There has been a lot of negativity on these forums lately, (and perhaps rightly so), but I believe we need to take the time to celebrate and appreciate what we do have.
I’ll start:
(IMHO) it blows every other sim outta the water.
I have both XP-11 and XP-12, (with a complement of payware and freeware add-ons), and to be perfectly honest, they sit and collect dust.
“Is it live, or is it Memorex?”
There are several videos showing side-by-side views of both a real flight and a MSFS sim flight, comparing realism. For example, there’s a video showing a landing at Gatwick and I am hard pressed to tell which is which.
Yes, you can have it your way!
Not unlike Burger King, you can configure MSFS to meet the requirements of just about everyone, either natively or through an add-on.
For me I really like the texturing detail that can be achieved. Some photos people have been posting it’s almost impossible to tell that these all come from a game/sim and aren’t actually shot IRL. Before whether in XP/P3D or other FS versions you could always tell. But with MSFS it’s difficult sometimes.
Im sad to say, as I’m retired with time on my hands the sim has taken over my life pretty much 2-4 hours every day. I use Neofly and OnAir and currently doing a visit every Capital world trip in the Comanche using OnAir. It’s like anither job!
I have the odd issue but the quality of the game, immersion, etc, blows me away. Love it.
Flight Sim 2024 on the horizon doesn’t faze me - I buy EA Sports new F1 edition every year and havent completed a season yet (MSFS fault)
My opinion is that I will never, ever enjoy my flights as much as with MSFS 2020.
My experience with MSFS 2020 is spectacular in every way.
I think that people who have problems or lack of feeling with MSFS 2020 and forgive my opinion is a lack of configuration as it is life.
If everything is set up well it can maximize your flight experience.
So for me it is! 100% satisfaction
I like and appreciate all the extra FREE stuff, I can continue to keep getting from MS/Asobo, without having to pay anything extra. (even if I have no use for them - its nice to see my Hard Drive filling up so nicely)
I also appreciate and like the announcement of Special Surprises, yet to come, that make my enjoyment of MSFS so exciting.
I also like and appreciate the challenge of figuring out what has been broken, each time there is an update, and all the time it takes.
I love most aspects of MSFS but with all the CTDs and problems I have read about I think they have overextended things by having too many airports, planes, etc. on the sim; they just can’t keep up! And why are there so many airports, planes, etc.? I will leave it to you to figure it out but I have my suspicions. I was once told by someone much more senior than I that they would rather have a “healthy, smaller herd than a large and sickly one.” I think we are seeing the latter now with MSFS. May be MSFS 2024 will be different but we will see. I do know that no company can make an unlimited number of products and very few can have them on their books but this is a case MSFS is facing.
Maybe the problem is not the quantity of Plane and Airports, but more the world in which those item exist, and the fundamental issue that affect every plane & airport, whether it be One or 10000.
Its not as if the problem is too many oil companies, producing to many variation in gas, or the car manufactures producing to many varied cars, but instead is the massive dysfunction of the road systems that these car are expected to use, and no available Highway code, to inform drivers how they should drive on those roads.
Having the opportunity to experience aircraft and fly in locations I could never experience in real life is a huge part of what I love about the sim.
As a person with a voracious “lifetime of learning” mentality, I highly value the need to educate myself in areas of aviation and flying that are new to me. With the continuous improvements in realism (eg. Working Title’s Garmin units) I’m able to continue my learning of new systems and procedures. This is a huge part of what I love about the sim. I spend so much more time reading operating manuals, POHs, aviation magazines, Wikipedia articles, etc. all because I want to understand better what I do in the sim. My iPad’s Books app is loaded with pdf versions of reference materials for aircraft, Garmin units, autopilot units, etc.
Being able to explore the world from the air and have it look like what I see from down on the ground is a remarkable achievement. I’ve spent so much time flying over California that I can now navigate visually with ease by identifying the lakes, reservoirs, mountains, deserts, highways, towns/cities, etc. that I’ve explored over my lifetime of living here. I cannot overstate how much I enjoy this perspective of exploration.
Having a professional IRL flying career for 30 years and been using simulators from PC to procedure trainers to full motion Class D simulators for as many years, I’m disappointed.
It started out good - at launch it looked amazing even though it had some bugs, but I was certain those would be fixed. With SU5(Xbox) the visuals was downgraded and a bunch of new bugs was introduced.
