MSFS2024, a superb digital world simulator but a mediocre flightsimulator platform

MSFS2024, a superb digital world simulator but a mediocre flightsimulator platform.

Compared to XPLANE12 and Prepar3D it is way behind in these functions:

  1. Multi-view and multi-monitor support
  2. Home cockpit support
  3. Hardware module configuration support
  4. Flight modelling

This is just my view, so what do you think?

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The products are aimed at different markets, so the comparison falls short. Microsoft wants millions of customers (and has them), so it needs to be on every platform.

You clearly want a simulator aimed at home cockpit builders. While that market has exploded, it is a minute part of the total number of users—something that Microsoft never aimed for and most likely never will.

Mathijs Kok
PMDG

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I uninstalled P3Dv5 ages ago (it was hard saying goodbye to my addons) and never picked up P3Dv6, stopped using XP 11 around the time XP 12 came out (~2,200 total time in XP 11) and use MSFS way, way more than I do XP 12. I will keep XP 12 installed when MSFS 2024 releases but it’s not a sim I see myself using nearly as much as MSFS 2024.

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I never jumped to XP12, but one really attractive thing about it, you can still use it during an internet outage or MS services outage………

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With 2024, all the known competition would be living in the dark ages in comparison to this platform that despite being an entertainment oriented simulator, demonstrated a level of technical depth while keeping itself accessible for the masses.

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Get them on the Xbox and i will try them

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Generally speaking as soon as you start with Xplane is this or that and what ever else is …. Blablabla.
They are different things to different folks.
Having used almost every civilian simulator and a few that were approved flight training devices, I can tell you that MSFS is not all that bad.
It certainly doesn’t have to hide when Xplane enters the arena. They each have their strengths and weaknesses. Not going into either, again.

But since 2024 is not even out and available yet, you are talking about your assumptions. And that is frankly not worth much, aside from where you are sitting and how you use any simulator.

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What do I think? What about point 4? In my view that’s an opinion, and not a fact.
Point 3: are yiy still saying this after having used the control mapping in the alpha? If so, why are you stating this?
The rest: true. Although 1 and 2 seem to overlap. But that’s maybe the one and only advantage left for XP12.

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Point 4 certainly is an opinion, after playing the alpha my opinion on the flight model nudges to MSFS2024 being more realistic, at least based on the C172. But then I’m solely speaking about the flight model, if you take the whole simulation into account (atmospheric simulation) I personally think MSFS2024 is miles ahead now.

BUT, flight simulation will never be like real flying for the foreseeable future. Maybe one day when they can actually hook your brain up to a machine and physics are calculated on a whole other level we will get there with all our senses linked to the simulation, but that’s just science fiction for now.

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Not supporting points 1. to 3. as well as other sims doesn’t make MSFS less of a flight simulator. It all comes down to whatever features one considers important or deal-breakers to them, but those are just opinions w.r.t those users’ needs.

Saying it’s “way behind” screams hyperbole to me sorry.

Re: point 4., that’s just mostly a myth propagated ad infinitum by fans of those other sims. I mean, P3D flight dynamics is basically FSX’s. Flight modelling all comes down to the how the aircraft developer has developed the FM for their aircraft which ultimately makes it good or not. MSFS 2020 provides a variety of tools in the platform and SDK for devs, and the good devs have been able to achieve great flight models (a few of the many examples being Fenix V2, PMDG 737, PMDG 777, iniBuilds A300, Asobo/WT Citation Longitude, etc).

Some core issues in MSFS 2020 was around ground handling and the ground<->air transition which by all accounts has been greatly improved and revamped in MSFS 2024. And various other aspects of flight dynamics too have been improved per various accounts from the global preview event and then the tech Alpha (based on the C172, Asobo 737 Max, etc).

IMO, having used all sims for years, MSFS 2020 paired with the right aircraft was already at par (or better) with the best of other sims when it comes to flight dynamics (except ground handling), and now with 2024 it just looks to get even better. Per the presentation Asobo gave at the global preview event, the amount of physics improvements overall in MSFS 2024 is pretty darn impressive… with CFD being applied to the airflow at the environmental/macro level 10+km (i.e. weather, thermals/drafts, turbulence, etc), close to the aircraft surfaces at the 10cm-100cm level (this is what directly determines the flying characteristics of a particular aircraft), at the 10m-10km dist (i.e. wake turbulence), at the particle level, etc. All this airflow simulation coupled with the revamped ground handling physics (for all types of terrain including water) is going to make 2024 a great flight dynamics platform.

Some noteable examples with videos:

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This is like taking about Halo vs Call of Duty lol

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I think you’re right… It’s just your view.

