Ah................no. That would be back about the time of FS98.  I was never thrilled about that, either.

 

I also know how X-Plane works. Some positives, some negatives, some problems that have gone on for years. X-Plane flight dynamics are a ball park rendition of flight. They need tweaking by masters, just as FSX's table method does. 

 

Not really, comparing XP to a vanilla version of any other, probably with the exception of PS1/2, will give a different result. Personal preference, but the effect of XP is the closest I have had to real flying.

 

No sim is perfect obviously, they all have their philosophy and it is up to the user to decide what features work for them.

Agree with most of the points mentioned above. One very important thing that I would like to point out is that XPX definitely needs real time surface reflection like FSX/P3D. Almost every aircraft in XPX looks like its made up of plastic or something and for me that just kills the experience. A dev did manage to mimic the reflection by using a plugin http://forums.x-plane.org/index.php?showtopic=87680

The reflections are actually cube maps and they are canned. No real time anything, at least not last time I checked. It would be great if they have been able to work this out though. Having said that, we have been waiting a long time for Laminar to get this done in X-Plane. A few developers are also voicing their concern over this glaring omission on Laminar's part.

The reflections are actually cube maps and they are canned. No real time anything, at least not last time I checked. It would be great if they have been able to work this out though. Having said that, we have been waiting a long time for Laminar to get this done in X-Plane. A few developers are also voicing their concern over this glaring omission on Laminar's part.

 

http://developer.x-plane.com/2014/05/physics-and-magic/

 

Ben Supnik also confirmed in FlighSimCon 2015 that they are looking at this.

 

Hopefully in Xplane11.

http://developer.x-plane.com/2014/05/physics-and-magic/

 

Ben Supnik also confirmed in FlighSimCon 2015 that they are looking at this.

 

Hopefully in Xplane11.

Meh. That post is more than a year old but we can hope I guess. And I don't think X-Plane 11 is coming anytime soon. There is still SO much untapped potential in X-Plane 10 rendering engine left. We are barely scratching the surface. Big companies like PMDG are still learning X-Plane 10 since they are starting with DC-6 as a product. So looking at all of this, X-Plane 11 is atleast 2 or 3 years away.

http://developer.x-plane.com/2014/05/physics-and-magic/

 

Ben Supnik also confirmed in FlighSimCon 2015 that they are looking at this.

 

Hopefully in Xplane11.

Yeah, I understand Ben's point of view on the matter. Eye candy is certainly going to take a back seat to more pressing issues. Like you said, maybe XPXI? :wink:

There is still SO much untapped potential in X-Plane 10 rendering engine left.

This is not the crucial point for X-Plane 11: It ismore a question: How many major API changes will you put into X-Plane 10.

I think the time for major updates in X-Plane 10 reaches its end., I would expect 10.50 and perhaps 10.60 but nothing beyond. Everything else will have to go into X-Plane 11. There are several issues that have to be handled in major ways, like the ATC and the standard clouds for example. The drop of UHD mountains and so on, like preparations for new graphics engines.

Open GL depends on the quality of the graphics drivers and the producers will put less and less effort into their OpenGL engines.

SkyMaxx Pro v3.0....scud base...on overflight...

No other sim platform comes close...nope.

Dawn breaking...

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X-Plane is ahead of it's time in very few categories.   In most of the other areas it is behind.   It has one of the worst ATC systems and it's AI control system is non-existent.   Many US airports are baron wastelands, even with the free community add-ons.   I shall stick by my previous statement that X-Plane is amazing for General Aviation fliers that like flying in Europe.   For heavy tin movers that work in the USA X-Plane is greatly lacking.    The one thing that X-Plane does do better than anyone else, even with PAYWARE add-ons is night lighting.   That X-Plane night environment makes a pilot shed tears with it's beauty.   There are a few cosmetic features I wish the other platforms had like heat exhaust shimmer but alas...   I reload X-Plane on my system every year or so to see if it's come up to the standards I need it to be for how I fly and it's still not there.

 

Having just bought X-Plane 10.41 three days ago, along with 3 payware add-on aircraft, and having downloaded a lot of the excellent freeware scenery offerings, I find myself in agreement with the above.

