I still want to believe that the upcoming updates, starting SU9, for the flight dynamics, separating it more from the Legacy corset, can bring some really interesting races.

Setting different levels of difficulty that could allow for "Arcade" or  "Heavy Simmer" modes, could please all sorts of players.

I look fwd into the P51d and the variant I bought yesterday for 10 bucks with the new prop and CFD flight dynamics implemented.

Edited March 4, 20224 yr by jcomm

I think the problem is an extension of non-closed multiplayer in the main sim. You don't get to pick the skill/knowledge level of the people you're flying with. In the races, it just means you always win without challenge. In the main sim, it means you're dealing with idiots parking a 747 on the runway at St. Bart's. 

I'm not sure how you'd solve for that either. In a sense, the online aspect is an MMO covering the entire world. It'd be pretty hard to get GMs to be able to cover all the problems. But implementing a kick system where we could boot the dope in the jetliner who won't stop blocking the small airports with it is just asking for abuse as well, because trolls would then kick people out just for laughs.

I ended up turning multiplayer off entirely. I don't begrudge the goof-offs their version of fun and, hey, if I'm honest I've been known to try to land the Lear on a carrier in previous versions of the sim myself. So I'm not immune to doing stupid stuff in airplanes in a video game. But it got frustrating after doing a cross-country in the Airbus being unable to land because someone decided to spawn on the runway and then sit there for half an hour. 

For the same frustrating reasons, I find myself not messing with the air races much since the first few days I had it.

 

 

6 hours ago, AnkH said:

Well, also MS/Asobo will once also learn that only the "old guys" already into simming for years are the ones that will also keep MSFS up and running by buying addons over and over again. Not the hop-on/hop-off console generation. It is nice to gain some real simmers by also offering MSFS on Xbox and providing them some "gaming" stuff, but on a long term scale? No. 

Absolutely--and some, even if it's just 2% in the console sector that get smitten and move into the group of folks who just love flight simming for its own sake w/o the gimmics like air racing--as 2% of 2,000,000 MSFS console users (or whatever it becomes over time) comes out to 40,000 more sustained users who will become meaningful in terms of supporting sales of 3rd party addon etc.  I'm not convinced this was not already appreciated by MS when they decided to include the port to Xbox, and so may well have been part of the sustainability plan for this project.  After all MS is not exactly inexperienced in developing flight sims and they've undoubtedly understood the marketing issues and what it will take to sustain it more than you and I.  Perhaps at some point post maturation they will start charging for air time. I can imagine where the sim will be in say 2 years, considering where it's come thus far, I can easily see needing to pay a monthly subscription to stay on board.  

 

Totally agree, those 2% might be worth the whole console stuff also for us "long time simmers". Young blood is always good, but it is a thin line to focus too much on those fast pacing customer group...

7 hours ago, Scimiter said:

I found it great fun at first, but it is very repetitive, What I disliked was you could be leading a race but then get rammed from the back and find yourself last, very frustrating.

rammed in the back then find yourself last?

Top quality flight model then 😁

In air racing wouldn’t you find yourself dead if you get rammed?

Total Flop!  Just Kidding!........lol   Anyway, anyone remember a game called "Gee Bee Air Rally"  By Activision back in the late 1980's for the Amiga PC?  That's what this reminded me of. I played that game for hours.

26 minutes ago, regis9 said:

In air racing wouldn’t you find yourself dead if you get rammed?

I totaly agree.

Entry level simmers:

In MSFS your PC or Xbox should lock for 6 months after an outside view, pause or when you answer the phone or door bell.

Study level:

Buy new PC and new MSFS license after 1 hard landing.

Quickly Lost interest during the beta and never went back.

I did not think I would like it as i generally hate games on computers.

But I found it fun about 10 sessions in the first few weeks, then I got bored and have not been back more than once or twice, and not for more than one race.

I find regular simming is more entertaining, but I am an old retired pilot, not a young hotshot.

Over all I think it is well done. But for me it gets boring.

Not a flop, just not very interesting to me. I also don't like VR yet. I do use track IR sometimes. I think VR is the perfect way to experience these races. I just need VR to get better. Then I will try again.

Edited March 4, 20224 yr by 177B

10 hours ago, jcomm said:

I believe the tittle success will probably give MS a sign of what the great majority of MFS users want from the game, although I admit I am fond of air races ... although not with the flight dynamics that are presently available for the different aircraft.

Also, for such a tittle, having an online Lobby List would be useful...

Well, if it's been a failure, I guess you could say it's gone tittles up!🤭

I also tried it a few times.  Was fun, but havent really been back.

Ironically part the reason I lost interest is that it ONLY covers the actual race.  Speaking just for me, I would have loved to actually be able to start a race "cold and dark", taxi to the active, take off and navigate to the track.  THEN race.  And then actually return and land once the race is over.

I realize this might have been a pain from a programming standpoint, but this IS a flight sim audience afterall.  Asobo... read the room 😉  

(cough.. even if, perhaps, I'm the only person in said room)

9 hours ago, ChaoticBeauty said:

How would that help?

Because it would give some people even more excuse to say MSFS is "really just a game for those inferior Xboxers"🤨

As a tube liner guy, I don't want anything in this sim to flop. I'd rather give constructive criticism like many in this thread have already done (more "tracks" to race in, an option for cold and dark, maybe different weather, anything). Why? I want as many people in this sim as possible. As long as ASOBO/MS are making money, they will keep enhancing and updating the sim. I don't want to be orphaned again like FSX after acceleration or FLIGHT.

Let them have their air race, as long as I get accurate weather, updates to the SDK (to support devs that enhance my style of flying), etc...

Confirmation bias thread?

Maybe just ask MS how its doing. (Unless you think they might lie)