Considering FS2024 hasn’t even been released yet, I wonder how you’re able to make such assumptions with any degree of accuracy.

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Well, you can simply press CTRL+M in X-Plane to see all of that simulated (and for some time now too).

I’m interested to see how MSFS 2024 compares to X-Plane 12’s flight model because of how much it’s been hyped up over the last few months.

The only thing that causes me slight concern is that I’ve listened to people for the last four years claiming MSFS had a good flight model - only for the same people to point out its flaws as soon as the new version was coming about so I tend to go with what I enjoy the most and as such I usually end up in X-Plane…

Here is a very simple test you can perform yourself (if you have MSFS and XP12 installed) for a base flight model comparison:

  1. Park your plane
  2. Set wind to 150kts
  3. Release brakes
  4. Observe whether or not the aircraft “turns” to face the wind like a weathercock due to the vertical stabiliser being pushed by the airflow.
  5. Takeoff into the wind - observe how controllable the aircraft is.

Of all these points, XP12 feels very “real” - I’m not a pilot, but I do have 45 years of experience in a physical world where I’m pretty good at guessing how something should react to a given set of inputs. XP12 definitely feels more natural to me. It’s almost as if the plane is superimposed into MSFS rather than actually being in a 3D fluid (the air) whereas with XP12 the aircraft has weight and a more tactile feel to it.

I believe XP12 deserves a lot more praise than it gets - sadly, it isn’t AS pretty as MSFS but I have to say I’ve probably spent about 80% of my simming time in it since MSFS came out because to me it just feels more like a real world environment (I can’t quite put my finger on why).

Anyway just my opinion - I too thought the Cessna 172 felt much better in MSFS 2024 tech alpha, so I’m excited to see how much of a difference it actually brings (that’s if my internet can handle the streaming).

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The only thing that causes me slight concern is that I’ve listened to people for the last four years claiming MSFS had a good flight model

But there is no one flight model for the sim… there are flight models per aircraft, built on the top of the sim’s flight dynamics engine and using the various tech and tools in the SDK toolbox. So that’s why it all comes down to each aircraft and how its developer has fleshed out the FM for it… and yes some aircraft for MSFS 2020 (both 3rd party payware and default) do have good flight models.

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I’m not even sure how you came to derive a definitive opinion on flight model when even if you did the Alpha test, not everything was in that particular build. For example, nobody could get wake turbulence to work in the Alpha test build, but we know it will be coming with release. Nobody knows as yet what is being done with multi-monitor support.

Lets try waiting until the release actually comes out before filling the forums of what FS2024’s pros and cons are.

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For me personally all it’s going to take is A2A to release a Cessna 172 and I will ditch flying a Cessna 172 in XP 12. In XP 12 I have the Laminar Research Cessna 172S with the Reality Expansion Pack from SimCoders, Airfoillabs Cessna 172 NG (Analog and Digital), Thranda Design Cessna 172M and X-Aerodynamics Cessna 172M, R, S. If A2A releases a Cessna 172 for MSFS / MSFS 2024 I (and I feel that some day it will happen) it will outsell all those addons I mentioned very easily.

Something else I would like to note. My friend and I have the Take Command! Hot Start Challenger and it’s pretty much the only reason she has XP 12 installed. I personally don’t fly it all that much. I would if it was in MSFS (which isn’t going to happen, lol). I also have a bunch of other stuff from the X-Aviation store. Top shelf addons but I just don’t use them that often (I will get the Mooney and Citiation Jet when it’s released though). I find myself in MSFS more.

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I think there is currently no base to provide any objective comparison, so I won’t compare at all.

All we have now is something from a press event and maybe some “experience” from a minimum technical alpha build that I participated in which was not close to be feature complete.

I’ll wait for the full release to make myself a full picture.

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You have a right to an opinion but I will have to disagree with your 4th point. Even XP12 isn’t perfect. I have XP12 installed and rest assured their flight model isn’t compelling. We’re speaking about “default” aircraft.

I have 72hrs in a real C172. Neither Asobo or Laminar C172 flies quite like the real thing.Perhaps A2A can chime in!

Also Fs2024 isn’t even finished!

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Interesting take since it has not been released yet! I think you are missing the mark when you say it’s a mediocre platform. MSFS2024 is a living breathing world platform with jaw-dropping cloud-to-ground visuals. 2024 also calculates full computational fluid dynamics which will give a much better and accurate depiction of environmental elements affecting the flight model. MS/Asobo are expected to include multi-view and multi-monitor support with an early update at some point. Home cockpit support is definitely on their roadmap. Anyway, when it comes to immersion and environmental dynamics, I don’t think you can compare platforms. X-Plane although very good, is no match to MSFS2024’s platform and strong support system.

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