>However, I think they will syncronice FS10 with the new OS>(can

FS 2006 have already been officially confirmed from what I have heard? Or was I dreaming lol.

Well Peter,For the hardcore simmers we'll probably always have Elite around, a fantastic IFR training sim (expensive too, especially if you want any additional aircraft) but not too good on the entertainment end of things. I too doubt we will see any further out of Microsoft for a year and a half if not more. Certainly a good opportunity for a Fly!III or even just Fly!II with every thing functional... I know that one is long dead now with only a few of us holding out hope.Zane

>FS 2006 have already been officially confirmed from what I have heard? Or was I dreaming lol.

Yep.When the patch/upgrade/bugfix or whatever was announced for FS9, they said in that announcement that the next version of FS would be announced in something like 6 to 10 months time. If my brain is still functioning, that was late August (I think). 6 to 10 months from say Sept 1 is somewhere between March 1 and July 1 2005, which would be roughly on "schedule" with how past releases have been announced and released.

PeterI really have to laugh that this is brought up literally every time we roll around to another release year. Let's say that MS really did decide they no longer wanted to produce a FS. Would the code just go through the shredder and then in the dumpster? Of course not,it would be sold,and sold quickly. I also don't believe that another company couldn't do as good a job with the title as MS. MS will keep the title,FS10 will be here next summer or fall. But..if they wanted to skip another year and do a full rewrite I'd be in favor of that move,in fact I wouldn't care if they went to a three year release schedule. Your totally correct about we "hardcores" being the minority of the title,I think we only make up 10% or less. But,its funny how MS does listen to this minority group when working on the next release or upgrades.David

It

DavidYes we are the hardcore and so are the team at Microsoft. They take every bit of pride in the work they do and unleashed would develop the sim to levels undreamed of.On the other side of that coin the team do look at the minority "hardcore" who frequent these forums because in those ranks they will find the most experienced simmers, the most demanding and most knowlegable who are also the most pickie and able to find the faults.In these forums they will also find the real pilots who are also simmers. They will find the very experienced simmers, the developers and the best most experienced potential beta testers.I do not believe Microsoft would ever sell on the sim. Sierra never did so with Pro Pilot. Flight unlimited was never sold on. Fly! was never sold on.The product has a life where it is upgradeable. My feelings are that it is nearing the end of that life.Flight sims are incredibly expensive to create and their profitability would have to be looked at over a number of releases and years.Here lies the crux because at the end of that development life they are faced with the long haul of starting a sim from almost scratch and committing themselves to supporting future development and releases.Will there be the will to do that?Peter

gasebah, Look closely, there is not alot of difference from what's we have now in fs2004, the only difference are -The size of the autogen, -Trees that's covers the forest ground texture, -Trees get better transition on 3d fake "3d texture illusion" instant of + cross flat texture -The placement of the trees and the placement of the building..This is not a new technologie but only refined technique with new texture.In fs2004-Trees and autogen are smaller-Trees do not covers the forest texture-Trees are flat cross type-Placement of trees and building are differentsThese are small improvement but appears bigger to eyes, not really need new technologie or anything from a new engine.-Take the autogen tool, make new texture and see the result. Problems I don't know if you can increase the size of the autogen, not sure.-This take alot of time to redone the entire fs2004 autogen placement and texture These type of autogen will be outdated already in years 2006, don't look others game you will crying on graphics in years 2006.ThanksChris Willis[link:fsw.simflight.com/FSWMenuFsSim.html]Clouds And Addons For MsFs

double post

Hi, "I never understood why FS9 is limited to 256x256 scenery texture tiles that are less than 50kb each in the age of 256MB videocards"-KB will change from 565 format or other's, not really the size of the texture.-You have to calculate KBMB to the video cards from aircraft texture, all water texture, all building texture,autogen texture, all environment and the rest of fs2004 texture stuff that's you have in your screen in only one session.-Some Texture load in the fly and transition texture load on the fly.-More the texture will be bigger in MBKB, more fs2004 will take time to load and it will add more stutter on the fly.-Because of the huge amount of texture that's 2004 have, there is limitation on quality and format and the transition of night time texture, Winter, summer, fall, etc.-Some space are needed to do other's things in the backgroundYou can now calculate all texture for one session and the loading texture in the fly.ThanksChris Willis[link:fsw.simflight.com/FSWMenuFsSim.html]Clouds And Addons For MsFs

Pritty cool! Getting kind of anxious to see what MS has to offer for us in the new version... if there is one ;)

I think you are right Chis, one of the things that makes that scenery look so good is that the distribution of the trees is much more natural. Also, the buildings and roads fit together much better, and the roads are much better defined. I think these improvements are a natural progression from where we are now.

New version of FS I might add...

Hi Ken, "one of the things that makes that scenery look so good is that the distribution of the trees is much more natural. Also, the buildings and roads fit together much better, "The problem in fs2004 is the SIZE of the autogen, the placement, and texture of the trees vs the ground texture to fit well togheter, the autogen are too small in fs2004 to enjoy autogentexture from little higher altitude and lower, same as the building, same for the ground texture 512x512 will help alot, but AGAIN, limitation on fps.There is alot of improvement when a simple new "computervideo catrds" appears in the market wihtout need to redone entire things or to implement in fs, only better done with more details like the screenshots are nothing from new technologie.Each 2 years release, you could implement many feature before, but never had implemented because of the system limitation and fps hit. ThanksChris Willis[link:fsw.simflight.com/FSWMenuFsSim.html]Clouds And Addons For MsFs