9 hours ago, w6kd said:

1. Probably
2. Only you can know if the additional content in the deluxe version makes it worth your money.
3. I would stay away from the marketplace whenever possible.  And I would buy the Steam version of MSFS rather than the MS Store version.
4. I would recommend you add MSFS to your "portfolio" rather than "transitioning," at least until you have a chance to answer for yourself whether MSFS in its current state answers the mail for your IFR flying...there are still challenges with MSFS e.g. flight planning/flying without weather forecasts or winds aloft data, regular periodic breakage of add-ons with sim updates, a dearth of hi-fidelity add-ons etc. 

I agree with these points.  Steam is just a vastly superior delivery system.  I regret going with the MS Store.

As for IFR, as long as you (OP) don't mind glass avionics, the G1000 NXi which is basically a free opt-in beta,  is far better than FSX or p3d default stuff.  The CJ4 (also a free mod) is also very very good.  The default GNS 530/430 isn't great though but will be improved in the coming year.

31 minutes ago, abranpuko said:

exactly.

if you want to be alone in the sky and read charts without traffic. its the software!

I can only repeat: I am not alone, neither in the sky nor on airports. Plane-spotting isn't really fun with the default livieres indeed but there are addons to cope with this.

Kind regards, Michael

7 minutes ago, ryanbatcund said:

I agree with these points.  Steam is just a vastly superior delivery system.  I regret going with the MS Store.

As for IFR, as long as you (OP) don't mind glass avionics, the G1000 NXi which is basically a free opt-in beta,  is far better than FSX or p3d default stuff.  The CJ4 (also a free mod) is also very very good.  The default GNS 530/430 isn't great though but will be improved in the coming year.

There's a great mod that significantly improves the GNS430/530 for the moment. Just search: PMS50 GNS530/430. Same guy who built the GTN750. 

Just now, liamp51 said:

There's a great mod that significantly improves the GNS430/530 for the moment. Just search: PMS50 GNS530/430. Same guy who built the GTN750. 

Hehe thanks I am aware of that one.  Unfortunately both those mods do not provide reliable rnav (gps)  navigation like the NXi does.  They're definitely a step above default for sure though.

2 minutes ago, liamp51 said:

There's a great mod that significantly improves the GNS430/530 for the moment. Just search: PMS50 GNS530/430.

Yes a must have IMHO.

2 hours ago, abranpuko said:

empty airports with no real ai traffic.

Allow me to falsify this statement once and for all.

This is KSFO a few minutes ago in MSFS:

Would you call this empty? Let's look a bit further 

There are numerous planes on their way, one about to land on RWY 28L besides me. And believe me, they are moving, if you don't I'll shoot a video.

As a further proof here's a shot I took shortly after taking off:

So, these are real planes and not something I doctored into the map. 

Here are some of my settings:

Life RW-TRaffic: On

Air Traffic Type: Real-Time Online

Use Generic Plane Models: On

Traffic Variety: Ultra.

I use two Mods from Flightsim.to, i.e. "Easy airlines+aircraft matching" (ivao_x-csl_4Qrj.zip) plus FSMM_STATIC_AI_NorthAmerica (for static planes, as suggested by the former).

Keep in mind, I do not state this traffic is absolutely error-free, I saw (rare) cases where a plane simply disappeared, and I can't guarantee all planes occupy their designed gates (they might, I just didn't check). But the claim of "empty airports" is certainly plainly wrong and shouldn't be repeated over and over.

Kind regards, Michael

11 hours ago, Shomron said:

I've been using P3D in the last few years (in the buisness since FS 5.1).

Before transitioning to MSFS (was waiting for complex aircraft as that is what I fly/ IFR) I have a few questions and would appreciate your answers -

I 100% recommend you retain your P3D and transition over a year or two.  There have been times when I absolutely needed a fall back in order to maintain my simulation activities.  Side-by-side keeps you flying....

They do not interfere with each other.  But at times one or the other can interfere with you!

Edited October 1, 20214 yr by fppilot

I've never looked back. Just the scenery alone paired with airport "life" that comes out of the box was alone to make me happy. The FlyByWire a320 and the Working Title CJ4 should keep you busy until some of the heavier hitters get their products onboard. When you fly GA, you can genuinely fly VFR and when you mod those planes with the WT g1000NXi, it blows everything else out of the water. Trust me, you won't be disappointed. There are several times during flights where I have to pinch myself. 

