zoltron_rulez

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QFN329q59cY I am sure its not that difficult

Hehe, true. I raise the question: Is it more enjoyable to fly through true cloud mist at 10-15FPS then through milk soup at 100FPS? I might add that usually if you fly heavies you are on auto-pilot anyways so really you don't provide input on the flight controls. Also I have noticed that with the new release the frames are much better but at a cost: The cloud density and atmospheric effects are reduced or removed. I noticed that when I do my own scenario testing. It is not neccessarly a bad thing as long as these things make it back at later stage when hardware becomes faster or the sim is more optimized. Those effects that I saw before were just AMAZING (hard to describe in words, you need a picture), should of taken a screen shot, bah too late now

Did you adjust realism settings at least? The flight model is quite good. Did you purchase the expansion? Unfortunately, the A5 Icon is not really a plane and the whole sim was really boring until I got the Hawaii expansion and received the RV, now different story, -the RV is fast, it flies like an aircraft not a car with wings! I thought I bring that up based on my experience. But yes, wait and see how Flight will progress.

Today I flew thunderstorm weather theme and broke through the layers to the top, and wow, the clouds look great and the effects are very similar like in X-Plane when going through clouds minus the blank screen which I found very annoying (I wish there will be a setting to turn it off in X-Plane). Here's a screen shot of cloud tops at 14,000 ft, they look great. Looks like the clouds look terrible in one weather theme and stunning in another. I also noticed FPS drop which confirms my thoughts that one of the reasons custom weather is not in the game yet.

Download the demo and see what frame rates you get. You most likely will have to lower your graphics settings to get any reasonable frame rates.

Ooops, I did not see the pic. Heck, no. I can't tell ground textures, is there a reason why you show me dark land textures? Sky looks OK, flight's looks better though, sun on water same, the flare is missing in flight and the clouds are not good right at the moment although they look better in other weather themes. Again too dark to make comments on the model, if you want to compare give me day screen shot. We'll compare in a year, if you're still using dated graphics engine in a year. Edit: If you want to compare the two you need two get complete list of features. A better comparison will be once Flight has more years behind it is belt before comparing a sim that is 8 years mature.

Just a question, if you buy new computer, how long will it take you setup everything the way it was for your FS Sim?

Yes, and no. I am a developer and yes I do it to make living but at the same time I want customers that purchase the software to be equally or more happy,- and that is my top priority that I get super review from the customer. That's great, I am aware of this and could provide you a list of others. I can also provide you a list of those that made a killing. Is anything wrong with making good money? Absolutely not, especially when the addon is great,- heck I'll pay $80 for PMDG NGX, because it is that good. Now it is Microsoft's turn to deliver equal content or better content, and make money, and that's also fine but because you work for a large cooperation like Microsoft it doesn't mean that people on their team don't work long hours and actually have the same goals in mind, after all it is their little baby.

Here we go again, another one? National Lampoons? Are you a little 12 year old? Sigh, I absolutely don't get that at all. Is that coming from the National Lampoons?

Looks a bit comical, but that's actually how most new trees are planted in NAs after wood cutting operations, that's real life. I don`t want to be a jerk but to answer your question watch National Geographic and you will see how,- it`s very simple. That doesn`t mean that this is how trees there grow in the region you photographed, haven`t been there.

So what are all the devs at Microsoft doing? Time will be a great witness if Microsoft succeeds with their model, I did not say they 'succeeded' or 'failed', I said that their decision is not a bad one. But one thing is for sure, if they keep delivering great quality add ons at reasonable price there will be people purchasing these. I am looking to purchase NA regions since I fly there 99% of time.

What I meant by 'Free Aircraft' is simply the fact that I got the entire package for $20 but yes, it is not free if you pay for it. I appreciate your view point, and I agree with you but I think your looking from a different angle then I am and that's why there are the differences. -Yes, open software allows for changes as you stated above and more. -Yes, if you desire all regions in future releases you will pay quite a bit. -There's many reasons why I did not include X-Plane in this conversation for reason of current state of software (beta release), performance, and outdated scenery and I would like to leave it at that. Please, do not be upset about me being frank, I am sure the future is bright for X-Plane but at the current rate and the size of their team it will take time to get there. My side of things, from a perspective of developer/software company owner: -Microsoft desrves some credit and so a bit of your money for their hard work just like ORBX has earned their respect. -Yes, Microsoft's decision may be quite upseting and a let down, unfair!,- I know it may appear unfair to all of us but looking from different point of view (Microsoft's) it was totally unfair that their software (ex. FSX) upon release and time that elapsed generated less revenue then many 3rd companies who released single or two airports, aircrafts, etc.,- especially the fact that Microsoft gave the community entire flight sim with all regions, airports, ATC, etc ... So in all justice Microsoft's decision is not a terrible one,- quite frankly because of their current situation they have to 'raised their bar' (otherwise no one would bother with Flight) to prove themselves to earn you hard dollar, and that is what I look for in a piece of software on the market,- there's way too much badly written software out there and I keep seeing it and shake my head, how did they get away with this. I hope this cleared up things a little bit.