 

I was blown away with some narrow areas of brilliance within XP10, but deflated at some of the wider areas where it's lacking, behind P3Dv3.

 

ATC is pretty awful and not something that I'd ever be inclined to use again after a few painful flights with it.   The lack of easy to configure, realistic AI.  And the GA aircraft just seem quite simplistic compared to the best that P3Dv3 or FSX can offer.   The exception is the Airfoillabs C172, which I actually think in better than the A2A C172 (especially in terms of sounds).  But other offerings seem to lack depth.

 

Biggest weakness for me is sound - XP10s sound engine is dire.   The default sounds can be replaced of course, but even how XP handles things like engine starts is just so basic and lacking from the coding / engine perspective.

 

I'll keep it installed, because a flight around RDesign's Alaska airports, with HD Mesh v3 in the Airfoillab C172 is sublime.    But beyond this narrow mission, I ultimately found XP10 disappointing in terms of the core feature set.   Oh I do love the FDE; it is very fluid and generally feels more realistic than P3D/FSX.   But the loss of fidelity in other areas means that for me, at this time, it could never be my main sim platform.          Great to have choice though.

Having just bought X-Plane 10.41 three days ago, along with 3 payware add-on aircraft, and having downloaded a lot of the excellent freeware scenery offerings, I find myself in agreement with the above.

 

I was blown away with some narrow areas of brilliance within XP10, but deflated at some of the wider areas where it's lacking, behind P3Dv3.

 

ATC is pretty awful and not something that I'd ever be inclined to use again after a few painful flights with it.   The lack of easy to configure, realistic AI.  And the GA aircraft just seem quite simplistic compared to the best that P3Dv3 or FSX can offer.   The exception is the Airfoillabs C172, which I actually think in better than the A2A C172 (especially in terms of sounds).  But other offerings seem to lack depth.

 

Biggest weakness for me is sound - XP10s sound engine is dire.   The default sounds can be replaced of course, but even how XP handles things like engine starts is just so basic and lacking from the coding / engine perspective.

 

I'll keep it installed, because a flight around RDesign's Alaska airports, with HD Mesh v3 in the Airfoillab C172 is sublime.    But beyond this narrow mission, I ultimately found XP10 disappointing in terms of the core feature set.   Oh I do love the FDE; it is very fluid and generally feels more realistic than P3D/FSX.   But the loss of fidelity in other areas means that for me, at this time, it could never be my main sim platform.          Great to have choice though.

 

 

But that is the whole point,...and that is why I use all the sim platforms that I purchased.  I just don't get the idea that one must abandon every other sim, and become an Adele, and support hobby affiliations with just one platform.  

 

That reasoning,  I never have 'gotten'.

 

I use FS9 for all tube and heavy iron. It is the best for that...and its strength.

 

I use P3D and FSX-boxed for ATC, A.I. traffic injection,  great scenery immersion, and at this time, more commercial of that stated.  ORBX, etc. 

 

I use XPX.41 for the best night op's creation, that can NOT be reprecated by any of the other main sims discussed on AVSIM at present. Nothing...but nothing, will give you the visual feel and sense of PM operations, Dusk, or Dawn...XPX.41 is unheralded champ. Right now, Alpilot's HD3 mountains can not be bested, so there is another feature for mountainous excursions.

 

So...that you say, you are 'still going to 'keep' it on your system', JyW, as some sort of lame duck, does puzzle me. 

 

It is one of three sim families...and is 'no less' than others, if each flight is mission and user-objective specific.  I do know that mine all are.  I decided on a flight, decide on what operation...what aircraft, blah, blah...and then push the start button of that particular sim that has the juice for the flight.

 

I don't think that anybody around AVSIM, can honestly say that I put most of of my screenshots and support, into any one platform.  If they can..or think that...then for my user mandate...I am doing something wrong...   :wink:

 

Cheers,

 

Final thought: Use it for that 'narrow' mission...if that narrow mission is best done in XP, rather than in FSX, P3D, or FS9.   

So...that you say, you are 'still going to 'keep' it on your system', JyW, as some sort of lame duck, does puzzle me.

