High-end PC but flight-sim newcomer

[R3ddington]

Hey everyone,

I've been away from PC gaming for 11 years. My last flight sim product was MSFS 2001(!) and have decided to get back in but can't work out which should get my money; X-Plane or MSFX.

I know next to nothing of either sims and might as well be put in the 'abolute newcomer' category but here are my specs:

Intel i5 2500K
Kingston 8GB RAM
Nvidia GTX 660
Crucial 64GB M4 SSD
Caviar Green 1TB HDD
23.6 LED Monitor

Any advice is welcome, cheers.

EDIT: also, any suggestions for a flightstick in the £25-£60 ish category would be helpful too

[MdMax]

Hello !

Just try the free demos of the products:
X-Plane 10 Demo: http://www.x-plane.com/downloads/x-plane_10_demo/
X-Plane 9 Demo: http://www.x-plane.com/downloads/older/
FSX Demo (no more support since 2009 !): http://www.microsoft.com/games/fligh...downloads.html

I was a FS2004 user, but today my favorite flight simulator is X-Plane.

Screen shots here:
http://www.flightsim.com/vbfs/showth...an-in-Lorraine
http://www.flightsim.com/vbfs/showth...ith-the-DR-400
http://www.flightsim.com/vbfs/showth...-King-Air-C90B
http://www.flightsim.com/vbfs/showth...3-VFR-to-Nancy
http://www.flightsim.com/vbfs/showth...FR-Test-Flight
http://www.flightsim.com/vbfs/showth...0-Xtreme-Fun-!

You can also try this free open-source flight simulator: FlightGear

Happy flying !

[falcon409]

The problem with a question like "Which one should I put my money into" is that everyone has a favorite and some are extremely passionate about what they feel is the "best". I am equally upbeat about FSX and the long term usability. Developers continue to knock out extremely high detail models for FSX on a regular basis and with the addition of high res ground textures, environmental addons and superbly modeled and highly realistic airports being done via the Orbx group, I see nothing in X-Plane that can top what FSX has. Add to that the introduction of Lockheed/Martin's P3D system (which works cross platform with FSX) and those two Sims have a lot to offer now and for the foreseeable future. Not saying X-Plane won't get there eventually, but they aren't there right now.

[R3ddington]

Fair point falcon409. It's surprised me coming back into the flight sim games to find it's been abandoned by Microsoft and from what I have discovered so far, there is no leading brand which has taken over from it. That's where I'm struggling. I'm likely to buy future add ons assuming I get on with whichever one I buy, I half expected it to be more clear cut then it is right now, but I suppose that's a good thing. There seems to be something for everyone.

Currently downloading FSX and X-Plane demos. Still not sure which way I'll head at this point.
As a newcomer though, I'm surprised there isn't a product sitting on a shelf in a shop coming out with annual or longer updates like I remember, or maybe I just haven't looked into it enough yet.

[sleightflight]

I wouldn't compare x plane 10 to fsx outright cos fsx has come a long way with all the add ons , you really need to compare x plane 10 to fsx with Rex essentials , & either orbx pacific north west or horizon photo scenery & UK 2000 airfields & treescapes , cos that is where fsx is now , its come a long way from its original content , x plane 10 is really very recent & at its state of the art at the moment , Google YouTube ,fsx with Rex essentials or horizon photo scenery , & then look at x plane 10 vids. Hope this helps you.