As far as Prepar3d goes I *hope* it turns into something special, but I remain to be convinced why a corporation such as Lockheed Martin - who regularly deal in contracts worth tens of billions - would be at all interested in selling a desktop flight simulation with a revenue stream that wouldn't even register on their radar.

Lockheed-Martin are not the least bit interested in the "desktop flight simulation" business. What they are doing is following up on the original design goals that MS ESP began, which is to create a "core-platform world simulator" to which various solution driven applications can be developed.

 

To that end the core is carefully and gradually being redesigned to allow for more distributed processing (i.e. multiple computers) each of which will be running its own discrete part of the core code. All of this is intended to ultimately become the basis for specific types of simulation whether on land, sea or air. Applications such as a tank simulator, submarine simulator, battlefield logistics simulator, specific aircraft simulator, et cetera. These would be -similar to current full motion flight simulators- mostly hardware based, with the core engine providing the 3d world views and associated effects.

 

The fact that in its current incarnation it may still be used as a "flight simulator" is pure serendipity...

Lockheed-Martin are not the least bit interested in the "desktop flight simulation" business. What they are doing is following up on the original design goals that MS ESP began, which is to create a "core-platform world simulator" to which various solution driven applications can be developed.

 

To that end the core is carefully and gradually being redesigned to allow for more distributed processing (i.e. multiple computers) each of which will be running its own discrete part of the core code. All of this is intended to ultimately become the basis for specific types of simulation whether on land, sea or air. Applications such as a tank simulator, submarine simulator, battlefield logistics simulator, specific aircraft simulator, et cetera. These would be -similar to current full motion flight simulators- mostly hardware based, with the core engine providing the 3d world views and associated effects.

 

The fact that in its current incarnation it may still be used as a "flight simulator" is pure serendipity...

 

I suspected that, but not having really delved into it was unsure if my thinking was correct. I hope none of those upgrades ever breaks FSX compatibility, or it will be a mess-and-a-half.

I think the thing that may be in terminal decline is the desktop computer. Everything is moving to laptop / tablet / smartphone.

 

I am using Windows 8 on one of my Laptops and the way it is laid out is proof that touchscreen is where things are going. Even a laptop with a touchscreen would be better with Windows 8 then not having one. Too much maneuvering around with a mouse in Windows 8 to get the new features to work. I don't have a problem with it but would like it better with touchscreen.

 

Star Trek The Next Generation is the way things are going and I think that is cool. I always thought Touchscreens were cool, if only I could be as fast as Data was...

 

A future home cockpit would be great with multiple touchscreens as you could call up a 737 or 747 or Cessna 150 onto those screens and actuate the switches, FMC, Radios, etc, by touch.

 

Cheers

If the screen is upright, a mouse is better than wave an arm around in mid air. If the screen is laying flat, don't use it after Kentucky fried.

 

I suspected that, but not having really delved into it was unsure if my thinking was correct. I hope none of those upgrades ever breaks FSX compatibility, or it will be a mess-and-a-half.

 

They will, almost certainly. Backwards compatibility is useful to LM, so they are not deliberately breaking it, but the ability to load FSX add-ons is a lot less important to them and their primary customers (not the desktop users) than improvements to the core code and extending functionality.