Thank you, Martin.

 

Your comments explain perfectly that we are getting something new, NOT a rehashed sim with lipstick.

I really like it when you say that nothing from the old will work. We need to move on from a 10 year old sim.

 

Phoenix like, our simming will rise,!!

I think you're 100% doing the right thing!

 

People need to realize in order to evolve (which is about time!) we need to let go of the past.

 

One question though. You say this will be a brand new sim but still it will be based on the old core engine found in previous versions of MS's flight sim series?

 

That is correct. Development has always been like to this to some extent within the industry. Ever brand new game engines builds upon and use the features from a generation before. For example we have worked a lot with Unreal Engine 4 for our new Train Sim and Euro Fishing. When Epic made Unreal Engine 4 they didn't just throw out everything from Unreal Engine 1-3. They took all of the things they have learned and tools in 1-3 and said: right, how can we make these even better? 

 

Think of it like this. You are going to build a new house on a plot of land which already has a house on it. You knock down the existing house but the foundations beneath the ground are still good and will make for a great platform for building your new house on. What is the point of completely digging them up and replacing them with new ones which do the same thing? What will you gain by doing that? As they say, why reinvent the wheel just for the sake of it? 

 

- Martin 

 

Here's a detailed explanation

 

Under FSX, whenever you move the mouse, the framerate drops, then goes back up when the mouse is left untouched for 5 seconds. This is due to FSX lacking a hardware cursor. The framerate drop doesn't happen in P3D, XPlane, or any other software I've tried with a hardware cursor option.

 

Thank you. That makes much more sense to me now. Funny enough the development team were talking about these framerate drops just this morning. It is certainly on their list of things to look at. 

 

- Martin 

Martin,

 

Here is a new question for you. In one of the 3 screenshots I've been able to see, road traffic is visible on a highway. Does this mean that moving road traffic has been retained for Flight School as an option, and will there also be ship/boat AI as well?

 

Just curious, and once again thanks for your appearance here.

 

We haven't made any changes to these compared to FSX: SE but they are certainly still in there. 

 

- Martin 

Thank you Martin for your fine words, which give us all some encouragement that the new sim will negate the need for many of the existing spaghetti of addons and hopefully will have many decent functions already included, but also provide scope, given the newer technology, for developers to improve even further their various products.

 

I think, though that I shall sit back for now and simply follow the news on your developments, and make the most of FSX SE and my existing addons for the next year or so, until such time that the new sim has proven itself and fully answers all my above posted questions, since it is apparent that to speculate now or seek answers to questions now which can't be answered is pointless. If it doesn't fulfill overall expectations, then at least we still have FSXSE to fall back on.

 

Time will tell whether DFT have listened to all our concerns and can come up with an awe inspiring Simulation or the various Add-on developers will engross the new sim and ultimately make it one to reckon with for the next 10 years!

 

Looking forward to more news in the future as to the outcome.

 

Stuart

Sounds like a Microsoft quote when FSX first came out!

 

 

Hardware manufacturers create hardware not software, it is usually down to the application developers to create appropriate interfaces, hence the need for something like fsuipc to be included.

 

If current top 3rd party addons are not going to be compatible, which seems they will not, then Serious flight simmers, rather than pure gamers, would need the following aspects to be included in the base product, to be tempted by this new technology sim.

 

Perhaps Martin can answer a simple Yes/No to each as to whether they are to be included into the base new DTFS (not Flight School but Flight Simulator):

 

1. Accurate flight dynamics for all included aircraft, with smooth flight motion?

2. Realistic and accurate jet / tubo prop airliner

flight decks with operable switches that do what they are supposed to do, and smooth gauges, of the quality of A2A PMDG / QW / LevelD?

3. BTW, Which aircraft are planned to be included as standard?

4. Realistic ATC with voice interface?

5. Realistic weather engine, with accurate real world weather depiction incl. winds (surface and aloft), cloud cover, different precipitation?

6. Ability to accurately calibrate joysticks, Throttles and rudders and related h/w buttons to various DTFS functions?

7. Accurate Scenery mesh to at least LOD 10?

8. SDK to enable Add-on Airport & Aircraft manufacturers to modify all the top 3rd party products to the new sim?

9. Great default textures to the quality of ORBX Global?

 

If Martin could give clear answers to the above, rather than company clouded answers, then perhaps we shall all have more faith in the new simulator, and would not be so concerned, and can simply look forward rather than expecting the status quo. If not then most simmers will remain sceptical at least.

