Fozzer wrote on Jan 4^th, 2012 at 11:03am:


It will be download only and will only include one of the Hawaiian islands and one aircraft, the Icon A5. It will also be free. You will be required to pay for extra scenery or new aircraft.

Daube wrote on Jan 4^th, 2012 at 11:21am:


...Buggar... ...!

...it looks as though I'm going to have to crawl back under my rock, with my trusty copy of FS 2004 (and FSX)... ...!

It may be a bit of a disappointment then?... ...!

Paul... ...!

......!

Fear not simming chums, look at this as an exciting opportunity for expansion in the simming world.
We've got the incredible (and totally free) Flightgear! Love it.
X-Plane 10 has just come out (must remember to order my copy).
I've just re-installed CFS2 on my rig and have been playing a LOT of Fox Four missions.
There are so many great opportunities out there, just because MS seem to have missed the point doesn't mean the end of the world, it just gives us a chance to diversify. I agree Flight is being marketed in what I would say was the wrong way as a series of expansion modules but hey that's just the way the cookie crumbles and gets totally stamped on.
Some of the older sims are still excellent. Ages back Kevin got me a copy of WWII Fighters as a pressie (we mods are a funny bunch) and I recently put it on my daughters PC for her (my old rig). It is still a damn fine game, okay it isn't the last word in graphics these days but the game play and the realism of the game are superb!
Try not to look on the down side...

*Faints becasue of the awsomeness*

It  should be noted that the team behind the current 'Flight' game had to virtually move a mountain to get this off the ground. Remember the powers that be sold the FSfranchise that had developed over 25 years! Remember FS even 10 years ago?  The team behind 'FLIGHT' are genuinely passionate flight sim lovers just like us. They love what they do and have worked their fingers to the bone getting this project off the proposals list and into reality. They have started again from ground up.  But this time it's closed not open, and that makes a huge difference.

I often think that existing users of FSX/FS2004 sometimes fail to fully appreciate the enormous thing that FS has become! 25 years of development and open input by 1000's of people. It's a real wonder of the modern world.


Meanwhile MS have started from scratch with Flight.

It's a new approach aimed at the 'gamer' who also wants to 'fly' The experience IS great. But the existing users will not be able to avoid comparisons with FSX and the enormous options that it can offer.


Meanwhile we still have FSX. FSX has a long way to go still and it was way ahead of it's time when it was released. It ain't going anywhere. Nor are we.

Meanwhile I suspect almost everyone will download Flight (that can) and try it out.

I'm of several minds on this...

Opinion 1:  Unless the addons are dirt cheap to the point that you can eventually download the entire Earth, and at least fifteen to twenty aircraft when they become available for about 100.00 bucks, I don't see the point.

Opinion 2: Well, I just blew about 700.00 going to college to learn 3D modeling and lighting with Maya in the hopes of practicing up a bit afterwards and creating freeware addons for Flight. Well, back to beating my head against GMax. Maybe someone will come up with the gizmo to export Maya .mb models to FSX.

Opinion 3:  FS9/X LIVES!  Long live FS9X!

Opinion 4: If I were to DL the initial (urgh!) "game", I do hope using a joystick is an option.  Who flies an aircraft with a mouse?  Anyone?


Opinion 5: Maybe Lock-Mar could trim back on the extras and market a "casual consumer" version of Prepar3d?

Opinion 6:  I have too many opinions. 

Reading the article from a FSX sim player point of reference.An old Apple commercial with the hammer being thrown at the screen, and matrix line code appear in my mind as I continue to read. Creativity no.personalization no. We alone will decide all things, and you will keep on paying forever.