Open source vs open architecture rules are stipulated by the accompanied licences not the terms themselves, but what you said is not incorrect, it just that verbage is on the licence. When it comes to open source and selling your product accompanied with open source product, the importance of being able to read code is insignificant with the ability what you are allowed to do with it. Ex: MS .net API is open source with very heavy restrictions stipulated by their licence. I don't like to open a can of worms about who, what, why has the right to change the future of this new sim but I would like to add I have no problem paying $20 for beautiful regions with great looking airports and maybe a free aircraft that looks stunning. What I had problem with is paying for expensive add-ons that included just the aircraft, just the airport, just the regions. The 3rdy party companies were so successful it would be plain dumb for MS not to do anything and be sidelined on the profits. No way! Their decision was britiliant from their bussines side and I would be suprised if they will surrender total control. We'll see what happens. In my opinion, I have no problem that a large team of talented developers sell their content for very reasonable price,- and yes I do agree with you all that there's no free default scenery but I can live with that. -lk

No problem

I would like to post a brief comments about Flight and my experience that I had so far,- in actuality I would not bother waste my time but what Flight delivered is just fun and smooth sim experience. I just bought the entire Hawaii and also got the extra plane, the RV6. Since I am lazy writer (I code all the day at my job, you get the picture) I point list here the things that excited me about the whole experience: - For $20 you get beautiful Hawaii islands (you can see reef in water), quite realistic sim of RV6, and some of the airports look awesome, especially the Honolulu Intl. (Heck, just the airport is worth $20) - I really like the scratches on my window when then sun shines through the cockpit and cast shadows - This you have to try: While flying the RV, open the window, and listen to the wind and engine roar - There's tones of other ambients sounds, trivial sounds on the aircrat that make huge difference - The frame rates are still unbelievable at populated areas (40-50 FPS, on 3 screens using triple head 2 go at 4k x 1k res) - Landscape looks gorgeous, so is the RV6 cockpit and lighting - Cool camera effects, for example when you hit the ground hard (ie. hard landing) your head almost hits the roof the aircraft I am not playing missions since I am having too much fun doing my exploration of the islands! Anyway, I just had to share how much I've been enjoying my experience. Certainly, geting the rest of Hawaii + aircraft will give you good experience of this sim. -lk

Actually, there's a long story to this name, no I am not a boy anymore, just the name is what is left over. Brief history: 'Zoltron' was clan name used in Age of Empires 2, that I was part of, which was started here where I live. The clan actually was in the top 10 clans in the world and argueably with 2 best team players in the world. I hated the 'Zoltron' name but the name was already chosen so that's that! For the sake of having just one nick (so I don't forget my login names) in other games, gamer tags, accounts, etc, that was the name I chose. Now, I am not 16 anymore, but the name remained and I use it continously when I register new accounts on forums, etc.

I think the fact that they picked Hawaii as first land region is great. I've been to Kauai (one of the Hawaii Islands) and it looks like paradise. I am definitely enjoying the scenery and looking how the other Hawaii islands are, just beautiful. I also find that some weather themese, the ones with rain look really very nice, especially the rain + wind + cloud mist as you go through it (the one wish right now is to see more full coverage of the sky with clouds & better looking clouds please). I am looking forward to Alaska scenery that's coming out soon, never been yet to Alaska. Question for the 3D setup: Is that nividia cards with the 3D glasses you're using? Does that have a great impact on the frame rate?

For people who want a more in depth overview of flight: No reading required.

Yea, I saw that and I also agree with some comments (the ones that I disagree are remarks about something that was stated outside the posted software requirement at release date, same goes about the other reviews). I can also see the frustration about a 'closed software' but frankly, is that not Microsoft's right to make that decision? After all, they saw how much revenue 3rd party addons made and some of these quite expensive why would Microsoft allow to be sidelined on the revenues that come off their product (ie. their hard work)? Anyway, time will tell the truth behind some of their decisions.

OK, to be clear I am not here to promote Flight and neither am afiliated with Microsoft. As a matter of fact, I will not post my review of Flight since as I intend to defer any attacks as I observed on various forums. One and only thing that I would like to as a professional developer: Based on the advertised requirements Microsoft's release (of the software so known as Flight) was really well done am very happy how it performs on current systems in the market. On the other hand I will post these links to reviews that I agree with and are imho quite honest. http://soldant.wordpress.com/2012/02/29/microsoft-flight-review/ http://www.avsim.com/pages/0212/Microsoft/Flight.html -lk

Dido.

I am not sure how many stumbled accross this, I apologize for repost: http://fly.simvol.or...flylegacyus.php What I am excited about is the open source code and see if I can add to it since I am a developer.

Anyone in IT could of told you that, why the big suprise? Nevertheless, I will try the free version because it costs me nothing!

Doesn't cost you to fly the free version. You don't like, you pay nothing. You like it, you pay for additional content. No strings attached!

MS has announced that MS Flight will be released on February 29, 2012. I am quite frankly excited to play it for free and also see how well the scenery is done and how it renders. Details: http://www.microsoft...s-flight_launch