Microsoft, Asobo, and their partners created an awesome flight simulator with MSFS 2020. I’ve always stated it is a great platform for future flight simulation development and innovation. But why stop at flight simulation?
I’d guess many of us into flight simulation are also into other types of simulation experiences - racing, truck, rail, farm, the list goes on. There are great titles in just these categories alone. Since MSFS created such a visually stunning world, what’s stopping these other platforms from developing a “simverse” where all of these forms of simulation, and exploring the world, can be done on one platform, seamlessly tied together? We already have these massive base “engines” available - the physical world, weather engine, multiplayer, time, etc.
I’m sure this is not a new thought, but the idea of it intrigues me. Imagine flying your favorite GA airplane to a new city, only to hop out at the airport and step into your favorite car to drive to the local train station to hop on and enjoy a virtual rail trip up the Pacific Coast, only to try your hand at driving that same train back down the coast?
Yes, I get that this sounds like a description of what the metaverse could be - I’m still wrapping my head around all this. I’m sure there are plenty of challenges to this becoming reality, but what are your thoughts on how this could revolutionize the way we interact with the simulation experiences we love - all in one place?
I think they have so far to go on making it a solid flight simulator before they could take a look at the terrain. If you’ve spent much time on the ground, you’ve likely seen that the terrain is a hot mess, photogrammetry is its own mess. Roads would have to be completely redone to function properly. Trains would have to actually be added to the sim. Water would have to stop climbing up 45 degree slopes. I agree the idea is amazing, but I don’t know that it’s within Asobo’s capabilities.
You are correct about this has been discussed before category. I was hoping for a ARMA3 meets MSFS myself. And yeah that would be pretty slick fly down to the grand canyon, land, get out of your plane and run around.
Or get done flying for the day, drive down to the marina, and get in your boat and go for a cruise…
this has definitely been a topic previously discussed.
If you want to fly planes, play flight simulator, there’s at least 3 of them that are pretty good and 2 of them have VR ability
If you want to drive trains, there’s two different ones made by the same company as well as Derail valley, a VR train simulator
If you want to drive cars, there are far too many racing games and sims for one to choose from. It’s got a dedicated fan-base much like flight simulator (people who spend 10 grand on setting up a racing simpit for example). VR is available among several titles
Trying to combine these, especially with realism in mind, is a massive undertaking by itself, let alone making the map a 1:1 recreation of the planet earth…and have it be multiplayer
Lets just say it’s what Chris Roberts is gonna do after he releases Star Citizen and Squadron 42…
Totally agree. But this is where I wonder if those other platform developers would put the effort in to create those things in specific areas to enhance the platform for their environment. Tall order, I agree, but having something like this in the future would prevent me from needing to have three or four different flight simulator platforms to take advantage of subtle differences between each.
Huge undertaking, agree. I’d perhaps start small. Pick a single area/city where you could combine a few platforms together and build up the environment to support each, creating basically a “digital twin” of one location. test it out, learn, use it to develop the next city and so on.