New Microsoft Flightsim!

[Timmo]

QUOTE (creator2003 @ Aug 18 2010, 07:43 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

... it would have to still be open source or they will loss a big part of what makes there sim a winner

Just to be pedantic, MS Flightsim is not open source- Open source means that the base uncompiled code is available to tweak etc. FS just allows tweaking of configuration parameters, not the actual 'nuts and bolts' of the sim engine.

[toprob]

QUOTE (Timmo @ Aug 18 2010, 05:10 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Just to be pedantic, MS Flightsim is not open source- Open source means that the base uncompiled code is available to tweak etc. FS just allows tweaking of configuration parameters, not the actual 'nuts and bolts' of the sim engine.

I read that as 'open architecture', meaning easy developer access.

[IslandBoy77]

Agreed "open architecture" fits the ability for customisation by individuals without Microsoft poking their nose in. Open source is most certainly NOT what any of the Flight Sims have been. At one stage, I was under the impression that X-Plane was OS, but from dealings I've had with them in the past, it seems unlikely to be the case now (nor for a few years).

On a tangent, I had to smile when one of the commentators mentioned X-Plane as a competitor to FSX. While it's true that the flight model of X-Plane is purportedly better than anything MS has ever done, I've seen their graphics - very late FS2002, almost FS9. To those who love X-Plane, more power to them. But I'd take FSX over the better physics models any day...

[Ian Warren]

Entire lessons are learn,d from Microsoft , one other point many have to take in account is the spending , final story is what you want from a simulation .

This new FSE , Flight , well .. see what happens , best part both

[Zöltuger]

I think that the clean break will do the sim good (can we still use that sim word? NZ flight forum?).

I'm excited to see what Flight will offer - both graphically and gameplay wise.

[Christian]

Thinking back a few years after FSX was released and ACES were made redundant several ACES members hinted strongly what would happen in the new FS release - add-ons need to be compliant or won't work. The root of this is how the SDK in FSX changed twice and older add-ons suddenly were broken which was perceived as a bad reflection onto MS. The way they deal with it now is simply not allowing any kind of backwards compatibility. "Play by the rules or you won't be allowed to play". Not sure this will really fix the problem as MS kept changing the rules between SDK releases for FSX which upset developers and customers, so enforcing compliance isn't really a fix. We developers don't have the money to keep updating add-ons every 6 months.

As for open architecture it was also indicated that freeware addons will still run. The whole version control thing is probably embedded into the SDKs and the sim itself, so add-ons won't need to get official certification by MS, it'll just be a simple version control.

The LIVE store was also predictable. MS would be absolutely stupid to not offer an inbuilt add-on shop. Just think of the convenience to buy addons (or download free addons) right from within the sim! I'm really hoping that this is coming.

In summary, most likely, freeware will still be available, payware will have to jump more hoops, 3rd party flight sim stores (and publishers?) may be a thing of the past. I think this is great news for both developers and consumers. Right now the add-on market is limited to a few nutcases like us. The new version will expose add-ons (free and payware) to just about everyone who uses FS. At least that's what I've read from the hints ex-Aces staff have made.

[Ian Warren]

Reading posts .. Its still a Simulation , ... - its still couple years away and no current third party has any access to it - , sure as hell going to make your fave NZ center look like pooh following previous sim packages . People find it hard pressed to go from FS9 to FSX , all this hype , heck been there done that with FSE . Untill a date of release no point charring on it , if its true many don't care anyway , systems setup for optimum use ,

Hey wonder if my new but by then Captsim product s would work .?

[SeanTK]

It will certainly be interesting to see how this develops in the coming months and years.

My take on it?

Echoing a few others here and elsewhere, I believe that the "LIVE" elements will simply involve the ability to get addons (free or pay) through MS's marketplace system, and not much else. While MS did bin the ACES team, I find it hard to believe that they would revert FS....oh wait...I guess it's just "F" now to an "arcade game".

If anything, it could result in what is basically a bare bones FSX starting platform, and the LIVE elements come into play with anything that you want to add. While this may mean things such as "want something besides the included Cessna? ...pay us money" I believe that in the long run...the exposure that addon developers receive from this, including the free and payware developers here, will outweigh any extra "certification hoops" that one must deal with.
Basically, I'm imaging FSX with a completely different GUI when not in the flying environment. Of course, everything is going to be speculation right now, so we'll all just have to remember to "chill out" and wait until we receive more info.

[toprob]

Some good points Sean. One thing I'd suggest to anyone who is unsure of how 'Games for Windows Live' works, just sign up and have a play with it. It's free to join, but you can spend a fortune buying games for it. As a long-time Xbox Live subscriber -- mainly for my kids (my gamertag is 'ChldrnOfTheKorn' which basically says this...) I didn't have any trouble accepting the way this works, but some people on the various forums see it as a bit of an unknown.
I do plan to set up my own 'arcade' using Game Room in the Xbox, but at the moment I can't afford any games. However you can purchase arcade games for use on both platforms, so I may be able to invite NZFF folk over to my 'arcade' and play some of the oldies from the 80s.
Download the free game 'Tinker' -- it's slightly addictive and gets hard pretty quick.
You may also want to try some commercial demos such as Dirt, or buy a full game like Assassins Creed via download. Ok, some big downloads there...
But if you get comfortable with the concept, you'll be ready for MS Flight.
Note that although you can download some major games, generally you'd still buy them boxed. I do that with Xbox Live -- I have dozens of games which the kids have played online, but all load from the original DVD, rather than living in a cloud.
But addons are normally downloaded, such as levels for RPGs, cars and tracks for racing games, songs for Guitar Hero etc. Some are free, some you pay for.

