After trying missions, challenges, and freeflights, I've put it aside.

[ramjett]

Hi Simmers,

Flight is free and I had to at least try it out. When I first loaded it I thought it looked good and even though the Ikon was not what I'd choose, I took it out and tried the opportunities offered. The challenges range from pretty easy to no way pal and I chose to stay with the original package and not go to the Windows Live site so I was pretty limited.

The Ikon doesn't climb well and the challenge course requires steep climbs so good luck. The scenery is pretty good but you are all alone...no AI or vehicles or people, it feels pretty dead. I thought the wind action and turbulence was pretty realistic and when you crash it looks like a plane wreck.

Flight is game-like and it is a flying game but in the Ikon there is such a lack of controls I thought it felt pretty cartoon like. My conclusion is that I much prefer FSX.

good flights all, Cal

[benEggleston16]

I feel the same: if you read my (now locked) 'My ~ thoughts' thread, you would think I was a fully formed convert flying FLIGHT as much as I used to FSX but in reality, I after I last updated that thread, I've never flown it since (and have flown FSX)
There's plenty to like but a t the moment, it is FAR too limited
The scenery is AWESOME though

[benny1]

Why buy these little scenery areas ? you might as well buy FSX for 20$ get a dozen nice planes , download OZX and your set. I will purchase Flight the day they offer it on dvd with a large seasonal area , like Northeast USA or something .

[angels355]

Orbx scenery is better from what I've seen.

[StringBean]

Orbx scenery is better from what I've seen.

... and more expensive, so it should be.

peace,
the Bean

[angels355]

... and more expensive, so it should be.

peace,
the Bean

Better investment.

Opa was a nice man.

[bgets]

I've been a fan of Flight Simuator since 1984. Owned every version that came out. I have tried Flight three times and always decide to remove it from my hard drive. Things may change in the future, but for now I am going to stay with FSX.
Bob G.

[ticosimmer]

I aboslutely agree with Bgets, maybe in the future flight will have something to offer, but at this time it is very basic, it's like having a new computer with OS installed and nothing else, soon, you realize you need to start installing software, but with flight, you can't at this time.
Very sad

[aircav1970]

I have played around with Flight! now since it's release day,at first I just hated it but after using it for a while I went ahead and sprung for the rest of Hawaii.Since I already had a Live account I got the Stearman when I completed the first couple of intro flights.It took me a bit to realize that it is a GAME first and foremost,it has good graphics and is smooth, but on my system so is FSX so I will use FSX for my main flying addiction as I could never give up all my Carenado/A2A aircraft and the Orbx/FTX products I have. Flight! is a lightweight bit that really doesn't require any real thought to just go and fly.It does get boring after a very short time much like H.A.W.X. did after a few hours of play.I will keep it as I understand that they are going to release an Alaska pack soon and Bush Flying is my reason for flying period. Like it or not,this is the direction M$ has decided to go in and you either use it or not,it is a matter of pure choice.:)

[angels355]

I have played around with Flight! now since it's release day,at first I just hated it but after using it for a while I went ahead and sprung for the rest of Hawaii.Since I already had a Live account I got the Stearman when I completed the first couple of intro flights.It took me a bit to realize that it is a GAME first and foremost,it has good graphics and is smooth, but on my system so is FSX so I will use FSX for my main flying addiction as I could never give up all my Carenado/A2A aircraft and the Orbx/FTX products I have. Flight! is a lightweight bit that really doesn't require any real thought to just go and fly.It does get boring after a very short time much like H.A.W.X. did after a few hours of play.I will keep it as I understand that they are going to release an Alaska pack soon and Bush Flying is my reason for flying period. Like it or not,this is the direction M$ has decided to go in and you either use it or not,it is a matter of pure choice.:)

If M$ makes a good Alaskan product and makes sales, then good for M$. Hope they have some good aircraft. If they make a good product, then that is a good thing.

[javice]

Why buy these little scenery areas ? you might as well buy FSX for 20$ get a dozen nice planes , download OZX and your set. I will purchase Flight the day they offer it on dvd with a large seasonal area , like Northeast USA or something .Me too just a game FSX is for real flyers I think it stinks !

[ramjett]

I guess I'm not Ramjett, "ace of planes" afterall.

I first tried Flight about a week ago and did some missions, challenges and freeflights. The landscape was good, the plane model was good and the landscape was good. I thought the Ikon was a poor introductory plane since it was slow and underpowered and too easy to fly. I decided to sign on to Win Live and get the Stearman for free and fly that. It is a nice looking plane and flying it well was easy but it is a tough one to land without flap controls and it took me dozens of attempts to keep from crashing and dozens more to keep it on the RW. The challenges and missions have do-overs so I was grateful for that.

So I have found Flight to be a good looking game although devoid of life, vehicles, or planes so it feels more arcade and game-like to me. The intro aircraft are well modelled and fly well but are slow fliers and lack controls and boy do I wish the same keystrokes from FS9 and FSX would work in Flight. The terrain is well modelled and the effect of wind and turbulence feels pretty believable. I have no experience with any addon packages or aircraft.