 

Stuart

 

Hi Stuart. Your suggestions certainly echo those that other simmers have asked. Then again, in some ways they are very different. Everyone has their own personal wishlist of what they want to see and why. For example you say that you want a "SDK to enable Add-on Airport & Aircraft manufacturers to modify all the top 3rd party products to the new sim." Meanwhile, some of your fellow simmers say they don't want that, they want new add-ons not the old products simply moved over. Ultimately it all comes down to personal preference and while there is often some overlap between such wishlists, there is equally as much disagreement. 

 

As such I am not going to work my way through everyone's personal tick list. The reality is, if I do it for you then I have to do it for everyone (it is only fair) and that would mean I would never have time to answer questions and have discussions like I have been doing here. What I can say is that nothing on your list is a surprise to us or hasn't been taken into consideration. We will have lots more news about all the fine details as we get closer to launch, so everyone will have time to think about what DFS has to offer them personally. 

 

Also don't forget that DFS is not a fixed thing. We hope that we have been clear that it will not be all things to all people day one. Instead it will be a continually developed platform. Maybe it won't have all the feature you want upon release. That is okay, just keep an eye on it and maybe reconsider a little later down the line. 

 

- Martin 

Morning, (here in South Africa it is,) Martin,

 

As, shall I call myself, a veteran simmer, hardcore as far as having a yoke & pedal, & enjoy the 'low's 'n slow's, it is simply great that DTG will be launching 2x sims. As said before, my personal idea was 3, a basic, a silver & a gold release, catering for all sectors. However, 2, in retrospect is ideal, with the sim edition having the ability to be expanded.

 

We have seen a lot of questions & confusion as to the expectations & compatibility of existing add-ons into the DTG release, & you have explained, perfectly. (on numerous occasions)

 

Can you perhaps confirm your target market for us?  The training for the newbies, novice & others, to establish an 'easy' entry into the hobby, & then the sim itself. I see that as being a natural step forward. Would it initially appeal to the hard core'ers or will it need add-ons to appeal?

 

I saw mentioned that the sim would also be available through the Windows Store/Shop. Will that bring mobile compatibility as well?

 

I

 

Good morning back to you Sir. Well, a rather cloudy and damp morning here in the UK at least. 

 

Let's clear up the backwards compatibility issue to start with. DTG Flight Simulator is not being developed with backwards compatibility in mind. Therefore we want to be clear, no existing add-ons for FSX: SE or any other flight sim will work with it. Naturally we will provide developers with all the tools, documentation and support they need to create great new content for this new platform and will be working closely with them during that process.

 

In terms platforms, DFS and FS are being developed to run on PCs only under a selection of Windows OS. This means that we are not making a Mac version, a Linux version or a version for consoles or mobile devices at this time. It is PC and PC only for now. Both Flight School and Flight Simulator are targeted for release through Steam and the Windows Store. Think of these as being shops. They are basically ways to purchase the end simulator rather than a specific OS or platform. 

 

There has been some confusion regarding consoles. Particularly Xbox One. It is no secret that we have a partnership with Microsoft and that we have been working with them for some time now but we are not actively working on an Xbox One version or developing the sim with that in mind. Maybe at a later stage we will look at the Xbox platform and consider whether DFS could run on it, that is what happened with our Euro Fishing sim. It is a bit like a painter who creates a painting on canvas using oil colours. Once finished they might consider printing the painting on t-shirts or posters but that is not what they set out to do to at the start. 

 

We have seen lots of comments saying that serious simmers want this and that, true simmers are interested in this, hardcore players want that feature. What is interesting is that a lot of these ideas and "wishlists" don't match up. Backwards compatibility is a good example. To some people this is extremely important. To others they don't want it. The more you focus on meeting the exact needs of anyone group of simmers the more narrow you make the scope of the final sim. For every one person that you include you end up excluding another. 

 

We don't want to exclude anyone. We want to do just the opposite - we want to give anyone who would like to get into flight simming the ability to do so. You might find flying long distances in a helicopter fun while someone else might hate helicopters and prefer fighter jet. Therefore we are not looking to lock down the experience to any one person, group or "market". We don't view it as gamers vs simmers vs hardcore vs casual. Instead we see people who are interested in aviation and want to spend their time engaging with entertainment around it. 

 

Entertainment and gaming can often be flash points for people. Again we don't see it that way. Whether you are watching a Hollywood action blockbuster, a small indie film or a documentary you are taking part in the same basic activity and using the same technology (a DVD, a TV, a DVD player). Your DVD player is simply a means of engaging and accessing the media. It is a tool with certain functions. It is how you use it that matters. 

