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Are you bailing out?

Are you bailing out of FS?

  • Yes! FS is dead now, X-Plane will take over!

    Votes: 0 0.0%

  • I will give X-plane a try...maybe work with it, too.

    Votes: 0 0.0%

  • I will start designing for/using X-plane as well as FS.

    Votes: 0 0.0%

  • I already use both programs/design for both programs.

    Votes: 0 0.0%

  • I have no desire to design for/use x-plane.

    Votes: 0 0.0%
  • Total voters
    0
FlyingMasterChef

FlyingMasterChef

Messages
875
Country
us-ohio
Just wondering if anyone is bailing out of FS from this site? Designers, users, anyone...

I used X-plane back at like version pre 1 and 1 and 2...never since.. I know it is WAY different from then....but I am hooked on MFS. The decline of aces will not affect my choice of sim in the least. I won't get into X-Plane because I still have at least 20 years of learning with FS9 and FSX. But, I am sure some will bail and move to x-plane.
 
I bought X-Plane a few years ago and didn't like it at all. I have much invested in FSX and don't see myself changing anytime soon. Ever since my first flight with a VC in FSX I've been hooked and cannot fly with 2-D panels. From what I gather, the VC is still very new to X-Plane and isn't all that great.

I haven't played the newest version of X-Plane so my opinions are biased. :D
 
Hey,

Whether we want to admit it or not, FS has been cancelled for the foreseeable future and if it does come back, it may not be all that you want it to be. Not to mention that FSX is only viable as long as you are able to activate the product.

All that aside, the latest screenshots of X-Plane look pretty good :D

Regards,
Stratobat
 
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Stratobat said:
Not to mention that FSX is only viable as long as you are able to activate the product.
Click to expand...

We've gotten assurances that the activation servers will remain available for the forseeable future (which I take to mean at least 5 to 10 years, maybe more). Basically, the same set of servers is used to athenticate most MS software, the individual products are just records within a database somewhere, so to remove FSX from activation would actually require work on someones part, so seems pretty safe we will have activation servers for quite some time to come :->
 
Until X-Plane has a robust and stable panel, gauge and view system in place, I wouldn't touch it with a fifty-foot barge pole... :duck:
 
I seriously don't understand all the discussion about the "dead" MS FS. In my opinion the FSX is the best civil Flight Simulator currently available and it seems like it will be the state-of-the-art for the next years.

As soon as a new Flight Simulator is available that beats FSX in various points (also from a Marketing perspective!), the Addon designers will automatically switch to this new platform. It must be good designed, provide good access for the developers to build new stuff for it and have a lot of users.

If this new innovation will come from MS or not is not at all a relevant question. And by the way: I admire the effort and passion the ACES team put into the Flight Simulator projects buuuuuut I have the feeling that in some points they just didn't care about the the demands and wishes of community and the designers (e.g. the horrible ATC service). That is no criticism, because in the end its all about profit I just want to point out that sentences like:
[...]if it does come back, it may not be all that you want it to be.
Click to expand...

It never was as I wanted it to be. A massive platform like an Flight Simulator will always be a compromise.

The bottom line is: FSX is state-of-the-art and I keep using it and developing for it. There will be new Flight Simulators in the future (also think about Aerosofts project!) and at some day one of them will beat FSX - then it is time for a change (you love CHANGE, don't you?). Until then: stop panicking because there is absolutely no reason for that.

:twocents:

Vitus
 
Vitus, I don't think anyone is panicking.. Certainly not me. And the discussion is a fun one..that's why we do it. :) There is always reasons for discussion.. :)

The reason I posted the poll and question is that I have seen several sites that never carried X-plane are now starting to. Several sites have almost come out saying they will now totally devote themselves to x-plane since it is still alive. Computer Pilot magazine is upping their coverage a bit. I was just curious as to who is jumping ship, who isn't... no big deal. I honestly don't think it is a great program, however, it has some GREAT features... The built in plane designer is really nice...but, in all fairness, probably takes a HUGE chunk away from the rest of the program.. ie, you have to code that in, you are not coding in something else..

But, this discussion will continue for years to come... And its fun to read what others think about the situation. I personally believe that MS is done with FS. My personal belief...I don't care what anyone else that has 'inside info' says.. I hope I am wrong....don't believe I am. Actually, I hope that MS IS done.... and will allow some other company to take it over...just as they took it over.

