Is the MFS series accessible for beginners?

[Erdbeermilch]

Hey,

I was thinking about getting the new MFS 2024 which would be my very first MFS ever. So I am wondering. Is it possible for an absolute beginner to get into this or is the simulator part so detailed and complex that it's overwhelming?

Thanks for any feedback from veteran players of the series.

Cheers
Steven

[space]

yes, you can set everything to assisted and then it's basically arcade mode

[Erdbeermilch]

Originally posted by space:

yes, you can set everything to assisted and then it's basically arcade mode

Great, thanks for your response.

Glad to hear it. I am willing to get into the simulation part but it is good to know that things can be adjusted.

Thanks again and have a great day!

[Maki Nishikino]

There will be tutorials also.

[Arward Enword]

Yes it is. Especially compared to DCS or Xplane. You can make the game as simple or as complex as you desire by messing around with various assists and other settings. You can use hotkeys to control different things in the cockpit or use all the buttons and dials manually. You don't need to know a bunch about aviation to enjoy MSFS like you do with some other simulators. This is the common man's flight simulator.

[Ridley]

Whilst you can fly with just a keyboard it will make the whole thing more enjoyable if you at least have a joystick.

[ChickenTacos]

Yes, it's a game.

[Simracer]

Originally posted by ChickenTacos:

Yes, it's a game.

Sim

[Boshedo]

Do you have to have a joystick or will an Xbox Controller still work as well? I've never played any of the Microsoft Flight Simulator games before. I usually watch Airforceproud95 on Youtube. Should I just get the 2020 game or should I just wait until 2024? Thanks.

[shadowgravy]

An Xbox controller is better than mouse and keyboard, but a flightstick is superior to using a controller.

[Boshedo]

Originally posted by shadowgravy:

An Xbox controller is better than mouse and keyboard, but a flightstick is superior to using a controller.

Should I just get 2020 or just wait for 2024? Do you make any money as in buying new planes or can you fly most planes when you launch the game? I'm use to Farming Simulator where you make money to buy new equipment, etc.

[shadowgravy]

MSFS 2020 vs 2024: Not much difference overall. MSFS 2020 is $10 USD cheaper right now for the Standard version; and the basic install takes up 160 GB of hard drive space vs. MSFS 2024's 50 GB basic install. MSFS 2024 has a few more aircraft included in each tier than 2020; but the sim relies a lot more on data streaming which is why it takes up less drive space.

MSFS 2024 flight models will be more complex, but that shouldn't make much difference if you have everything set to easy realism settings. MSFS 2024 will have a career mode where you earn your qualifications to bigger and better aircraft and mission types; but both versions have free flight modes where you can start at any airport in any aircraft and just fly and explore. MSFS 2020 has bush trips and landing challenges; MSFS 2024 will probably have them as well. We don't know if/how the MSFS 2024 adventure missions will be available outside of the career progression, but apparently Asobo listened to tester and developer feedback and will make this a feature.

MSFS 2024 also introduces the ability to walk around in the digital world. It's mostly for doing aircraft walk-around checks, but it will have a purpose in adventure missions also I believe. You can also just walk around airports and wander off into neighborhoods or forests if you want to.

MSFS 2020 is still a solid game though, and many will stay with it--especially if heavy data streaming is a concern. There is a free career addon called Neofly 4 that already does a lot of what the default career in MSFS 2024 will do. I bought the Neofly 4 'perks' which add ability to hire AI pilots and manage airline hubs, and it has kept me entertained as a low-key virtual sideline hustle.

[kananesgi]

Originally posted by shadowgravy:

MSFS 2020 vs 2024: Not much difference overall. MSFS 2020 is $10 USD cheaper right now for the Standard version; and the basic install takes up 160 GB of hard drive space vs. MSFS 2024's 50 GB basic install. MSFS 2024 has a few more aircraft included in each tier than 2020; but the sim relies a lot more on data streaming which is why it takes up less drive space.

MSFS 2024 flight models will be more complex, but that shouldn't make much difference if you have everything set to easy realism settings. MSFS 2024 will have a career mode where you earn your qualifications to bigger and better aircraft and mission types; but both versions have free flight modes where you can start at any airport in any aircraft and just fly and explore. MSFS 2020 has bush trips and landing challenges; MSFS 2024 will probably have them as well. We don't know if/how the MSFS 2024 adventure missions will be available outside of the career progression, but apparently Asobo listened to tester and developer feedback and will make this a feature.

MSFS 2024 also introduces the ability to walk around in the digital world. It's mostly for doing aircraft walk-around checks, but it will have a purpose in adventure missions also I believe. You can also just walk around airports and wander off into neighborhoods or forests if you want to.

MSFS 2020 is still a solid game though, and many will stay with it--especially if heavy data streaming is a concern. There is a free career addon called Neofly 4 that already does a lot of what the default career in MSFS 2024 will do. I bought the Neofly 4 'perks' which add ability to hire AI pilots and manage airline hubs, and it has kept me entertained as a low-key virtual sideline hustle.

Originally posted by Boshedo:

Originally posted by shadowgravy:

An Xbox controller is better than mouse and keyboard, but a flightstick is superior to using a controller.

Should I just get 2020 or just wait for 2024? Do you make any money as in buying new planes or can you fly most planes when you launch the game? I'm use to Farming Simulator where you make money to buy new equipment, etc.

Just to add to shadowgravy's info, there are other career addons for FS2020/FS2024 as well if you go that route. NF4 is free, as is FSEconomy (though FSE is exteremly "bare-bones" compared to NF4 and I haven't used it in quite a few years). There's also a couple of paid options called Air Hauler 2 (from JustFlight, one time purchase) and OnAir Virtual Airline Manager (subscription). OnAir and FSEconomy both have the advantage of being sort of online multiplayer systems where your not just in a world all your own. There are other pilots out there in those worlds doing things and you can set up business transactions with them and such (they are not in the sim itself, unless your on something like VATSIM which is a whole other subject). Each addon has it's own set of advantages/disadvantages, and there are probably still others that I haven't seen, too. I only discovered NF4 a couple weeks ago.

I'd suggest that as long as you have at least decent internet access, I'd go with FS2024 since your new. The career feature is built-in within the sim environment, so it's probably going to be significantly more accessible to the new player than setting up an external addon is going to be.

And as mentioned above, a game controller is effective and I've used them a few times in FS titles. If you really enjoy it, you'll want to upgrade to a stick most likely, which you can get for as low as $30-$50 or as much as $600+ depending on your budget/preference.