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It's incredible to me that one may have such an intense love/hate relationship with anything, particularly something inanimate. But I've got to tell you, my affection for all things FS related has more ups and downs than the Cyclone Roller Coaster at Coney Island. There's no rhyme or reason as to my occasional ambivalence to flying in our digital world, but there are some things that certainly are hot spots that, when clicked, rev up the old emotions and I find myself watching HBO or playing a "shooter".
There is little surprise that, world wide, economies are circling the bowl. I hear from most of my global friends that "times is hard...". I, for one, may attest to this. There was a glorious time that I would cruise the perimeter of my flight sim world, fingers all a-twitch in anticipation of finding some sort of download (nothing like the thrill of instant gratification, a sensation to which I have become hopelessly addicted) or, perhaps a tad less thrilling, a nifty piece of hardware that has to be shipped (bleah) to the house. Lately, I still perform my searches, but somehow, the thrill is not quite what it was.
Now, there may be several reasons for this lack of pre-purchase tingle, the Pavlovian anticipatory salivation (shorted out yet another keyboard) to which I have become so enamored. For one thing, I think I've bought nearly every damn piece of software that is available out there, and those that I've not purchased, I've received gratis for either contributing voice files or doing beta work. I like 'em all! This certainly explains my zombie-like, slack-jawed and glassy-eyed goose-stepping from web site to web site in an attempt to find something, anything, new and innovative. And, well, it's just not there. What I've yet to figure out is whether this is a result of my throttling back on my spendthrift ways because of the economy, developers reaching a sort of "software writer's block"or if I've reached a saturation point at which nothing short of an actual flight deck in the computer room will "tingle my jingle".
Another issue that comes to mind is the age-old dilemma of just how much crap may one pile on to his/her FS software before the whole damn thing collapses like a wet taco. As you well know, I've reached that tipping point averaging perhaps three times within any given twelve month period, at which time FS2004 gives me "the finger" and quits on me. It says "You've yet again reached the point beyond which I am not designed to go, and therefore I am packing my default folders and leaving. Call me when you've decided to knock off all this add on stuff and wish to enjoy me as I am. You moron." Being dissed by a piece of software is, to me anyway, right up there with hearing the dentist tell me I need root canal. I just love it so much...
So, I'm faced once again with the dilemma of what to keep, and what to toss. Well, not literally "toss". Toss as in "I'll hold off on installing it until I'm either too bored with my rig, or too fuzzy from one medication or another, and I just say 'To Hell with it' and put it on anyway". It's funny how I've come to discover again those things that I really, really love to have in FS and without which I simply cannot live. And also, those things that I formerly didn't think I could live without, but being as I have to remove something, it may as well go. For one thing, understand that I love everything about Aerosoft's AES. The cool trucks, the precise pushback (usually to the wrong side as I still can never remember which button means 'Tail left' or 'Nose left'), the nifty little guy who sports soft casts on each leg but is so tough he reports to work anyway. Well, he'll be having some time to recover from whatever injury it is that makes him walk the way he does (anybody got some baby powder for him?). That's one program I'll be placing on the side. For now. And my weather programs. All of 'em. I've come to realize that Microsoft didn't do a terrible job in creating an acceptable environment in which we may play. Heck, there's even "Real World" weather, of sorts. But the best part is, it works. Kind of.
I've discovered things that I must have in every incarnation of FS. The feelThere birds, the PMDG 73X birds, Level D. Then there are the props, the twins like the Aerosoft Piper Cheyenne or Eaglesoft SR-22. When I'm feeling particularly masochistic, I think I'll reinstall the Leonardo MD-82 (more on this later). You know, an eclectic mix of iron and fiberglass. Jet and bug masher. IFR and VFR. Certainly, there are more developers than I can recall (despite having multiple purchases from almost all of them) who produce stunning renditions of airports, scenery and mesh. It seems lately the majority of my time is spent in pre-flight and taxiing to the active, and the last thing I wish to experience is the default airport scenery. FsPassengers is a lock, without which I am just as likely to do a celebratory barrel roll at the Top of Climb. And with such a wide variety of add ons, why do I still find myself hitting the Escape button in mid flight? Why do I fail to follow through to the denouement? How is it I manage to avoid the approach/landing that is perhaps the most challenging and the finest part of FS?
Alright. Maybe "Hate" is too strong. Perhaps it is the lack of surprise within the program. Sure, there are a number of ways in which to toss a wrench into the fan blades if such is your thing. For me, it would mean dusting off/breaking out all my manuals and learning all those "When the s**t hits the fan (blades)" checklists. I'm thinking I'm a little beyond that which it would take to undertake that little project. When things turn ugly now, my predominant reaction is to grab a Molson and catch a game and let the FsPassengers find one among them who can land the damn thing. Hey, do you suppose an FsPassenger who is skilled at simming could land the Level D?
So, I can't comfortably afford to buy any more stuff to add to my warehouse of FS add-ons. I can't elect to purchase that Saitek panel over the month supply of dog food (although that was a close call. Word to the wise: avoid a hungry and pissed off Yorkie). My old machine is finally beginning to show its age, and the marriage between it and Flight Simulation programs shows signs of fatigue earlier than ever in my cycle of "Let's install this and see what happens, cause I really really need a Follow Me van". Without all my add ons, upon which I have relied to keep FS exciting and new, I am finding myself less motivated to complete a flight. And perhaps worst of all, there are some seriously cool World War 2 shooters out there that look too cool for words and seem to have jumped the line that is forming regarding my software expenditures.
Sure, I hate this stupid hobby of mine. It is a thief in terms of time, effort and money. It mocks me, cajoles me into spending money I don't have on software I don't need (who said that?), causes me to wonder for the umpteenth time what happened to the last few hours of my life. It's no small wonder I hate this stupid hobby!
So therefore, I'm off to the FlightSim.Com Pilot Shop. The Yorkies have been getting a little bit chunky lately anyway.
Three Green!
Oh yes, in the event I am unable to see you all beforehand, Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good flight!
Chip Barber
rfbarber2@verizon.net
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