questions of an 'old' fs2000 user

[joers]

Hi,
I have been using Microsofts FS for a number of years and I had great fun with them. I have also used other flightsims like Flight Unlimited, Sierra 99, and FLY I, but after a short while of using them I always get back to FS2000. One of the setbacks for the others seems to be that it's too much hassle to learn all those different keys to activate various controls e.g. autopilot, the NAV systems, engine start and shutdown, familiarity with the menus and so on...
And of course there is a lot of shareware out there for FS2000, which I don't find for the others (possibly I just have not noticed them). Eg. the 'native' FS planes in my setup make about 10 percent of all the (good) planes I have collected so far, thanks to the scores of unselfish developers out there.

1. I am contemplating buying X-Plane, but I don't want to learn too many new keystrokes. (too busy doing other things, I guess.)
My question to experiencced X-Planers would be: How much re-adjustment does one have to go through, to fly x-plane coming from MS fightsims?

2. Anyone aware if X-Plane plans a new (major) release? I would hate buying a new sim at present if a new version was due shortly.

3. One of the views in Sierra 99 allowed that great view from the pilot's seat over the aircraft's realistically rendered nose. This view was the one which made me feel closest to sitting in a 'real' aircraft. Microsoft sims never even came close to it. All you get is just cockpit view or wide-angle.
Is there anything comparable in X-Plane?

I wonder if there are other flightsimmers who get pestered by similar questions?

thanks guys,
Joe

[puterjoe]

Joe,

I use both X-Plane and FS2000, and I like features in both of them. Are the keys the same? No. But I wouldn't judge the good parts of X-Plane based on the key settings. The physics are a bit better than FS2000, and that's the main reason I like it.

As for upgrades, they are free through version 5.99. I bought mine at version 5.42, and have received every update since then for no cost.

If you want to give it a go before buying, you can download the demo from www.x-plane.com, or from my site at http://www.flightlabs.com, and it will let you try it out for a period of time.

One of the 'cool' things about X-Plane is its expansion onto Mars. He's got programmed into the simulator the physics as if you were on Mars. Now, there's interesting flying. :)

Joe
FlightLabs.com

[joers]

Thanks Joe, appreciate your feed back!
I logged onto your site and I think you got yourself a new regular.

I won't do the demo download though, as I am still on 56k at home and work is out of the question.
I also noticed I will need to download Direct-X 8 from Microsoft!

I think the argument of better physics compared to FS2k is a convincing reason to buy X-Plane.

Any idea when X-Plane might consider ugrading to Version 6?

Joe

[md82usa]

Making the switch from FS to X-plane takes little, if any major effort. Most keys are the same (eg: G=gear) and you can play without using the keyboard, becuase all dials, handles, ect. are clickable. I own both FS2000 and X-plane and i use X-plane more than FS simply becuase i love the graphics, effects and its so smooth. No bad frame rate. It also simulates space flight, something MS has never thought of. When i bought my copy off the store shelf, it was version 5.52 so i get free updates to 5.99. I currently run X-plane 5.66. X-plane also includes editors for scenery, planes, and part maker (lets you build wings/airfoils). It also comes with a weather breifer (real world weather can be downloaded seperately). All for a low price of $39.99. The only downside is that not all planes have a custom panel bitmap. The only default planes that do are:

A320/A330/A340
777
B-26
C-119
Kingair 200
(maybe a few more)

But as i said, x-plane comes with Plane Editor, so panels can easily be edited. For more info and downloads go to
www.x-plane.org or x-plane.com

Bob :-cool

[joers]

$39.99. You got to be kidding.
Here in in Australia take that times two and a bit.
It's worth a think over here.

[sam3d]

hello my friend.
here is a copy of a message I posted here a while ago.

X-plane.
it's an exelent "real plane" simulator that has the absolute best models I have ever seen it comes with over 40 planes and that includes a couple of r/c planes ,jet liners fighters etc , you can even fly the greatest glider the space shuttle!
I leke X-Plane even better than Microsofts flight simulator 2000 pro because of the awesome flight models, they are SO REALISTIC! i mean REALISTIC!

you can see crops of smoke as the tires touch down,
It has an exelent ATC interface and A great realtime weather that actually updates the weather in the sim according to the real weather in intervals as short as every 60 seconds!
The only thing MS flight simulator 2000 has that's better than x-plane is te scenery But then again, X-plane runs really smooth in my system, and I have a 750 mhz AMD with a 32mb Nvidia TNT2 accelerator and FS2000 does not run as smooth in my pc.

