The topic is: Experience in MSFS 2020, compared to Prepar3d

As is usual in these fora, threads get sidetracked and opinions posted that have very little to do with the OP's question. Opinions vary and then we go the way of a lot of posts here, namely popcorn time.
Nobody asked how many (and why) simulators one has installed on their systems concurrently.

2 hours ago, Biggles2010 said:

It was actually developed from MS ESP, not FSX.  Your comment suggests you have not explored P3D in any depth.

There are very significant differences from FSX, especially in the options for multi monitor use, or things like saving panel states, which are totally reliable in P3D, when they certainly were not in FSX. I currently run a fully functioning cockpit on P3D 5.4 which I could not even begin to run using FSX.

its still 95% FSX under the hood its not a new sim , sure its had updates but its sill FSX at its core. You can run a fully functioning cockpit on P3D 5.4 because of the number of updates its had , but its still essentially FSX

Edited May 17, 20251 yr by jason74

1 hour ago, jason74 said:

its still 95% FSX under the hood its not a new sim

False ... for one FSX was 32bit executable, P3D is 64bit.  Another one is support for PBR textures as that is a significant change in the render pipeline code, as is dynamic lights another significant change in rendering code. Replaced the entire clouds and weather system.  Added a PDK in addition to the SDK.  P3D is about as similar to FSX as a Ferrari is to a Yugo.

1 hour ago, jason74 said:

You can run a fully functioning cockpit on P3D 5.4 because of the number of updates its had

Thanks for the laugh, USAF are rolling on the ground with this one ... all the fully functional Military simulators running P3D before 5.4 never really existed and the USAF trained on pac man ... maybe JFK is still alive.

3 hours ago, speedyTC said:

As is usual in these fora, threads get sidetracked and opinions posted that have very little to do with the OP's question.

The OP hasn’t asked a question…..

Thank you very much for all your contributions.
It's true, I wasn't asking a question; it was just a reflection on which I hoped to hear your opinions.
I share the opinions most of you have expressed, especially regarding having multiple simulators. I said it at the beginning: MSFS for low-altitude flights to enjoy the graphics, to be able to see the world as realistically as possible. But to simulate a B737 IFR flight, as close as possible to what a real pilot would do, I use P3D v5.4. I don't have the knowledge to judge categorically, but I perceive MSFS as an arcade game, a very good game nonetheless.
I use PMDG B737 in both simulators (for example), and my experience is that I vastly prefer it to P3D; everything from the way you press the levers, buttons, etc., the simulation seems more realistic to me.
Of course, I have P3D with a multitude of improvements: Active Sky, Asca, Toga, FS Global, ORBX Global and OpenLC, Mega Scenery, many airports, REX, PMDG, FSlabs, etc., etc., etc. For this reason, I don't miss what MSFS represents in terms of graphics, which are obviously much better than P3D.
Thanks again for listening to me and for your opinions, from which I learn.

"Pushing the buttons in P3D seems more realistic to me, so I perceive MSFS as an arcade game".

Because flying the PMDG 737 in MSFS is totally arcade, like it's the new Ace Combat (some variant of the 737 has missiles after all...). We just miss the "insert coin" label somewhere on the screen to make MSFS complete.

 

 

 

 

The only sim I don’t enjoy is the one on hydraulic jacks they make me go in every 6 months.

Other than that my day to day sim is now MS2024, anything you can do in any other sim you can do in 24

I believe the original poster is a real-world aviator, most likely a commercial jet pilot, which gives his opinion added credibility. Although I’ve never used P3D, I would argue that, despite its chaotic development (esp SU 3 Beta!), MSFS 2024 offers more realistic helicopter flight dynamics than at least MSFS 2020 and XP 11

Edited May 18, 20251 yr by History

I'm currently using P3Dv6 and really like it.  I use primarily freeware, and there is still a ton of freeware planes and scenery available for P3D, plus a lot of FSX stuff works, too.

