I don't have a personal definition of the term "hardcore simmer", but I define people who refers to themselves hardcore simmers as "people I wouldn't want to spend my holiday with".

people I wouldn't want to spend my holiday with"

And I wont spend them with the Happy Clappers either!

And I wont spend them with the Happy Clappers either!

Never heard that expression before. Maybe something I should adopt in my signature? :(

A hardcore simmer? Simple...Someone who is investing ridiculous amounts of money building up his hobby, who has those uber-real addons made by you-know-who, who is so much stuck up to the real world procedures that he/she wants to make is real as it's virtually possible, meaning all from graphics, weather, aircraft, procedures, charts, hardware (who else buys hardware for hundreds of euros/dollars but a hardcore simmer?), and someone who won't accept answering to a computer generated voice.Anything less is a casual simmer imo. Not being a bad thing.Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk HD

It's a good question and fairly open ended.I think of myself as hard core here's why:I fly with real weather, frequently plan flights based on winds aloft, TAF's, METAR's. I plan with charts VFR and IFR. One thing I don't do is a W+B for GA flights but I do make sure my CG is within tolerance in FSX.I normally fly using proper power settings (unless I'm in a hurry), and use vatsim or Pilot Edge when possible.I've got some hardware which is realistic, but not all of it, and I use TIR which is handy for VFR work.Do I always do these things? Certainly not, but this is the majority of my flying.

Hmm, that´s a question I´ve asked me also more than once when I read all these FLIGHT reviews.But am I an "hardcore simmer" just becasue I fly the NGX according to the real schedules with the correct callsign and try to use the real route data (Flightaware is great on this!) and print out every FAA or otherwise certified chart for each flight?

My answer would depend on what sort of simulation you are referring to!For example...its not overly difficult to learn how to competently fly a complex simulated aircraft, navigate, and interact with ATC during the process of takeoff-landing-going from point 'a' to point 'b'.Now compare that to certain other sims where you might be required to fly fast at very low altitudes...in the dark....no autopilot...and dump a selection of boomboom on various targets while avoiding becoming a target. Or engage in a dynamic shooting war environment against other hostile aircraft.Never mind other types of sims more oriented towards strategy.....i.e. Gary Grigsby's "War In The East"....or perhaps trying to keep your battalion from getting turned to mush in "Steel Beasts".......One fella's "hardcore" is another fella's walk in the park.....and all perfectly valid :(

but I would think the OP was referring to in the world of civil aviation ......

Hardcore = an attempt to keep it as realistic as possible. That's my take. Not hardcore = flying around for fun without regard to the real world limitaitons/restrictions/considerations.Regards,George

The hardcore simmer is part of the solid, yet variable inner core of flight simmers around whom the rest gravitate to.

I have been at Flight Sim since I was 12 years old and now I am 40.......Been through all the different releases since then. Some years I take a break and go back to it. But it has always been there for me.The other one that sucks me in is Empire: Total War. What can I say, the two things I love most in the world is Aviation and History. FSX and Empire: Total War are my two primary software packages used today.Cheers

The other one that sucks me in is Empire: Total War. What can I say, the two things I love most in the world is Aviation and History. FSX and Empire: Total War are my two primary software packages used today.Cheers

Best strategy I've ever played: Crusader Kings 2. It also helps I have a fascination with feudal Europe.

Not sure this is a characteristic of a "hardcore simmer", but...Have you ever dozed off holding the yoke? :(

Not sure this is a characteristic of a "hardcore simmer", but...Have you ever dozed off holding the yoke? :(

I was doing a late night Orcas Island to Israel's Farm run in the Carenado 208, but had to stop flying to finish some school related things....after finishing, I was exhausted, but I needed to land the poor plane and get it on the ground for the night. Long story short, I dozed off somewhere in cruise and ended up inverted and losing probably 1,000 feet in altitude before I picked my head up. However, one of the best night landings I've ever done! :(

Best strategy I've ever played: Crusader Kings 2. It also helps I have a fascination with feudal Europe

Zach, I should try that Crusader Kings 2 next...I would get sucked into that one too.Cheers

Not sure this is a characteristic of a "hardcore simmer", but...Have you ever dozed off holding the yoke? :(

Yes, I've done that, except it was a cheapo logitech joystick.I think when it comes down to it, a hardcore simmer is someone who would rather die than lose their ability to play FS.

Edited March 6, 201214 yr by flightluuvr