Not from me - I am absolutely smitten with XP12 beta 6. 

Initially anybody coming from MSFS2020, and especially 2024, is likely to take one look at default XP12 and just think it is awful. XP12 needs a few days of installing addons and tuning the lighting and graphics.  If this is done, one can only stare at the screen in amazement at what XP12 can produce.  A long running discussion has taken place for years about which sim has the best flight dynamics.  Again, if XP12 is given a few days, it becomes apparent XP12 aircraft have a wonderful feeling of inertia, stability, smooth control inputs and great turbulence effects.  Rudder control is really nice after the twitchiness of MSFS.

The clouds in XP12 at times look photo realistic, aided by the atmospheric lighting.  I paused the sim and just stared at this scene over California for ages...

I have stayed away from XP12 for two years as the graphics in 2024 have an immediate wow factor.  I am so pleased I kept up to date with XP12 news as there was much positivity around the latest betas.  It is a shame that so many will shy away from the XP12 base package and not really see what it is capable of.

31 minutes ago, MrBitstFlyer said:

Not from me - I am absolutely smitten with XP12 beta 6. 

Initially anybody coming from MSFS2020, and especially 2024, is likely to take one look at default XP12 and just think it is awful. XP12 needs a few days of installing addons and tuning the lighting and graphics.  If this is done, one can only stare at the screen in amazement at what XP12 can produce.  A long running discussion has taken place for years about which sim has the best flight dynamics.  Again, if XP12 is given a few days, it becomes apparent XP12 aircraft have a wonderful feeling of inertia, stability, smooth control inputs and great turbulence effects.  Rudder control is really nice after the twitchiness of MSFS.

The clouds in XP12 at times look photo realistic, aided by the atmospheric lighting.  I paused the sim and just stared at this scene over California for ages...

I have stayed away from XP12 for two years as the graphics in 2024 have an immediate wow factor.  I am so pleased I kept up to date with XP12 news as there was much positivity around the latest betas.  It is a shame that so many will shy away from the XP12 base package and not really see what it is capable of.

Click bait title!!! I came here to console you and to congratulate you for your bravery to even try it. I was then going to wish you well on your journey back to MSFS land.

MSFS 2024 has insane photorealistic images of buildings, but on final approach you are looking at the runway. As you have found out, the terrain graphics and lighting are pretty special on X-Plane as are the flight physics.

On MSFS 2024 I have my settings on maximum realism, yet I can make coordinated turns in the 172 without rudders and if you use rudders in MSFS in the 172, the turn becomes uncoordinated quickly. In X-Plane I am using rudders and the turn coordinator indicator in the 172. I absolutley love that!!!

So glad you spent the $59.

Edited May 24, 20251 yr by alanw2005

2 minutes ago, alanw2005 said:

Click bait title!!!

I didn't mean it to be - many will never see what XP12 is capable of because of that poor initial thought with XP12.

13 minutes ago, MrBitstFlyer said:

XP12 needs a few days of installing addons and tuning the lighting and graphics

 

could you expand a bit?

2 minutes ago, EGLD said:

could you expand a bit?

If you are interested you can start here:

 

1 minute ago, EGLD said:

could you expand a bit?

Map Enhancement tool, Global Forests and Simheaven. These need configuring to work together well.  I have an HDR display, so initially XP12 looked poor, but after tuning the lighting, colours and turning on AutoHDR, the display came to life. 

Yeah, X-Plane has it´s entry learning curve and those looking for instant gratification and getting held by the hand with some sort of tutorial as it is the norm, nowadays, will probably not invest the half day it takes to become accustomed and versed enough to see the potential. 

In a way this will likely shut quite a few people off from the enjoyment - but in a way I think it is like an entry-level exam...if you can´t muster the curiosity, intelligence and staying power to push through this first hour or two - flying realistically portrayed aircraft is probably not something you would enjoy in the long run, anyway. Imagine, X-Plane even has a manual that people are expected to - gasp!! - read!! 😉

Maybe it is like a good song or your first glass of beer or that really good friend - often those experiences that take a while to grow on you are the ones that form the longest lasting bonds.

Welcome to X-Plane - there is a world of flying in here to discover - but you will need to do the searching yourself 😉.

 

are you sure... i was greeted with these clouds 10 mins ago.

 

 

 

Edited May 24, 20251 yr by fluffyflops

5 minutes ago, Litjan said:

Yeah, X-Plane has it´s entry learning curve and those looking for instant gratification and getting held by the hand with some sort of tutorial as it is the norm, nowadays, will probably not invest the half day it takes to become accustomed and versed enough to see the potential. 

In a way this will likely shut quite a few people off from the enjoyment - but in a way I think it is like an entry-level exam...if you can´t muster the curiosity, intelligence and staying power to push through this first hour or two - flying realistically portrayed aircraft is probably not something you would enjoy in the long run, anyway. Imagine, X-Plane even has a manual that people are expected to - gasp!! - read!! 😉

Maybe it is like a good song or your first glass of beer or that really good friend - often those experiences that take a while to grow on you are the ones that form the longest lasting bonds.

Welcome to X-Plane - there is a world of flying in here to discover - but you will need to do the searching yourself 😉.

 

So many people write off X-Plane and claim they tried it with the free download. That free download expires after 30 minutes. Seriously, that free download should be 24 hours. I tried the free download a year ago and didn't even get off of the ground, so wrote off X-Plane. Finally, frustrated with MSFS 2024, I risked $59 just over a week ago. That was the best $59 flight sim expenditure I have ever made.

I agree with most of what is written above but I actually find that with just simheaven and, yes maybe global forests too, xp12 is already more than good, at least for me, and I do own map enhancement pro too!

Then it is miles ahead of MSFS on terms of it's GUI. For instance I think it has by far the most Simple, Featured, Functional and Intuitive controllers menu. Settings up controller profiles associating them with specifc aircraft or generic classes of aircraft is pretty easy and Intuitive, unlike the approach followed by ASOBO with MSFS...

Weather when xp12 was released had a few glitches, but the latest betas have brought depiction and effects to a rather top level.

Edited May 24, 20251 yr by jcomm

20 minutes ago, MrBitstFlyer said:

I didn't mean it to be - many will never see what XP12 is capable of because of that poor initial thought with XP12.

You are all in! I just noticed you are running the Beta.

XP12 Has potential  but everytime they get updated, MSFS gets far better. It's like a parabola ... can't catch it .... I love much of XP12, the weather, the planes the flight models too and have written on it in FLYING magazine, and on my Youtube channel. But the endless smog, haze, anti aliasing issues, and poor performance is a killer... I still use it and have loved it but they can't catch up.... hmmmm

Just now, JETPETER2 said:

But the endless smog, haze,

This is the one area I feel is overdone.  MSFS is the complete opposite with not enough!

15 minutes ago, JETPETER2 said:

XP12 Has potential  but everytime they get updated, MSFS gets far better. It's like a parabola ... can't catch it .... I love much of XP12, the weather, the planes the flight models too and have written on it in FLYING magazine, and on my Youtube channel. But the endless smog, haze, anti aliasing issues, and poor performance is a killer... I still use it and have loved it but they can't catch up.... hmmmm

Opinions will vary.  Everyone has their own preference.  I've seen people claiming to be pilots, say they prefer MSFS.  I know several pilots, many of whom use my add ons to keep practising, say X-Plane is much better as an overall flight sim.  

Both have pros and cons.  Both also have elements that appeal to some, and don't appeal to others.  

If X-Plane can't catch up to MSFS, that is your opinion.  To the X-Plane community at large, X-Plane has far surpassed MSFS.