A few things that have bugged me:

1) When I was a kid, VHS tapes. You buy in another country, and then they don't work when you get home. Woops, forgot they use a different system.

2) Electrical sockets. Why always the hassle on trips? Why couldn't in the brief moments of peace just after WW2 for example, the whole World not just agree on one system as they rebuilt?

3) Daylight savings time. It's bad enough that we use it, but why not switch back and forth on the same day at least for US/Canada/UK/EU? The switch dates are usually just two week apart, why not meet half way? Every year it's the same thing, why are you calling so early? Oh wait you guys haven't switched yet? I forgot! One thing that's interesting is that the Israelis I think do their switch Thursday to Friday instead of Saturday to Sunday.

I guess all those things could be cherished as well. A bit of chaos can be fun, like a bustling bazaar.

In theory (just in theory), it's nice for me to toy with the thought of a single unified world government, not necessarily Marxist, but some sort of global authoritarian system.

"The Central Planning Committee is calling on you, the best and the brightest in the flight sim community, to all get together, to facilitate a system for all developers to share and enhance this great pursuit to its fullest potential, far beyond anything the lazy bourgeoise has ever witnessed in the past! Or would you rather scrape uranium off the walls with your fingernails and your teeth in a remote Siberian mine???!!!"

I think it could work and indeed be wonderful, but I guess I'd still lean towards the happy go lucky, vibrant and colorful, yet somewhat inefficient bazaar, and also fight fascism and authoritarianism wherever I can, oligarchs and the politicians you support take note.

I know the OP meant voluntary and mutually beneficial cooperation, and not some extremist fantasies. Absolutely agree, would have great potential.

2 hours ago, Antipodeslonghaul said:

2) Electrical sockets. Why always the hassle on trips? Why couldn't in the brief moments of peace just after WW2 for example, the whole World not just agree on one system as they rebuilt?

This was a lot more than the sockets! 😄 

I was in the US Army stationed in Bamberg, Germany.  Loved it.

The whole electric system was different.  Not only the plugs (German plugs looked to be a safer design, and adapters were cheap and plentiful), US was 60 Hz and Germany was 50 Hz.  American clocks ran slow on German current.  US was 110 Volts (more or less, my UPS is showing 123 V input right now, sometimes gets down to 119), Germany was 220 Volts, and we could use transformers if the 50 Hz frequency didn't matter.  An American TV in Germany would show the picture, but the sound was broadcast on a different frequency than in America.

None of this mattered enough to notice.  The high end component stereo system I bought in the Audio Club on base worked in both Germany and America when I took it home.

Just for fun, check the electric outlets in YouTube videos to determine what country they're in.  I saw one I didn't recognize and went down the rabbit hole to eventually figure out it was a Middle East country.

Hook

Edited August 2, 2025Aug 2 by LHookins

https://xkcd.com/927/

Hook

1 hour ago, LHookins said:

This was a lot more than the sockets! 😄 

I was in the US Army stationed in Bamberg, Germany.  Loved it.

The whole electric system was different.  Not only the plugs (German plugs looked to be a safer design, and adapters were cheap and plentiful), US was 60 Hz and Germany was 50 Hz.  American clocks ran slow on German current.  US was 110 Volts (more or less, my UPS is showing 123 V input right now, sometimes gets down to 119), Germany was 220 Volts, and we could use transformers if the 50 Hz frequency didn't matter.  An American TV in Germany would show the picture, but the sound was broadcast on a different frequency than in America.

None of this mattered enough to notice.  The high end component stereo system I bought in the Audio Club on base worked in both Germany and America when I took it home.

Just for fun, check the electric outlets in YouTube videos to determine what country they're in.  I saw one I didn't recognize and went down the rabbit hole to eventually figure out it was a Middle East country.

Hook

On holiday in Italy last year, we had purchased 2-prong round adapters for our plugs (3 x rectangular prongs - Ireland uses the UK system) only to find that some places we stayed in used older style Italian power sockets that the adapters didn't fit into. After a bit of hunting we got the correct adapters-for-the-adapters and all was well...but the end result  looked awful. 😃

Edited August 2, 2025Aug 2 by Holdit

6 hours ago, LHookins said:

Just for fun, check the electric outlets in YouTube videos to determine what country they're in.

I think the U.S. plugs are too small and sometimes difficult to plug in, especially with one prong being just slightly wider than the other one.

My favorite are the Italian plugs which have 3 robust inline rounded prongs and can be plugged in horizontally or vertically depending on the outlet orientation. 

Dave

 

12 hours ago, Antipodeslonghaul said:

I know the OP meant voluntary and mutually beneficial cooperation

Yeah, cooperation and frivolous drive for extreme wealth at all costs that ultimately produces a hollow shallow shell of a person … that person gets bored with life so believes power is the only cure … and that ultimately never satisfies … the real life balances comes from within.

Edited August 2, 2025Aug 2 by SayAgain

3 hours ago, dave2013 said:

think the U.S. plugs are too small and sometimes difficult to plug in, especially with one prong

And the proliferation of electrical interconnections is frankly ridiculous.  XLR, RCA, 1/4”, 2.5mm, RJ45, SFP, fiber, HDMI, DisplayPort, DVI, VGA, RS232, USB-A, USB-B, USB-C, and on and on 

Rather than anyone saying “hey wait a minute let’s come up with one spec capable of meeting many needs” … instead we just re-invent with a slight twist cost consumers a fortune.

