Thanks for letting me know. I'm off to have a look-see. In that case, maybe there is hope...

Slightly aside from the discussion; i am often intrigued what we would have had now if MS had allowed ACES to produce another real Flight Simulator.

 

While Flight had it's problems there were definite improvements over FSX. 

Slightly aside from the discussion; i am often intrigued what we would have had now if MS had allowed ACES to produce another real Flight Simulator.

 

While Flight had it's problems there were definite improvements over FSX. 

 

Well the speculative part for me is...... If Stonelance can do all that he is doing, nearly all by himself it seems, then what might Dovetail games be able to do with the Flight engine with an entire dedicated team after a year?

 

Everyone keeps saying a year is too short to come out with a "New" sim, but I've never been so sure. There are always possibilities.......

here is an entire development forum at FS Developer dedicated to just this effort. I was just admiring some screenshots this morning of New York City, Paris, the Bahamas and Interlaken:

 

http://fsdeveloper.c...ictures.431688/

 

Bill, the only thing I found compelling about those screen shoots was the waves braking on the shore line. The Eiffel Tower also looked realistic. But in every other respect vanilla P3D V2 is far move compelling and realistic looking.

 

As for the the young and old who are newly interested in Flight Simulation, I think we experienced Flight Simmers should be pointing them in the direction of P3DV2 and XPX and other niche Flight sims depending on there questions.

 

For example if a newbie expresses an interest in FSX, my answer would be: OK, sure its great that you are interested in FSX but why don't you look at the latest option in that family of software? Its called Prepar3d V2 and its made by Lockheed Martin a real Aviation company. And it is far superior to FSX. Or perhaps XPX if that is more to you liking, or both.

 

Really, If you are a long in the tooth flight simmer, you would have to be a bit of an SOB or on someone's payroll (two sides of the same coin really) to direct a newbie to go buy FSX on Steam and not inform them of the alternatives!

 

Sometimes there are questions about specific kinds of flight simulation. For example some might post a question about Gliding in simulators. I that case among other things I am going to answer that Condor - The Competition Soaring Simulator is the way to go and in this regard I really do know what I am talking about. The same might be true of say a helicopter pilot recommending a realistic desktop helicopter simulation. I don't think that P3DV2 or XPX would be the first thing on their lips.

 

The bottom line line is that today general desktop flight simulation is a two horse race. Prepar3D V2 and XPX period. Now that is not to say that there is no value in FSX. FS9, XP9 etc., or in DCS or MSFlight or Falcon4 etc. Worthy on honorable mention are AeroflyFS and such and in my opinion the DX7 program Condor - The Competition Soaring Simulator hold its own with anything as far a realism is concerned and still beats the pants of everything as far as gliding is concerned.

 

But if you are new to general interest Flight Simulation there is no reason on Gods green earth to invest in anything other than P3DV2 or XPX because they represent the state of the art. It would be insane for a newbie to go down any other road!

 

IMHO, you would have to question the motives of anyone suggesting to them otherwise and wonder who's payroll their on!

 

the only thing I found compelling about those screen shots was the waves braking on the shore line. The Eiffel Tower also looked realistic. But in every other respect vanilla P3D V2 is far move compelling and realistic looking.

 

I have to agree with that. Whilst I am sure that getting all of that stuff into MS Flight is a significant technical achievement, those graphics don't look any better than FS2004.

 

 

Is anyone here aware of the fact that there are now tools available to update Flight using assets from FSX?

 

But those screenshots look a  lot worse than FSX with ORBX add-ons. Why bother?

I honestly don't see how the DTG release of FSX on Steam has any impact on the current flight sim community whatsoev...

 

 

 

I honestly don't see how the DTG release of FSX on Steam has any impact on the current flight sim community whatsoev...

 

I have an obvious positive impact to suggest; it would widen the distribution of Flight Simulator and thereby increasing the number of users world wide. If even 2% of those that try it, continue with it, and discover the net communities dedicated to it, that would be good for all of us.

I honestly don't see how the DTG release of FSX on Steam has any impact on the current flight sim community whatsoev...

 

 Sounds very close to famous last words, second only to "Hey guys, watch this!!"  :ph34r:

I have an obvious positive impact to suggest; it would widen the distribution of Flight Simulator and thereby increasing the number of users world wide. If even 2% of those that try it, continue with it, and discover the net communities dedicated to it, that would be good for all of us.

 

Good point. I hope you are correct, but I think that is wishful thinking. It is safe to say that anyone purchasing FSX on Steam would be expecting modern software, visually and otherwise. If I was new to flight sims, and took a chance on vanilla FSX Steam Edition, my first impression would be, "THIS is the state of flight sim technology? How do I get my money back?"

But those screenshots look a  lot worse than FSX with ORBX add-ons. Why bother?

 

Why bother? This is why:

 

 

Even with missing landclass blendmasks and some missing autogen, it still looks quite nice.

 

 

ven with missing landclass blendmasks and some missing autogen, it still looks quite nice.

 

Yes you are right. But it doesn't look as nice as P3D V2 Vanilla or some of the screen shoots I have seen lately of XPX. So why bother with a product that is as dead as the Dodo?

Yes you are right. But it doesn't look as nice as P3D V2 Vanilla or some of the screen shoots I have seen lately of XPX. So why bother with a product that is as dead as the Dodo?

 

The tools and conversion process to bring FSX scenery to Flight is extending the life of what could be a rather nice virtual flying environment. By making these tools available eventually, other developers will be able to create new scenery and content to build on the base FSX world in Flight, just as they've done with FSX/P3D. Steve's efforts may also benefit addon developers if Dovetail uses Flight's engine and maintains similar content loading functionality.

 

It's all about giving options. No simulator currently available to us is perfect -- they all have their positives and negatives. Having options available lets everyone pick their preferred sim that best fits their needs based on those positives and negatives.  :smile:  Someone who enjoys VFR flying at low speeds and wants a smooth/constant 60 FPS, for example, would really enjoy Flight.

 

 

It's all about giving options. No simulator currently available to us is perfect -- they all have their positives and negatives. Having options available lets everyone pick their preferred sim that best fits their needs based on those positives and negatives. :smile: Someone who enjoys VFR flying at low speeds and wants a smooth/constant 60 FPS, for example, would really enjoy Flight.

 

Couldn't agree more and those positives and negatives are based on the interests and preferences of the user right? Over the winter I participate in online soaring contest in Condor. Who is that of interest too in the FS community? Virtually nobody. And that's fine. I am sure that there is a lot of FS activity that is a niche. My point is that P3DV2 and XPX are currently where it is at and that anyone new to FS unless they are specifying some niche interest should be directed to to P3DV2 and/or XPX.

 

Telling them that they should look at MS Flight or FSX on steam is plain wrong.

 

 

I reallly think that a re-release of FSX is a marketing tool by Microsoft to get rid of distribution (world-wide), stock holding, support etc & pass a discontinued product to Dovetail. I'm sure it is quite a cost saving for them as well!!)

 

Can't find the link right now, but one article talked about the deal with Dovetail only covering the digital distribution rights to bring FSX to Steam. Microsoft would keep distributing the boxed copies.