Almost seduced by the Dark Side, even as a long term fan and user of X-Plane. Slightly ironic given one of my X-Plane complaints.

After loading up X-plane12 and again getting frustrated by:

--difficult to read basic instruments in unrealistically dark cockpits

--laughable vortex, wing condensation effects

--poor inertial modelling of response to out of trim conditions in some aircraft

--rainfall from nowhere

--show stopping turbulence effects

I am ashamed to say I started looking at digging out my MSFS2020 discs bought on release, loaded and then after a short whoww phase un-installed.

After an internet search I repeated the whoww experience looking at the latest  range of available aircraft, their impressive visuals and the impressive scenery visuals. However this started to wane as I got some niggling concerns.

The almost day long download procedure indelibly etched in my memory from my previous trial. The requirement to be part of the Microsoft / Xbox Ecosystem to be able to use it. The almost absolute requirement to have a fast Internet connection. The large hard disc foot print. The payware to freeware balance. The gut feeling that MSFS was beautiful but if you wanted a flight simulation “pain in the word not allowed” X-Plane still had the better potential.

The day was saved by finding, within the diverse forum conversations, the tip about removing X-Plane condensation effects through alterations within PlaneMaker; and RX-XP12-Enhancer. Alteration of inertial responses to out of trim within PlaneMaker requires more Aeronautical Engineering skills than I have so I am just more fussy about the aircraft I fly. The rain, turbulence and maybe cockpits look like they are issues they are seeking eventually to address.

This is not meant to be a criticism of MSFS. It’s beautiful with some excellent aircraft in it. People get huge enjoyment out of it and that in the end is what it’s all about.

This is meant to be a criticism of X-Plane. My favourite non-military flight simulator. Individual users may have different expectations of cockpit lighting / turbulence etc. Solution—give them more options / sliders etc. Okay a basic graphics set-up as an initial front screen but give users who want to tailor the game to their own preferences / computer the option with more detailed set-up screens if wanted. X-Plane is both great and a “pain in the word not allowed”. Crafted by a relatively small group of fanatics with a longstanding reputation (Boeing take note). With both a thriving Payware and Freeware community it still remains my first choice.

I enjoy both....

I've learned since version 5 of X-Plane things get better nearing the end of the current cycle, X-Plane takes longer to grow.

I fly both as well. 

Flying with MSFS discs...  those were basically for collectors hehe.  Did you download all the updates?  

At any rate, I basically find where MSFS struggles, XP shines, and vice versa.  Avionics for example... the default avionics are massively improved in MSFS, and are far nicer than in XP.  Landing in a crosswind, however, easily goes to xp in almost all trials I've done.  Scenery can go either way as long as one uses Ortho in XP.... auto ortho is a good option but the disk space requirement is overall much larger when using downloaded ortho vs msfs.  Anti aliasing....  xp needs 12.10 desperately and I hope it fixes my issues - shimmers galore.  But atmospheric-wise....  XP12 wins with ease... the overall colors of the sky etc just looks excellent.

I have different missions when I fly - both are good options.  I've never really understood the one or the other idea....  Maybe if you buy payware and are trying to save money - then I could see staying with one brand or the other.

Love your paints & mods Ryan!

Edited April 27, 20242 yr by h2egc

Use both! Easy peasy.

I fly both as well but turned to msfs lately after getting out of memory problems in xp12. I'm a very amateurish simmer and I like the way msfs looks out of the box. I have about 2 Tb of scenery for xp12 but I spent more time lately removing scenery and replacing/deleting stuff to save space.

Since  moving (temporarily) full-time to msfs I'm actually flying more than tweaking and playing around with freeware.

What I love about xp12 is the tweakability, my 3 screen setup and setting up all the controls.

 

I like both sims but for me it's too time consuming to keep both exactly how I want them to be.

 

Just my 2 cents

 

Happy flying!

7 hours ago, thepitts said:

--difficult to read basic instruments in unrealistically dark cockpits

I don't have that or I can see sometimes cockpits that are perhaps a very little bit too dark but  it doesn't annoy me at all. At release they were really dark and i had difficulties to read the instruments. This is all gone for me. But for those having iussues with dark cockpits, this should be imporved. My instruments are crystal-clear and perfectly visible. Perhaps because i'm having 24GB VRAM.

7 hours ago, thepitts said:

--laughable vortex, wing condensation effects

I have never seen laughable vortex but great looking ones, that look quite realistic. I have been impressed many times by seeing them. Weird.

7 hours ago, thepitts said:

poor inertial modelling of response to out of trim conditions in some aircraft

The inertia modelling is one of XP's strengths compared to MSFS. I never noticed anything wrong with it. And I am flying in real too.

7 hours ago, thepitts said:

rainfall from nowhere

Yes, that's annoying and a well known "bug". Should be fixed hopefully soon.

8 hours ago, thepitts said:

show stopping turbulence effects

I am not sure what this exactly means. Perhaps you can explain it a bit more in depth?

Anyway, the coming version 12.1.0 will be quite a massive imporvement in different aspects and shouldn't last too long now.

I alternate between 3 / 4 if I count the two variants of p3d, 5 and 6...

I review myself pretty much in the OP, could be me describing my experience with XP and MSFS 😁

Thanks for the replies folks. Remember this is NOT an MSFS v XPlane discussion.

I hear the advice concerning ..........just get both ! Well Falcon BMS isn't going anywhere nor my DCS, IL2. So with limited disc space I'm allowed only one Civilian Flight Simulator. Although it could be argued that, with the paucity of combat available in DCS, it also is a Civilian Flight Simulator. Okay Okay I am sure you can get a gazillion Terabytes of disc for a couple of quid nowadays but I shudder at the thought of ripping open the internals of my computer to insert a new one. And if your immediate thought is...WIMP...you are correct.

Anyway I am going through a minimalist phase at the moment. I remember reading a forum conversation years ago (MSF 9 - 10 era) about the latest and greatest new aircraft release. One poster wrote that the model sounded great but he was going to stick with his Level-D 767 which he had been flying exclusively for years.

What ?!? .........I had hangars full of virtual aircraft none of which I had never really got to grips with and fully utilised. The Emelda Marcos of Flight Simulation. And this guy had picked a gem  and knew it and it's failure modes inside out. Each to their own, but there is something to be said about "Less is More". 

Cheers Tim 

There is no Dark Side.

PS: we have cookies 🙂

With MSFS I have everything and in abundance but I don't have the impression of being there. With XP I have nothing and it's ugly and I have the strong impression of being there.An inimitable realistic atmosphere. Simply magical.

"Money, the workforce and skills are not always enough"

This is the Dark Side.

Poetry and truth...what a combination.

Cheers Tim

On 4/27/2024 at 11:52 AM, thepitts said:

Almost seduced by the Dark Side, even as a long term fan and user of X-Plane

Both sims are very good and both excel in different ways.  Why don't you just use both - there is no law breaking by doing so!

5 hours ago, MrBitstFlyer said:

Both sims are very good and both excel in different ways.  Why don't you just use both - there is no law breaking by doing so!

Shhhhhhh! I'm doing that for a WHOLE 2 weeks now !!! and enjoying all three 🙂 

Edited May 9, 20242 yr by jcomm