- Greg
 
Hey Greg,

I didn't mean to criticize your reasons for opening this thread - not at all! I agree that it is worth discussing that issue.
My criticism was meant to be more general. If you cross read the different forums of the FS scene you come across these threads and you will always find voices claiming something like: "MS stopped the production - we are all doomed! We will never ever have a new-andas-awesome-innovative FS like the ones from Microsoft".
The only point I wanted to make is that this is just nonsense and I am sure that you agree about that, otherwise you wouldn't have an eye on XPlane! ;)

Time for a :coffee:
Vitus
 
Good point...I tend to ignore the idiots that claim things like that. They simply are living in the dark and not watching what is going on.. The only reason I ever think of X-plane is the tiny section in CP covering it, which I normally glance at but honestly, in 7 years, don't think I have ever read one...and noticed in the last issue that they will be exploring it more now since Aces is gone. That and as stated, some other forums are claiming the end of the FS world and that they will now be all about X-P.

I have personally 1000's of $ invested in my FS9 and FSX...and will continue to support the developers because there is still so much they can do. And in another 2-3 years, there will actually be computers that we can afford that will run FSX the way it is meant to be run.... THUS, bringing a NEW experience to what we already have.

Imagine, FSX with all the major airport add-ons, the FULL sat imaged world (mega earth), Planes with full working panels, insane detailed models, all sliders in FSX maxed out and you get 50fps.... THAT won't happen for a few years yet.... so I am with the smart people on this one.... FSX aint going anywhere for a long long time..

If enough of the 3rd party companies get together, maybe they could convince ($$$$$) MS to release the brand and then it could continue.

The new FS from Aero looks like it will be insane!!!!!! But, unless they make it where I can use my FSX add-ons with it.... it would be tough for me to justify it.. Maybe I'd buy the basic version and not get add-ons.... Something for them to think about... They have the knowledge of what FSX requires for an add-on.....so they could, if they chose, allow the OPTION of importing into their system.

- Greg

ps: I never take anything personally..and I actually didn't take your comment as an attack.. Sorry if it seemed that I did. Was just replying... :)
 
I recently bought X-plane (9.2?) and so far what I've seen has been good. I've not had it very long so I'm still learning and willing to give it a try.

Frame rates are very good, panels and VC's OK also includes plugin interface - on the whole it's probably up to FS9 in terms of technology.
Flight model is "interesting".

FSX still beats it graphically.
 
Don't get me wrong, guys, I'm not shouting doom and gloom; All I'm saying is that for me, X-Plane looks like an interesting alternative to try out.

I built a model of a Stephenson's Rocket a few years ago with the intention of chucking it into Train Simulator 2 when it became available but since that hasn't materialised, I've purchased Train Simulator 1 with the same intention - No point in the model going to waste.

As far as I'm concerned, it's all about having fun and learning and just because X-Plane's format may be different, that doesn't mean I'm going to disregard it out of hand.

Regards,
Stratobat
 
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I would never get you wrong. :)

Just for me, I have close to 3k invested in my fs9 and fsx...and 1000's of hours of learning and studying... So for me, just isn't going to be an option. I love that you can tweak the flight chars much easier than in FS....and again, love the aircraft design in the app... But, it was a little too little, way too late... for me anyways...

- Greg
 
Something that is appealing to me is that X-Plane seems to carry FAA certification when you chuck in the Level 2 and Level 3 USB keys.

What I'm illustrating with the Stephenson's Rocket example is that just because one door seems to be closing, that doesn't mean that a person should abandon hope or bail out. My original intention with that project has had to be altered but it's still welcome because at the end of the day, I still get to learn a new platform - Which is how I feel about X-Plane.

Essentially I'm trying to look at the glass as being half full as opposed to being half empty :)

Does anybody know if it's possible to port over designs from Gmax to X-Plane's Plane Maker?

Regards,
Stratobat
 
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Have a look over at x-plane.com at this page:
http://www.x-plane.com/ms_to_xp/ms_to_xp.html said:
This page will be devoted to helping people convert from MS to X-Plane. We will post tools to convert airplanes and scenery, and tutorials explaining how to use and develop for X-Plane that are oriented towards people that have been using, and developing for, MS in the past.
Click to expand...
They're really pounding the "ACES are out" news aren't they? Good marketing I suppose but MS FS is so far from going away.

