What can make flight sim more immersive?

[WellREDBarron]

@TearlessFiend27

Do you have the King Air and/or Kodiak 100? What is it that you don’t think is very good?

I have both.

The Kodiak is likely the best turboprop in the sim. I love that bird.

She is not in my current top five, but she was once my favorite and I flew her halfway around the world. Ended up in Kathmandu, flying Himalayan routes. So, high praise.

As for the King Air? We have a King Air. This update is better but for the price? We already have the King Air. Just with a Garmin so it lacks some personality but it does the King Air thing. Already, for free.

I would look at the Aerosoft Twin Otter instead for a twin turboprop. At least it is all bespoke. Model and steam interior. Great plane. Really.

But the turboprops in sim are vastly underserved right now, and those two Cessnas (buy both, SO different) are SO good! We really still wait for a great twin turboprop. But those two planes? SO good!

And that Fenix? My God! Amazing. Your system will take a hit running it. But you will immediately understand and appreciate why. It is in a different league. Like, PMDG wishes.

I could go on for days making suggestions, but, besides airplanes (and they are SO important) a big screen helps. I have a 50” monitor and I sit so close it takes up almost all of my FOV and I move my eyes to see things. I lean in and squint to look for runways. A bigger screen would be nice, but I don’t need one. Triple screens would be nice. But I don’t need them. VR would be nice but I don’t need it. Just a big, effing TV can do the trick. Get a cheap LG. The holidays are coming. Sales are coming. Just cover your FOV with a nice television. It gives you the world.

[BeardyBrun]

Why would VR require removing contact lenses?

I specifically wear mine rather than glasses because the headset can be much closer to the eyes for maximimum FoV. Also much less hassle putting the headset on/off and no risk of scratching any lenses.

[TearlessFiend27]

The last time I tired VR I found that my contact lenses dry up quickly

[Broseph4245]

Missions with objectives

[TearlessFiend27]

I actually have an LG OLED 55” tv as my main tv. I might give it a try to see how it looks/performs. Although FOV is very subjective and can be manipulated by having the monitor closer to you. For example I have my ultrawide on a mount which can be move Ltd closer to me if I wish. On my desk I think a 55” tv would be too big but will give it a try.

[N582TC]

I agree with that.

I’ve thought to myself on many occasion that I’m glad I’m only into GA, specifically the 172. I’m able to have the cockpit mapped out 1:1, down to the radios, and I can access all of it by feel.

As a real life [student] pilot, I can’t un-see / un-feel actual flight. No WAY I could ever go back to 2d.

[N582TC]

@WellREDBarron

I just feel for the tubeliner crowd

Amen to that!

[Lancealotg2330]

@WellREDBarron

VR would be nice but I don’t need it. Just a big, effing TV can do the trick

Not even close. I have a 48 inch 4k 120 hz TV monitor and VR is 1000 times more immersive than flying with the monitor.
Its the difference between looking at a glossy photo of a plane or feeling like you are actually sitting IN THE PLANE.

[Cargopilot48]

Try This, works for me,
Motherboard: Asus ROG Dark Hero V111
55" curved oled Tv.
VR Pimax 8kx KDMAS
CPU: AMD Ryzen 7 5800x3d
GPU: Zotak 4090
CPU-Cooler: Liquid cooled 360mm Corsair.
PSU: Corsair hx 1000i
RAM: Corsair Vengeance 32GB (2x16GB) DDR4/3600mhz
M.2 NVME SSD: 2TB Samsung 970 EVO Plus
M.2 NVME SSD: 1TB Samsung 970 EVO Plus
SSD. NVME Samsung 970 EVO 1GB Storage.
5.1 logitech sound system Soundblaster Z.
Next level V3 Motion platform on Next level GT Track rig.
2 Buttkickers on race rig with 300watt earthquake amp.
Sim Racing studio wind and tactile generators.
Saitek Quadrant.
Saitek Multi panel.
Saitek Nav Panel.
Thrustmaster Boeing yoke.
Honeycomb Bravo Throttle controller.
Saitek fuel controller and deicer levers.
Saitek Rudder.
Mid size ATX Tower 10 fans.

400mbit Virgin fibreoptic net.

[StruckZebra9]

“Immersion”? With movies they call it “suspension of disbelief”. It’s when the experience is close enough to real that it is easier to put yourself into the action even though you are aware that it’s only a simulation.

While a large monitor/TrackIR work well, IMHO, VR actually over-emphasizes depth. It’s like water compared to flavored water. It may make in-game depth easier to perceive but it does not enhance “realism”. Thus, it is not required for “immersion”.

As someone else said, immersion comes from scenarios. It does not come from hardware.

$.02

[ZooMotorPool]

Without going into hardware route, a lot of immerssion improvements still can be done with current MSFS, even after you purchase PMDG 737 or Fenix A320. No need to go RTX4090Ti or new home theatre 8K monitors.

Sound effects
The number one immersion killer in both addon is simply sound effects. It still doesn’t compare with BSS’ sound pack for ToLiss A319/A321 in XPlane 11. That alone will greatly enhance immerssion by a lot. If you extend the landing gear, your brain immediately know that this is the same exact loud bang that you heard, when the landing gear unlatch itself from its locked position.