 

This is our approach to DFS. We are not looking to create game or a sim or whatever you may call it that is focused around any one experience. Instead we want to create a platform that can be shaped, scaled and modified so that you can engage and access the experience you want. Naturally we can't have everything everyone could possibly want in there day one. It is simply not practical. This is why we are looking down the road and planning for many years to come. 

 

That is our end goal. For every feature that is in there which appeals to you personally there is likely to be one which doesn't. The opposite is also true, the features that you want are likely not to appeal to someone else. Just because you do not use two monitors does that mean we shouldn't have the option in DFS for people to do so? Just because you want to fly commercial aircraft does that mean we shouldn't include military jets? You might want things to be as accurate to a real flying experience as possible, does that mean we shouldn't consider people who don't? 

 

Who are we making DFS for? Anyone who wants to play it. Who are we to tell you how you choose to spend you time or how you get you aviation kicks? We think that flight simming and aviation in general is a fantastic, healthy and rewarding hobby. The more people who want to give it a try the better. Why restrict that experience to anyone in particular? We are making a flight simulation platform that will continue to grow and develop with new features and content over time. What people do or don't with that platform is up to them. That is the way we view it. 

 

- Martin 

 

 

We looked at this and asked ourselves the question "why are those functions and feature not there to start with?" This then lead us onto the very exciting question of "if these things are not needed to start with, what new things would that give developers the time and resources to focus on making?" Do you really want to see the current tools and add-ons simply ported over or do you want to see what brand new add-ons these developers can make? If we want everything just like it is now then what is the point of any new flight sim? Simply continue to use what there already is. FSX: SE is not going anywhere, everything that currently works with it will continue to do so. What would be gained by taking everything that already exists and simply copying it over to a new platform? Sure we might all get better performance but nothing else would have really changed. Do you want to see what an existing FSX weather add-on looks like running on modern hardware or do you want to see what a brand new weather add-on could be and include? 

 

I hope that explains things a little better. If I have caused any further confusion please let me know and we can revisit this topic. The big take away here is that not supporting these things does creates gaps and problems, we fully intend to to fill those gaps and offer alternatives. FSUIPC might not be there but we not just going to leave the functions missing. Instead there are going be new tools and systems which developers and simmers alike can use. 

 

- Martin 

 

I am sorry in advance for quoting a message again, but i think you have done an exceptional post at highlighting exactly the "spoiled" mentality we have here. Without any kind of offence of course! It is entirely related to the fact we got "spoiled" and used to FSX for 10 years, which is not something you can often see in a game. We got used to certain addons, we got used to certain plugins. Especially with FSUIPC people sometimes don't realize that it is not something normal in a game to rely so much on such a plugin, it's an exception! Sadly an exception that, for the stagnation of this market, we got used to consider until it looked normal to us. So bear with us Martin, because it will take some time to get used to the "new deal", but we will all get there

 

Regarding things i would like the dev team to work on (and i don't know if those are related to the scenery modifications you are not allowed to talk about just yet) is the loading of ground textures. It happens often, and sadly only on FSX, that people regardless of their hardware end up meeting blurred terrain. In fact if you check even here on avsim you will find loads of topics about it. And the "solutions" are the most different ones. Sometimes people upgrade their pc, sometimes their pc is already top notch and yet the blurred textures shows up. Sometimes they show up instead only after using certain addons that put a toll on the whole engine.

 

Either way however, to my knowledge, FSX is the only product out there with a global scenery that have these kind of texture loading. It doesn't seem to happen on xplane, can anyone from xplane confirm that also?

Time will tell whether DFT have listened to all our concerns and can come up with an awe inspiring Simulation or the various Add-on developers will engross the new sim and ultimately make it one to reckon with for the next 10 years!

You hit the nail on the head Stuart.We all look at the FSX as it is now and it is hard to think back to what it was at the time of launch. How far things have come and developed. That didn't just all happen over night. It took years and a humbling amount of hard work from developers and simmers alike. 

 

The same is going to be true of DFS. We are the first to put our hands up and say not all the pieces of the puzzle are going to fall exactly in place day one. The sim will not be all things to all people to start with and in many cases there may be no immediate advantage to you to give it a try. That is okay. All we ask is don't write it off, continue enjoying what you are currently doing and keep an eye on it. 

 

We are confident that we heading in the right direction and are deeply committed to this project in long term. We are throwing a lot of resources behind it and planning ahead. We wouldn't do that if we didn't believe that everything will come together in the end. 

