Great news! MS you made my day!! What will the mixed weather theme be like? Changing or different in different areas? Will there be snowstorms in Alaska? Just thinking about purchasing trackir 5 or is my trackir 4 more or less the same? Cant wait!!

This update will adress what for me, are by far the two biggest shortcomings: missing axis for toebrakes, and lack of TrackIR support.

These two items alone will greatly improve Flight for me.

 

There is even more stuff that makes me look forward to the update:

• Added new in-cloud effects (if these were not an improvement, they would not have bothered adding them)
  
• Adjusted cloud randomization (I guess, no more clouds arranged on a grid?)
  
• Fixed issues in fog layer and cirrus cloud rendering (If this solves the issues with supersampling modes, I will be blown away... but no idea which "issues" they are talking about)
  
• Reduced choppiness in rendering other users’ planes during multiplayer (a good thing for sure)
  

A very welcome update!

This update will adress what for me, are by far the two biggest shortcomings: missing axis for toebrakes, and lack of TrackIR support.

These two items alone will greatly improve Flight for me.

 

Same here, those were the top two things I wanted to see implemented the most.

Very pleased they are doing this along with the other things as well!

I believe Flight is the way to go if you're looking for potential. (I know FSX has even more potential, but its going to run out at one point...so does X-Plane)

 

Mmm Flight is mostly based on FSX engine in terms of graphics and other things, so how it can have more potential than FSX and X plane?

 

Actually as long as third parties are out there is really no one else than MS who can make that potential useful, and at least so far release rate of DLCs has been too low to match all what third parties can do.

So as long as third parties are out FSX / X plane are way to go if you are looking forward to fly in some areas that are not officially announced by MS to be added as DLCs to Flight.

 

But yeah probably Flight is going to offer most complete Alaska for GA flying seen so far.

 

 

Good update, but would have liked to see ATC or living environment invented. (Moving car traffic, AI planes and all that)

Good News for me!!! Based on this announcement, I just ordered TrackIR 5 from Amazon. This should move my Flight experience up to a whole new level.

 

Brian

So is the update going to be at the same time as release of Alaska, or before?

 

I think this shows what will be the evolution of MS Flight.

 

Nice list of changes ! I have always liked the idea of the MAP page and its possibilities.

 

Fred.

I believe Flight is the way to go if you're looking for potential. (I know FSX has even more potential, but its going to run out at one point...so does X-Plane)

 

Fsx might well run out of steam at one point - but X-Plane is actually kicking and well alive with continuos developments and support from Laminar.

You should get trackIR EastCoastGuy....it's fantastic but of course a bit costly. After using it for a while, I find that when I don't have it available I feel like I am wearing a neck brace in-game that prevents me from turning my head.

You should get trackIR EastCoastGuy....it's fantastic but of course a bit costly. After using it for a while, I find that when I don't have it available I feel like I am wearing a neck brace in-game that prevents me from turning my head.

 

Yeah, everything I've heard about it from those who use it has been very interesting. A bit late to request it as a "Daddy Day" present though. Maybe I'll just treat myself when the time is right.

It's less than I hoped for, yet more than I expected.

 

But it's enough to know they are listening. I'm officially "in" for Alaska now.

I know what you mean, but hey Microsoft are continuing to update Flight which they've never done before with Flight Simulator other than FSX Acceleration, so Flight will always be evolving - it's more than I expected too and I'm very happy with the details of the update not specificially the content but the fact they are addressing issues accross a wide range of improvements, new features, performance, bug fixes and tweaking the UI for better behaviour. It's great news so a big congratulations to Microsoft.

Of course, I want to see all this in action, but so far it sounds like good job, Microsoft!

A bit late to request it as a "Daddy Day" present though.

 

Too late for me too---because my sons have already told me they booked me for a tandem jump at http://www.skydivebaltimore.com/home/!! Now that's one thing you don't need in Flight. TrackIR on the other hand.... Hmmm, switching to Amazon.

Great news from MS.

I don`t have TrackIR at the moment as this is my first flight sim but from reading all about it, it sounds like an awesome addition to the program and I can understand why so many TrackIR users are so pleased. But personally my focus at the moment is on getting a newer laptop with better graphics. Can it be used with the built in laptop webcam?

Can it be used with the built in laptop webcam?

 

No. TrackIR uses it's own device and sensors etc. Which is a good thing imho because the hardware is made specifically for this. I own a TrackIR 4: the difference between 4 and 5 isn't big enough to spend that much money one, specially since you can use the TrackIR 5 software with the TrackIR 4 device! However, when my TrackIR 4 would break down, I'd buy a new TIR5 instantly.