1 hour ago, pmb said:

...

So, these are real planes and not something I doctored into the map. 

Here are some of my settings:

Life RW-TRaffic: On

Air Traffic Type: Real-Time Online

Use Generic Plane Models: On

Traffic Variety: Ultra.

I use two Mods from Flightsim.to, i.e. "Easy airlines+aircraft matching" (ivao_x-csl_4Qrj.zip) plus FSMM_STATIC_AI_NorthAmerica (for static planes, as suggested by the former).

Keep in mind, I do not state this traffic is absolutely error-free, I saw (rare) cases where a plane simply disappeared, and I can't guarantee all planes occupy their designed gates (they might, I just didn't check). But the claim of "empty airports" is certainly plainly wrong and shouldn't be repeated over and over.

Kind regards, Michael

@pmb The folder "ivao_X-cls" automatically installed in the "C_drive\...\packages\Community" folder but my Steam based MSFS is installed in drive F:. Can I simply *move* the folder from C_drive to F_drive? Thank you.

12 hours ago, kaosfere said:

I'm going to answer this differently from, it looks like, everyone above me, because it's an important point that I think gets missed in folks' dislike of the Markeplace:

If you want things you buy to be cross-licensed on both the PC and the Xbox, your only option is the Marketplace.   If you only ever plan on playing on the PC, buy wherever makes you happiest as a consumer.  If you think you might play on the Xbox too and want your purchases to follow you, Marketplace it is.

Just didn't want the general feelings about the Marketplace here to lead to giving incorrect/incomplete advice. 🙂

 

I've never had one issue w/ the Marketplace or buying and installing MSFS thru the MS Store.  All has been flawless for installation including all updates, and 5 payware airports.  I detest multiple 3rd party purchase and install software it's just not necessary thankfully.  I did a poll on this topic several months after initial release including a couple of updates and the vast majority of respondants reported no issues w/ the MS Store nor Marketplace.  Some people failed to read the very few requirements (must install and be logged into the XP App & MS Store, that's it!) to have it work flawlessly so depend on 3rd party Steam to help them.   In fact I decided to do a complete Win 10 install today to deal with an issue w/ my prior install, and once again the entire MSFS installation has been fast and seamless.  This is my 3rd install because of an issue w/ Process Lasso that would not allow MSFS to launch and I ended up doing an uninstall and reinstall of MSFS and all addons thru the MS Store and MSFS Content Manager--seamless, fast.   

4 hours ago, bofhlusr said:

@pmb The folder "ivao_X-cls" automatically installed in the "C_drive\...\packages\Community" folder but my Steam based MSFS is installed in drive F:. Can I simply *move* the folder from C_drive to F_drive? Thank you.

I don't recall detail of the installation, but in my case the folder is sitting under

M:\MSFS Addons\AI Traffic\ivao_x-csl

That's where I have all my addons and activate/deactivate using the addon linker (this way I keep the option to either user or not use the IVAO liveries, just in case I want to try something else.) 

Either I was able to change the path during installation or I moved the folder later (I guess the latter).

BTW, this package does not have any influence on the number of planes on display, it only exchanges the ugly green/white  yellow/white etc., liveries.

Kind regards, Michael

Don't forget Game Pass as a cheap way to trial FS2020. If you do decide to buy you can purchase the Steam version if you like and cancel Game Pass at any time.

+1 for Steam

Zero issues and I too have heard the MS Store and MS installation is a nightmare. 

The only thing that would give you pause for thought is if you have an Xbox. If you do then the MS Store version gives you a 2 for 1 deal. 

36 minutes ago, ThrottleUp said:

 I too have heard the MS Store and MS installation is a nightmare.

No, it's not.

I've used the MS Store for years, and the Steam store pretty much since it was launched.

Never had a problem with either.

In regards to MSFS 2020, all SU and WU went off without a hitch.

 

Every time I read these forums after an update I thank god I bought MSFS via Steam. Some are lucky and have no issues, many others are not.