This is not a debate about flight sims.  Its just my morning thinking.

Recently with Covid I found my interests focused on things other than flight simming.  I wrote my life's memoir and its being published as we speak. I haven't opened up a sim, except for a brief install of freeware test, all summer. Actually since March 2020.

The launch of MSFS2020 happened. I was confronted with watching the discussions and conversations by many.

So here I sit, with a P3D4.5+ and XP11.4+ on my PC.  My three year old video card is basically useless, getting a "reasonable" new one will be $1,000.  I have windows 7 Pro so my system needs to be upgraded, which will most probably make all my other software (for non simming activities, photo manipulation, movie compilation and other productivity stuff) needing upgrades or driver replacement and such, which everyone knows is a pain.

There are endless new payware and freeware that can be added to both my two existing sims, which is a big job to just keep up.

So now what?  Do I venture forth into adding a new sim, more messing about, more addons, more money for upgrades to my PC and addons?

I can tell you I have grown tired of it all. Perhaps when the rains and snows come this winter I'll find I'm looking for something to do.  But money is certainly a limitation.

Why do I suspect that folks will be messing around with MSFS for a couple years and along will come another new flightsim (bigger-better) and yet will we still never have a complete one available and will still need new hardware, new addons?

Just sipping my coffee and thinking.

Bryan

 

LOL. That's simply what they call "progress" Bryan. If you sit still, the tech will pass you by but at some point you DO have to say, enough is enough and this is where I peak.

Problem is, one can say that until something comes along that really hits a button and we go back to square one.

It's a fit topic when discussing the vagaries of life but alas, I fear there is no solution.

Vic

5 minutes ago, vgbaron said:

It's a fit topic when discussing the vagaries of life but alas, I fear there is no solution.

LOL...just rumination thoughts, and no doubt you are correct. He says with a deep sigh.

Edited October 14, 20205 yr by 1st fltsimguy

I do agree that I seem to spend more time updating systems and addons than I do flying these days so you have my sympathy with that one.  In fact it seems if you don't fly for more than a week - you know cause you have to work to pay for it all - you go back to your sim and something isn't working or something needs updating or Windows has updated without telling you and stopped something working!!

I find it slightly frustrating these days.  Must confess that with the current situation in the world, I haven't been flying much at all, and when I went to last week only to find my USB hardware had taken to dropping out at random after years of not changing anything, I let the plane crash and shut down.  I just want stuff to work!!! 

So, I'm totally with you!

You're not the only one who can't keep up. After reading this I've realised that there are still a couple of aircraft I picked up during the covid giveaways earlier this year which I've not even flown yet!

For me to keep up with the latest means buying another PC, so I'm still enjoying FSX:SE. I haven't got the budget to keep up with other things in life, so I'm just plodding along.

Sorry to go back to a simming analogy - it's easy to do that - some members are more than happy it seems using FS9, and to good effect I might add IMO. 

Congrats on sitting down, writing your memoirs and getting them published! In that regard I believe you have surpassed many other people, not just kept up! 🍻

I've also found myself feeling I can't keep up, having many other intrests other than flight simulation.  I've decided I'd stop trying to keep up, and just be happy with where I have things.

I have a not so great pc with a GTX 745.  I run P3D v4, have quite a few orbx sceneries, A2A planes, carenado planes, environmental addons that I have accumulated over time.  I have my settings tuned so it runs with borderline to good (25 to 35 FPS) performance on my PC with the addons, and I am very happy.

I have no intension or desire to get any new sims, I'm perfectly content with P3D v4 and the addons I have, and I don't want to invest large numbers into new hardware just to be "caught up" with the latest software when its not really that much better to justify upgrading hardware IMO.

I now like it where I can have it set where I come to my pc when I want to sim, open it up, grab my favorite addon plane at my favorite orbx airport, and have it work.  Rather than always be updating stuff, which seems to be such a hassle because your spending 40% of your time ( at least) trying to get everything to work and 60% (at most) actually flying.

I have auto updates disabled on most software and will only update stuff if I have a good reason to.  Never just to be "up to date".

