-Everything you know about upcoming Flight Sim from Microsoft-
- Thread starter DeDrake
- Start date
Great Article from a previous MS Flight Sim guy Hal Bryan.
http://inspire.eaa.org/2019/09/30/an-inside-look-at-microsofts-newest-flight-simulator/
http://inspire.eaa.org/2019/09/30/an-inside-look-at-microsofts-newest-flight-simulator/
Lots of information to digest. Seasons? No(?) Perhaps in an update. Helicopters? No(?) Perhaps in an update. No Ai or ATC (?) Perhaps in an update.
FSX-based? It appears they have picked it over a bit with much rewritten. Some aircraft from FSX might work (but I'll bet not up to the level most aircraft collectors would like). The rendering engine and physics are completely new.
Offline mode looks like a system of vectors and tiled landclass with autogen. The developers claim the vectors will nearly match the online mode, so there might not be much work needed by 3rd party developers here. You can use the internet to download (pre-cache) the scenery for a more immersive look. They are using Bing imagery as well as other sources, and they have a software routine to scrub oddities (like shadows and building footprints) and match colors across the terrain. Weather is from themes or real-time real-world data. With 44,000 airports, there is room for developers here. Aircraft modeling should be lucrative, is the user-base is large enough, but they will need to lure in the heavy metal simmers. No Ai or ATC would be a problem.
The CPU and GPU will need to be higher-end, and I would guess Windows 10 with at least 16GB memory.
The developers are not pilots or sim enthusiasts. So they come as lambs to the upcoming slaughter. The emphasis is on the look and feel of General Aviation. Commercial aircraft and military enthusiasts may need to stick to P3D. Not much word on missions, aerocache hunting or job boards (as in Flight).
Back to the popcorn.
FSX-based? It appears they have picked it over a bit with much rewritten. Some aircraft from FSX might work (but I'll bet not up to the level most aircraft collectors would like). The rendering engine and physics are completely new.
Offline mode looks like a system of vectors and tiled landclass with autogen. The developers claim the vectors will nearly match the online mode, so there might not be much work needed by 3rd party developers here. You can use the internet to download (pre-cache) the scenery for a more immersive look. They are using Bing imagery as well as other sources, and they have a software routine to scrub oddities (like shadows and building footprints) and match colors across the terrain. Weather is from themes or real-time real-world data. With 44,000 airports, there is room for developers here. Aircraft modeling should be lucrative, is the user-base is large enough, but they will need to lure in the heavy metal simmers. No Ai or ATC would be a problem.
The CPU and GPU will need to be higher-end, and I would guess Windows 10 with at least 16GB memory.
The developers are not pilots or sim enthusiasts. So they come as lambs to the upcoming slaughter. The emphasis is on the look and feel of General Aviation. Commercial aircraft and military enthusiasts may need to stick to P3D. Not much word on missions, aerocache hunting or job boards (as in Flight).
Back to the popcorn.
Many thanks for the links to the informative articles and videos. 
Asobo's development team and MS' staff appear to have humility, enthusiasm, and dedication to doing this properly.
BTW:
MSFS-2020 looks very good already in the 'pre-Alpha' videos; I'll be eagerly looking forward to seeing future updates.
For many, this is a dream come true; IMHO, even an initial release is likely to keep the FS Community happy for years.
PS: AFAIK, the only connection between flight simulation andpopcorn is Orville Redenbacher's first name.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Orville_Redenbacher
GaryGB
Asobo's development team and MS' staff appear to have humility, enthusiasm, and dedication to doing this properly.
BTW:
Hal Bryan said:
MSFS-2020 looks very good already in the 'pre-Alpha' videos; I'll be eagerly looking forward to seeing future updates.
For many, this is a dream come true; IMHO, even an initial release is likely to keep the FS Community happy for years.
PS: AFAIK, the only connection between flight simulation and
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Orville_Redenbacher
GaryGB
Last edited:
This link is to an audio interview. It's a bit more informative than what I've read:
https://www.flightsim.com/images/features/msfdev/FlightSim.com-Microsoft_Flight_Simulator_Interview_AUDIO.m4a
The claim that they've already contacted 3rd party developers seems odd. I haven't read anything about that. And it seems these developers will be given a functional SDK around the same time as the tech alpha build... but the actual SDK will be a work in progress and delivered at the release of the sim. Also, the sim and the SDK will very much be a work in progress, much like Windows 10 or P3D... continually getting updates. That could be a headache for developrs as the addons could be broken by new versions of the sim or the SDK. 2D panels are gone. Seasons might get added post release. As might helicopters, ATC and Ai.
https://www.flightsim.com/images/features/msfdev/FlightSim.com-Microsoft_Flight_Simulator_Interview_AUDIO.m4a
The claim that they've already contacted 3rd party developers seems odd. I haven't read anything about that. And it seems these developers will be given a functional SDK around the same time as the tech alpha build... but the actual SDK will be a work in progress and delivered at the release of the sim. Also, the sim and the SDK will very much be a work in progress, much like Windows 10 or P3D... continually getting updates. That could be a headache for developrs as the addons could be broken by new versions of the sim or the SDK. 2D panels are gone. Seasons might get added post release. As might helicopters, ATC and Ai.
