Hi guysJust started to get into "flight" , therefore the jury is still out . I am trying to value you it on its own merits, not as a comparison with FSX.Fist major point is the ability to adjust the varous controller responses. I use a simple logitech joystick but the reaction from cotroller is so violent it makes it almost unflyable, some sort of contoll settings really do need to be done quickly as I am sure that any user without flightsim experience will be putoff immediatly. I did see the section in the write up, about adjusting the XML code. I am not a software person , these settings , null zones, elevator axis etc , needs to be done from the controller settings in the game.Second point, and this is more personal, I don't want to be forced into a mission type mode before I am allowed to go "free flight " for example. i like the missions but I don't like the obligation, please give us an easy way to choose to do the missions or not. If it is already there and I am just missing it cansome tell me how to do it.In summary I like flight I just hope that having put the thing on the market MS keeps the pressure on to update the sftware.Good job guys.

On your first point:At the moment tweaking can only be done by editing the Standard.xml file.Many of us suggested that the settings should be done from the controller settings page. I hope they do that.On your second pointUnfortunately, at the moment you have to do the first 2 missions in order to access free flight. No way around that yet.Again many of us suggested that during the beta.

Edited March 2, 201214 yr by Kabronicus

The only compulsory missions are the two short introductory ones. They will only take up 10 minutes of your time. After that you are free to do any free flights you wish consistent with the aircraft and scenery you own. You will no longer have to do any missions or challenges or jobs if you don't want to. Just select the Free Flight mode.

On your first point:At the moment tweaking can only be done by editing the Standard.xml file.Many of us suggested that the settings should be done from the controller settings page. I hope they do that.

Agreed wholeheartedly!I am going to have to do some research and modifications to that file, as the controls on my Cougar are a little too sensitive for my liking... would be nice, to be able to adjust sensitivity in the controllers menu.

They've taken the simplification too far with the controller settings. Many cheap joysticks have a very short range of travel so you *need* to be able to reduce sensitivity. Sure it makes the interface more "complex", but how user-friendly is the "interface" now when you have to manually edit XML-files?"Casual gamers" might not know that much about flying an airplane, but they're not dumb. They know how to set up a game and controller.

Edited March 2, 201214 yr by JimmiG

Right now you will have to adjust the NULL zone of each axis in Standard.xml fileHere is a tip from a developer:

It's actually possible to adjust the null/deadzones, but it is not supported in the UI currently. If you go to the raw controls mapping file at%localappdata%MicrosoftFlightPlayers<some number>CareerControlsstandard.xmlAnd find the mappings you're interested in changing. In this case you probably want:<Axis><AxName>XAxis</AxName><Index>0</Index><EventName>FlightControls.AileronSetAxis</EventName><AxScale>1.000000</AxScale><AxNull>0.100000</AxNull></Axis><Axis><AxName>YAxis</AxName><Index>1</Index><EventName>FlightControls.ElevatorSetAxis</EventName><AxScale>1.000000</AxScale><AxNull>0.100000</AxNull></Axis>That "AxNull" value of 0.1 means that it is using 10% of the joystick's throw as the null zone. A value of 0 would mean no null zone at all (not recommended since most joysticks have at least a little noise). A value of 0.2 would mean 20%, etc.

Edited March 2, 201214 yr by Kabronicus

Thanks for the responses. It seems that every one is generally in agreement.I saw the piece about altering the the XML file for less sensitivity (Increaseing the null zone) my question is simple " How do I do that". I found the file and the sections in the file but it won,t let me change the values? I am sure there has to bve many compter dummies like me that need a step by step approach to makeing these changes.Anyway thans again.Dave

What are you using to edit the file? XML is a plain text file and can be opened with Notepad. Saving the file may be an issue with Vista or Win7 due to UAC and permissions. But I made the edit plan to check them out in a few minutes.

What are you using to edit the file? XML is a plain text file and can be opened with Notepad. Saving the file may be an issue with Vista or Win7 due to UAC and permissions. But I made the edit plan to check them out in a few minutes.

I just edited mine in notepad, and changed the null zone value from .100000, to .200000, for my x axis, y axis, and rz axis.Will be a bit before I can test the change - no problem editing and saving with notepad, on my win7 64 bit, uac enabled.Be careful in there though, there are a bunch of axis statements, be sure and find the appropriate axis under your particular controller.Ok so I went ahead and went it for a quick test, changing the null zones to .20000 made a big improvement on sensitivity for me, feels about right now.

Sticks are the only one's that need some adjusting. My antique CH Pro Yoke's poor elevator axis is so sloppy now that just looking at it hard will cause it to increase/decrease elevator by +/- 2º... :LMAO:

Of course what we could do with is someone to run up a quick external app with a graphical interface to make all these changes possible for everyone. Shouldn't be too difficult. If I had the time I'd do it myself. Maybe then Microsoft will take the hint that it should have been provided in game instead of by third parties.Anyone care to take this on - as new features are uncovered the app can be updated.Ed.