This is not a generic flight simulation question because MSFS has some specific pluses that I like to consider.

First, I like that MSFS has massive support which makes me feel very positive about my hobby.

Second the sim feels solid and not flakey like previous sims aka FSX.

Third I really like (despite naysayers) the MarketPlace and the ability to do one stop shopping for upgrades.  It really helps me keep my purchase together.

What is your take?

 

sp

 

 

What it means to me? I'm not sure it really means anything other than what every other pastime activity means to me. 

However, like you, I'm appreciative that it's available, for $60 or so odd bucks and a couple of add-ons, I'd say over the 3 years, I've gotten more out of it for what I put in than anything I can remember in a while, if that's what you mean.

I have dumped more money and time into hobbies I can't even remember what they were lol. So Yah, I too am glad MSFS got a new life and it continues to see growth. I honestly thought that the flight-sim and it's community was on the downturn and it was a fading hobby. Glad I was wrong.

Edited June 27, 20232 yr by n19htmare

MSFS is giving me ultimate flying freedom to fly where I want and how I want,  in an  aircraft of my choice.  MSFS is the only sim that gives me ability to fly over and recognize places familiar to me in real life.

I think this is a nice question, don't know why sbdy 1-starred you.

For me, it's getting closer than ever to what I got into the hobby for in the first place; to indulge a fantasy of having the time and money to own my own light aircraft and take it around the world. Previous versions gave me some choice about owning a diversity of aircraft, but didn't really bring me any closer to being able to do a world tour. Orbx regions gave me a bit more choice, but still heavily centered on Anglo-sphere countries. 

2020 opened up so much more of the world and is absolutely the closest yet to giving me exactly what I want. 2024 looks like it's going to move closer still. Loving it.

"Means" nothing to me. It's a video game, just like the hundreds of others I've played. 

It means to me that I am flying in the latest current MSFS sim available.

Miss my proper replay system and flyby views though from FSX.

I am using Mircrosofts Flightsimulators since 1989 and MSFS (2020) is the best one ever. It makes my poor FSX home cockpit most of the time unemployed because everything MSFS offers is so bloody well done - the (default) airplanes and the default scenery and airports - optimized by some addons - ever again I say to myself „What an amazing product!“.

I am happy that I own such a fun bringing toy 🙂

Means nothing special to me, tbh.

Just a game I play every now and then.

It can be fun, though !

 

6 hours ago, Sky_Pilot071 said:

 

Third I really like (despite naysayers) the MarketPlace and the ability to do one stop shopping for upgrades.  It really helps me keep my purchase together.

What is your take?

 

sp

 

 

I quite agree - although I just wish they would use a basket sort of purchase - instead of a new purchase

for each item

Nothing, it means nothing, I could stop right now if I wanted. After 40 years, right now I could stop. I don't because I don't want to. But I could. 

And its cheaper than the pub anyway.

Edited June 27, 20232 yr by Dominique_K

As aviation has been my passion and hobby since I was a child, MSFS fulfills somehow my childhood dream of being a pilot. Having used flight sims since Commodore 64, MSFS and Vatsim truly gives me that feeling of airliner type of flying, which sadly in real life never came to reality.

Passing the time and an engrossing entertainment primarily.

Right now I see it simply as a platform for my fourth payware aircraft, the 737-700. My other planes 747, 777, and DC8 are still on FSX:SE. I enjoy all four, and still switch back and forth between them. The ones on FSX still feel better to me (totally subjective, just my touchy feely sensation). And in MSFS everything looks way better, way way way better, even on medium settings, no question. The touchy feely differences do seem to be dwindling, meaning to me MSFS doesn't seem too far behind in terms of handling sensation. I'm using it more and more. But since FSX, its associated aircraft, plus Active Sky don't take up a huge amount of space, I still find them valuable to keep. Overall MSFS means to me a good sim, well worth the money, I'm glad I got it, just with some nuisances that make me not like it that much more than other flight sims I've owned.

Edited June 27, 20232 yr by Antipodeslonghaul
Cat was on my lap, couldn't type

One of my many hobbies...not more, not less. Its a video game i use in my free time.

It certainly isn't life or death, that's for sure.