Microsoft Flight Simulator X **Service pack 1 available now**

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This game looks great, but I don't really play FS2004 anymore, so after a few months, I might pick this up.
 
*McLaren*
This game looks great, but I don't really play FS2004 anymore, so after a few months, I might pick this up.

Well I think MS is hoping the new mission feature will lure ex-flysim players aswell as new players to the flight sim series.

FSX will feature missions for the first time for people that isnt interested enough by flying on your own accord.
Missions will consist of things like rescuing oil rig workers from a burning oil rig in a helicopter before its too late and many many others, this video from my above post demonstrates the oil rig mission.

http://download.microsoft.com/downl...444-183d27200428/FlightSimX_streamHI_615k.wmv


Also Multiplayer is said to be reworked completly and will gain a whole lot of features that MS wont comment on about yet, I know I know serious testing is about to start on this.
I am hoping for a Pilot and Co-pilot role in multiplayer as I have a friend that is really into flying airliners like I am and it would be perfect for us to fly together.
 
VIPERGTSR01
Yeah it does, as Flame-returns said FS2002 (FS8) and FS2004 (FS9) both have flyable Helicopters and a couple vids I posted above show them flying in game
FS2000 had a helicopter in it too.
 
I was always impressed with the accuracy of detail in FS2004, since I could see my local baseball park, and there are individual companies visible in it too. Example, near my airport IRL, there's Honeywell. On the flight simulator, I found the Honeywell building next to the airport, where it is in real life.

It makes you wonder, "How'd they do it?"
 
Wow it looks really good, ive always wanted a flight sim game..... but never owned one!
 
Wow I really like the grafics... that's how the 360 Taito flight game should have looked like...
 
It makes you wonder, "How'd they do it?"


I get that same feeling sometimes,

14000+ airports, Modeled Moon with 10,000 accurately placed stars (in FSX). All the terrain around the world seems to be accurately modeled, I was flying (FS2004) near greenland once and I saw the northern lights which I never expected.

So many airfields are accurate like here in South Australia we have tiny crop dusting runways in the country that were included, I find 100's of tiny dirt runways in Africa that were all included, Amazing really.


Now with FSX you could be flying and see ships in the ocean or oil rigs, can't wait.
 
Wow VIPERGTSR01 that sounds great... what kind of performance do you need for this game, any ideas ?
 
Max_DC
Wow VIPERGTSR01 that sounds great... what kind of performance do you need for this game, any ideas ?

So far its unknown, the machines at E3 running DX9 demo versions of FSX were 3.4Ghz 2gig ram nvidia 7800GTX, the game has not been optimised yet. It will be highly scalable though so you don't have to have the latest PC to still play it.

To play the game in the DX10 mode though you will need a DX10 card and Windows Vista, FSX will be out before Windows Vista and run fine with DX9 and XP, when Vista comes out a patch will become available for FSX to enable all DX10 goodness.

Here is a demostration DX9 FSX picture (shown at E3)
gfw02.jpg




And here is the same picture in DX10 (check the water difference :))
gfw03.jpg


I honestly don't expect the final product of DX10 to look that good ingame.



Some other news is news/rumours:

*Rumour has it that the Bombardier Global Express will feature in FSX (aswell as the learjet 45) http://www.fs2004.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=77785

*Cloud shadows, random ships, road traffic, wing flex, wildlife (including whales), pushcarts all have been confirmed in E3 pictures.

*Custom mission builder has been confirmed.
 
Looks really nice! I haven't played Microsoft's flight-sim series since Flight Simulator 98 I think.
 
That picture of the water in DX10 mode is, for the first time in my life, Un-freaking-real. I need to upgrade my card. :(
 
MdnIte
I need to upgrade my card. :(

Don't we all :(



Some small but good news since my last post is that there will be controllable APU's and engine fires have been confirmed which could lead to a random failures system (these have been taken from Dev comments)

Also I found on this website (and officall microsoft site)
http://www.xbox.com/en-US/community/news/events/e32006/games/flightsimulatorxpc.htm

official xbox site
Connected world: Through increased online gameplay capabilities, Flight Simulator X offers you a connected world where you can choose who they want to be, from air-traffic controller to pilot or co-pilot, as you interact with other aviators from around the globe by chatting in real time via headset and keyboard.

I really hope this is true, developers have said they are really working on the multiplayer aspect but can't comment on it yet.

There will be a whole bunch of more news in 6 weeks because Microsoft is sponsoring a large flight simulator convention in Denver in 6 weeks time.
 
Ok lots of new information as there was official invites to a few Flight sim community members to the ACES studios (Who make FS for MS) in Redmond.

Here is one initial interesting write-up

Its states many new things like,

*Two versions Deluxe and regular, Deluxe will have more planes, 3rd party stuff and may other things. (see pic below)
*24000 airports around the world
*3100 airports you can be a traffic controller at in multiplayer. (Deluxe version)
*24 million roads have been accurately placed with visible traffic, which at night you can see their lights.
*Shipping zones have been added
*Large amount of wildlife has been added (elephants, whales etc)
*24 aircrafts included, many of the FS2004 old hardly aircrafts have been scraped which makes way for many new aircraft.
*5000 real world weather stations ensure that today’s forecast is accurate for your flying pleasure.
*A large amount of ground vehicles at airports that even greet you when you arrive to your gate.
*3 aircrafts will be fitted with Garmin 1000 (Deluxe version)
*Airbus confirmed (see pic below)
*ability to have 5.1 sound of the aircraft and ambient sounds while wearing headphones for ATC, radio.
*Ability to fly with someone in the same aircraft in multiplayer, which you can hand controls over to.
*Rewards for completing missions, like for example win a contract with red bull for aircraft racing etc.
*A actual tow line this time for the engine-less sailplane.
*altitude ceiling increased from 100,000ft to 18,000miles

many more features in the full article|

http://www.avsim.com/pages/robertw/FSX/FS-X.htm

and many more to come.


