FS2004 and Beyond >>> Wish List!

By Ali Mujtaba

Microsoft has gone through great pains in producing the ultimate Flight Simulator FS2002 after FS98. Hey did I leave out FS2000? The answer is yes because it was such a technically flawed Flightsim ridden with poor framerates and heaps of other problems. But it proved to be a good testbed for fs2002 like fsfw95 proved to be one for the versatile FS98. With the advent of FS2002, the simming world has entered a totally new world of advancement such has High graphic details, Aircraft with full array of moving parts, complex sceneries and wonderful special effects. But there still a couple of things that haven't changed eversince the first Microsoft Flight Simulator emerged on the scene. Microsoft, as we know, will be coming up with FS2004 probably by next fall. Here is a wish list of things which I expect FS2004 or later versions of MSFS to have. I maybe asking a lot but hey, aren't we living in the 21st century and going through an amazing pace of advancement so FS shouldn't be an exception. Ok without further ado here is the wish list.

1. Default Aircraft Visuals:

Apart from GA aircraft, the jetliners look pathetic. The 737 looks like a killer whale, the 747 a die-cast Toy model and the 777........ well what can I say. It doesnt look anywhere near a 777 with those awfully ugly cockpit windows. Instead of adding new aircraft, I suggest that Microsoft should improve those jetliner visuals! In addition to the Virtual Cockpit in jetliners and some GA aircraft, Full passenger cabins should also be added. Another feature which is quite common now is the flexing wings in big airliners such as the 777s and the 747s. But Microsoft should go one step further by adding features such as shaking wings and engines while taxying or flying through heavy turbulence.

2. 2D panel or Virtual Cockpit?

I seriously believe that the concept of a "clickable" virtual cockpit is a welcome change but Microsoft should keep in mind that it shouldn't compromise performance. Total elimination of the 2D panel wont be a good idea as the concerns of the panel designers should be kept in mind.

3. FMC ( Flight Management Computer )

Its about time that Microsoft introduced a fully functional FMC in their upcoming Flightsim2004. What good is the phrase " As real as it gets" when you dont have a fully functional FMC. As a starter, all the existing jetliners ( 737-400, 777-300, 747-400) should have their respective FMCs.

4. Weather Radar

A fully functional weather radar should be included in the upcoming versions of MSFS

5. TCAS system

A couple of talented freeware designers have designed some very good gauges which show air traffic information or AI traffic as it is known in FS2002. Now is about time that Microsoft should learn from the example set by these freeware designers and include a truely working TCAS system.

6. AI Traffic

This is perhaps one of the best additions to the existing version of MSFS. It virtually eliminates the need of making a seperate aircraft dynamic scenery. Slight improvments to the AI traffic engine would be a plus. Apart from this, they should also include an AI traffic editor or manager in their "PRO" versions.

7. Ground Crew Vehicles and Staff

The push back feature was a welcome change in FS2002. It eliminated the need for simmers to use the "slew" command to move the aircraftback. But it doesn't look right at all for an aircraft to moving back itself. Its like adding a reverse gear to an aircraft. Microsoft has ignored the concept of Ground crew Vehicles for a long time now and the time is ripe to add this feature. All ground crew vehicles should be included such as Follow me trucks, Push Back Trucks, Passenger stairs, Passenger buses, Cargo handling vehicles, Fire Trucks, Snow Ploughs, Marshallars, etc. And all of them should be controlled via radio communications such as in real life. Only then MSFS would qualify in the " as real as it gets " category.

8. Scenery and Environment

a.The Autogen feature has revolutionized the FS scenery design. However the airports need to be further improved and the major airports should be assigned different textures so that developers can modify them to their liking.
b. Overall FS2002 has been on the dark side. Microsoft should brighten up things! Addition of city traffic like cars and trains would be a plus. Also all airports should now have proper night lightings with Flood lights. The airport in my region goes completely dark after sunset as if we're having power cuts ( A common routine in my part of the world ).
c. Mountain textures also need a great deal of improvement. Photoreal textures would be a welcome addition. But the frame rates issue should be kept in mind
d. It would be great to have animated flight crews and passengers walking to and from the aircraft and in terminals etc.
e. Animated trees during heavy winds would be a geat feature. This technology has already been acheived in the form of FSNAT in Wilco's latest Products A320PIC and AIRPORT 2002 ( www.wilcopub.com )
f. Birds are a menace and every pilot's worst nightmare. A Bird strike feature should be added in the next versions of MSFS to add a realistic touch to the game.
g. Flyby Views alongwith shaking of head when rolling on ground and flying in turbulence should be added. This technology has already been achieved in FS2002 and the module is available for free at www.anticyclone.be
9. In-flight Emergencies

In-Flight Emergency feature was the hallmark of Wilco's outstanding 767PIC addon for FS2000/2002 which had earned laurels for this great product. This special feature should be added in the latest versions of MSFS. Engine fires, Tire blow ups, Hydraulic faliures should be the primary features. They should be handled and counteracted with the help from the ground as well in the air through ATC as in real life.

10. Crash Effects

Microsoft has uptill now ignored to add any real crash effects. Either the aircraft breaks up or gets stuck in the ground and the game is over. What we need are real crash effects and real crash landings with Fire trucks rushing to the damaged aircraft. In other words the aircraft should break up systematically in accordance with the nature of the crash

11. Black Box ( optional/ if required )

A black box feature should be added to record the crash data.

12. Aircraft Maintenance and load configuration utility

An aircraft maintenance utility be added to analyze aircraft performance, passenger and cargo load and fix any technical problems- a sort of a "stategic game element" to the game.

13. Real Weather

The real weather option in fs2002 is not real enough. Thats where Payware and Freeware utilities such as FSMETEO, Active Sky and Getweather come into play which offer much more realism in downloading and representing the real weather. Microsoft should make great strides to improve the inbuilt Real Weather Utility.

14. Developer Utilities

Induction of GMAX utilities for designing aircraft and scenery object was a much needed addition to FS2002. But the way Microsoft left us in the lurch by not including "proper" tutorials or a guide on how to make aircraft and scenery wasn't a good idea ( they then released the tutorials on their website alongwith their SDKS ). What happened has happened. Everyone makes mistakes. Lets not cry over spilt milk. Whatever developer utility or utilities ( most hopefully it would be GMAX ) microsoft plans to include in their latest version of MSFS, they should include full blown tutorials on how to use them in conjunction with MSFS. I would suggest that they include atleast four seperate developer utilities.

- one for designing aircraft and scenery objects such as GMAX
- second should be soley for designing airports and adding Navaid data
- third for panel design ( I.E if Microsoft plans to add 2D panels )
- AI traffic manager in which users can make and modify their own Flight plans by using their favourite aircraft. ( One such utility is available for free made by the talented Lee Swordy ) Well this is my wishlist for the next versions of MSFS.
Either I may have left a lot of things or have asked a bit too much. But Nothing is impossible and I wish Microsoft goodluck in their endeavours of making us quality Flight Simulators as they have done in the past for the whole of Aviation enthusiasts and aviators around the globe.

\/ Peace, Ali Mujtaba,

Islamabad, Pakistan.