Well...well. It seems like the current "HOT" discussion on this forum has to do with our next version of MSFS. AND, it seems like it's really true that it's coming in 2006. I, for one, am ready for it because I love exploring new technology and look with eager anticipation every new version of my favorite hobby.It seems though, from the discussions I've been reading, that some believe that it will not be "backward compatible" and all of our addons (payware and freeware) just won't work without some serious tweaking. No regrets. I paid for what I'm enjoying now, and I'll pay for what the new technology has to offer.I'm seeing a new computer in my future though....VISTA and DX10, along with 64 bit technology will probably be what's necessary for the full impact of the sim to be appreciated.So, now I look at the countless planes, panels, sounds, and scenery. The Mesh, FS Genesis, the Landclass, the Ultimate Terrain, and the Megascenery. I look at my wonderful Weather program, ASV6, and I await 2 more seasons from BEV to be produced.Does this mean that all these investments should make us sad? Of course not...This hobby is very inexpensive when compared to other hobbies each of us might have. My daily involvement in FS9 over the past few years has been extremely enjoyable along with the wonderful discussions on this forum.But, what shall I do, from now on, about additional addons that may attract me? Well, we'll see just how "irrestible" they really are.How do all of you feel about the events that are unfolding as it pertains to adding more to the current FS engine?

Frankly, I feel sorry for all the payware developers and even the freeware developers, because many of them will be stuck in a kind of Limbo. This is especially true, if this soon to be released date, turns out to be wishful thinking . I think you are going to see more and more posts that talk about waiting until the next version comes out before making any kind of puchase decision regarding MSFS stuff. On the other hand, I think quite a few of the serious FS9 people are pretty happy with the way FS9 and their add-ons and their PC, are presently working ( like me), and are going to wait until the actual benefits of FS10 are proven, and then bugs aresifted out. At present, nothing I have read so far regarding the "Farmer in the Dell AI " and ramp traffic, interests me so far, even if it was a $20 add-on. To switch operating systems, and upgrade PC's and buying new add-ons will probably run almost $2,000. For that amount of money, I'll buy a few chickens and let them run around my computer room, when I am flying.... :)

Remember - you're fs9 addons aren't going *anywhere*! There is no reason when the new version comes out that you have to uninstall fs9. As long as you have enough hard disk space, just keep both for awhile. Lots of people did this with pic767 and fs2002 (before LDS).

Microsoft has been pretty open about where they are going with development - the gMax aircraft created with MakeMdl and the FSDS2 and soon FSDS3 aircraft will be usable in all probability.Gauges and panels may be an issue. I certainly hope they get rid of the possibility of using FSsound.dll by calling it an old module.The biggest concern I have is in the area of scenery - specifically those developers who have not embraced XML based coding concepts. I doubt - and this is PURE BS SPECULATION - that SCASM based scenery will work correctly in the next version of Flight Sim.There will be some steep changes for the use of background polygons, landclass, water features and coast lines, utility lines, roads, railroads and such. Those were not moved to XML in FS2004. There should be at least one transition version of FS to allow those developers to move forward.Those items will probably work - but Airport For Windows SCSAM type airports probably won't.I'll probably lose my beloved FSD Commander 114. They did a great job of moving it into FS2004 - but the future.....

LOL! NOthing ever changes. In all the years that I have been using FS - this same general discussion starts as we approach a new release. There have always been major changes and the add on developers have always responded. I've even seen the discussions that FS is "old hat" - games like Doom and Age of Empires are the thing. Ms is going to cancel FS because it doesn't generate enough return on their investment, etc.All we can do is wait.VicVisit the Virtual Pilot's Centerwww.flightadventures.comhttp://sales.hifisim.com/pub-download/asv6-banner-proud.jpg

I have to wonder whether a leap will be made to 512x512 or even 1024x1024 ground polys for landclass, instead of the current 256x256. The 256x256 based landclass has been around since the days of 32 meg graphics cards. Today's cards with more onboard memory can certainly handle more texture load, and the sense of speed more detailed landclass would provide could be truly breathtaking.I still don't believe this will be the platform for sat. based scenery on a large scale. I believe the landclass based scenery will form the foundation for the sim perhaps even into FS-11, although it may be that the landclass mapping is more accurate.I also suspect that .air files may finally go away altogether for aircraft. The aircraft.cfg file has become more and more the foundation for flight dynamics. It may even be changed to xml format, everything else is going that way these days.I suspect anything made with FSDS 2/3 or Gmax will probably work in FS2004, but bump mapping may require designers to rework projects to stay ahead of their rivals. Last, we may see an even larger improvement in mesh quality. Imagine Guilin in China, or Monument Valley in the U.S., created with higher res. mesh?One beauty of MSFS as it stands now is that Microsoft could gut the entire flight dynamics engine, and build a new one, without giving the add-on developers too much trouble. -John

