For the last two days, as much as time permits, I've been simply enjoying the experience of learning and flying in the new world of Microsoft Flight Simulator 2020.  I'll admit to staying up late and getting up extra early, because I can't ever remember having a more joy and awe filled experience in any game or simulator ever.  Only a few times in the past, rarely, have rivaled it.

Is that because it's perfect?  No, far from it.  I didn't expect perfection or even a finished product, it was obvious that despite the official hype it was being released too early.  I honestly expected far more problems that I encountered. That's because of  paying attention to what was being said here and elsewhere during the alpha and beta, and because as a developer of many decades I can read between lines.  I live and fly in a mostly rural mountainous area surrounded by small towns and medium sized cities in the US.  I expected performance issues in dense areas and with more complex aircraft so I've limited myself to light GA in my region.  Performance has exceeded expectations - but that's not what I'm here to talk about.

Yesterday I was landing after a cross-country at sunset.  As the light began to change I looked towards the sun and the sight was, to use an over-used phrase, stunning.  I did something I often have wished I could do in real life - hit the active pause button and simply gaze in wonder.  I have done that on the ground before in reality - stopped everything to gaze into a breathtaking sky.  But never in a sim, until now.  As the sun dimmed gradually and sank below  the mountains into the haze layer, and the light touched the clouds all around in an array of totally real shades of red and purple I realized I was not just watching in a simulation, but living virtually inside a work of art.  There is no other word for it.  Even after the sun was down the slow gentle fade of the light in the sky mimicked reality perfectly.  It was gorgeous, it was jaw-dropping.  If I'd paid for a simulator that had nothing but a C152 that could fly in such a world I wouldn't feel cheated.

But this is not the end, it is the beginning.  I believe it's the beginning of a new era in flight simulation and even maybe in world simulation.

Yes, it was released before it was ready.  Someone made a bone-headed decision and I'm sure they are hearing "I told you so" in several different forms yesterday, today, and tomorrow.

But I'm quite sure the various issues will be fixed, most of them before the year is done.  That doesn't require faith, it just requires a understanding of how things work.  Having hyped this product and set such high expectations the reputations of Microsoft, Asobo and Blackshark AI are absolutely on the line here.  Pride as well as financial considerations demand that they fix it, and they will.  Walking away from this product at this point would be unthinkable.

In the meantime what about, instead of joining the chorus of complainers, consider simply relaxing and enjoying what we have and living with what doesn't work right until it's fixed.  Stomping feet will not hasten the updates.  It will just distress those who are doing the stomping.  

This is not meant to criticize anyone's reaction.   Frustration is understandable.  If you want to fly big iron between major hubs right now you'll have to wait a while before that's realistic.  Personally, I'll wait for that.  The way I look at it, I paid $60 to enter a beta for a product that's already given me $60 worth of entertainment in just two days.  I've certainly paid much more for far less many times in my life. 

So, the rest is gravy.   I'm so looking forward to the evolution of this beautiful simulated world and all the third party products that will be adding to it for many years to come.

It's just a thought.  I wish you much happiness.
Dutch

 

Edited August 20, 20205 yr by Dutch727
to fix typos

I completely agree!  We live in rural Tx in the hill country and the last couple of days have been so enjoyable flying low level and just enjoying the view.  I also, just had to stop and watch a sunset below the clouds. I called the wife in and she asked me how I got that photo over our neighborhood.  Amazing!