I didn't say that Mitch. I didn't say anything about "lame ducks" and didn't even imply that. I said exactly what you have gone on to suggest; it will stay on my system because the narrow field of things that it does well (all just in my opinion), warrant it staying there; and it will get used. My point was simply that it could not fulfil my majority flight sim needs.

I didn't say that Mitch. I didn't say anything about "lame ducks" and didn't even imply that. I said exactly what you have gone on to suggest; it will stay on my system because the narrow field of things that it does well (all just in my opinion), warrant it staying there; and it will get used. My point was simply that it could not fulfil my majority flight sim needs.

I understand, and of course you never said the term 'lame duck'..that was my paraphrasing not of your actual wording, but of a usage attitude concept.  I just used the opportunity to suggest to a reader, that people can buy into all the sims, if they see that there is a single-use case to own it.  For instance, as stated, night ops...with XP, and any other scenarios, for yourself, within the other platforms.

 

There just seems, JYW, to be on AVSIM, a pervasive 'cult following' of one sim over the others...  You know...I ONLY fly/use...(X).  This one, is the only one that works for me...etc. etc.  I have in posts over the years, stated that I find one sim..better than the rest, for a feature...night ops...ATC...A.I.  etc...but never have stated that I would not use/buy any other sim, because of any one not having a good handle on a particular, singular feature.  Why cut myself off?!??!?

 

So...as you say...my wording was Lame Duck...not yours...

 

 

The truth is, they are all good...(flight sims) every one of them...heck, even Pro Pilot, Flight, they still can be used today for the service of the user.  The only one, that I would say, would remain in the drawer (where it is...) is FS98.....there is no way that I could ever look upon green triangles, for mountains, and airports with grey shapeless buildings, grey runways, green/brown ground terrain....nope...THAT one..is the only one that needs be laid to rest, LOL

 

Cheers, JYW....enjoy XP, for what you can enjoy from the platform. and as you say, use others to fill out your usage requirements  Good stuff!

No probs Mitch. I enjoy your positive posts and contributions here. It seems to me, that you "get" exactly what the flight sim hobby should be.... = fun!

I'm honestly not taking a 'cult' approach to any one sim. I guess, in my own analysis of XP10 (over a very brief period), I was assessing it's capability to be a primary platform, that I'd use as much as or more, than P3Dv3.  This is where it disappointed, for me personally,   But there is a lot to like.  As you and others have said, the night lighting is sublime.  And I love the FDE; feels great.   I will definitely use it as part of that overall 'deck' of fabulous flight sims that we're lucky to have available.

And the GA aircraft just seem quite simplistic compared to the best that P3Dv3 or FSX can offer.   The exception is the Airfoillabs C172, which I actually think in better than the A2A C172 (especially in terms of sounds).  

 

As a GA oriented simmer myself I would include the C210 with REP (and soon probably the F33) and the DHC-2 in that category as well. It's still a more narrow selection than P3D but there are more than just one top performer now. 

 

Regarding the other points I mostly agree. If ATC is important, XPX wont cut it. It's not important to me, but it is to a large part of the community and therefore should be a top priority for Laminar. 

I still believe that a sense of superior FDE, is nothing more that fluidness.  I still say..............that when a system develops high super smooth and fluid frame rates for both FSX and X-Plane, that the planes feel much more the same, than not. Of course, all planes are not equal in the flight dynamics department. But, IMO, when the  flight dynamics are reasonably realistic, then it's quite the same.  Other than that, I've forgotten what the E stands for. 

I still believe that a sense of superior FDE, is nothing more that fluidness.  I still say..............that when a system develops high super smooth and fluid frame rates for both FSX and X-Plane, that the planes feel much more the same, than not. Of course, all planes are not equal in the flight dynamics department. But, IMO, when the  flight dynamics are reasonably realistic, then it's quite the same.  Other than that, I've forgotten what the E stands for. 

Now getting 70 FPS in P3D, I can totally relate to what you are saying about fluidness 'seen' as a great FDE.  Finally....and it does seem that way, Larry.

 

Mitch