AVSIM just verified the Microsoft Announcement. Looks like "Holiday" means Christmas time. Q4 is the release date. That gives us one more year to keep enjoying what we have and invest accordingly for our enjoyment.

>>LOL! NOthing ever changes. In all the years that I have been>using FS - this same general discussion starts as we approach>a new release. There have always been major changes and the>add on developers have always responded. I've even seen the>discussions that FS is "old hat" - games like Doom and Age of>Empires are the thing. Ms is going to cancel FS because it>doesn't generate enough return on their investment, etc.>>All we can do is wait.>>VicLOL!Better than that, Vic, all we NEED to do is wait :-)For sure the speculation is fun, but we're quickly moving toward an announcement, followed in the usual MS way by a phased release of information leading up to the release itelf. There's actually no need to panic, just sit back with a nice beer and watch as it unfolds!Allcott

Just to hook in, so many posts allready about the magical X. was just thinking, maybe a little farfetched. But will there ever come a point when only the above avarage people (Income wise i mean) people will be able to afford this hobby.. with the rising cost of expenses for computer parts necessary to support version after version, not to mention the increasing costs of an add-on,AVGAS

The Scenery SDK gives developers a clear warning:"A new, XML-based, senery format has been created and is required (my emphasis) for creating new scenery. Scenery should no longer be created with BGL opcodes or the BGLC compiler from previous versions of Flight Simulator. The older BGL opcodes are supported for backward compatibility, however, we cannot guarantee their support in future releases."No one can say they weren't warned!

What is going to #### me off is that I am planning on building a new computer with a 900 dollar AMD processor and dual 7800 GTX video cards with all the bells and whistles and FS10 will prbably bring it to its knees with the addons.

"What is going to #### me off is that I am planning on building a new computer with a 900 dollar AMD processor and dual 7800 GTX video cards with all the bells and whistles and FS10 will prbably bring it to its knees with the addons."One thing to remember is that starting with FS2002, pixel for pixel, MSFS delivered better performance than the version preceding it given the same visual settings, and the same system. Many decried FS2004's performance saying "my sliders match FS2002, and performance is worse". But they didn't take into account or didn't notice that "50 pct. scenery density" in FS2004 delivered more scenery detail than the same slider setting in FS2002.I think FS-X will continue the tradition of improving performance and adding improved visuals that yes, may or may not be ready for today's systems. However, what I see on the horizon graphically is not way out of proportion to what we have today. I think people who start at the FS-X baseline will be able to create a simming experience surpassing what they have today with no cost in performance. I am figuring an Athlon 3400+ with Win XP 64 or Vista, if it's available and stable, combined with a $100-150 video card, will deliver breathtaking visuals and performance in the new sim. Max the sliders or throw 300 aircraft at a busy airport, that's another story. But it will be a better experience--you can quote me on that.-John

>What is going to #### me off is that I am planning on>building a new computer with a 900 dollar AMD processor and>dual 7800 GTX video cards with all the bells and whistles and>FS10 will prbably bring it to its knees with the addons.I take it this is meant to be sarcastic?

>Frankly, I feel sorry for all the payware developers and even>the freeware developers, because many of them will be stuck in>a kind of Limbo. This is especially true, if this soon to be>released date, turns out to be wishful thinking .>> Well it looks like my guess was right, according to the Avsim statement on the home page. That "Gaming Magazine" was just trying to sell a few more copies of the Mag... FS10 wont be out for about a year....

>What is going to #### me off is that I am planning on>building a new computer with a 900 dollar AMD processor and>dual 7800 GTX video cards with all the bells and whistles and>FS10 will prbably bring it to its knees with the addons."probably"?actaully FS10 will "probably" use new technology and programming methods so your top of the line computer CAN handle all these bells and whistles unlike FS9 which is still built from 5 year old + engines