Hi, just wanted to say as a non flight simmer, despite the odd foray into FSX and even Flight sim world (which at the time a quite liked), I've only really dipped in but could see how much enjoyment could be had from the experience.

I mainly do sim racing, 4000 odd hours in a game called Assetto corsa, modding cars and tracks etc etc...

Then i got MFS, worried a bit about talk of needing a NASA computer i got it anyway, most i'd ever spent on a game on steam, but from the moment i booted it up its been such a joy to behold, many times i've been honestly breathless as i've flown over an area marvelling in how it looks, the places i've found randomly around the globe, the screen shots i've took that are utterly beautiful.

The areas of the world i've seen that as an intelligent person i like to think, gave me a new perspective on things, like how much of the UK have we cut up to make bricks and slate, changing the landscape to what we think is 'normal', like how farming is so regimental that what we perceive as 'nature' isn't really at all.... straight square fields etc, or circle fields in USA and Mexico (whats all that about?).

Oh and how many golf courses do we really need??

So yeah.... 800 hours of steam time, now i don't want to do this to get loads of "well i've done 8000 hours" etc...

Just as it winds down, i want to say how glad i've been for this game, or sim or whatever, who cares, its been ace, and all i've done really is low flying taking in the sights.

Loved it loved it, best purchase i ever made on steam hands down, and i'll be using this long into when the new one comes out, so much more to explore..... what a game...

Well said!

Hi, and welcome to the wonderful world of MSFS. I too consider myself a non flight simmer, even though I've been doing this for about ten years now (which still makes me a "noobie" here), as I am also more interested in sightseeing. MSFS is quite remarkable for that - it really is close to being a pure world simulator. The base system is good enough in most places to not really need any addons, but it you want to go for it there are loads of freeware addons on flightsim.to, even before you think about the vast list of payware stuff.

I don't do games generally - bought various things on steam in their sales but mostly only ever fired them up once or twice. If they don't have a walk-through mode that lets me examine their world I'm not interested. I've enjoyed some of the train sim environments, but the beauty of a flight sim is of course the freedom of movement. Get yourself a nice little plane, helicopter or whatever and you can explore anywhere you want.

So yes, enjoy your new-found world, and happy travelling!

Just out of curiosity.....you wouldn't happen to be "Lefty Joe" in Assetto Corsa, would you?

1 hour ago, flightyjoe said:

circle fields in USA and Mexico (whats all that about?).

Irrigation. Please see https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Center-pivot_irrigation

46 minutes ago, Christopher Low said:

Just out of curiosity.....you wouldn't happen to be "Lefty Joe" in Assetto Corsa, would you?

No, not a lefty or a righty, stone cold centrist, so those on the left call me a racist climate denier and those on the right call me a libtard, not accepted by either..... so IMO i've got it spot on!

(sorry for off topic)

1 hour ago, andy1252 said:

Hi, and welcome to the wonderful world of MSFS. I too consider myself a non flight simmer, even though I've been doing this for about ten years now (which still makes me a "noobie" here), as I am also more interested in sightseeing. MSFS is quite remarkable for that - it really is close to being a pure world simulator. The base system is good enough in most places to not really need any addons, but it you want to go for it there are loads of freeware addons on flightsim.to, even before you think about the vast list of payware stuff.

I don't do games generally - bought various things on steam in their sales but mostly only ever fired them up once or twice. If they don't have a walk-through mode that lets me examine their world I'm not interested. I've enjoyed some of the train sim environments, but the beauty of a flight sim is of course the freedom of movement. Get yourself a nice little plane, helicopter or whatever and you can explore anywhere you want.

So yes, enjoy your new-found world, and happy travelling!

Yes to be clear i've had the sim since the first week hence 800 hours. I have many add ons, just as all the talk of the new one comming, i'll be getting it but will wait and there is plenty to do still in the 'old' one...

800 hrs on a flight sim is a lot for me, 4000 hrs in assetto corsa, nearest after that to MSFS is 300 odd in raceroom and rfactor 2.

Point being, MSFS captured me, and still won't let go...

10 minutes ago, flightyjoe said:

Point being, MSFS captured me, and still won't let go...

Same for me, I've been an avid racing Sim fan since the mid 2000s and Geoff Crammonds Sims back in the 90s, with hundreds of hours in all the top racing Sims including AC, RF2, AMS/2 etc. I had also dabbled with flight Sims in the past but nothing hooked me like F-19 Stealth Fighter did back in the 90s, then this came along in 2020 and it's certainly eaten a huge chunk into my racing time that's for sure 😄 

42 minutes ago, flightyjoe said:

.....800 hrs on a flight sim is a lot for me, 4000 hrs in assetto corsa, nearest after that to MSFS is 300 odd in raceroom and rfactor 2.

Point being, MSFS captured me, and still won't let go...

I have about 4900 hours in Assetto Corsa, but the Logitech G27 wheel is currently boxed as nobody seemingly wants to race the road cars online (or even the 1960s F1 cars) I hate those boring modern race cars. Far too much downforce, and about as enjoyable to drive as a house brick.

I currently have 142 hours in MSFS, but I have only had it installed since last November.

6 hours ago, flightyjoe said:

so much more to explore ..

Yes! This is by far the most important thing MSFS brings us -- the real world in detail, to be explored! To me, everything else is secondary.

It's difficult not to "fall in love" with MSFS 2020, even if some aspects of the simulation have their quirks...

6 hours ago, flightyjoe said:

The areas of the world i've seen that as an intelligent person i like to think, gave me a new perspective on things, like how much of the UK have we cut up to make bricks and slate, changing the landscape to what we think is 'normal', like how farming is so regimental that what we perceive as 'nature' isn't really at all....

 

Always fascinating to see how land use patterns have evolved in different countries and cultures. And the variety of human settlement options, from densely packed megacenters to village clusters to remote farms and households where you would least expect them. Always something new around the next bend of the hill or the river!

4 hours ago, flightyjoe said:

No, not a lefty or a righty, stone cold centrist, so those on the left call me a racist climate denier and those on the right call me a libtard, not accepted by either..... so IMO i've got it spot on!

(sorry for off topic)

Yep, I'm in that category. 50 something male who's an 'Everythingist' to any given age group or gender. 😁

Believe it or not but you are indeed part of the focus groups for new Flight Sim enthusiasts.

I remember that the Dev's talked about this when MSFS was new, that they thought it should be possible to win racing simmers over to Flightsimming. Because  one element is the faithful recreation of the machinery involved and a high fidelity and good looking representation of an aircraft as a fast machine will have similar pull as a racing car.

That's one of the reasons why the free look camera exists. So that people can get really close to the models and admire the detailed modelling. Something you can also do in any good racing sim.

Edited May 27, 20242 yr by Farlis

3 minutes ago, Farlis said:

possible to win racing simmers over to Flightsimming

Speaking as a race simmer I would say MSFS maybe needs more explosions and carnage to attract a larger chunk of race simmers.

But for me personally MSFS is great for taking a break from racing, and just cruising and chillin' and gawking at lovely scenery.