10 hours ago, brucets said:

I just wanted to know if the game portrays Hawaii like this real-world video on a good system. That's all. Not trying to start an argument.

Fair enough. If you'd said you were considering investing in MSFS in the first post, you'd likely have got a more positive initial reaction.😉 As it was, it sounded like a negative challenge.

So, with that said, go for it. You've implied that visuals are relevant to you (some people are so into absolute flight dynamic realism that they accept poor visuals to get it), so MSFS would be a good buy for you, I believe. I'd describe myself as a casual (though frequent) simmer too and MSFS knocks spots off FSX. Glenn makes some valid observations above, but they shouldn't spoil your enjoyment. They simply make for more of an 'as seen on TV' visual effect. There are free mods to remove the prop effect so the pilot's eye view is more true to life and lens effects can be dialled down or removed in the settings. The modding community is very active, especially at flightsim.to, so you can change many things without much effort.👍

9 hours ago, brucets said:

OK, Thank you,Bdub22! That's pretty much what I thought.

I'm a casual simmer and pretty happy with FXS/steam, but the graphics of MSFS 2020 are very tempting!

At my age, 84, I just don't know if I should make the transition. The lights are dimming.

Thanks again.

Bruce

84 - wow that's quite the life experience you have!  I would absolutely go for MSFS - something new and different to challenge your brain (it also challenges mine some days haha)!

While addons are fun to use you can just buy the base sim and still enjoy some of the default aircraft.  Note that a lot of the default aircraft are using G1000 or G3000 - sometimes it can be difficult to read the numbers/letters on the screens.

10 hours ago, brucets said:

Steve, Wow - yes, that looks terrific, great job! But I was wondering about the terrain/scenery.

Bruce

From what I remember of our discussions at the old Colorado Flight Simmer's Club, I think you'd like it, Bruce.

Cheers

9 hours ago, yanfeng12342000 said:

The best terrain scenery I have seen in MSFS is the default Courcheval Airport. I have compared it with real videos of the same location, and the MSFS version looks better. I really wish there would be more sceneries like that. Have you encountered any other locations in MSFS that are of the Courcheval quality? I'd really like to know.

Have you tried Lukla or Gibraltar?

Thanks to all for the replies. I think I'll wait for a few more sim updates to see how the bug fixes develop. I'm not a computer whiz like most of you. 

Bob, I wish you would move down here and teach me the real deal!! BTW, we had a lot of noise from the fighters at Luke early this morning about 3am!!

Bruce

14 hours ago, brucets said:

OK, Thank you,Bdub22! That's pretty much what I thought.

I'm a casual simmer and pretty happy with FXS/steam, but the graphics of MSFS 2020 are very tempting!

At my age, 84, I just don't know if I should make the transition. The lights are dimming.

Thanks again.

Bruce

Hey Bruce,

Every single flight in MSFS I have multiple moments where I just have to sit back and be amazed,   or moved toward joy or tranquility.    I'm in my mid 50's,  and I'd say go for MSFS.    Even if you have a boatload of cash dumped into the previous platforms MSFS will usually look better.    The mod scene is incredible too.    People here will help ease the transition.

https://flightsim.to/

Check out this scenery map from flightsim.to and see if any areas interest you.  https://umap.openstreetmap.de/en/map/microsoft-flight-simulator-2020-scenery-map_7486#2/18.3/51.0

You can try even MSFS without even installing it thanks to it's new "cloud gaming" feature.  By rendering the sim on a server and streaming the visuals to your device,  it allows people to play on just about anything from a cell phone to pc to a weak laptop.

 

29 minutes ago, brucets said:

Thanks to all for the replies. I think I'll wait for a few more sim updates to see how the bug fixes develop. I'm not a computer whiz like most of you. 

Bob, I wish you would move down here and teach me the real deal!! BTW, we had a lot of noise from the fighters at Luke early this morning about 3am!!

Bruce

Go for it @brucets - don’t wait! My clever wife always tells me to live now 😀

I don’t know about FSX, but I am sure that if you can handle that, you’ll be fine for MSFS.

I am (soon) 48 and I hope I will be like you and have a hobby like this when I am 84 🙏🏻👍🏻

10 hours ago, Johnny Wyatt said:

Switzerland has the best satellite imagery (full country coverage, same season, no clouds) and top mesh.

It's the country that has the best representation in the game.

You can couple it with mods from flightsim.to such as the one that adds VFR obstacles, or the ski lift mod.

Additionally, the country itself is very pretty to fly in due to mountains, lakes and green fields.

I made this flight plan for a community flight we held.    It starts at Emmen Military base on Lac Lucerne and ends at Courchevel.   On the flight path there are several observatories (Gornergrat, Sphinx),  the Matterhorn,  countless glaciers that are simply beautiful,  and about 30 dams.   We flew 208's and landed on every dam.    There are some downhill sections where you steeply descend for KM's.   Some of the most beautiful scenery in the game.

Henrik's shipping mod adds two 120 years old paddle steamers on Lac Lucerne.  Mamu's Ski Lift's mod makes the various ski slopes and summits recognizable.  

