So besides the added 'stability' for those already using P3D -- how are your FPS? This is the most important factor in considering if I should upgrade or not. Thanks.

For me, only 1-3 FPS are gained, but the biggest improvement is texture loading (blurries are almost nonexistent!), stability (CTD, we don't need no stinkin' CTD!) and the absence of stutters and framerate jitters (finally!).Like was said above as well, P3D is being actively updated/developed, which is the biggest pro in my opinion! We've already experienced that feedback with the P3D developers has returned as added features in newer versions, and will continue as long as it is continued to be developed.The real question for us users and the developers is what horse you would get behind? I'd bet the P3D horse with a multi-billion dollar company behind it. ;)

What exactly is contradictory?Look at FS9: also a hc sim platform. But how many people switched to FSX just because PMDG wouldn't produce the NGX for FS9.And how many addon-aircraft are still produced for FS9 now, be it GA or heavies?There are some addons being made compatible for P3D by certain developers, but as I see it, these are only the ones that are still compatible with the P3D core (i.e. the development effort is limited to updating the installer).I dare say that as soon as P3D 2.0 or 64bit comes out, breaking backwards-compatibility with FSX, the amount of addons published for this platform will plummet or at least be reduced to those addons that also carry a professional-grade price tag.

Your answer on the Flight forum mentions GA being important but here you state that without pmdg there is no hardcore sim. Its very clear..you consider anything other than airliners to be non serious or not hardcore.To suggest that only airliners ( and only pmdg) make for hardcore or serious simming is ridiculous.In fact, Im starting to get tired of hearing this word "hardcore" .....it's becoming tedious and I'm not even sure it's being used correctly, at least when certain people think this means flying airliners only.

I agree!Even at $49, I'm not going to waste my time when most add-on sceneries and payware airplanes are not supported.I'm sticking with FSX.

I'll use P3D as a freeware platform since I'm very reluctant to use FSX for that. Addons makes my FSX unstable at some point, so I try not to install too many of them. Nice to have two sims setup for different tasks. Saves me a lot of time tweaking and tuning controllers etc.

So if I install P3d, rename it to what my fsx directory is called, and move all the fsx addons to the p3d folder, will most everything work?

So if I install P3d, rename it to what my fsx directory is called, and move all the fsx addons to the p3d folder, will most everything work?

Probably not. You'll have to reinstall most things in P3D. For some scenery though you can just add them in the P3D scenery library from you FSX addon folder.

Your answer on the Flight forum mentions GA being important but here you state that without pmdg there is no hardcore sim. Its very clear..you consider anything other than airliners to be non serious or not hardcore.To suggest that only airliners ( and only pmdg) make for hardcore or serious simming is ridiculous.In fact, Im starting to get tired of hearing this word "hardcore" .....it's becoming tedious and I'm not even sure it's being used correctly, at least when certain people think this means flying airliners only.

OK, let me just clarify my views:

• there are several sim platforms out there that enable to replicate the RW flying experience as close as possible. Be it through the sim core or through addons. And both for GA and commercial airliners. These platforms I call serious/hc sims.
• I do not consider Flight a serious sim, apparently like you do. For me, it's a fun-sim.
• I see that a good amount of people here fly both GA and airliners
• I do not consider the sim addon market to be big enough for any developer to sustain development of their addons on multiple platforms over a long period of time. An exception for that would be ports to P3D for professional use at professional addon prices
• I see PMDG giving P3D the boot regarding use of their addons which are not FAA-certified
• I regard this as a strong signal to Carenado, RealAir, et. al to go a different route, because a good amount of their users also buy PMDG. Just look through the forums to see how many people have an NGX and Carenado planes

Therfore I do not see any future in P3D as a sim for casual GA flying. PMDG is going to make or break this platform for non-professional users. Should PMDG change their mind regarding P3D then we're back to square one.

