I've not seen much input from the cockpit-building community in any of the 'what we want' threads, but there are a few things that our small group needs above all else. Of course, I realise we're a minority among the wider sim community, but P3D and FSX before it were platforms that we could use effectively because of some basic features of the product, plus the hard work of many add-on developers. Hopefully Microsoft intends the new sim to be such a platform too, for those that need it. 

My own setup is paltry compared to some of the sims out there - the likes of those that are used for Worldflight - so I can't pretend to know everything every cockpit builder needs in the new sim, but for me, these things are absolutely essential:

•  The ability to use multiple displays - and not just via EyeFinity.
•  Pop-out gauges (like the G1000) that can be placed on other displays. 2D panels would be ideal, but since practically no aircraft maker does them any more, I think that ship has sailed.
•  Multiple outside views. This is critical, because for those with wrap-around displays of any kind, this can only be done using multiple outside views.
•  Multi-channel support - so you can network multiple PCs together. This doesn't need to be in the actual product, given it's a niche requirement, although as an extension of multiplayer it ought not to be that hard to implement as Lockheed Martin has done. But it does need to be possible for something like Wideview to be ported to the sim, and ideally support for proper synchronisation of weather (clouds etc), AI traffic etc across channels. Short of unbelievable performance improvements that I just don't see being possible, it'll never be practical to run 3 or more views on a single PC in an area like London.

All of the above features exist in FSX (except multi-channel) and P3D today, so releasing a successor platform without them would exclude the cockpit-building community and basically make the sim useless for us. 

In an ideal world, I'd like to see a Pro edition of the sim that supported the same kind of features that X-Plane's Pro with Projector Support includes - warping for cylindrical and spherical projection surfaces, edge-blending and so on. But there are 3rd party products that help us to do that and provided MSFS2020 works as above, then companies like Fly-Elise NG will undoubtedly support it. 

But the bottom line is we need multi-display with 2D pop-ups, and multiple views OR proper multi-channel, ideally both. Otherwise this sim will not be able to replace P3D in my setup and I suspect the same will apply for most other cockpit builders.

Beyond that, I'm sure there are many things other cockpit builders would like to see. 

Edited November 19, 20196 yr by neilhewitt
Typos

I'd like PMDG to run their gauge on a second PC, so I can provide screens for their FMC, the MFD, PFD, Engine gauge etc. 🙂

 

Manny  

19 hours ago, Manny said:

I'd like PMDG to run their gauge on a second PC, so I can provide screens for their FMC, the MFD, PFD, Engine gauge etc

That's a PMDG request, non MSFS, and that problem has already been solved by SimAvionics, ProSim737 or any specialized software provider for builders.

What I think cockpit builder will immediatly need for EASY PLATFORM TRANSITION (and those are simple requests) :

- A simple plugin to send external real time view coordinate and tilt from P3D instance to MSFS instance. A basic "slew" on multiples axis formulated in the simplest possible way. That way cockpit builder could try to use MSFS external view on their fully functionnal setup, no other tweak/update needed. Allow the time for all the publisher to catch up.

- P3D SDK compatiblity mode, a way to tell MSFS to appears also as legacy P3D to all the existing software and hardware currently using P3D. This fake layer could then auto-magically send the corrected informations to the new MSFS SDK.

- Along with this "MSFS as a fake P3D" module, a legacy FSUIPC support for it, might be less easy task.

Would solve a lot of hardware compatibilty issues at start. Then progressively switch to new native SDK.

5 hours ago, tarere said:

What I think cockpit builder will immediatly need for EASY PLATFORM TRANSITION (and those are simple requests) :

- A simple plugin to send external real time view coordinate and tilt from P3D instance to MSFS instance. A basic "slew" on multiples axis formulated in the simplest possible way. That way cockpit builder could try to use MSFS external view on their fully functionnal setup, no other tweak/update needed. Allow the time for all the publisher to catch up.

The plugin is a great idea, although I suppose that'd what Wideview already is - I hope the developer will port it to MSFS2020 as soon as practical, but given the slow speed of development on that project I'm not optimistic. I would really like one of the bigger 3rd party devs to build a proper multi-channel add-on. I've never been able to get OpusFSI to work and Wideview has its problems. P3D's built-in multi-channel works very well but performance is abysmal due to the frame-syncing technique they use, unless you have cards with hardware genlock, and you have to invest in the Pro Plus edition at over $2K. 

I could definitely see myself using MSFS as an image generator for a while, just for the better visuals. Obviously you want to get the new flight modelling etc so I'd move my whole setup over there once I could, but it would certainly take the pressure off. 

While I was thinking I also thought that it would be good for all the functions of the built-in FMS (on which all the avionics will be based) to be key-combination and joystick-assignable. In fact, literally everything needs to be assignable, and really I'd like it to be a requirement for building gauges for the system that all UI points must be assignable to keys / joysticks. Way too many custom gauges only accept mouse clicks and are useless to those of us who don't use point-and-click at all (Carenado, I'm looking at you).

11 minutes ago, neilhewitt said:

I suppose that'd what Wideview already is

Yes definitely what Wideview was for, but would be a simple plugin in MSFS to detect and display the position of a running P3D instance, via Simconnect. Not rocket science by far and no need to wait for a 3rd party action on this. Just live update GPS position and pitch / yaw / roll on the front view and we're good to go.

Would be REALLY AWESOME for existing cockpits !!! Asobo if you ship a beta with this tool you'll get a lot of feedback from full scale training sims ! So you will be ready to steal the market for the visuals display part of training simulators.

The ability to create specific sim controls for specific planes much like FSUIPC for P3D and the Xplane profile does. Thus allowing various controls to be turned on or off or used in various setups.

The ability to assign as much inputs via hardware buttons, knobs, axis or switches to as many aspects the sim. This includes things like being able to assign a knob for the transponder or a button for ident. These two items can be used while flying online like on PilotEdge or VATSIM where the pilot can ident or turn the transponder mode C in the sim and it works for the online controller to see.

Internal support for GoFlightInc modules among other hardware providers. Giving the ability to assign those buttons, axis, switches and knobs from within the sim.

More options for assign sounds to various speakers. Additionally have profiles set up so one can have the engine noise coming out of the front speakers when flying say a C172, out of the side speakers when flying say a Twin Otter and out of the rear speakers when flying a Learjet. Engine noise, environment, ATC, Crew, CoPilot, cockpit sounds should all be able to be assigned with their own volume levels and as a profile to be able to be assigned to various planes.

 

3 hours ago, tarere said:

Yes definitely what Wideview was for, but would be a simple plugin in MSFS to detect and display the position of a running P3D instance, via Simconnect. Not rocket science by far and no need to wait for a 3rd party action on this. Just live update GPS position and pitch / yaw / roll on the front view and we're good to go.

Would be REALLY AWESOME for existing cockpits !!! Asobo if you ship a beta with this tool you'll get a lot of feedback from full scale training sims ! So you will be ready to steal the market for the visuals display part of training simulators.

Yup, I know what you mean. Provided Simconnect has been upgraded rather than fundamentally changed, it should be easy enough for developers to do this once the SDK is out. I could do it myself, probably 🙂

I need a little more from my multi-channel setup, though. I fly with the VC on the external visuals (because I have no cockpit shell ATM) and I need the lights etc to be synced as well. But it's not rocket science. Wideview really needs some competition. 

For any effects like windshield rain/ice etc, please dont restrict it to the model, link it to the camera view so everyone can benefit