Out of 12 million users, "Missions/Campaigns" are one of the most frequently requested features MS/Asobo receives.

While I greatly enjoy the flying part of XP, I'm often seeking something more than A to B or sightseeing.

MSFS isn't "there" yet when it comes to flight model, and a lot of the Missions they showed (a la the Canadair water bomber) would be more satisfying in X-Plane 12 for all the usual reasons.

Given X-Plane's First Principles focus, it'd be great to see that kind of thing come to XP. Far more satisfying than better road edges and such...

Edited June 24, 20232 yr by UrgentSiesta

21 minutes ago, UrgentSiesta said:

it'd be great to see that kind of thing come to XP

https://forums.x-plane.org/index.php?/files/category/110-mission-x/

https://store.x-plane.org/Mission-Generator_p_877.html

Only experience points as rewards though. However, when coupled with...

https://www.simcoders.com/reality-expansion-pack/overview/

...you have a combination providing some degree of long-term motivation, albeit with just a few selected aircraft.

Well let's wait and see what the new flight model in 2024 will be like. Going by that balloon demo, I think we're in for something really special if things go according to plan.

https://xcplpilot.com/

3 hours ago, Krakin said:

... if things go according to plan.

Fixed that for you ... 🙂.

2 hours ago, flying_carpet said:

Fixed that for you ... 🙂.

Thanks. I know you're hoping against hope that things don't go according to plan lol

1 hour ago, Krakin said:

Thanks. I know you're hoping against hope that things don't go according to plan lol

well, we have a pretty good idea how things will go, given xplane has had pretty much everything they announced for over ten years.

e.g. rescue missions dating back to 2012.

https://forums.x-plane.org/index.php?/files/file/18047-missionx-nightflight-rescue-mission-to-ayers-rock-nypari-alice-springs/

definately a lot more interesting than flying over your house.

But not by much.

Its a shame the really big flight sim launch for next year wasnt at FSExpo tho, that would've really spiced things up. Im sure they will be there in a year or two tho.

It is however super exciting to see how much our hobby is growing, it feels like there is real traction in the genre right now. Its not that anyone wishes others ill so much (well, some do, but no one likes them), it's just we've been disappointed by sooooo many broken promises over the years that everyone with an inkling of experience is rightly skeptical of those who lack experience promising the earth before they've even really started.

 

Edited June 25, 20232 yr by mSparks

It's incredible how many things and features X-Plane anticipated over other sims by years. I remember hot air balloons in X-Plane since, maybe, 15 years ago.

But the list of firsts introduced by X-Plane could take an entire thread, and it's still unmatched in some of them.

And all of this, without the backup of a multibillion company, but just with the brains of two visionary men and then the few others who joined them. Wow!

Looking at the many, many X-Plane features and firsts that the competing products have been introducing (or trying to...) in the last few years, is a testament of XP status as a benchmark and reference in the flight sim scene, and brings to my mind the famous quote of Oscar Wilde: "Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery that mediocrity can pay to greatness."

I know some are still hoping that things don't go to plan for XP, with the usual "LaSt nAiL iN tHe CoFfIn fOr XP" comments still appearing these days in that other forum lol.

9 hours ago, Krakin said:

Well let's wait and see what the new flight model in 2024 will be like. Going by that balloon demo, I think we're in for something really special if things go according to plan.

What's coming that's new?

 

Quote

well, we have a pretty good idea how things will go, given xplane has had pretty much everything they announced for over ten years.

e.g. rescue missions dating back to 2012.

https://forums.x-plane.org/index.php?/files/file/18047-missionx-nightflight-rescue-mission-to-ayers-rock-nypari-alice-springs/

I think part of the "problem" with these Utilities, though, is that they're not part of the sim itself. While a step in the right direction, there are still many limitations. Such as Canadair water bombers - I use that e.g. because it's a complex scenario that requires functionality far beyond a typical HEMS mission: good water dynamics for the flying boat, water scooping, fire, smoke, crazy winds/drafts/shears, fire extinguishment "physics", etc., etc.

Multiplayer could also play a big part in these scenarios.

These types of features/functionalities baked into the sim, and open for 3PDs, is a big part of what makes DCS World so engaging (particularly the MP part of it where you can go up with / against dozens of people in the same scenario). An interesting example being flight demonstrations teams (a la Blue Angels/Thunderbirds/Red Arrows, et al).

It's been said that LR aren't interested in this, but I gotta think that flight simmers aren't too different, and missions/campaigns could be a good feature to draw folks to X-Plane.

Perhaps that kind of feature dev in the past didn't make sense, but with the burgeoning head count at LR, it might make sense to consider it. Again - I'd get way more out of that than improvements to road boundaries, etc.

I mean, heck, even Prepar3D v6 is exposing & advancing its native custom scenario generator, multiplayer, "multi-domain training", and even some types of weapons systems - this last might not be as popular in XP, but hey, it's "banned" by MSFT, so why not capitalize on that to get more folks to X-Plane?

 

Quote

Its a shame the really big flight sim launch for next year wasnt at FSExpo tho, that would've really spiced things up. Im sure they will be there in a year or two tho.

Jorg did explain that they announce at Xbox because those events regularly draw millions of eyeballs (IIRC, he said, "10 million").

And certainly, with over half of their MSFS user base being classified as "casual gamers" (their term), then it makes sense to do it there.

It would be interesting to know how many "casual gamers" convert to "core simmers" over time.

Edited June 26, 20232 yr by UrgentSiesta
adds

1 hour ago, Murmur said:

I know some are still hoping that things don't go to plan for XP, with the usual "LaSt nAiL iN tHe CoFfIn fOr XP" comments still appearing these days in that other forum lol.

ha ha - if you think we get brigaded here, you should see the Prepar3D and MSFS guys go at it. 😉

 

1 hour ago, blingthinger said:

What's coming that's new?

A LOT (it's worth a listen even if just for perspective):

 

3 hours ago, Murmur said:

It's incredible how many things and features X-Plane anticipated over other sims by years. I remember hot air balloons in X-Plane since, maybe, 15 years ago.

But the list of firsts introduced by X-Plane could take an entire thread, and it's still unmatched in some of them.

And all of this, without the backup of a multibillion company, but just with the brains of two visionary men and then the few others who joined them. Wow!

Looking at the many, many X-Plane features and firsts that the competing products have been introducing (or trying to...) in the last few years, is a testament of XP status as a benchmark and reference in the flight sim scene, and brings to my mind the famous quote of Oscar Wilde: "Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery that mediocrity can pay to greatness."

I know some are still hoping that things don't go to plan for XP, with the usual "LaSt nAiL iN tHe CoFfIn fOr XP" comments still appearing these days in that other forum lol.

It's incredible how delusional this post is lol. So for future reference I expect to see none of you accusing the 2024 career mode of being arcade lol. Hot air balloons were in FS2002 so that's embarassing for you. There's having balloons and then there's simulating them the way 2024 does. And yes it is careers and not just missions.

Edited June 26, 20232 yr by Krakin

42 minutes ago, Krakin said:

So for future reference I expect to see none of you

That's a panicked ego trip if there ever was one...

Could one fly said balloons in 2002? Pretty sure that wasn't an option. So you're getting super excited about cute animations? 

And really excited for a new way to observe Scenery Simulator.

Edited June 26, 20232 yr by blingthinger