The main drawback for P3D is the scenery IMO.  I grow tired of the same old repetitive ground textures, even with good landclass like ORBX openLC.  Moreover, there is a lack of good landclass for Asia, and photoscenery that I've tried just doesn't look all that great and lacks vegetation and buildings.  MSFS is definitely better in this regard. 

However, even MSFS isn't perfect. I read a lot of posts in the MSFS forum with complaints about bugs and problems that have yet to be fixed in MSFS2024, for example.  I also watched a video recently of MSFS over a forested area of Tennessee and most of the trees were conifers, whereas in reality most trees in TN are deciduous, about 75% deciduous and 25% conifers, so this is unrealistic.  I can only guess that there are many other parts of the world where MSFS scenery is also inaccurate.

I'm happy with P3Dv6 for now, but eventually I will likely switch to MSFS2024 once the major bugs are fixed. 

Dave

On 5/16/2025 at 8:09 PM, Jordixvz said:

Hello everyone.

This is my first post on this forum, after 11 years of learning from you all and having introduced myself in the introductions forum a few minutes ago.
I started in flight simulation with Flight Simulator and stayed there for many years. Until I switched to P3D. Now I'm on v5.4.
I bought MSFS 2020 from the Microsoft store since it was on sale for €34. Well, to see it.
After 15 days, I've already formed an opinion. MSFS is a game, a good game with very good graphics and performance. P3D v5.4 is a FLIGHT SIMULATOR, and I'd add PROFESSIONAL.
I'll use MSFS sometime for a short low-altitude flight somewhere interesting. P3D for simulation is the closest thing to professional.

Thanks everyone.

News At Eleven: Recent purchaser of discount software gives completely unsubstantiated opinion after several hours of use!

How about you enlighten us with some specifics on how one is a sim and one is a game, particularly for a consumer sitting at a home desk holding plastic USB peripherals..? 😆

On 5/16/2025 at 8:43 PM, CO2Neutral said:

Oh boy, this isn't going to end well.

P3D is more a simulator, MS 2020 is more a game ... but with that said MSFS 2024 has much improved flight physics but comes with a lot of bugs.  If MS/Asobo can fix MSFS 2024 bugs, I will likely change my perception of MSFS as a game vs. P3D as a simulator and embrace MSFS 2024 as my goto "simulator".

 

So is it fair to say that MSFS simulates flight physics better...? Wouldn't that make it a better...SIMULATOR...? 😆

On 5/17/2025 at 4:46 AM, n4gix said:

 That is no great surprise since Lockheed-Martin intended from the outset to be a professional flight simulator. In actual fact, they had originally intended for P3D to not be sold for "recreational use." It took a lot of "lobbying" from simmers to change their original plans.

The only thing that differentiates a game from a simulator is the professional training program associated with it.

What we buy and install on our home PCs isn't, by definition, a "Professional" flight simulator.

I don't agree that MSFS2020 has better flight physics, or at least, for a lot of aircraft, the physics have not been implemented very well.  A lot of aircraft in MSFS2020 have an arcade-like feel to hand flying them imo.  I realize I am an FSX/P3D user saying this.  Many default FSX aircraft (and some P3D aircraft too) have bad flight models, but I also think many default MSFS2020 aircraft are no better.

21 hours ago, Biggles2010 said:

It was actually developed from MS ESP, not FSX.  Your comment suggests you have not explored P3D in any depth.

There are very significant differences from FSX, especially in the options for multi monitor use, or things like saving panel states, which are totally reliable in P3D, when they certainly were not in FSX. I currently run a fully functioning cockpit on P3D 5.4 which I could not even begin to run using FSX.

Oh, puhleeeze...

If it sounds like a duck, walks like a duck, and LOOKs like a duck...

17 hours ago, CO2Neutral said:

for one FSX was 32bit executable, P3D is 64bit.

So, Windows isn't Windows, then..

? 🤣