Flight Plan: Emmen (LSME) to Courchevel (LFLJ)

12 hours ago, Glenn Fitzpatrick said:

 excessive motion blur 

You can adjust the strength and also turn it off completely

12 hours ago, Glenn Fitzpatrick said:

Crazy Walt Disney fairy land night lighting including long trails of street lights on remote roads miles from civilisation

They fixed that several updates ago. Street lights are now based on population density numbers.

Edited April 14, 20224 yr by Tuskin38

47 minutes ago, brucets said:

Thanks to all for the replies. I think I'll wait for a few more sim updates to see how the bug fixes develop. I'm not a computer whiz like most of you.

Bruce

Compared to all prior sims this is the one you really don't need to be a computer whiz to deal with.

Sorry I'm late in getting back. Had 2 Dr, appts and chemo today. Then Happy Hour and dinner at a friend's house. It's quite happy out at the moment! 😊

Mr. Pepper -

I'll check out your suggestions! Thanks! I've been watching flightsim.to - great site. The cloud thing is very tempting, as is the Courchevel trip. I'll check those out too.

Mr. Karo -

I've been living NOW for 84 years, and I'm running low on fuel! I'll get MSFS 2020 sooner or later! Thanks!

Noel -

Probably not, but what I read about the UI seems pretty foreign compared to FSX. I have FSX Steam running very well right now! Steve's DX fixer was the ticket. Plus, I have the scenery addons and about 40 addon airports. As I said I'm a casual simmer(gamer) and I need/want no more sophistication than default FSX. I spent my entire working career in the travel business, and I really enjoy going to all the places I've been.

BTW, I may be moving back to Broomfield one of these days. I have a deposit down at 2 senior living places. One at the Flatirons Mall area and another at 112th and Federal. I lived in DEN for 40yrs and, due to failing health, I am going back to be with a few remaining friends and family, as soon as an apartment opens up at either place. My wife of 56yrs passed away 3yrs ago and I need to get back to my two daughters and grandkids. Maybe we can go to Santiagos for a beer and a Green Chile burrito one day! 🤪 Maybe Bob Scott will come up from COS and join us!?

Bruce

1 hour ago, brucets said:

Sorry I'm late in getting back. Had 2 Dr, appts and chemo today. Then Happy Hour and dinner at a friend's house. It's quite happy out at the moment! 😊

Glad to hear you're having a good night/day (depending on where you are, it's a big world). I'm sorry you're having to go through chemo, as I know how hard and uncomfortable that can be. As others have mentioned, and from what I can gather, all you need to do is purchase a vanilla version of MSFS and you'll be more than happy with default everything. If you're used to the other sims where you have to download 25 things before it can even remotely realistic, you'll be happy to know you don't need to spend a single penny after buying the base sim. Give it a go. 

Stay healthy and positive. If you do you decide to go with MSFS and have questions on getting it fired up, please don't hesitate to send me a message!! 

Mr. Bruce, sorry to hear about the chemo, that is tough...

When you make the jump to MSFS (soon 😉) us “computer whizes” will be here to help if needed in any case! 

23 hours ago, Johnny Wyatt said:

Switzerland has the best satellite imagery (full country coverage, same season, no clouds) and top mesh.

It's the country that has the best representation in the game.

You can couple it with mods from flightsim.to such as the one that adds VFR obstacles, or the ski lift mod.

Additionally, the country itself is very pretty to fly in due to mountains, lakes and green fields.

Thanks for the suggestion. Switzerland is my favourite country to fly above. Yet the mesh still leaves a lot to be desired, taking Matterhorn for example. I think Courcheval Airport along with its surrounding area is handcrafted to the extreme by Asobo, which is to show the aesthetic limit MSFS can reach. 

9 hours ago, brucets said:

Noel -

Probably not, but what I read about the UI seems pretty foreign compared to FSX. I have FSX Steam running very well right now! Steve's DX fixer was the ticket. Plus, I have the scenery addons and about 40 addon airports. As I said I'm a casual simmer(gamer) and I need/want no more sophistication than default FSX. I spent my entire working career in the travel business, and I really enjoy going to all the places I've been.

BTW, I may be moving back to Broomfield one of these days. I have a deposit down at 2 senior living places. One at the Flatirons Mall area and another at 112th and Federal. I lived in DEN for 40yrs and, due to failing health, I am going back to be with a few remaining friends and family, as soon as an apartment opens up at either place. My wife of 56yrs passed away 3yrs ago and I need to get back to my two daughters and grandkids. Maybe we can go to Santiagos for a beer and a Green Chile burrito one day! 🤪 Maybe Bob Scott will come up from COS and join us!?

Bruce

Bruce--if n when contact me w/ a PM and I can get over to Broomfield to help you get set up with MSFS if you want to give it a whirl.  I'm closing in on 70y and can attest to how easy MSFS is to deal with by comparison to FSX/P3D.  This being said I appreciate the challenges of taking on something new like this!   I'm here in Arvada due to evacuating from the infamous Camp Fire which destroyed our town of 40y, Paradise CA on Nov 8, 2018.  We have two daughters in Lakewood hence the move here.  We live at Park Meadows, a condo complex off Simms.