The current two top notch airliner add-on for MSFS simply just don’t cut it, too much jet whistles during spool, and not much roar or low frequency rumble when the ignition starts. This is just like my biggest criticism of Asobo’s default A32NX - yeah you may record it from the actual plane, but then again you play it back like a DJ in night club - doesn’t really sound like the real thing. Star Wars’ Tie Fighter familiar sound is recorded from an actual MD-80 jet - and likewise the outer space ship doesn’t sound like being powered by a pair of Pratt & Whitney JT8D-200 jet engines. At current situation, we simply can’t do anything, since realistic sound mods is very rare in MSFS.

So far, the best and the most immersive jet airliner sound in MSFS should go to FBW’s A32NX.

FSRealistic
A very easy way to improve realism: headshakes, environmental noises that is overlooked by Asobo or the payware developers (e.g. head movements, louder windscreen noise, louder & shakier cams during spoiler deployment, landing gear wind drag noise, ground taxiing rumbles, etc). This will significantly enhance your flying experience from the perspective that you never realised before: audio cues and subtle camera effects (vibration, buffetting, turbulence, etc).

And after then, just go the hardware folks’ recommendation, going the $1,000 Thorttletek move and bigger projector-like monitor or all the way to home cockpit route.

It is difficult to upgrade the MSFS visually, it is already very good as it is. Going higher resolution or higher specs will only marginally improve your satisfaction, but definitely drain your savings.

As my other hobby taught me: a lot of car folks were taught to “turbo the engine” or “remap the ECU” from the beginning, as if the majority of their interaction with the car is the throttle pedal. If you want to instantly feel the biggest and the most effort-effective improvement to your car that you can immediately “feel” is simply to just upgrade the tyres. You will immediately feel the “new car” with your hands and arms - body parts that are more sensitive than your leg and foot.

[N582TC]

@StruckZebra9

immersion comes from scenarios

Truth

My first time in VR, fast approaching a Bravo without clearance, while using PilotEdge had me sweating BALLZ!

[SkipTalbot]

@Lancealotg2330

Its the difference between looking at a glossy photo of a plane or feeling like you are actually sitting IN THE PLANE.

You can look at a picture of the plane, or you can put on a welding mask and sit in the plane. Pick your poison. Either has some pretty big limitations, and it all just comes down to personal preference.

I went back to looking at glossy photos myself. I’d like to get back into VR, but I guess I’m waiting on three generational upgrades:

• Asobo’s Software
• PC Hardware
• VR Hardware

All three need a major leap before I’m giving up the 4k and TrackIR I think.

You know what kind of adds immersion to me? A set of gaming headphones and the little TrackIR dongle thing. It’s kind of silly, but I feel like I’m wearing my David Clark headset when I put it on, and having high quality sound and blocking out some of the surrounding helps.

Not sure if the beer helps with immersion. Maybe after the flight. Your mileage may vary.

[jwpvb3885]

Tobii Eye tracker 5 works for me. I get a vr experience without VR

[DerFalke3885]

A very cheap means of immersion is reading checklists aloud and I can recommend the virtual Performance Tool for the 737. Both increase the immersion immensely and great costs.

[Mauflo12961]

I will tell you what I did to solve this for me:

• One 32’’ monitor
• Two 24’'monitor’s in portrait left and right.
• TrackIR (only to see 180 degrees when I move my head more than necessary)
• VATSIM sometimes
• Expanded the cockpit with a 22’‘’ Hannspree touchscreen monitor to use Air Manager in the front.
• Enhanced Live TRAFFIC, hearing LIVE ATC and using Pilot2ATC (for offline and not using VATSIM)
• I started to make my PPL and try to fly like in real world, with flight planing (manual and with support from SKY Demon - that I also use with the sim)
• Using original Checklists and doing all what to do even the walk around the plane before the flight, runup test and so on. That make specially sense when you use only one plane with realistic engine wear and tear like that from Just flight for the Cessna 172 - Just Flight - WB-Sim 172SP Classic Enhancement and will give you the most immersive and realistic feeling of flying.

I fly only VFR with small planes. Hope this will give you a good stimulus.
And that’s how it looks like:

[s44rgg]

I tried a 50” and whilst it’s good, it isn’t immersive. Track IR isn’t really an option with it as the Tav is too high.

[GamingCat2130]

@TearlessFiend27

Main reasons for me is that I wear contact lenses all the time so it’s a hassle to take them out every time I use VR.

I have played VR for hundreds of hours without ever taking out my contact lenses. (but only played VR on PS Pro, like Ace Combat Resi7 Gran Turismo Sports and Battlezone - not on PC, I have not bought a VR headset for PC yet because of the insane graphics card prices we had).
Why taking out the lenses and making all the instruments and the visuals blurry?

And what could make flight simming more immersive? Wow I don´t know an answer to that question…
But there is only one answer possible: RTX raytracing, and VR.
There is no better gaming or simming possible than VR.

[TilosKhann9943]

Why not try having your partner point out the exits as you get prepared to fly and then have them bring you a hard mini bread roll, a slab of butter and a plastic knife once you’re at cruising altitude? Works for me.

[IdleClamp445201]

Definitely need a few of these.