I had two friends of mine (who don't know each other), who know how much I loved the Flight Simulator series 15 years ago, both tell me after last year's Microsoft E3 presentation that they were very interested in FS2020, and that the reveal trailer made a huge impression on them. Mostly, of course, because of the incredible graphics.

Microsoft is clearly going to push FS2020 in their Game Pass subscription packages, and I could absolutely see a wider market being attracted to this edition than previous ones. I'd expect FS2020 to get another marketing push from Microsoft when the Series X releases. FS2020 will be the perfect graphical powerhouse to help promote what Series X can do.

10 minutes ago, LHookins said:

And we're all excited that MSFS will make it much less of a niche product, simply by attracting people who would never otherwise consider a flight sim.

Hook

And I'm saying realistically, it won't. A flight sim is a flight sim, meaning it's still a boring flight sim to the majority of people. 

7 minutes ago, Chock said:

However, if you ask the average person what octane rating Esso's standard petrol is, they won't know

I know that the predecessor of Esso (stands for Standard Oil) was Humble, and they used a bee on their logo.  After the name change I thought of it as the Esso Bee. 😄 Later became Enco, then Exxon, with that name chosen because there are no double X's in any language.  Except Dos Equis, of course. 😄 (They were concerned about possible trademark lawsuits.)

Hook

Edited August 7, 20205 yr by LHookins

6 minutes ago, shawty1984 said:

And I'm saying realistically, it won't. A flight sim is a flight sim, meaning it's still a boring flight sim to the majority of people.

It's only boring if you're doing it in a jet airliner.

Hook

3 minutes ago, Chock said:

Maybe you do, sometimes I do too, because I drive a three litre V6 and want some decent octane petrol in my car in addition to what is in its LPG tank.

However, if you ask the average person what octane rating Esso's standard petrol is, they won't know, but I bet you they'll be able to identify that Esso used a tiger on its adverts for the power and environmental care connotations it engendered, and they'll know the slogan 'put a tiger in your tank', which says a lot about why people pull into petrol stations, and that's probably got more to do with what crisps they know it sells rather than what petrol is coming out of the pumps.

(If you read this and know that Esso's standard petrol is 87 octane, you get ten points)

Which is why they advertise, to get people in. I was just disagreeing with your analogy about the petrol. Buying high octane fuel has a niche market just like flight simulation. 

Esso octane ratings are different in different markets. In the UK it is 95 ron for regular and 97 ron for the premium. Though it's equivalent to the lower ratings in America due to the way the different markets display the petrol. 

9 minutes ago, LHookins said:

It's only boring if you're doing it in a jet airliner.

Hook

It's boring if you have no patience in wanting to actually fly, regardless of what plane it is. 

54 minutes ago, Chock said:

Flight Sim for MS was never solely about directly-linked financial gain, sure they want to make money with it, but it was also about pushing technological capabilities and creating a more likeable corporate identity for a business which typically is seen as being austere and stuffy. These efforts make money too, but not directly.

Why do you think petrol companies spend large amounts of money on advertising? On the face of it, it would seem like they don't need to spend any at all. It's not like you can decide not to buy petrol for your car, or that you always choose to pull in at a Shell station because you saw their advert on telly; nope you pull in at the next petrol station you get to when you've taken your fuel gauge roulette game as far as you dared.

They spend the money because they want to be seen to be lovely, and progressive etc. MS wants to be seen as a technology leader, and they have been this week, all over mainstream TV, and it wasn't because of the latest version of their media player software. Corporate identity.

Why do you think that Microsoft Closed down ACES Gaming Studios? They laid off staff & closed that division because it was failing financially!!

38 minutes ago, shawty1984 said:

I don't need to, I've already read it. I'm stating that flight simulation is a niche product. That’s the whole point of the debate. 

So true, & peolpe that dont do PMDG are not lesser simmers than those that do. There are some that prefer the older prop planes than pushing buttons & being bus drivers.

9 minutes ago, shawty1984 said:

It's boring if you have no patience in wanting to actually fly, regardless of what plane it is. 

If gamers have the patience to grind skilling, they have the patience to fly.  Especially a GA flight over marvelous terrain.

Hook

Just now, Wobbie said:

So true, & peolpe that dont do PMDG are not lesser simmers than those that do. There are some that prefer the older prop planes than pushing buttons & being bus drivers.

"I want to fly, not operate a flying computer."  -- response given by a Breitling DC-3 around the world pilot when asked why he liked the DC-3.

Hook

39 minutes ago, LHookins said:

And we're all excited that MSFS will make it much less of a niche product, simply by attracting people who would never otherwise consider a flight sim.

Hook

Not really, I really do not care it the game attracts others to play. The added gamers really do not affect me, or anybody else really.

6 minutes ago, LHookins said:

"I want to fly, not operate a flying computer."  -- response given by a Breitling DC-3 around the world pilot when asked why he liked the DC-3.

Hook

True..I doubt very much if any PMDG;er could fly a Connie or a DK by using a sextant & Radio Range. Nope!

THAT's real flying!

4 minutes ago, LHookins said:

If gamers have the patience to grind skilling, they have the patience to fly.  Especially a GA flight over marvelous terrain.

Hook

I don't think you're getting the point. Flight simulation is a niche product. Most people aren't interested in flying a plane from a to b. It's boring to them. Pretty scenery will only pull someone in for so long. Realistically and of course, in my opinion, the initial launch on Xbox might start well but if you're expecting millions of people to be playing MFS (from the Xbox side) then I think you're in for a big surprise. Flight simulation won't bring in casual gamers in any big extent. 

2 minutes ago, shawty1984 said:

Most people aren't interested in flying a plane from a to b.

And they probably won't.  I don't think you understand GA flying.

One of the most pleasant flights I had (after 12000 hours since getting FSX) was one where I took off without a destination in mind.  I decided where to go on the spur of the moment.  Sort of like I used to do with a car or motorcycle.

Hook

2 minutes ago, LHookins said:

And they probably won't.  I don't think you understand GA flying.

One of the most pleasant flights I had (after 12000 hours since getting FSX) was one where I took off without a destination in mind.  I decided where to go on the spur of the moment.  Sort of like I used to do with a car or motorcycle.

Hook

Thats because you like flying and is the reason you signed up to such a forum. To want to do such a thing, you first need to be interested in it. After that, while not necessarily going from a to b, you are in a sense going from a to b to c to d. Again, the vast majority of gamers aren't going to be into doing that and it's the reason its a niche product.