I will keep this on my laptop because it gives me a portable flying rig and even though it is less realistic using a mouse to fly, it is flying and I can't run FSX or FS9 on my laptop. FSX is still my choice but Flight has merit to me as well.

Laptop fliers and those with less powerful computers may constitute the largest market share for Flight but I can't see any action seeking kid thinking it is anything other than DOA or lame. Without the third party addons beeing made available I think Flight is going to be a tough sell to serious simmers. Its free for the intro package and as I said, I'll keep it on my laptop until a better program becomes available that my laptop can handle.

good flights, Cal

[StringBean]

I thought the Ikon was a poor introductory plane since it was slow and underpowered and too easy to fly....
One of the missions of Flight is to introduce the idea of flying to new people. Having a plane like the Icon helps with that.



It (Stearman) is a nice looking plane and flying it well was easy but it is a tough one to land without flap controls and it took me dozens of attempts to keep from crashing and dozens more to keep it on the RW.
Welcome to the wonderful world of early taildraggers. If they were easy to fly we would not have tricycle gear planes with flaps.

I think the Stearman is a good match with the Icon, sort of a yin yang.


... do I wish the same keystrokes from FS9 and FSX would work in Flight.
You are aware that you can change the key commands?

peace,
the Bean

[ramjett]

Mistah Bean,

Thanks for the thoughtful reply. I'm trying not to be too negative so I really appreciate other viewpoints and your points are well taken. I will take a look at reassigning the keystrokes, I didn't think to do that after my joystick settings went away. In FSX I've flown several taildraggers and had much better results. Perhaps it is , as you say, supposed to be as hard as I found it to be in Flight. I'm still working on those landings.

good flights, Cal

[jomni]

Mistah Bean,

In FSX I've flown several taildraggers and had much better results. Perhaps it is , as you say, supposed to be as hard as I found it to be in Flight. I'm still working on those landings.

good flights, Cal

Flight may be more realistic than FSX in this aspect. Lol!

[mith]

You negative nellies... this thread's soon to be locked... LOL

[tigisfat]

I will say that much about flight: It's the first title of any kind that I feel has even close to reproducing tail dragger ground handling.

[fxsttcb]

...It's the first title of any kind that I feel has even close to reproducing tail dragger ground handling.I have to agree with that. It certainly takes some concentration and finesse on the deck. Shades of my pollywogging, early learning, on a J-3.
Has anyone found a way to reduce control sensitivity in Flight? My CH pedals are way too responsive. Half kick results in full rudder deflection...Don

[kevhead]

Yep I just open it fly around a little and close it. Hey what the heck it's free why not just use it. What they do with it is what people are waiting for I guess. :cool:

[StringBean]

Has anyone found a way to reduce control sensitivity in Flight?
The folks over in the Flight forum at Avsim have had a bunch of discussions about adjusting control sensitivities.

There are some great tips in the Tutorials section of their forum.

Rather than shouting at the wind about whether Flight is a sim or not they are actually talking about ways to tweak what we have to an individuals desire.

Note that I do not have pedals so what follows is not guaranteed to work, but I am happy with the tweaks I made for my Logitech 3D stick.

To adjust sensitivities you need to edit the standard.xml located in C:\Users\YourUserName\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Flight\Players\someHEXcode\Career\Controls

Look through that file till you find the entries for your pedals.

I expect you will need to edit <AxScale>1.000000</AxScale> and <AxNull>0.100000</AxNull>.

Decreasing <AxScale>1.000000</AxScale> should decrease sensitivity and decreasing <AxNull>0.100000</AxNull> should increase the null zone.

It has been reported that changing the default values too much can reduce your ability to perform certain aerobatic maneuvers. Tweak to meet your desired results.

As always, backup standard.xml before editing.

peace,
the Bean

[raimondo2]

Tweak to meet your desired results.

- like FSX ?? :)

[Paxx]

I have to agree with that. It certainly takes some concentration and finesse on the deck. Shades of my pollywogging, early learning, on a J-3.
Has anyone found a way to reduce control sensitivity in Flight? My CH pedals are way too responsive. Half kick results in full rudder deflection...Don

The ch-hanger forum (http://www.ch-hangar.com/forum/forumdisplay.php?10-General-Discussion) might help also. The "CH Control Manager" can deal with most sensitivity issues and saving profiles for different sims.

[fxsttcb]

To adjust sensitivities you need to edit the standard.xml located in C:\Users\YourUserName\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Flight\Players\someHEXcode\Career\Controls
Ahh-Hah! That's exactly what I was looking for!(I think! :confused:) Now to find out how many of those decimal places are active. :D :cool::cool:

Sorry Paxx, but from day one, way, way back, "CH Control Manager" has been a PIMA. It loses it's mind too often.
I prefer to use default calibration and tweak the individual sim or plane itself to suit my style. Thanks for the effort though, I appreciate it.

Now to get beyond my hangs. The 8th install resulted in BSODs on menu clicks(sound familiar?), so #9 is in the wings. Good thing I'm relatively patient, 'eh?..Don