Pictures

Some FS2004 vs FSX ground vehicles

airport.jpg



FSX box Regular and Deluxe

FSX_RegularT.jpg
FSX_DeluxeT.jpg



Boeing 737-800 (First time in MSFS) and ground vehicles

189.jpg


Airbus A32x virtual cockpit

074.jpg



Bombardier CRJ700 (New to MSFS)

027.jpg



*EDIT* oh yeah and this time around there will be a Trial version (demo) available for download.
 
XBox 360 version will be out I presume (if it is in this thread, sorry, too lazy to read :D). If not, M$ will definitely be getting some angry emails.
 
There will be not Xbox360 version, if there was they would get even more angry emails from the large Flight sim community which MS is working very closely with this time around, MS already have got a lot of flak for just having the Xbox360 controller compatible with FSX because simmers feel it takes Flight sim one step closer to a console type game.


If there were to release FSX on Xbox360 they would have to simplify the game a great deal or add keyboard compatibility as there is way too many buttons for the Xbox360 controller alone.



Microsoft has acknowledged that due to the Xbox360 they have neglected their PC gaming studios and has announced that they are now trying to make up for it especially now with FSX.
 
Well you can use your Xbox360 controller and headset with FSX so that would save you buying a flight stick.
 
I stated above that 3rd party aircraft will be included in the deluxe version of FSX but now it seems the press got it wrong. Microsoft was showing how easy it is to install 3rd party aircraft and somehow the press got there wires crossed.

New video somebody shot at a Canadian event showing the tow line for the sail plane glider. Also check out the large rolling waves in the sea near the engine of the video. :)

 
VIPERGTSR01
Brand new video

http://www.projectmagenta.com/video/SharedSkies.wmv

its 38mb which its mostly about Multiplayer in a advert funny style of way. Shows the upgrated 737 model to 737-800 and a quick glimpse of virtual cockpit view which is much improved.


amazing cool and funny video.

did you see that dude playing with an xbox360 controller!!?? i think it was one. so it seems like that game will come put for xbox 360 as well. if it really does, and i can use a joystick....i'll be getting one....:)
 
Christhedude
amazing cool and funny video.

did you see that dude playing with an xbox360 controller!!?? i think it was one. so it seems like that game will come put for xbox 360 as well. if it really does, and i can use a joystick....i'll be getting one....:)

No it is not coming out on Xbox 360, the Xbox360 controller is fully supported with FSX so you don't need to buy a flight stick (joystick) if you dont already own one, you will still need to use your keyboard for all the main functions outside the basic controls.

MS has been suppling Xbox 360 controllers for the demonstrations so they can push the benefit of the 360 while showing off FSX.
 
VIPERGTSR01
No it is not coming out on Xbox 360, the Xbox360 controller is fully supported with FSX so you don't need to buy a flight stick (joystick) if you dont already own one, you will still need to use your keyboard for all the main functions outside the basic controls.

MS has been suppling Xbox 360 controllers for the demonstrations so they can push the benefit of the 360 while showing off FSX.

oh ok i see. seems that i have to get a new laptop then....even though i could play with mine FS 2004 on high level....but for the X i definelty need a new one.

what you mean the 360 controller is fully supported?? i dont get. for sure its more fun to fly with a joystick then with a controller...:)
 
Christhedude
what you mean the 360 controller is fully supported?? i dont get. for sure its more fun to fly with a joystick then with a controller...:)

Yes it is much more fun to use a stick (even though MS is claiming the Xbox360 controller is wonderful), I think the addition of the 360 controller is also to get more casual gamers into flight sim and give them fun missions to do, unlike FS2004 where you were pretty much on your own except a few pre-saved flights.


When I say fully supported thats just repeating what they say. Meaning you can plug in your Xbox 360 controller and all the functions (buttons/anolog sticks) will be usable and configurable. Although there is not enough buttons so you will still need the keyboard.
 
i used to fly the LagoSim's F16 Falcon mod in FS9. Was very cool, although missing a couple of features. I don't care much about shooting stuff, as to fly actual combat planes... wish they were in FSX
 
VIPERGTSR01
Also check out the large rolling waves in the sea near the engine of the video.

Any more detail, and you'd see the Sailors waving off the ultralight! Then, they'd activate the Phalanx system, and then...

Unreal graphics. Absolutely amazing detail! It's a good time to switch over to either SLI or Crossfire, because it looks like it might very well be needed to handle a game this graphically intense.
 
Yeah its looking awesome so far, I'm going to wait for a DX10 vid card before upgrading from my X800XT

Here is a great video preview from the current Oshkosh airshow

http://www.airsidetv.com/main/play.asp?date=7/28/2006

the large preview showing much more of the game including the controllable ATC starts around 7 minutes in the video.
 
Developers that often visit various Flight sim forums have been asked that question and sadly they have denied it. Although they probably wouldn't be allowed to say anything anyway, but I do know much of the ACES team (MSFS devs) are working on something else while FSX is going through beta.
 
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