IMO, it seems like the makers of Flight tried parts of what makes MMOs succesful. It's quite clear it is not the same as MMO game design but has the elements included.So,excluding the simulator aspect of Flight, I'll write this post as a discussion for the game aspect of Flight.The levelling treadmill: One reason people in MMOs keep coming back because of the desire to be max level.In Flight, it seems there is no impetus to be maxed out. Maybe there could be something "unlocked" for players at max level.Expansion packs: The DLC is functioning that way as of right now, albeit much less signifigant than in MMOs. (If this were an MMO they would be called "MTs" (Microtransactions) or "RMT" (Real Money Transfer/Transactions) Each DLC should have something a lot of people WANT (not need).In Flight: Perhaps planes/liveries that are iconical to the DLC being released. (Like the snow pilot plane for Alaska)Achievements: Already implemented.Crafting: Perhaps they could include the crafting mini game... You gather or buy (in game currency only) resources to make enhancements and gear. Perhaps you could make winglets for your plane that reduces your fuel use, or craft sturdy gear to take those hard landings easier. (Please remember, I'm talking "game" right now. Not simulator.)Dailys: In MMOs these days, when you are maxed level, one way to improve you character (and consequently keep you playing) is to have a different quest (job) daily.In Flight these are already implemented.Mulitplayer/Guilds: A designer from an MMO called "Star Wars: Galaxies" mentioned that one of the ways to keep players playing is to develop an community within the game.Flight seems to have not been able to do this as of yet, but maybe they could make "Flying clubs" instead of guilds (or something). Also, increase the benefit of multi player activity.Farming: Another tactic used to keep players playing was to "farm" (whether through exploration of the game world or repetitve killing of "monsters" you had to continually get resources so that you could get to the fun part. I personally did not think farming was fun, but a lot did and whether we liked it or not, we HAD to do it to progress and improve our characters.In Flight perhaps you could "farm" for fuel. (Please don't "-1" me! I'm just relaying what has worked for MMOs in the past! :Idea: )MultiPlayer tasks (Raids): The whole end game was "raiding" you and several friends went somewhere and fought a tough dungeon; together. The rewards were small but signifigant and only a few people obtained said reward. The purpose? You build end game ties through teamwork (coummunity), sense of accomplishement (teamwork and coordination in obtaning the often difficult goal), and you had the potential to advance your character (and if you didn't, there was the "carrot on the stick" that maybe next time it would be you getting the reward)In Flight, maybe they could introduce something you WANT to do with a group of people that somehow empowers your Flight avatar.For those who are bored, perhaps you could ask to have some of the ideas used in MMOs to keep it interesting while they develop more content.I may not like Flight, but I love aviation. We are all here to simulate our enjoyment of flying. Maybe these ideas are where Flight is headed or ideas anyone could suggest to the devlopers. (Or not)Thanks for reading.

Some good ideas there!

Wow, these are great ideas!I have been thinking for some days about how to improve the gameplay in Flight, but had trouble finding something to start with. I think your ideas are just the right base to build on concrete improvements.Thinking about your ideas, I have two suggestions that come to my mind:1) Regarding achievements/expansion packsThat curvature of the earth geocache made we wonder a lot. So what if there was some kind of rocket that you can unlock with certain achievements or skill level which enables you to travel to this altitude and collect it.ORThere could be a hidden SR-71 somewhere that you must find. It would be hidden in a random place, so you would actually be forced to walk around and explore the airport hangars a bit.2) Regarding multiplayer/guildsGranted, I have stolen borrowed this idea from the fsxtools.de multiplayer server. They have VA's there and their members can fly jobs. Do the job well and the player gets reward points as well as all the remaining members of the VA are awarded with a certain percentage of it. Screw up and everbody loses points.Points could be used to activate certain features (working autopilot maybe?) or repair aircraft (assuming they need maintenance every x hours, so you can't fly your aircraft for the VA unless you use your points to fix it).I'm sure there are a lot more things that can be added to Flight to make it more interesting to use it long term.

I would also like to see some massively multiplayer online missions.Think about a SAR mission with a dozen planes/helos or so to that coordinate their search.Also, FSX had air races. Why not bring those back to Flight?

Air races YES! That could perhaps change a lot - if devised cleverly.Tougher missions / jobs - extreme weather, heavy cargo, multiple planes have to succeed.

or as I mentioned earlier: clandestine missions where some fly the forbidden stuff and others need to bust them. that'd be cool, really trying to fly low and avoid the others. obviously the others = feds would not see any markers where to fly / look unless the clandestine pilots flies higher than 1000' AGL, then they would 'pop up' on the radar and become visible for the feds unless the sink below 1000' again. also difficulty could be set by adjusting the range/vicinity you have to avoid between the law enforcement and clandestine planes to bust them, hard eg if feds have to come as close as 0.5nm or easy if they just have to come within a 3nm range. and/or by adjusting the radar alt you need to watch, harder e.g. if you need to stay below 200' skimming the tree tops to stay under the radar than the default 1000'. can imagine it is fun if you really have to hide in canyons and between rims to avoid the other planes actively looking for you.