When I have spare time, I fly, and it all works, and I have a generally good experience, never have to worry about being up to date.

Edited October 14, 20205 yr by caleb1

Stay where you are Bryan. Don't get sucked into the "latest and greatest". Maybe another "sim" will come along but MSFS isn't it. Take a deep breath, sit back, and enjoy what you have. Life's too short to dance with an ugly woman.

Yep, right there with the OP.

It's work (and $$) to chase that ever better flight sim experience.

I'm sticking with FSX and will move to MSFS2020 when VR is COMPLETELY bug free and easy.

So yeah, at the current rate of things, I estimate 2023.

19 minutes ago, Rob_Ainscough said:

So I take it the picture of that Caravan 208 (I assume it's that) is not yours or you aren't associated with that money pit?

🤣 Don't I wish.  It was a work related charter to Fort Ware, a small native village in the middle of nowhere in British Columbia.  Best part I go to be first officer.

Better will always be the enemy of good enough.....

4 hours ago, 1st fltsimguy said:

LOL...just rumination thoughts, and no doubt you are correct.

Two sims should be enough to keep you entertained... why even consider a third one?

🙂

47 minutes ago, Bert Pieke said:

Two sims should be enough to keep you entertained... why even consider a third one?

🙂

Pretty much says it.  When are you going to invite me over to show off your MSFS?

Bryan, I am in the same boat. I am flying on a system I built in 2013 on windows 7 pro. I have all the parts to build a new system sitting in a box but I do not have the time to build it ( quick and easy) and install/configure all the software ( nightmare and enormous time requirements to research and get it correct, secure, and private). I probably won't get around to it until I get homebound in a blizzard this winter. My current system starts and works fine every time I use it due to being windows 7 but also due to this OS I can not install P3Dv5 nor MSFS. Like you I only update software when I need to or want a new feature. My intent is to keep FSX and P3Dv4.5 on my old system as a reliable backup for when my new box with windows 10 throws me a curve ball and I don't have the time/desire to deal with it and just want a quick flight. So my suggestion to you for apparent budget concerns is to dual boot your current system with windows 10 then you can dabble with P3Dv5 and/or MSFS if you so desire in the depths of winter. Build a new system if/when you have the funds/desire.

Ted

2 hours ago, 1st fltsimguy said:

Pretty much says it.  When are you going to invite me over to show off your MSFS?

When there is something to show 🙂

8 hours ago, 1st fltsimguy said:

This is not a debate about flight sims.  Its just my morning thinking.

Recently with Covid I found my interests focused on things other than flight simming.  I wrote my life's memoir and its being published as we speak. I haven't opened up a sim, except for a brief install of freeware test, all summer. Actually since March 2020.

The launch of MSFS2020 happened. I was confronted with watching the discussions and conversations by many.

So here I sit, with a P3D4.5+ and XP11.4+ on my PC.  My three year old video card is basically useless, getting a "reasonable" new one will be $1,000.  I have windows 7 Pro so my system needs to be upgraded, which will most probably make all my other software (for non simming activities, photo manipulation, movie compilation and other productivity stuff) needing upgrades or driver replacement and such, which everyone knows is a pain.

There are endless new payware and freeware that can be added to both my two existing sims, which is a big job to just keep up.

So now what?  Do I venture forth into adding a new sim, more messing about, more addons, more money for upgrades to my PC and addons?

I can tell you I have grown tired of it all. Perhaps when the rains and snows come this winter I'll find I'm looking for something to do.  But money is certainly a limitation.

Why do I suspect that folks will be messing around with MSFS for a couple years and along will come another new flightsim (bigger-better) and yet will we still never have a complete one available and will still need new hardware, new addons?

Just sipping my coffee and thinking.

Bryan

 

Bryan-I finally got my P3Dv4.5 sim to run perfectly--really perfectly--on Windows 7.  No Microsoft windows updates to mess up my setup and I have more flight sim hardware and software bells and whistles to keep me occupied for years--literally.  I am enjoying my sim more than ever simply because I have no stress dealing with stuff that won't work and spend 100% of my time in the aircraft.