Hi, i think this is a rather poor result for more than 2 years of work, this is my opinion. i expected more! When i saw the screenshots i was not only disappointed, but also i think its an audacity to say, FS X will only run well on a PC not existing at the release time?!!Don't want to be rude or unhonoring the MSFS team, but if FS X will not make MUCH more improvements, i will stay at FS9.thxhttp://www.igfly.com/images/betateam.jpg

Off topic!

Its early days yet. One also has to remember any gaming or entertainment title has to balance features against development costs as well as PC specs of the average user.Always amazes me the power of gaming. People will buy a 55 dollar game, then go buy a new PC to run it. Same people who will spend 300 dollars for a business software title then complain it wont run effectively on their 4 year old laptop. If this new version improves the AI and weather, and the ATC, and some basic stuff like more accurate mesh, Im good. I dont need to see things like flying birds etc. But thats just me.Eric

i think it's abstract... paying 50 euros or something, and buy a new pc for some hundred. i am just confused, from fs7 to fs8, it was a great step, from fs8 to fs9 .. ok, was also a step. but now? i mean the SCREENSHOTS (not off topic :) ) are not so well, for presenting a product at its biggest customer community!http://www.igfly.com/images/betateam.jpg

Yep, I caught that JohnI noted the post was off topic (originally posted in the screenshots forum) and have moved it here.-John

My first impression wasn't that great also, but I'd not call it poor, by any means.Right now I am changing my mind as I foolishy and in rush (before morning coffee)compared bare-bone FSX screenshots with FS9 loaded with addons graphics. I must say FSX screenshots are comparable to what FS9 with tons of addon can offer right now and in many cases better.Personaly I'd rather not pay for addons and (the most important) not mess around with any addons, but fly the plane - so FSX seems to be going in a good direction for me.Also, this is alpha version, they can still work on gfx and prolly will.I strongly doubt it is developed on mcahines which don't exist at present :). We would not get any screenshots of it if it would be the case.

Folks, keep in mind that ACES would NOT have released ANY screen shots at all of an ALPHA version of FSX, had it not been for the unfortunate screwup at PC Gamer magazine, which in fairness to PCG was sent out by the ad agency by mistake... ;)This is a case of "don't pay attention to the naked lady over in the corner..." What we see NOW is NOT what will be in the final release!

If they were releasing it next week you might...might have an arguement. It is a year from release. Gotta long way to go yet.

To the topic starter... thank you! It is your post and attitude that has finally made me realize I can spend my time better reading non-FSX topics. I for one, will continue to enjoy avsim.com minus this forum and FS2004 until FSX is released at which time I will surely upgrade the day it comes out. If you came here to only to post and claim "I told you so" when it is released, than I hope others will keep your name written down some place so we can all be reminded to congratulate your new found maturity level when FSX is released and you are installing it.How the heck some of you can be so dang negative so early is beyond me - let alone being negative at all considering how the sim has always improved over the years.

Honestly,I'm just happy to have another version in the pipeline - phew.

When I first saw the pics, i indeed was only mildly impressed. Then I zoomed in to make the pictures full screen, like how it would be while running the sim. That was the point in which I really went WOW. I started seeing the details of the roads, not just the main roads, but the neighborhood roads. Cul-de-sacs with houses properly align around them. The trees, look closely at the trees, especially in the Hawaii shots. They are absolutely amazing. The desert shrubs. Hard to tell, but it looks like the terrain mesh is at least 76m. I have BEV(probably one of the few that doesnt like it), Ultimate Terrain, and all the 38m terrain mesh I can throw at it, and my FS9 still doesnt look that good. The farm lands are the best I have ever seen as well as the cities. Also, notice they have not showed a single airport runway, just one shot of a tarmac, which initially blew me away, although I was expecting it. I dont know, when I see the negative post about the visuals, I think maybe some people's displays need an upgrade.Scott

>...If you came here to only to post and claim "I told you so">when it is released, than I hope others will keep your name>written down some place so we can all be reminded to>congratulate your new found maturity level when FSX is>released and you are installing it.>>How the heck some of you can be so dang negative so early is>beyond me - let alone being negative at all considering how>the sim has always improved over the years. Could not said it better myself. Thank you dutton.

""How the heck some of you can be so dang negative so early isbeyond me - let alone being negative at all considering howthe sim has always improved over the years.""Well said!!!! Regards, MichaelKDFWhttp://www.calvirair.com/mcpics/mcdcvabanner.jpgCalVirAir International

Personally, I haven't enjoyed using MSFS since FS4. That's because we all appreciate different aspects of flight simulation, and I personally feel that the generic terrain textures, unwieldy interface, unconvincing flight models, and my inability to see very well with a panel that occupies 80 per cent of the screen has contributed to my total disappointment with MSFS from FS5 (which had the worst graphics that I have ever seen in a PC flight simulation) through to FS2002.Give the guy a break.Chris Low.

>Personally, I haven't enjoyed using MSFS since FS4.Then one might reasonably ask, "Why are you here then?" :-bang