I'm an FSX supporter, but have looked at X-Plane with just a curious eye.  I know it's not prime yet, which is why I was hesitant to drop $60-70 on it.   Anyways,  I had to pick up some items at my local Office Max and was surprised to see X Plane 10 the Regional version for $29.00 on their shelves.  The heck is an office supply store doing selling it?? lol.    Anyways, for whatever it's worth, coupled with their SAVE20 discount today, that dropped it down to a no-brainer impulse buy.

Ya I bought mine off amazon for 30 minus a 10 dollar discount for the regional pack. It's fun to play around with.

Ryan, that's a good deal.. even better than Office Max!   Just noticed that your profile says your in Duluth.  I'm a Minnesota guy now living in Fl. but from time to time fly up to Duluth on Allegiant.  Man those winds coming off the lake make for interesting approaches... 

If it is "Regional", does that mean that it does not have all of the globe?  I think for the $70, you get the full globe.  I know I did.

Ya I bought mine off amazon for 30 minus a 10 dollar discount for the regional pack. It's fun to play around with.

Hey Ryan,

 

Why is it that when I look at Xplane's site, here:  http://www.x-plane.com/desktop/home/?AFFID=83402&gclid=CMXo4Pey7LYCFUuCQgodanAA9g

 

I get the feeling this is greatly different than what most users experience.  That video is full of incredible detail and yet the sense I get is that this environment doesn't exist in very many places?  Put another way, is this video quite misleading do you think?

Noel, on 27 Apr 2013 - 10:18 PM, said:

 

Hey Ryan,

 

Why is it that when I look at Xplane's site, here: http://www.x-plane.com/desktop/home/?AFFID=83402&gclid=CMXo4Pey7LYCFUuCQgodanAA9g

 

I get the feeling this is greatly different than what most users experience. That video is full of incredible detail and yet the sense I get is that this environment doesn't exist in very many places? Put another way, is this video quite misleading do you think?

Yeah the advertisement video showcases what XP can be if you have the right scenery. At my hometown of KDLH there's no buildings at the airport (actually there might be one sort of where the ANG hangar is). I will admit, at night, XP10 destroys FSX... it is quite amazing. And every other joe blow airport doesn't have any buildings either. You have to download others' work or import your sceneries from FSX to XP. Unfortunately I did that with Duluth but most of my structures are white (apparently because XP doesn't know how to convert FSX stock scenery objects)...

 

edit: Actually it looks like they changed their video since I last looked. The new one appears to have less of KSEA like the original. I personally think the autogen layout, and mainly the land use data (that's what they call our version of landclass) is poorly implemented. The autogen itself, close up, looks superb. For instance in socal, where I fly on Pilot Edge, if you don't use absolute max settings (in this case you'll get an OOM in the 32 bit ver if you do crank the sliders), the busy city of LAX looks like suburbs with green squares all over the place. In the video the sunsets and clouds look pretty cool like in game too. Basically the planes in XP10, eye candy-wise, look like FS9/2002 era. Some of the freeware looks like FS98. I'm not saying I could make a better model and I always appreciate freeware, but you have to get used to lack of eye candy on the models for sure.

 

And yes my $30 retail version is the regional North America pack. I don't see myself flying outside of the US and really only bought it for use on Pilot Edge.

 

The main issues I'm running into:

 

1) If I run 32 bit version I can use my nice Carenado A36 (which looks superb, btw, not FS98 hehe). But after an hour or so I get OOM CTD.

 

2)If I run x64 version I can't use my A36 because of some glass gauge OOM bug with their 64bit plugin thing. I do have a fairly cool eclipse jet that works in x64 but that brings me to my next major issue: VC clickspots! OMG horrid implementation in stock aircraft and most freeware. The ultra tiny (and I mean ULTRA tiny - even compared to early Carenado for FSX), are impossible to get to especially in turbulence. The Carenado and other payware tend to have a newer style (where you can click, hold and drag your cursor). Even with the new style the way the radios tune in XP10 is wrong... it will just go through all possible digits (like 100th's etc)... can be annoying. Basically what I'm whining about is that the Eclipse has the old style clickspots and changing freqs is a nightmare online when it matters.

 

My positives with XP (usage about 3 months worth so far)

 

1) Beautiful night rendering (HDR mode is even better but kills fps)

2) Pretty decent weather rendering, IMC etc etc

3) Nice roads with cars esp at night

4) Decent flight modelling, again, if you have the right plane (aka payware but a few freeware out there)

Well, that fits other comments I've read.  Sounds like XP is a very good simulator engine, but w/o enough of the right kind of commercial content.

If you buy the regional version, can you upgrade to the global version later for a discount or do you have to buy the whole thing again?

According to this link you can upgrade later on:

http://www.x-plane.com/store/desktop/global-scenery-upgrade/

Every time I buy X-Plane, I like it until I notice I am flying in the 'lavoliers' movie... great plane great sim, but no one else in the whole world...

Dead airfields

 

I just can't get in to a world where I feel I am the last man alive... it simply gets too boring too fast..

Every time I buy X-Plane, I like it until I notice I am flying in the 'lavoliers' movie... great plane great sim, but no one else in the whole world...

Dead airfields

 

I just can't get in to a world where I feel I am the last man alive... it simply gets too boring too fast..

payware airports from Aerosoft, Trusceney, etc. etc solve this issue

Ya but there aren't any major airports I've noticed. They are all tiny airports that no ones that no ones heard of. Where's JFK, DFW, LAX, BOS, MIA etc?

Ya but there aren't any major airports I've noticed. They are all tiny airports that no ones that no ones heard of. Where's JFK, DFW, LAX, BOS, MIA etc?

 

It seems like XP is still missing some very important pieces of a simulator that has the right mix of features to upset FSX as the current #1 choice amongst enthusiasts.  Ryan, if you were to provide LR w/ a short list of what areas need the most attention to begin to offer definitive challenge to FSX, what items would be on that list?  

JFK and BOS are available as Freeware,user made Airports,and they're very well made.I suggest if you have an interest in X-Plane is to browse http://x-plane.org/

And remember,X-Plane 10 is just over a year old (and still in beta) It will take some time to build up a Good amount of add-on material,FSX didn't get Orbx or PMDG 737 NGX overnight.

Ya but there aren't any major airports I've noticed. They are all tiny airports that no ones that no ones heard of. Where's JFK, DFW, LAX, BOS, MIA etc?

 

 

Hi Ryan,

 

I think perhaps the fact that you're flying in the USA is a problem. Global comes with a tonne of European airports by Aerosoft - I had a look in my custom scenery and there are about 20. By the way if you're bothered with the lack of AI aircraft please check this out: http://asn.aerosoft.com/?p=21946

 

 

I bought it, spent a while configuring and now I have lots of traffic, a tonne of cars and my sim really feels "alive".

 

Also, there is SO much good quality custom airports. I've added all my favourites and it's very simple.

 

(Also, I have payware JFK and Lax, they came free with my payware aircraft)