This is also when focus shifted from being a simulator to a game. All sorts of things like air races and maverick was prioritzed instead of fixing bugs and improving the simulator.
ATC is rubbish, only cumulus clouds, can’t set visibility, flight characteristics is really poor - the list is way longer.
Sorry to say it’s not a simulator - it’s a game.
We were promised a ten year commitment and that promise is broken now too.
MS/Asobo now wants us to spend more cash on MSFG 2024 - Microsoft Flight Game 2024 (it can’t be called Flight Simulator).
Well, not on my watch!
I respect your opinion but I don’t share it. discredit MSFS 2020 and demote the game because many people do not know how to use its full potential or because now it seems that the textures do not look quite right, I do not see a compelling reason to say that the Simulator has passed to the game. MSFS 2020 well configured and well optimized as is my case. Enjoy each flight to the fullest. If to this we add some accessories such as Yoke gas lever pedals and countless other things it will greatly improve our flight and simulation experience and of course configured in realism and not as it appears by default to be able to play with an Xbox controller since it is focused for all audiences.
This is not a simple question; I tried to be concise, so please excuse my lengthy text, which might cover points already mentioned previously
Love the fact that it’s a sandbox, giving users the ability to personalize their experience to their liking, especially for PC users, with a vast array of free content available. The open-world nature of Microsoft Flight Simulator allows us to explore the entire globe and create our own unique flying adventures.
Photorealistic Graphics: The game’s cutting-edge graphics engine creates stunning and realistic visuals in breathtaking landscapes and sceneries. From soaring over iconic landmarks to flying through mesmerizing sunsets, the attention to detail is truly impressive.
Real-Time Features: The integration of real-time weather and air traffic brings a sense of authenticity to the simulation. We can experience ever-changing weather conditions, which adds a layer of challenge and realism to the flights. Furthermore, the live air traffic feature makes the skies feel alive, just like in the real aviation world.
Fidelity and Realism: Microsoft Flight Simulator strives to replicate the real world as closely as possible. The accuracy of terrain, cities, and landscapes is constantly improving, thanks to regular updates and data enhancements.
Continuous Updates and New Content: Asobo Studios and Microsoft have been actively supporting the community with frequent updates and exciting new content. Whether it’s new aircraft models, additional airports, or region expansions, the developers’ dedication to improving the simulation provides players with a constantly evolving and fresh experience. I waqnt to reward all the Group Flight who take us every week in great places, and Q&A to devs don’t leave us in the dark.
Community-Driven Ecosystem: Microsoft Flight Simulator has fostered a vibrant and engaged community. Players share their creations, such as liveries, flight plans, and add-ons, making it easy for others to enhance their own experience. The active community involvement enriches the simulation and creates a sense of camaraderie among aviation enthusiasts.
Accessible to All Skill Levels: unlike the first series hard to enjoy, today It s accessible to beginners and casual players and satisfy hardcore simmers. The game provides various levels of assistance and customizable settings, allowing newcomers to enjoy the simulation without feeling overwhelmed, while still offering depth and complexity for experienced pilots.
Growing Third-Party Ecosystem: Microsoft Flight Simulator has fostered a growing third-party ecosystem, with various developers creating high-quality add-ons, aircraft, and sceneries. This enriches the simulator with an even wider range of content and options for players to enjoy.
Overall, Microsoft Flight Simulator has successfully captured my attention, becoming my go-to flight simulation experience. Unlike my past experience with FS98 on an old Pentium I PC, which I never truly enjoyed, this latest iteration has kept me engaged for over 1500 hours of flying time. I can confidently say that I have transitioned from a novice to a seasoned flight simmer, with a wealth of knowledge in various aviation aspects now under my belt.
Just to add to this post, I have been “flying” simulators since the mid-80s. And while I am not a pilot (hoping to start PPL next year), I am completely amazed and blown away by this modern simulator.
I will fully admit, that yes I have had many issues with the FS2020 as many have, but for the most part many of those have been fixed by Asobo, or by 3rd party’s. The complexity of the software I think is something that many people don’t conceive. To build a fully immersive world, weather, flight dynamics, etc is not easy…. YES FS2020 is not a Level-D sim, it’s not RedBird, or other FAA approved trainer, it’s not intended to be. It’s a $60-130 product… think about that for just a moment….
