John Heaton Posted August 18 Posted August 18 Or - "time flies" to the younger element on here - and I don't mean to start a flame war of differing sims because I have been around them since the Commodore and enjoyed every minute of the experience - especially the last 4 years -no matter the software available available before MSFS 2020👍 This month - as a reminder - marks 4 years since MSFS 2020 appeared on our PCs - and I still can't believe the strides that this sim has made in that time. At first - we were worried what would happen to the 3d party developers - well - we have seen the answer to that via the stuff we have bought and the advent of Flightsim.to - leading to a greatly stuffed innovation - the Community Files in MSFS. We cannot ignore the freebie upgrades and innovations Microsoft has given us since - particularly as so many doomsayers predicted that Microsoft's history - supposedly - was not good in support. One assumes that they do not still think the same way and feel a little embarrassed. As a VFR pilot from way back - I have to admire the ability to fly small GA aircraft at around 2000 feet and admire the views that this sim gives us. This - I believe is the one BIG thing that separates this sim from the other 2 main sims. The one thing I miss in these others - are certain aircraft that I owned -or flew- in real life - and I had in P3D - but honestly - I reinstalled - P3D last month to fly these planes but - after using MSFS for the last 4 years - just couldn't cope with the problems thrown up in the 3 different versions of P3D I tried - including the version 6 that I actually bought to try it. If there is one thing that has changed - it is Orbx - which has gone from a developer - to a reduced version - who now provides a new market service for other 3rd payware sources of development. I miss the early days of Orbx - probably because they are no longer the Australian small business I first knew back 15 years ago. As I have inferred before - I no longer purchase any scenery software and aircraft - unless from Microsoft - because in 3 months - Microsoft's anniversary of the sim - when we will be getting a NEW version MS2024 - which promises even more performance - in both the scenery and stability - where what we already have in our files - may - or may not - work in the new offering - if currently sourced from 3d parties. MS seem to guarantee that we will be able to use MS produce that will work - but will provide updates F.O.C. if not. Incidently - I am not who objects to paying for an upgrade to my software when a developer produces a new version -heavily upgraded The pennies that I save now - will probably make a contribution to the cost of upgrading my PC to the next level to cope with the new Sim to take full advantage of the improved multi pixels of the new sim - and because I smell 8k before the end of it's cycle - at least - that will be my excuse to my good lady when it is my 89th next month 👍 2 3
Rodger Pettichord Posted August 18 Posted August 18 I still like P3D, John, but I have to admit that most of my flying now is done in MSFS simply because the scenery is so much better in most places. And when I discovered FlightSim.to and its wealth of offerings, I pretty much completed the jump. Hate to admit it, but I'm as excited about the coming of MSFS 2024 as I was when FSX came out. Ain't it great that flight sim just keeps getting better and better? 3
Stillwater Posted August 18 Posted August 18 I can second your comments, John and Rodger. Though I have just made the step from p3d to MSFS about a year ago, because I enjoyed the study-level airplanes so much in the "old" sim. Now with PMDG´s 777 I can admit that I have even uninstalled p3d - the combination of amazing looks, perfect (3rd party) airplanes, well-working utilities and tons of scenery (pay- and freeware) makes MSFS really strong. 4
wain71 Posted August 19 Posted August 19 great post here John, I agree we have come a long way, we are very lucky now and even though we were all a little concerned about how it would all pan out I think we can safely say it has up to now turned out very good for us, both in terms of variety of add ons and the cost with most coming down compared to the other sims...lately I have found without thinking I am being a little more considered with my purchases, not sure if this is because 2024 is on the horizon or if it's a tighter home budget....great times ahead I hope and the plan is to upgrade my PC next year with a new one once 2024 has bedded in properly.... I do still dabble in P3D from time to time like the other week when Microsoft had server issues and XP12 is there but only really for a few planes I really enjoy.... All I long for is more time to sim, but that will come in the next year or two hopefully... 3
John Heaton Posted August 19 Author Posted August 19 (edited) Thanks for your comments you blokes - glad I wasn't wasting my time putting my thoughts down and I did miss saying I hope to see the aircraft I was missing in 2020 might just appear in 2024 - even if by Carenado😃 @Rodger Pettichord - maybe if you saw that happen with your favourite Aircraft - you also will fully join the darkside Sheesh @wain71- that has to be a record for a long sentence😉 @Stillwater - welcome to the dark side - even though it took you 3 years - 👍 Edited August 19 by John Heaton 4
boetie Posted August 19 Posted August 19 Mate, I feel your 90th will be very fulfilling. So much to look forward to! Thanks for this article, very relative and thought provoking. Cheers Graeme 2 1
wain71 Posted August 19 Posted August 19 just picked up the Fenix expansion, been rather an expensive month I feel, wonder how all this will go with 2024 or should I have waited?..no where's the fun in that....FS98 was my first one but I feel this at the moment is a golden age for us simmers, great products and stunning visuals..... better punctuation this time, I hope you read out loud without taking a breath...😁 3
John Heaton Posted August 19 Author Posted August 19 41 minutes ago, wain71 said: just picked up the Fenix expansion, been rather an expensive month I feel, wonder how all this will go with 2024 or should I have waited?..no where's the fun in that....FS98 was my first one but I feel this at the moment is a golden age for us simmers, great products and stunning visuals..... better punctuation this time, I hope you read out loud without taking a breath...😁 The hardest thing about this B@#$%Y sim - is that the aircraft are too tempting and despite my vows -keep trying a new one - but mainly the freebies - even grabbed a Storche on .to this week and a payware Britten Islander on sale at MS A little ripper of a plane - don't know why I haven't grabbed one before - I was involved in the devlopement of the Aussie Nomad - a similiar bird 1 1
wain71 Posted August 20 Posted August 20 17 hours ago, John Heaton said: Aussie Nomad I'd never heard of this John, it was an interesting read on Wikipedia.. 1
adambar Posted August 21 Posted August 21 There is nothing that will ever come close to MSFS visually as for aircraft they are now making study level aircraft that has surpassed FSX, P3D and others, my only beef is that there are plenty of aircraft that haven't been developed yet besides the same old Cessna and Piper planes over and over again, now I feel better. 😁 2
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