[dbcunnz]

It is hoped that the new MS Flight is issued in both 32 and 64 bit to suit both windows systems

[AndrewJamez]

MS flight needs to be an entirely new sim engine. Nothing else will cut it some 2 years from now. Anything in it graphicaly that reminds us of the dinosor MSFS (any edition) will be a big let down. And has MS ever released software that is not a complete pile of ineficiant bloatware? That said, I love FSX now, but only due to 3rd party developers both freeware and payware. Without them FSX is nothing. I would say that those georgous waves in the teaser were some form of fancey tesillation. Just a guess though.

[omitchell]

I can see I'm gonna need a bigger computer

[spoons]

I just got a new computer.......


The day after I order and the day before it arrived I have to Learn that there is a new Sim coming out.

hope it will be ok

Would be good if MS think that not every can get a new faster computer everytime new game comes out...

Spoons

[IslandBoy77]

QUOTE (spoons @ Aug 21 2010, 11:46 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I just got a new computer.......

Go on then - give us yr specs!

[omitchell]

But they wont... lol

[IslandBoy77]

QUOTE (spoons @ Aug 21 2010, 11:46 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Would be good if MS think that not every can get a new faster computer everytime new game comes out...

But at the same time, you wouldn't want them to be writing their software so that all those with 1GB of RAM, a 256MB DX9 graphics card and a P4 3GHz CPU would be happy, would you? I certainly wouldn't! It's vital, IMHO, that software manufacturers cram as much "future proofing" into their sware as they can - so that WHEN a person DOES get a new comp, they're not landed with 2-3 year old graphics. For example, I've just got into playing the original version of Far Cry. Even my "work" PC (Intel E6850 3GHz, 4GB DDR2 800, Radeon HD5700 1GB) creams it in terms of very high frame rates with all special effects set to max. But when the game first came out, I would've needed a "beast" to get what I get now. And while the graphics are pretty good, they are now looking dated (although I still enjoy them very much). So, I'm GLAD that Ubisoft wrote Far Cry to push the PCs of the day, as now I can use my "normal" PC to play it very well. I find the same somewhat true for FSX even now. I've got an older Quad Core 2.6GHz with 8GB DDR2 800 & an HD5750 1GB, and I'm able to run FSX with sliders almost maxed with passable frame-rates. When I upgrade next year (to go to DDR3 & either an AM3 or iCore CPU & prob 16GB RAM), I expect to get FSX to be running almost at optimal. And in 2 year's time, a "normal" PC will almost be able to run FSX well.

Well, that's my IMHO 2c worth...

[Zöltuger]

QUOTE (AndrewJamez @ Aug 19 2010, 10:56 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I love FSX now, but only due to 3rd party developers both freeware and payware. Without them FSX is nothing.

hasn't this always been the case??

In terms of performance, I think Flight will be very scalable. Flight (I think) is aimed at everyone interested in flying, hence the dropping of the "simulator" tag. So it needs to run on a variety of PC's, old and new.

[ZK-MAT]

Once again, let's look on the bright side.

We are getting another option. Yay!!

We don't really know anything about it yet.

In the past we have had some of the vocal majority say that FSX (or FS9 for that matter) would be rubbish and they wouldn't give up their FS9 (or FS2000 for that matter). Now look where we are... loving FSX (in many cases), and defending it against anything new.

Why are Flight Simmers always so against anything new (different sim developrs / options, scenery, overseas developers etc etc)? I thought it would be the other way around...

[tdale]

My Take:

The no "simulator", and great for "everyone" , THE "live" and the fancy graphics make me wonder if it is going to be FSX compatible, or a complete rework?

[Ian Warren]

QUOTE (tdale @ Aug 22 2010, 02:12 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

The no "simulator", and great for "everyone"

As time go's many will update there PCs only to find this months rave or six months back or even early , big thing since we have FSX and its going to be a while before the release of anything new , give everyone a breathe of fresh air and catch up to the rat race .

One very impressive and well used function is the Multiplay , I have tried the Control Tower option to Controlling or 'The Captain' off a WWII aircraft carrier having an entire air-wing join us , too being a co-pilot as a real-time pilot took me through procedure then to take off , and then to further correct and plot the flight , on this flight we could have had people in the Control Tower directing other online people , all this online with direct communication with Team Speak 3 , TS3 .

The thing is , FSX when introduced was so raw in so many things that could be done with it and so many problems , most part fixed with patch,s YEAH ! .. the good part is punters are starting to catch up and join look and try , they cant always be there but oh boy , a simple PC upgrade or new .

I think the future is looking very Bright for FSX , heck i,ll still use FS9 .

Final Word .. New Zealand .. FSX - VLC