So why didn't you buy MS' Microsoft Flight Simulator 2020?

[1:23]

I'm just curious what made you decide to stay on MSFX..

[Ken "Hondo" Gardner]

I did buy 2020 flew one airplane for 10 mins closed the game tried to find where it was installed to check out the offered aircraft. I found the game installed in various locations, the installation ignored my choice of where I wanted it installed so I uninstalled it and requested a refund which was processed and I was refunded my money 48 hrs later. I get better performance from my FSX, P3D 4.5 or P3D 5. My current flight simulators are like flying real airplanes, 2020 was like playing a game on my Nephew"s X-Box.

[shadowgravy]

Up until last week my internet was too slow to download and stream MSFS. I've upgraded to a 100+ gbps service (my previous service was 1.5 gbps on a good but lately was averaging 150 kbps) and subsequently I'm seriously considering MSFS in the near future. However, like Ken I already enjoy high fidelity aircraft in FSX and P3D and from what I've read MSFS is not yet able to deliver a similar level of realistic behavior.

Also my primary aviation interest is World War II era warbirds. Most of that itch is satisfied by combat flight simulators particularly DCS World and the IL-2 Sturmovik titles. I also enjoy flying warbirds in FSX and P3D but the flight and systems modeling has to be very deep to hold my attention. If MSFS can't deliver that then the visuals don't matter to me. Pretty scenery and clouds are nice but I can get an adequate reprentation of my local region using ORBX products in P3D v5. I feel MSFS needs a little more time before it is stable and the preferred platform of my favorite addon developers.

[Ken "Hondo" Gardner]

Shadowgravey like you I love flying military aircraft, WWII warbirds and modern-day military AC's from F4 Phantoms to C5 Galaxys, my favorite is the F111 Ardvark which can fly 200 ft agl terrain following at 450kts .

[chaffcutter]

I did buy MSFS about 8 months ago. Like many I was disaffected and disenfranchised because the major forced update 5.0 killed the sim for me altogether. It is totally unplayable. Anyway regardless, it was a ridiculous way over bloated pathetic sim full of basic bugs and blatantly disrespectful roll outs - even before major update 5. So that was a waste of money and huge data demand - totally unwarranted.
Revisiting FSX has make me realize how good it really is considering it's age. At least everything works!

[pipsofficer]

I mean I'm playing FSX a bit right now until my X Plane 11 Skills get a bit better since FSX 737 controls is wayyy easier

[malorob]

fly in side the VR , that and the missions i love these missions.
rather a good story over graphics anyday of the week.

[chaffcutter]

The last update for MSFS a week ago has enabled me to use MSFS again. That is good. But that will have to wait, because I am enjoying FSX too much at the moment.

[shadowgravy]

I got the Standard version from the Microsoft Store during the recent sale. It installed with no issues. I did have to map my Sidewinder Precision 2 joystick (it's more of a hassle than it should be) and also make an edit to use my Oculus Rift S in VR. Otherwise most of my 'setup' frustrations was learning the how navigate the MSFS GUIs and make the game do what I am used to with FSX and P3D.

- VR is easy to use and it is implemented the best I've seen yet in a flight sim. Interface is keyboard and mouse though, not hand controllers. That doesn't bother me because that's my preference in other sims so it is what I'm used to. I do like that I can toggle between VR and flat screen.

- Satellite imagery coverage is stunning and overall better than most solutions I've used in FSX or P3D -- True Earth included. But it has flaws and the flaws can become distracting if you hone in on them. Autogen is moderately better than in FSX. The best I can say about it is objects are placed as logically as a computer can.

- The aircraft cockpits are beautifully rendered and are very convincing in VR. The aircraft fly well enough, about the same or better than in FSX I'd say. I'm already becoming bored with them though. That's probably due more to my personal interests (or rather my lack of interest for most of the stock aircraft).

The free-flight setup is sometimes annoying. I've input in my departure location and the time of day only to have scenario generate at night or already airborne. I wish there was a way to make corrections within the scenario like in FSX. I've also noticed at aircraft shutdown that manually turning off aircraft power ends the scenario to main menu. Sometimes I like to go to exterior view and "walk around" the aircraft after a flight.

I'm unsure if there is a way I can end a flight at an airport, save progress, and resume from there to continue a journey. (Edit: yes, this is possible. Also, fuel can be replenished after landing or before a flight. I don't see an option for other fluids.)

ATC is repetitive. It makes me want to find that ATC guy and strangle him.

All in all MSFS feels like a terrain and weather replicator that comes with aircraft you can fly. It's not bad, it's just different than what we're used to.

[Rogen]

This thread might be of intrest.

https://www.avsim.com/forums/topic/608326-the-one-thing-i-miss-most-in-p3dfsx-thats-not-in-msfs/

Cheers

[shadowgravy]

That entire thread is before Update 6. I'm a newcomer after Update 6. I think some of the complaints have been fixed by the update: https://www.flightsimulator.com/release-notes-1-20-6-0-sim-update-vi-now-available/

[piercekenny32]

couldnt afford a decent pc for it

[atom heart]

Originally posted by piercekenny32:

couldnt afford a decent pc for it

This

[BlazinDoctor]

I want MSFS 2020, but its stupid demanding in hardware. I can hardly run FSX on my almost-brand-new $600 laptop... FS2020 would require me to buy a true PC AND buy a better GPU from the stock of almost any affordable PC. I'm not doing it for one game... plus I bought FSX and I crash every 20-25 minutes so I'm not sure I'm willing to buy the deluxe version (which is the only version I'd buy) just to worry that 2 hours into downloading I won't be able to get a refund when it ultimately ends up crashing too. Microsoft ruined their flight sims recently and I'd rather use the money to fly a REAL plane at this point.

[Rogen]

MSFS is being re-released as a Game of the Year Edition.

And yeah you'll need a great PC to run it, or you can buy a new XBox to run it (in a limited way).

Or you can go to XPlane or P3D (P3D is an evolved version of FSX), or even Aerofly, although I doubt any will run satisfactory on a $600 S/H laptop.

I've a Ryzen 3800X OC to 4.5 GHz and a 1070 Ti OC to 2050 GHz running P3D and while I'm happy with the performance I can easily see where a 3080Ti or 3090 GFX card will benefit.

People buy old jet aircraft cockpits and build a sim out of them, I can see that being a fortune but hey what a thing to have in your garage.

Cheers