So I guess the interface of modeling instruments and other details has already built in the game.Can anyone confirm if this MS flight is a framework or not? That means the API can be invoked by third-party addons, or MS studio could release an SDK for further extension. Can someone explain?If MS Flight is completely like what currently has, I could say that's too disappoint for simmers, and it is a definitely childlish game.If MS Flight currently is a demo or beta test, and will provide the API and SDK in next several months, I would say this is a great aviation simulation framework. All could expect more and more third-party addons to add the complexity and realism. That's truely great! Because the current multi-core optimization and graphic effect is far better than FSX.Does anyone get in-depth into MS Flight and research this?I hope we could hear some office announcement to confirm the position of this product.Thanks.

Can I take it that you just got back from the Space Station and have absolutely no idea what is going on with MS Flight ?I'm sure if you emailed Microsoft they would send you out that SDK no problem. :LMAO:

Edited March 1, 201214 yr by RYR738

The NAV radios work in the RV-6A and the Maule. The two aircraft that come with the free Flight download are not equipped to fly ILS approaches.The Comm Radios work in multiplayer, if you have a headset, you can talk privately with anyone else in that MP session, if you are both on the same active COMM frequency. (Pressing TAB allows you to talk to everyone in the session).

If MS Flight is completely like what currently has, I could say that's too disappoint for simmers, and it is a definitely childlish game.

Flight is only a "childish game" if you chose to use it that way. If you treat it like a flightsim, that is what you get. The choice is up to the user,

Edited March 1, 201214 yr by Arwen

Alright Arwen,here's where this stuff confused me...I could use a plug-in usb mic and still hear voice chat over the speakers? thanks

Well, I wouldn't say its childish. But hey, I'm 44 and still collect Lego, so who am I to argue?Also Richard Bach once said "getting older? THAT doesn't sound like growing up!"Seriously though...A bit of a look around Flight shows there is a LOT more to come.I have found:

• references to rotor diameter (helicopters)
• achievements like carrying 1,000,000 (!!!) passengers (airliners)
• references to VOR, NDB, etc, jetways in the commands.xml file (flight planning)
• modular SimObject formats, including general flight performance modules (helicopters, jets, fully-configurable physics perhaps?)
• modular XML based UI files (completely reformat the UI)

So, yes it does look like Flight is also a fully configurable simulation framework.As for an SDK, I'm not so sure about that... at least not a 'public' one like we had with FSX.My guess (and it's just that, a guess - I wasn't in the beta) is that 3DP addons will be possible through the XNA infrastructure, much like indie games for the xbox and windows mobile (and like the Apple App Store while we're at it).A developer licence for XNA is currently $99/year, and it's unknown what an app dev licence for Windows 8 is going to be.Don't forget Windows 8 is going to be as big a change as Flight is - it will bring us the Windows Marketplace - essentially the App Store for Windows.It seems pretty logical to me to tie Flight into that whole infrastructure, so a yearly dev subscription will get you the API / SDK and the ability to trade through the Xbox/Live/Flight Marketplace.I hope MS do things that way - it would be a great way to keep simming alive.

Edited March 1, 201214 yr by corinoco

Well, I wouldn't say its childish. But hey, I'm 44 and still collect Lego, so who am I to argue?Also Richard Bach once said "getting older? THAT doesn't sound like growing up!"Seriously though...A bit of a look around Flight shows there is a LOT more to come.I have found:

• references to rotor diameter (helicopters)
• achievements like carrying 1,000,000 (!!!) passengers (airliners)
• references to VOR, NDB, etc, jetways in the commands.xml file (flight planning)
• modular SimObject formats, including general flight performance modules (helicopters, jets, fully-configurable physics perhaps?)
• modular XML based UI files (completely reformat the UI)

So, yes it does look like Flight is also a fully configurable simulation framework.As for an SDK, I'm not so sure about that... at least not a 'public' one like we had with FSX.My guess (and it's just that, a guess - I wasn't in the beta) is that 3DP addons will be possible through the XNA infrastructure, much like indie games for the xbox and windows mobile (and like the Apple App Store while we're at it).A developer licence for XNA is currently $99/year, and it's unknown what an app dev licence for Windows 8 is going to be.Don't forget Windows 8 is going to be as big a change as Flight is - it will bring us the Windows Marketplace - essentially the App Store for Windows.It seems pretty logical to me to tie Flight into that whole infrastructure, so a yearly dev subscription will get you the API / SDK and the ability to trade through the Xbox/Live/Flight Marketplace.I hope MS do things that way - it would be a great way to keep simming alive.

Thanks for the analysis. In my 'SimObject' folder, only 'airplane.dll' is listed, different with FSX structure. I only have the 2 default free plane, if you have new installed one, can you see other contents inside the folder?Anyway, hope as what you said, it could bring more flexibility into it.

The full aircraft files are in the Corecontent.pak file, under the simobjects path.Of interest are the Avatars - not just the picture in the Pilot Profile, but the full 3D animated model you see in the aircraft.The aircraft folders show a massive new amount of content in the SIm folder - what appears to be separate modelling for almost every aircraft system! The materials folder contains the shaders, the Livery_n folders contain the paintschemes.A very interesting file is the CorePropdefs.pakThe XML files in this archive gives us some clue as to the detail contained in the physics modeling in Flight - FAR in excess of FSX. Just look at the detail in propEngine.xml - it only covers propellor engines so far, but look at how many variables can be set for the engine!propfire.xml - physical FIRE modelling!propflightplan.xml - PROOF, SOLID GOLD PROOF of ATC and flight planningproplivingworld.xml - PROOF, SOLID GOLD PROOF of AI INCLUDING PEDESTRIANS! Cars on the correct side of the road! EVEN CARGO CONTAINERS! How exciting is this! proptracksignaldef.xml - PROOF of WHAT? Just read it, and pick your jaw up off the floor!propworldbase.xml - custom and global weather not yet supported, but the framework is there. Also includes realworld and dynamic real world weather.Yes, it looks like there is a lot more to come!