X-plane was originally retailing for over $200. but now you can get it for under $40.
the gratest thing about it is that you can download the full version for free!
now wait a second before you say 'yeah right"
yes you can download the full version for free but if it does not detect the cd then i acts as a demo, and your joystick stops working after 5 minutes.
isnt it great!lol I'm sounding like I 'm interested in getting clients for X-plane right? lol

Now, The developer is Austin Meyer, this guy is a genious!
he keeps improoving the sim almost twice a month!
and you can download all the updates FOR FREE! (of course you will need to have the cd.) but hey! I am really impressed with this guy.
and if you want to download the "demo" emailme for the link ok?


Hello, my name is Sam Alejandre and I am A loyal flight simmer I have fs 95, fs 98 and FS2000 and I LOVE fs2000
and I am very excited about the announcement of fs2002!


If they could incorporate into the upcomming version of the sim some sence of mission! I mean the graphics might get as real as an image of a DVD but there is no sence of mission! I mean like delievering passengers safely from one place to another and being promoted in the game and as you secceed in more and more challenging trips you would be allowed to fly bigger an better aircrafts.

Great it would be if we could see passengers aboarding the plane even if it was a small movie that played when the plane gets near the terminal.

I want to congratulate MS for the ATC interface you will add to the fs2002 version!

Now I also have X-plane from Laminar Research, and letme tell you! it would be awesome if MS people could also add the kind of animation they have, just look at the realism of the landing gear as they tuch down! they're pushed in the fuselage reflecting the great weight of the plane, THAT really gets me!, not to mention the puffs of smoke and the screetching sounds.

One different POWERFULL thing about x-plane that I think a lot of flight simmers would love to have in fs2002 is the different camera views that x-plane has, I love the static cam that allows yo to see the plane in fly-by, that way can let you really appreciate the speed of the plane!

[joers]

Hi Sam,
thanks for your response. By the way my name is Joe Schaefer.
I actually bought x-plane a few weeks ago, and even though i am possibly not an expert on it yet, at least i know what we are talking about.

Agreed the frame rates on x-plane are spectacular, to which in comparison Microsoft's fs2k just can't stack up. My machines is a little faster than yours and i have got 128 MB RAM, (I am using my computer mainly professionally), but I can tell you fs2k is still slow! In some cases of high utilization the frame rate sinks to below 20! (And I am certain my machine is nicely tuned!)

The plane I seem to like flying most is the old boxcar, since when you toggle the views around you feel like sitting in a real cockpit. In some of the other planes the interior is a little more basic.

if i made a quick (possibly incomplete) summary i possibly would say:
+ great frame rate
+ some good planes
+ great whether scenario
- plane response under cross wind landing scenarios too docile, you have to fight a lot harder in fs2k.
- i like the enroute maps with the VOR frequencies
- the seaplanes keep bouncing too much, when landing, and they never come to a standstill.
+ love the possibility to influence the height of the waves.
- tremors when plane is on the runway,
- the environment: that's obviously where microsoft has got the nose in front. but every body knows that, they have an army of programmers and no programmer, ingenious or not, can compete with that.
I hope Austin still can improve on the environment resolution, as the landing of air planes is so much harder when one can't see how much above the ground the plane is, expecially when one has this dangerous habit of coming around the bent to line up with the runway, which then of course is not always in view.
- the engine start procedure on the airplanes could be a little more intricate than just mixture and pitch adjustments.

As I said I am not an expert, and some of the things i kept whinging about, may just be a consequence of my ignorance. Apologies in that case. I also have not had the nerve yet to download 70 mb on my 56 k line.

you might be interested in one article, which i found on the web concerning fs2002. it mentioned that the frame rate is outstanding and the test pc was quoted to be equipped with 256 mb of ram (forgot the cpu speed). the article was very much MS biased, possibly written by them. in any case, translating microsoft's self-interest motivated enthusiasm into real peoples language: you either get prepared to beef up your pc or you better start saving.

I also agree on your idea with the mission. This might make it more lifely.

joe