Last edited:
Deano1973
Resource contributor
Backward compatibility is indeed a wonderful thing, but in all fairness to the VR guys I do get it - as a real-world trained pilot, P3D or X-11 in VR is still going to trump the new sim on a screen - there is just no comparison now to the "truly being there" feel of VR. That said, third-party folks like FSX FlyInside will probably fill the vacuum quickly with software to do the job for us - I certainly hope so anyway, as the new sim's world is absolutely gorgeous and those weather systems a dream come true!Mostly 'backwards compatibility' with "Legacy" (FSX/P3D) models! Wow...
But, already pages and pages and even more pages of whining from the "VR or I won't buy" crowd (all six or so of 'em) at AVSIM.
Amongst the various videos and articles I've read I'm sure it was mentioned that a number of Asobo staff got their pilot licences. I believe they have a cockpit model of a DR400 at their workplace which they can use to compare flight characteristics with the real thing at the local airport.
hairyspin
Resource contributor
Yes, a lot of deja vu at that: a good number of ACES developers had a PPL back in the day.
Heretic
Resource contributor
Apples and oranges. If sometihng is crowdfunded, you sure have a right to know what you money is doing at the moment. But since FS2020 uses a classic funding model, they only have obligations toward their publisher.
That's totally true, but for many people on the internet "Open development" means "As soon as possible" and "Without delays".
And that is why we have the "Early Access" cancer in the games industry.
They'll have VR. Just not in the Alpha, and perhaps not in the initial release. This is going to be an ongoing project similar to the updates of P3D.Backward compatibility is indeed a wonderful thing, but in all fairness to the VR guys I do get it - as a real-world trained pilot, P3D or X-11 in VR is still going to trump the new sim on a screen - there is just no comparison now to the "truly being there" feel of VR. That said, third-party folks like FSX FlyInside will probably fill the vacuum quickly with software to do the job for us - I certainly hope so anyway, as the new sim's world is absolutely gorgeous and those weather systems a dream come true!
Here is an un-official transcribed excerpt from the above interview with 2 members of the Microsoft Flight Simulator team, Jorg Neumann, Head of Microsoft Flight Simulator, and Sebastian Wloch, CEO, Co-Founder, Asobo Studio:
https://www.flightsim.com/vbfs/content.php?19795-Microsoft-Flight-Simulator-Developer-Interview
Dominic Smith said:
Jorg Neumann said:
Sebastian Wloch said:
IMHO, this is very good news for FS Developers ...both Freeware and Payware !
GaryGB
Last edited:
I haven't been following 2020 discussion closely so maybe this has already been discussed. But how likely is this going to be a subscription service? I mean, so many software publishers want to go that route (hello Adobe) and I think the expectation that you buy FS2020 and then get free scenery downloading for the years to come... well that just screams subscription service to me. Maybe you can buy FS2020 and get a limited scenery set but the rest of the downloadable scenery comes with a subscription?
So far pricing has not been discussed by Microsoft. A subscription has only been alluded at, as its going to cost Microsoft a small fortune to "rent" out Bing maps data and also the servers its going to need to dish it out to so many users. With the fact that these maps are optional (offline mode is supported with pure autogen), the subscription can also be optional. This is ALL speculation at the moment. Having a internal add-on store could be another way to pay for the server. But right now, Microsoft has stated that pricing has not been finalized.
The pricing is simple. It's your first born child.
And the sim will be good enough that you will pay it.
Sorry Abby, but I must have it.
And the sim will be good enough that you will pay it.
Sorry Abby, but I must have it.
DragonflightDesign
Resource contributor
<off topic>Adobe Photographer's Package... I ran the figures on that one using the price of a boxed copy of CS6 as the baseline and assuming a new version every three years. It takes close to thirty years before the cost of the subscription gets anywhere near the price of ten copies of CS6. No-brainer, for once. </off topic>
They have indeed discussed a subscription as well as limited scenery for offline users. I suggest that you watch one of the videos or read one of the articles linked yesterday. They explain it far better than I can.
Heretic
Resource contributor
Early Access is a good concept if pricing reflects the current status.
Kerbal Space Program was my first early access game and the $18 were totally worth it, considering its success and current pricetag.