I've avoided the Flight vs FSX "discussion" in the past, simply because you can't please everybody. But now I'll say this...and it's coming from a real-world pilot who has been flying for over 40 years now.I love FSX.And I love Flight, too.But they are designed for two different "communities" of simulation pilots. If I want to simulate "hard core" flying with almost anything under the sun from ultralights to the heaviest iron on the planet, then I need to fire up FSX, especially if I want "more" of the real-world experience (ATC, real weather, AI traffic, etc, etc).But for just plain fun...and the ability to do it if I only have say 20 minutes...then it's Flight. But I find myself starting those 20 minute sessions and logging out 2 hours later.To me it appears that Flight is taking the initial path of what many FSX users say they really like doing...GA flying in regional areas...much like the ORBX sceneries have been praised by many FSX users. The marketng of DLC in geographical areas by MS seems to reflect the well-selling concepts used by ORBX. I'm not saying the quality is the same, but if ORBX came out with the Hawaii scenery, it would probably cost $40+, so $19.95 for Hawaii seems fair to me.To me, "flight simming" is just that...simulating flying...whether it be with FSX or Flight. FSX is currently more complex at doing it. Flight is much simpler, which is good for the brand new "flight simming" user, but is still a blast even for me.Simulation or "game"? I don't really care. There is enough variety in Flight right now so I can "fly professionally" if I want to. Or I can just bust every FAA regulation in the world and still laugh about it. If my passenger has to pee while on a mission, I might try and land in that pineapple field just for the fun of it. And there is a certain level of satisfaction and accomplishment in redlining the Icon A5 in a 90-degree nose dive over a cliff to capture a waterfall aerocache, then pulling out before I slam into the bottom of the canyon. May not be "real", but I still gotta use basic real-world flying technique to make it happen.I have no doubt Flight will grow in the future to eliminate any "boredom" some users may be experiencing with it now. I haven't reached that level yet, and really don't see me getting there as long as I realize the market Flight was aimed at initially, and the genre it was designed to appeal to. Whatever gets added or left out of Flight isn't gonna be a show-stopper for me from just having pure fun with it.

Here's one idea for the crop-dusters:

• add a function to the Stearman to spray-paint the ground
• there are two teams, each with its own paint color
• each team has a 1sqm area that is marked
• the teams must try to paint the other team's area with their color
• the team that manages to paint the opponent's square entirely in their color wins. Or, after a set amount of time, the team that managed to paint most of the other team's square wins.
• whatever the opposing team did to your square, you can paint it over
• when your spray paint is empty, you must land at a nearby airport to refill

And how does the opposing team stop you/slow you down if there no guns? That's right; Expect kamikazes!! :lol:

And how does the opposing team stop you/slow you down if there no guns? That's right; Expect kamikazes!! :lol:

Whatever works best for you. But if you crash into another plane, you have to respawn as well. So it's a strategy thing where you have to choose between

• crashing other planes/guarding your territory
• painting the other's patch
• overpainting your own patch

How about formation flying!?People on the ground can even gather and watch, to be judges.Airshows?Aerial acrobatic displays? (C'mon all you real pilots, show us whatcha' got!)Skywriting? (we need some long lasting smoke!! Maybe subject to wind effects, as well)

In addition to Tom's post above, elements of Air Hauler could easily be integrated into Flight..MS, get onto Slopey over at Flight1's forums and see if he's for sale!I spent about a year obsessed with AH. It changed my regular flying into something much, much more. I bought planes and bases; I earned rep for flying jobs; lost it for being late or missing them altogether (+1 for a sucessful job, but this went down hugely the more rep you gained, until at >65% rep you were earning .25 for base to base jobs and .5 for non B2B.)You could buy new planes (from your existing FSX fleet) paintjob them (from your exisitng liveries) and basically run an air haulage business using FSX as the actual delivery mechanism and AH as the back-office. It rocked!jake

+1 for air races. Doesn't require that much communication or coordination between groups of people. You just go to the multiplayer menu, select "air race", pick your aircraft, and the game assigns you to a session that's waiting to start. Just like joining multiplayer games in COD on xbox live. Quick. Easy. Fun. And the overall idea is still based on something real.There was actually a question about what activities you would enjoy in one of the Beta suveys, and air racing was an option.