SpectroPro said:
Imagine, FSX with all the major airport add-ons, the FULL sat imaged world (mega earth), Planes with full working panels, insane detailed models, all sliders in FSX maxed out and you get 50fps.... THAT won't happen for a few years yet.... so I am with the smart people on this one.... FSX aint going anywhere for a long long time..
Click to expand...
This is why I have no worries for the future of MS FS. Faster cheaper computers will open the door to many who have been waiting to buy FSX. I believe that the MS FS community is still growing and will continue for many years.

Once we have 8-core CPU's running around 5-6Ghz with 8GB of ram standard, FSX will become a whole new game again. :) Looking forward to the future.
 
No.

When X-plane starts supporting alpha channels for scenery and up-to-date support for 3dsMax or even Gmax, maybe I'll do something with it, but as it is, my stuff, when exported to X-Plane loses buildings with any transparency, doesn't have the lighting effects, and just isn't the stuff I designed.

Jim
 
VAEjonp said:
Once we have 8-core CPU's running around 5-6Ghz with 8GB of ram standard, FSX will become a whole new game again. :) Looking forward to the future.
Click to expand...
Hi all, first post for me here (go easy on me please!). I have one of those Logitech G15 keyboards that shows CPU and memory usage while flying and unfortunately even with the latest FSX service pack I rarely see more than 2 of my 4 cores in use and never more than 2GB of ram on an x64 OS. Looks like the 5-6Ghz is what we need.

I use the "big 3" of FS9, FSX, and X-Plane 9.x. But honestly, FS9 is the one I use for my personal flying. FSX and X-Plane stay on my machine so I can test with them. I love FSX graphics (if I could get decent fps), and prefer some elements of X-Plane, but FS9 still has the best overall experience IMHO.

Excellent topic for discussion!
 
I still have so much 'to do' with FSX that it will keep me occupied for sometime yet.

I downloaded the most recent X-Plane demo...it was OK. Different. And maybe that is why I still prefer FSX/what I know. One thing that FSX really excelled at was the (relative) ease with which data can be converted from common formats (Shapefiles, Geotiffs, 3Dmax etc) and I think X-plane still has a way to come from the addon developer point of view.

I believe there is a new version of X-plane coming out soon so ill have another look at then but for the mean time, im still and FSX developer :)
 
Flightgear and X-Plane

I develop for Flightgear and X-Plane because I also use Linux and Mac OSX (scary to most developers, and unfortunately what they do not know they fear) - these are also used by Aerospace engineers and people in related fields for modeling flight dynamics. Flightgear is actually used in MATLAB for the Aerospace toolbox - because it can simulate custom flight models easily and all options are easily tweakable (e.g. through simgear). The extensibility of these simulators for research far exceeds anything FSX can do - these are by far more "real" than flight simulator in terms of the flight models alone. To be fair though, they require quite a bit of know how and tuning/tweaking to be used to their full potential.

That being said, I enjoy FSX as a gaming flight simulator - and I hope to make apps for it soon - but let's just say it's less than intuitive when it comes to extensibility (whereas the others are relatively easy to develop for). Try to display your approach plates/SIDs/STARs when FSX is full screen (no printing) - bet it pauses and minimizes the sim or turns the viewport black (except for the panel/gauges).

The only real advantage FSX has on the other flight sims is MSFT's $$$ and a large 'gaming' userbase - they can buy all the high quality terrain data and pay professionals to model anything for them - ESP is a step in the right direction though - too bad it's expensive and more difficult to use than the FREE alternatives.

::steps off soapbox::
 
FSX vs X-Plane

I've been with MSFS since inception and am also a real world pilot. I purchased the latest version of X-Plane this year but am somewhat disappointed with the graphics compared to FSX. The thing works fine and really think it has potential for the home simmer. I have spent about 6 months working with it and still think the graphics need some serious work to woo me away from FSX. Maybe the commercial versions are better, but I'm not willing to pay the big dollars to upgrade just to find out. With the future of FSX in some doubt, I will continue experimenting with X-Plane; who knows, it may evolve into a decent platform and will leave my options open.
 
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