 

- Martin 

i think you have done an exceptional post at highlighting exactly the "spoiled" mentality we have here. Without any kind of offence of course!

I strongly hope that I haven't caused any offence to anyone. That was certainly not my intention or the point I was trying to discuss. I apologise if I have. 

 

- Martin 

I'd like to see a camera system like Walk & Follow with added adjustable camera shake. Something like Ezdok but simplified.

I use Walk & Follow in FS9 and really like the way you can drag your camera around the scenery and either have it stationary or following your aircraft.

No avatar mode please, but something that allows you to swiftly move around in and outside the aircraft with some added dynamic shaking effect.

 

All great suggestions, thank you. At the risk of sounding like a broken record these are things we have certainly considered but not actively developing at this time. They are on are list of ideas to revisit at a later stage of development. 

 

- Martin 

Throw in a quick way to update the core of the sim so bugs can be weeded out quickly, and maybe we're rid of endless tutorials and guides on how to set up the sim properly too.

 

That is one of the reason why we decided to go with the Steam and Windows Store platforms for distribution. They have features which allow us to roll out updates and new content in a quick and easy fashion. 

 

- Martin 

Hello Martin.

 

Thank you for popping in here and answering questions on the new sims. Excellent stuff.

 

You mentioned earlier in the thread you may have more information and pictures due this week on the new scenery.

Are you still on course for this?

 

Thank you.

Brent.

Martin, from a warm 26deg Cape Town. Once again, thank you for bringing us up to speed.

It is going to be great playing with a new sim, new planes, scenery & lessons, all with new 'technology' for want of a better world.

 

I'm sure, from how you described the DTG vision, we will be seeing a lot of new 'faces' in our hobby.

I'm sure, over the years, you guys have looked, listened & decided on your path forward, & I believe that the future lies in hobby growth, & not prioritizing the wants of the hard-core'rs. Many thanks for that.

 

It's great that this modernized game will be taking advantage of how & where the games will be marketed. It is great that you will be using this up-to-date marketing that, for some, the latest OS's allow for.

 

Will it be our Holy Grail?

 

Wait for the next exciting episode......

 

I just hope that novices read your comments & understand that these are the stepping stones for a brand new exciting game, & are not scared off by not understanding the terminology, abbreviations & comments in some of the wish lists from the so-called hardcore simmers. Our hobby is not an elitist hobby. It needs & will thrive on a whole new generation of gamers, simmers, call us what you will.

 

As we say in South Africa, in afrikaans, (one of our official languages) 'Sterkte' (Strength, in english)

Why dont we all take a step back & wait patiently for any information that Martin has for us, instead of asking him when!

I'm sure he is well aware of how impatient us simmers can be, for any new titbits.

 

Maybe, just an idea, we can have a weekly Monday Info day, instead of guys asking daily when the next bit of info will appear?

That way, we will have a whole week to ask questions, and a reply on a single day. That will, I'm sure save us scolling through 200 plus posts.

Hello Martin.

 

Thank you for popping in here and answering questions on the new sims. Excellent stuff.

 

You mentioned earlier in the thread you may have more information and pictures due this week on the new scenery.

Are you still on course for this?

 

Thank you.

Brent.

 

Well remembered Brent. The information about the scenery is mostly likely going to come next week now. We had a few things to tweak which has pushed us back a little. 

 

We shared a new screenshot on Facebook this morning though (without the scenery updates). Here you go, in case you missed it 

 

https://www.facebook.com/dtgflightschool/

 

- Martin 

Hi Martin,

 

My questions for the flight simulator are?

 

1. Will SLI be supported?

2. Will it include the whole world or will we be required to buy regions separately costing hundreds of extra dollars to populate the world with airports etc... ?

3. Will it require steam and an internet connection to launch the game?

 

Thanks

Pete

Can`t see a new screenshot.

 

Message:

link has expired or the page is visible to an audience in which you 're not .

 

Did you break Facebook? Now worries. 

 

Thank you Martin.

Is that bounced light on the front left of the fuselage? :smile:

Hi Martin,

 

Many thanks for interacting with the FS community.

 

Just a couple of questions please.

 

Auto gen  any chance we can have more life like building s than the current stock rubbish in FSX/P3D they look terrible and are out of scale.

 

Also will the new DTGFS run in full screen mode? or will it be a hybridise full screen like P3D or just windows. I ask tjhis as it does have some reflection on how smooth sims run.

 

kind regards to you and the team.

 

Mark