As of today the software is a wonderful VFR flights tool, mainly because of the sceneries, lights, cloud, weather representations
As a VFR flight simulator, they have still to fix real time weather, turbulences, landmarks mistakes ( like the bridges) and the ATC interactions.
They will have also to work heavily on updating and improving bing maps.
For IFR flights, given the heavy difficulties we are all encountering with AP behavior, commercial jet performance and flight models, flight planning, IFR instruments handling, airport ground traffic, real time air traffic, IFR ATC management, I came to the conclusion that MFS cannot be and will never be a stand-alone IFR flight simulator but only a very good environment inside which to implement add ons (we will need many) which will allow realistic IFR simulation.
So my wish is a follow: up to Microsoft to take the burden of improving and fixing MFS as a perfect VFR simulator, up to the add on industry to add all the demanding functionalities to enable us to use MFS as a perfect IFR simulator.
I know that my wish is ignoring the fact that it is very often not simple to draw the line between IFR and VFR functionalities, but perhaps it deserves a try.
By trying that it will at least explain much more clearly to customer what they can expect from MFS.
Yeah, I canāt agree either. Microsoft and Asobo have previously stated that they plan to continuously develop and support this sim for 10 years. 10 years is a long time and I have faith that the developers will continue to listen to our feedback and provide updates and fixes. 3rd party add ons carried FSX for 14 years, with 1st and 3rd party support reaching a decade and beyond it will get there.
I donāt think Microsoft/Asobo should give up on IFR. Some people donāt have $50-100 to dropā¦per planeā¦to get a functioning GPS to help them with their IFR training or just to experience functioning IFR flight.
Haha, true! Although over 1 million unique players on game pass and who knows how many more steam/ms store sales seem to show a lot of interest in the game. Joysticks, yokes, throttles all out of stock or back ordered, I believe there is some real momentum behind this new release. Hopefully Microsoft sees that too.
Thanks for tipā¦I just remembered, I was meant to put my surplus gear on Gumtree (Ebay). CH Eclipse Yoke, Saitek Throttle, Logitech Extreme 3D Pro plus Wireless headphones. Should help towards my new rig. (Fingers crossed)
I think the operative word is āgame passā. I purchased for the proverbial dollar, and will now cancel until the product has matured, which, I am sure, it will in time, as long as MS and Asobo donāt upset each other. I see that Asobo is searching for approx. 30 extra staff so I imagine the pressure is well and truly on. Only time will tell, but letās stay positive as competition is good for our hobby. Back to my current sim in the meantime, but will keep an eye on MSFSās development. I believe that a fair number of us have invested heavily in our current products that just to dump them, and jump to MSFS, requires a large financial decision. One at the moment I really couldnāt justify as my current sim in singing along. But I am keeping an open mind.
The main hurdle to IFR - and by that i think you mean flying the āHeaviesā - is the FMS and ATC. ATC is never going to be any good as there are so many variables at each airport. Solution is to learn how to use VATSIM or similar and that will give you a much better real world experience.
The FMS is not fully modelled. Once PMDG or similar come out with a study level sim then this will open up IFR. Dont forget that FSX/XP neither had the ability to do full IFR flights until the study level addons arrived. Its only time
VFR (low and slow) is the way to go at the moment but to really use this to its fullest, again VATSIM for ATC and you have to invest time in flight planning and dont just rely on the in game maps. Third party maps and information adds a whole new level of experience.
I agree, ATC is never going to be great, no matter how hard Microsoft/Asobo tries. VATSIM is the way to go 100%.
However I want to see Microsoft implement working and reasonably accurate Garmin avionics, at least. Reason being is that some 3rd party developers that have great/good models fall short on the avionics. A2A and Carenado come to mind, the all use the stock sim GPS unit with options to use an add on GPS unit if you so desire. The caveat being that most are based off the associated Garmin trainer app which does not have the ability to update the navdata with an AIRAC cycle provider like Navigraph. The navdata provided in the trainer app by Garmin is often years out of date.
Seeing how Microsoft and Asobo went out of their way to get licencing and partnerships with various companies: Navblue, Garmin, etc. I want to see a step above in terms of realism and accuracy. I would be ashamed to be Cessna or TBM or Garmin especially and see how unrealistic the modeling of their products is. Asobo can do a lot better, Iām sure of it. I think they were pressured to release the sim half baked from Microsoft.
Just a comment . . . VATSIM is a beautiful thing, but until these aircraft models are flyable ACCURATELY it will drive the controllers nuts, and my guess is they will drop the flight from the VATSIM session. VATSIM is NOT a game monitor - they work real world procedures and expect you to fly the same. Just like real world ATC, they donāt have time to babysit.
I agree with you totally; however, my poorly stated point should have been that Iām afraid most wonāt want to wait for (or pay for) PMDG and they will jump on the marketing hype provided and try to run VATSIM with default āgameā offerings - and frustrate everyone. As it is now, I have multiple thousands of dollars in a 737 cockpit setup that is currently unusable with FS2020. So Iām stuck with P3D. But I have blind faith that given time, they will fix (or at least improve) this. Very sorry, I did not mean to hijack a thread.
Completely agree which was my point I made. You need fully functioning fms for the Heavies to fly accurately.
The default aircraft are just that, default and you wouldnāt fly a default FSX 737 on Vatsim either, albeit the MSFS2020 aircraft are better than the FSX ones they are still not perfect.
Having said that the small aircraft are just fine and this together with the excellent scenery makes VFR on VATSIM perfect. FSX default scenery on VATSIM is a challenge.
Give it time, itās only been out a few weeks. This time next year we will be in a MUCH better place.