Dowloading Academic version as we speak. I'm really interested to see where P3D is heading and decided what the heck, let's try it out. I almost jumped on with developer licence, but this is better although 2.0 will need my MasterCard again if it will be viable platform and I decide to buy it. After all, P3D doesn't uninstall my FSX but I have a chance to fiddle with extremely interesting product coming from out of the normal software or game developer sphere. After all and at least before 2.0 will be out, it is more like FSX still in developement and if LM gets more and more 3rd party devs along with proper support it will probably shine in the future, I think. If not, it is not that big loss and at least I can say that perhaps some part of my 50 bucks is spent on a couple of drops of some LM-manufactured ultra expenive cruise missile stealth paint. That is not something that FSX or XPX owners can say :(

I went for it too but haven't used I yet as I have a sack load of work to get done for next week!Right now I think it makes sense to measure how hard core you are by how many flight sims you have: I have FS9, FSX, Flight, X-Plane 9, X-Plane 10, Prepar3d and Flight Gear all installed now!!

Right now I think it makes sense to measure how hard core you are by how many flight sims you have: I have FS9, FSX, Flight, X-Plane 9, X-Plane 10, Prepar3d and Flight Gear all installed now!!

This. I have DCS: Battle of Britain 2: WoV, Black Shark 2, DCS: A-10, FSX, P3D (soon), IL-2: CoD, Rise of Flight and Strike Fighters 2: Vietnam (for Rising Sun mod). Since I bought FSX Gold last summer, almost all of my game time goes to FSX. Along with game time, it seems it sucks significant amount of my money to different addons :Party:FSX = the most expensive game during my 30 year long video gaming history :(

Can you install P3D on the same drive/PC along with your FSX?Does the P3D have its own folders?I don't want to mess with my FSX.So does it play well with FSX on my PC at the same time.Manny

Yes.Yes.Yes.

Yes.Yes.Yes.

LOL!

OK, let me just clarify my views:

• there are several sim platforms out there that enable to replicate the RW flying experience as close as possible. Be it through the sim core or through addons. And both for GA and commercial airliners. These platforms I call serious/hc sims.
• I do not consider Flight a serious sim, apparently like you do. For me, it's a fun-sim.
• I see that a good amount of people here fly both GA and airliners
• I do not consider the sim addon market to be big enough for any developer to sustain development of their addons on multiple platforms over a long period of time. An exception for that would be ports to P3D for professional use at professional addon prices
• I see PMDG giving P3D the boot regarding use of their addons which are not FAA-certified
• I regard this as a strong signal to Carenado, RealAir, et. al to go a different route, because a good amount of their users also buy PMDG. Just look through the forums to see how many people have an NGX and Carenado planes

Therfore I do not see any future in P3D as a sim for casual GA flying. PMDG is going to make or break this platform for non-professional users. Should PMDG change their mind regarding P3D then we're back to square one.

Fair enough. I agree with everything except your last point. PMDG is not the be all and end all of addon developers. They currently ride high, but I am not going to have my platform of choice dictated by where they decide to go. (and yes, I love the aircraft they make)If P3D becomes a 'simmers' choice, then PMDG will have to go that route, just like they ended up supporting FS when they used to be an Xplane developer. They saw the light then and they probably will again if it comes to it.Flight is clearly a no so that leaves P3D or XPlane 10.

I can echo Jim's response, but to me it's like FSX out of the box, but it runs sweeter. The water, the coast lines and the scenery need a lot of work. I don't really think installing my FSX addons is worth the effort. I can't use my Precision Flight Controls with it, and the throttle on my joystick doesn't work. So it's F1,F2,F3,F4. I don't need that.Having tried X-Plane10, Flight and now Prepar3D in the past week or so, of those only Flight gives me any pleasure. And I fly that with the mouse. I think Flight is promising.But for now, IMHO, FSX rules by a mile. And that view holds for GA and Heavy flying.

So besides the added 'stability' for those already using P3D -- how are your FPS? This is the most important factor in considering if I should upgrade or not. Thanks.

http://simmerhead.wordpress.com/2012/02/23/the-benchmark-flight-simulator-x-acceleration-vs-prepar3d-v1-2/