So what do I appreciate? I appreciate Asobo for ALL the hard work they put into this sim on a daily basis, I appreciate Microsoft for making this possible, and I don’t care that its a money maker for microsoft/asobo. Just the fact that this amazing sim exists is an achievement….
And I excited for FS2024? Absolutely!!! Even if it isn’t perfect, even if there are issues, I will continue enjoy this sim everyday and be blown away by the incredible scenery, aircraft and ability to explore the world from my home.
I was just remembering those who are lucky enough to have decent VR rigs, and how one person said that the first time he took off wearing it and looked down, REALLY looked down, he almost wet himself and the feeling of having your stomach drop to your feet was amazing!
Even though I’m a 2D user, I can affirm that during my early hours of flying, there were a few occasions where I experienced vertigo , especially when making a left turn and seeing the ground on my left side facing me. It’s a very strange feeling, just like in real life
There’s just so, so much! but one of my main appreciations is the open world, the whole globe being our sandbox.
I love making up scenarios like, ferrying a plane from the Miami Keys to St Barts, tracking fuel burn and costs the whole way! Or anytime I purchase a new aircraft I like to fly it back to my home airport. I’ve taken a few Cessnas from their factory in Wichita Kansas back home to Denver. As well when I bought my Aviat Husky, flying it out of their “factory” in Afton WY up to Jackson Hole to shake the new bolts. Then back to Afton and all the way home to Denver.
Lately I’ve been focusing on rotorcraft. Making up scenarios like Arial Construction, helping Sling Load materials to remote mountain cabins. Fire fighting with my imaginary Bambi bucket, Or even visiting the local cattle ranches to help herd and tag cattle from the helicopter. And of course the typical emergency medical transport visiting different hospital helipads around the world.
I’ve got a big imagination so I guess that helps!
I’ve learned so much from actual flight, to aircraft systems, to procedures and ATC calls. There hasn’t been a day I don’t think about flying in the sim, I simply love it.
One of my other huge appreciations goes out to the community of flight simmers. On YouTube people like PGatcomb and Alpha Hotel Flight Simulation have given me so much knowledge it’s insane! The twitch community involving others in group flights and fly alongs are always a fun time. The community on these forums, while yes can be negative at times, there’s so much benefit to all of our “hanger talk.”
I love the scenery. The high quality view of Earth is mind blowing, and its all SAT, real… Flying over a neighborhood with beautiful huge trees and nice homes, on approach to Gillespie in San Diego, flying over the glaciers of South America, flying the valleys of North Italy and also Switzerland, the beaches of Nantucket and Cape Cod… Just AWESOME…
Love some of these small super high detail small airports.
And also the extreme mesh capabilities of the sim platform. How we can have super detailed planes now.
When I am in the sim itself, it’s my place to relax and escape from the stresses of the real world (while still being in “the world”, lol). My personal Zen!
The community. All the camaraderie and free time fans give to each other in support of our shared hobby. (from the awesome freeware devs, technical advice and support, recommendations & reviews of new products to try, advice on how to use those products if we have issues, to event organisers giving a focal point of interest to explore the world with others and do things we may not think of doing on our own).
The scope of the sim itself. It’s exciting to be part of this journey and seeing an old favourite hobby of mine progress in leaps and bounds with the help of third parties. What is around the next corner? Who knows but I can’t wait to find out.
The endless tinkering and additions / improvements we can make to our setups (software and hardware) to make things even more enjoyable or tailored to what we want most from MSFS.
Seeing 3rd party developers pushing the quality ever higher (particularly of aircraft, recently) and discovering what they produce next. This ties into the “endless” point above I suppose.
There is always something to do or look forward to. Or learn to do better in the way we fly. (E.g. mastering helicopters, airliners, glass navigation, VOR, racing, aerobatics).
Exploring photogrammetry cities now that I have a PC that can handle it smoothly is simply mind blowing when the quality is good (which varies a lot haha). There is just so much to see in some of their latest official PG cities (huge areas) and pretty well detailed now. I still have not even visited most USA cities so I still have a lot to do!
Simply this is my main and almost only hobby (that I have time for) and I think about it every day. I’d be pretty sad and lost without it, but I guess I’d find something to do!
pretty much 2-4 hours every day. I use Neofly and OnAir and currently doing a visit every Capital world trip in the Comanche using OnAir. It’s like anither job!