Back on topic, please!  It's not electrical outlets! 🥷

2 hours ago, SayAgain said:

Rather than anyone saying “hey wait a minute let’s come up with one spec capable of meeting many needs” … instead we just re-invent with a slight twist cost consumers a fortune.

And when we do, this is what happens:

 

Charlie, if the topic isn't "standards" at least it's popular and non-confrontational if we're talking about electric plugs. 🙂

Hook

When a standard, one-size-fits-all SDK for all civilian flight sims was proposed, the first thing I did was try to figure out how I'd implement that.  Then I tried to figure out how it would affect developers.  Then I thought about what advantages it might have for consumers.

So, let me suggest an advantage I might find.

I have a wonderful HMS Surprise square rigger in Vehicle Simulator.  I would love to sail this ship in the MSFS world, with good terrain, good weather, etc.  

Vehicle Simulator allows me to create custom binnacles (compass houses) which include custom instruments of my own design along with the compass.  The MSFS world does not have modular components.  Would my binnacles simply disappear in MSFS, or would the entire concept be implemented?

The original creator would have had to code everything to this standard.  He sold it for Vehicle Simulator.  Should he get paid again if I used the ship in MSFS?  He sure had to put in the effort to make it work in MSFS, even if few people ever bought the ship.

A2A is doing custom code for the flight model for their Comanche. Will this custom flight model work with the standardized SDK?  Will it work in XPlane if it used the same SDK?  Will A2A be forbidden to create their custom flight model?

I'm not sure the benefits, which accrue only to the customer, could be worth the effort by the companies.

If you really like the idea, then feel free to create the SDK.  If it's good enough, it'll get adopted.

Hook

When MSFS was first announced, I proposed the idea of modular, plug-in components, knowing full well it wouldn't be implemented for MSFS as that kind of thing has to be baked into the design from the concept stage.

For example, you'd have the basic aircraft fuselage with default components already plugged in.  The basic instrument panel would be blank, and you'd plug in either analog or digital.  You could also swap out or move instruments or screens, or combine the two.

The basic fuselage would be able to be outfitted with normal tires, tundra tires, floats or skis.  Passengers and cargo could be plug-in components.

Any code necessary to make a component work would be included in the component.  Any changes to the aircraft dynamics would also be included; for example the extra drag from floats.

You could include this ability in your SDK, should you write it. 

When I suggested it, there were people who didn't like the idea.  This is normal.

Hook

And yet MS/Asobo went the WASM route which is supposed to be platform independent … but still nothing on PS5 yet only XBOX and PC … but my point … you see where this capitalism stupidity is taking us?

Hm.  Well, XBOX and PS5 use the same processor.  Playstation has sold more units worldwide, while XBOX is more popular in North America.  XBOX is owned by Microsoft.

That last one is probably why MSFS isn't on PS5.  That's not Capitalism, that's competition.  It may be considered a monopoly.  If a government were dictating things, it would still be a monopoly, and if Microsoft was the favored player, PS5 probably wouldn't exist.  At least where that particular government held sway.

I prefer the freedom of choice.  Even if it meant that I'd have to buy an XBOX to go along with my PS5.  (I have neither, however.)

I have a desktop PC.  I cannot run programs made for Apple.  This doesn't bother me in the least.  I can't sail my HMS Surprise in MSFS, which would be nice, but I can still sail it in VS.  I'll live with that.

Hook

PS.  Maybe tone down the "Capitalism" rhetoric.  That'll get the thread shut down due to politics, and that would be a shame.

H.

Edited August 3, 2025Aug 3 by LHookins

Next, let's think about putting MSFS on PS5.  What would it take and what would the effect be?

I have absolutely no idea what the level of effort would be to make a PS5 port.  I have no experience with either console.  I am assuming it is possible, and probably not that difficult.  It wouldn't require a redesign from scratch, which would be necessary for a unified SDK.

As for the effects.  A PS5 port would sell a bunch of MSFS copies.  Developers would sell more aircraft and scenery.  They may or may not need to be separate versions for download.  Microsoft would have to build out their infrastructure to accommodate the additional MSFS in the wild, paid for by the additional sales.  They may not be ready for that expansion.

Microsoft would lose the sales incentive for XBOX over PS5 that MSFS gives them.  Microsoft would also lose the control they have in XBOX for the PS5 versions, and this may be important.  These two factors will likely prevent a PS5 version ever being released.

Let me know if I've missed anything.

Hook

 

Edited August 3, 2025Aug 3 by LHookins

On 7/31/2025 at 10:29 PM, LHookins said:

I hope you brought enough for everyone, Matt!  PLEASE tell me you brought enough for everyone. I think we're gonna need it for this.

If someone has to make a store run, could I request cognac instead?  Haven't had any in years.

Hook

It was a good night. Had a bourbon tasting with some buffalo trace products. 
 

I have always said local avsim meet and greets are a great idea! Bourbons and cognac for everyone! I’ve never dabbled in cognac. Recommend anything specific?