Vic: I'll pay your Latin tag, it suits.

 

Yes, there is great debate about the lack of a startup screen, or selection GUI, or whatever.

 

However there is a product called Sim Launcher, now at version 4.6, that I find is an excellent substitute and I use it all the time.

 

And you have the option to use it with FSX so it can launch either.

 

Sorry I don't recall the URL but never have I seen freeware, or donation ware, updated and maintained so often and well. Maarten Boelens of the Netherlands has much to be thanked for.

Well the launcher looks excellent anyway ^_^ and it's here in the library http://library.avsim...php?DLID=172983

 

Funnily enough I saws pictures of this on a P3D link I followed yesterday but revisiting the P3D site today I can't find them? Maybe I had an outdated link?

 

In any case I'll be trying this out with FSX as it looks like a big improvement on the current launcher. Thanks for the heads up Ian.

 

3rd party donationware to make a programme do what it should have done to start with?! Hmmm thought I strayed back into the world of MSTS by mistake :lol: ....but I feel right at home with that as will any other fellow tarin simmers... ^_^

 

I'd be amazed if this doesn't find it's way into V2.0?

 

Geoff

It's now v4.7 but you needn't worry about keeping up to date, because the launcher tells you when an update is available. Download it and install it over the top, or I do anyway without problems.

 

And yes it is better already than the stock FSX GUI, a lot of thought has been put into it.

 

As to the other arid debate as to FSX v P3D you can all go jump in the lake and pull it in after you ..... I am delighted with P3D as it is, and I know it will be more so as it progresses to v2. You do as you will.

 

But I do agree, LM should buy the rights from Maarten Beolens for the launcher and incorporate it into P3D.

 

Someone mentioned ESP - this was MS flightsim base code, never released as such, but sold by MS to LM for its commercial use.

Someone mentioned ESP - this was MS flightsim base code, never released as such, but sold by MS to LM for its commercial use.

 

No, ESP 1.0 was Microsoft's professional simulator, developed side by side with FSX.

 

http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/news/press/2007/nov07/11-14ESPDebutPR.aspx

 

 

Now you guys have talked so highly about this P3D launcher that I'll just have to check it out.

Hi

 

My experience with P3D is interesting. Up until a fatal crash of FSX about two months ago, I didn't bother with P3D although I had purchased the academic version. Then I decided to run P3D and FSX side by side just for interest. I tweaked both minimally and with the same tweaks. I installed several ORBX regions and airports and some UK2000 stuff. I used the simlauncher GUI mentioned above (great program) and also used Opusfsx for the weather (another great program), and have ported stuff over using the Estonia migrator where a dual installer isn't available.

 

Now, I'm a low and slow guy, but for me, I can see a difference between the two. P3D is smoother (with minimum tweaking), and the graphics seem sharper (I use Nvidia inspector for both). Very strangely, I have turned on HT (using an i7 920) with no use of the Jobscheduler tweak. In FSX I get microstutters (not surprising) but in P3D it was smooth (!)

 

This isn't a scientific comparison, but my gut feeling was that P3D was the better bet. I have now got rid of FSX and I'm perfectly happy with P3D. I have got a lot more testing to do and aircraft and scenery to add on, so in a couple of months I may have changed my mind!

 

Just thought I'd add this for information.

 

Pete

Although I am quite happy with P3D - the SimLauncher really put it over the top for me. I have it on a dedicated system running at 3.88ghz while my FSX rig runs at 4.4. Both are set up with a combination of NickN's, Word Not Allowed's and Bojote's tweaks. I find very little difference between them as far as visuals, fps etc. The majority of my add-ons have installed without issues. For now, I fly mainly small a/c for sightseeing in P3D.

 

I am also waiting for version 2 - that's where I expect the major differences. There is just so much you can do to patch a tired old engine. So should someone switch to P3D?

 

Well, if FSX has a hard time running on your system, I'd say yes - P3D right out of the box runs a bit better than FSX on slower systems. If, like me, you have FSX optimized - no big deal. P3D is better is some areas and worse in some. It's a toss up - but it is every bit as much fun as FSX.

 

Vic

As to the other arid debate as to FSX v P3D you can all go jump in the lake and pull it in after you

 

Ian, I'm not against P3D, far from it. I just don't see any compelling reason for me to get it at this time.

 

I downloaded the launcher and looked at the docs. That does appear to be one very nice program.

 

Hook

Hi Hook, what I intended to say in that elaborate joke was that go with what suits you.

 

If you're not persuaded, stick with FSX. It runs well on a high-end CPU so enjoy.

 

Last it is a go-nowhere debate as none of us ordinary joes are privy to the inner discussions of LM. So we must consume ourselves with patience ... when MS abandoned the franchise our world moved on its axis, and we still await its new equilibrium.

 

Simmerhead: thanks for that correction about ESP 1.0 it makes sense. This allowed any licenced user of ESP to 'top and tail' as they pleased to suit there requirements. FSX in fact was just one of the customised versions.

 

Now as owner of the ESP, LM can make changes to the base code as an essential part of the modernisation of the simulation.

Whoops: content, or comport ourselves with patience.

 

Simmerhead: thanks for that correction about ESP 1.0 it makes sense. This allowed any licenced user of ESP to 'top and tail' as they pleased to suit there requirements. FSX in fact was just one of the customised versions.

 

Now as owner of the ESP, LM can make changes to the base code as an essential part of the modernisation of the simulation.

 

It has always been my understanding that ESP evolved from FSX, not the other way around.

 

Just before ACES was shut down ESP 2.0 was announced, but it seems that some beancounter wasn't satiafied with the ROI on the FSX/ESP product portfolio. Part of the job being done at the ACES studio was improving simulation of ground vehicles which goes hand in hand with the development of MS Train Simulator 2 and FS11. Too bad they never got to finnish the job, because Microsoft was well on their way to making a complete simulator world. I wouldn't be surprised if ACES also had begun the underwater coding that showed up in Prepar3D. Some ex ACES folks are currently creating a scuba simulator!

 

Lisencing to LM doesn't give LM ownership of ESP, it is still very much a Microsoft asset, but LM can obviously rewrite it to their heart's content. Microsoft Flight was very much based on the same code as well.

Thanks for that comprehensive and informative answer.

 

I wonder if MS ever regrets giving away such a strongly supported franchise in return for an apparently greater gain from Flight which never touched the main body of FSX users.

I love Prepar3d but I do not use it because I can not get Squawkbox to work (other than using wideFS and a networked computer). If anybody knows the trick to getting it to work on the same computer I would exclusively use P3D and be in here everyday.

 

I work for LM so I am lucky enough to get a pro license for free so I do not feel I'm out anything by sticking to FSX after owning P3D.

I use sb4 on the same pc without an issue. I simply used the Estonia migrator.

I wonder if MS ever regrets giving away such a strongly supported franchise in return for an apparently greater gain from Flight which never touched the main body of FSX users.

 

They didn't give away FSX, the consumer version. They gave away ESP, the commercial version.

 

Hook

I accept the correction and don't dispute what you say:

 

But can you imagine a time when MS might ressurect FSX 11 ... and of course if by then LM has effectively created ESP 2.0 then how would ownership run?

 

Howeverr this is the type of speculation I growl about. We're not in the central group, devs who may have a clue are bound by strong NDAs so we poor old foot-soldiers who pay for the privilege remain unknowing but in the end it is our wallets that count.

 

sorry about ... resurrect.