FSX Steam VS Original FSX Acceleration asked of anyone having both.

[jring2]

Steam is promising all sorts of advantages to their version over keeping the original. I do understand they are trying to sell software, but thought I would check. Is there any real advantage of Steam over the Original FSX Acceleration? Would it be worth getting the Steam version if I already have a functioning FSX Acceleration? I was not able to find a thread on this.

 

Also I am not that familiar with Steam. Does one have to be connected to an active Steam connection in order to use the software? In other words, if Steam goes out of business then your software no longer functions?

[il88pp]

Multiplayer is built in in steam (like gamespy was), but there are plenty multiplayer servers available already for the disk version. Like vatsim, fsopen, fshost, etc.

Some report performance gain, some performance loss. Nothing definitive.

Only small fixes, e.g. uiautomationcore file is already included.

Not worth it in my opinion.

It's fsx gold, but with an incomplete sdk.

MS has stated missing sdk parts will not be included in future. MS also stated improvements to fsx itself are not allowed.

They are only allowed to repair errors in making the program run on the steam platform itself.

Many payware installers can't find the steam folder's and won't install. Some may be fixed, some never will be.

If you have addons on discs, you will probably have to buy new copies that work with steam.

(I say disks,but steam is intended to be for download content only. Where you can buy everything through steam.)

Steam stated in the release announcement: "We have not seen significant improvements for FSX Steam compared to the FSX Box version. If you have a fully working FSX Box install, we see no reason to switch."

 

I have the disk gold version, working well, lots of addons installed. No way I'll switch over and start setting up everything again. Better things to do.

[PhantomTweak]

I have FSX-SE, but never had FSX before SE came out. I am extremely frugal...ahem...

From what I've seen, the really huge difference twixt FSX and FSX-SE is that Steam made some changes to the FSX.cfg file. They may not, according to their agreement with Microsoft, make any real changes to the main FSX program it's self.

Given the great rate at which this great community makes changes to the FSX.cfg file anyway, I am not certain it's worth spending the money to get the SE version.

The main reason I got it was because it was $5.00 when it came out (and is on sale every now and again), and I am a cheap SOB. I figured it was a chance to see what the whole FSX "thing" was all about. No way did I want to spend the money asked for FSX Box these days.

SO!

Would it be worth getting the Steam version if I already have a functioning FSX Acceleration?

Short answer, NO!

Is there any real advantage of Steam over the Original FSX Acceleration?

Short answer: NO!

Does one have to be connected to an active Steam connection in order to use the software?

Short answer: NO! There is a way, a setting in the Steam menu, that permits using it offline.

In other words, if Steam goes out of business then your software no longer functions?

Not once you have the aforementioned settings all done properly, to the best of my knowledge. I am pretty sure that once it's DL'd and insfalled, and the correct set up configured, then it should keep working, even if Steam ceases to exist. I think (although very seldom).

 

The biggest trouble with add-ons "finding" SE is that Steam buries FSX much deeper in it's directory tree than most people normally put FSX.

Having said that, I don't personally trust auto-installers. I always point them at an empty Temp folder I make someplace, and have them install to there, then place the files into FSX myself. That way I KNOW what's going into where, and if something is messed up, I can remove it quickly and easily. Doing it this way pretty much obviates the whole "finding FSX" problem.

 

Does all that answer your questions adequately?

Pat☺

[Rupert]

Multiplayer is built in in steam (like gamespy was), but there are plenty multiplayer servers available already for the disk version. Like vatsim, fsopen, fshost, etc.

Some report performance gain, some performance loss. Nothing definitive.

Only small fixes, e.g. uiautomationcore file is already included.

Not worth it in my opinion.

It's fsx gold, but with an incomplete sdk.

MS has stated missing sdk parts will not be included in future. MS also stated improvements to fsx itself are not allowed.

They are only allowed to repair errors in making the program run on the steam platform itself.

Many payware installers can't find the steam folder's and won't install. Some may be fixed, some never will be.

If you have addons on discs, you will probably have to buy new copies that work with steam.

(I say disks,but steam is intended to be for download content only. Where you can buy everything through steam.)

Steam stated in the release announcement: "We have not seen significant improvements for FSX Steam compared to the FSX Box version. If you have a fully working FSX Box install, we see no reason to switch."

 

I have the disk gold version, working well, lots of addons installed. No way I'll switch over and start setting up everything again. Better things to do.

 

+ME BTW: The other frequent question is FSX versus P3S. I have both of those and at least 90% of my simming is on FSX. I don't like P3D.

[Tony G]

I've had FSX since release, and have reinstalled it a few times over the years. Last reinstall, I went 100% steam. I prefer it now, and will keep my primary flight sim computer running Steam. I've had no issues with any of my large hangar of FS payware. OOM and random crashes have been reduced. I was pretty much ready to give up on FSX due to random crashes.

 

To each their own, but my experience has been fantastic. Cost me $5.00.

[Egsjr1956]

I have both. Only because I have two computers. Steam edition is on my main computer. This is where I do most of my flying. The box edition I have on the second computer has no changes with the exception of FSUIPC and EZDOK. I use this for more or less testing and comparing the two if I have any issues. Both programs work great. The steam edition is really loaded with all the bells and whistles. I also have FS9,P3dv2.5,P3dv3,and X-plane Steam. Their all good in their own rights. But, again my main time is spent on FSX Steam. If I had to choose one the steam edition would win for one reason. No disc.

[jring2]

Thanks all for giving all the info everyone. From the input, I think I will truck on with my disk sets and my P3d and leave steam for a time when my DVD's stop working. :)

[W2DR]

No need to worry about disc damage/loss/wear. The discs are not copy-protected and the EULA provides for a backup copy. Just copy them, or, better yet, create ISO's, and use the copies when needed.

 

Doug

[howlak]

Same experience and installations as Egsjr1956.

FSX-SE bougth at 5$

 

Dovetail has made more changes than a simply fsx.cfg tweak.

 

FSX-SE in my today low end system has worked "plug and play" as P3D2/3 or X-plane. No need of tweaks anymore.

 

 

HP Pavilion, upgraded

GPU: GeForce 660

CPU: Intel Core i7@2.8GHz. Hyperthreading off.

Memory: 8.00GB Ram

Windows 7 Home Premium

Monitor: 1 23" and 1 17" both Acer

[ScatterbrainKid]

Would it be worth getting the Steam version if I already have a functioning FSX Acceleration?...

Does one have to be connected to an active Steam connection in order to use the software? In other words, if Steam goes out of business then your software no longer functions?

 

Dovetail Games who handle FSX:SE say "We've made a few tweaks with FSX:SE that may improve performance for some users"

I haven't got FSX:SE (I play FSX from 8-yr-old motheaten disks), and am quite happy with it and am not going to buy FSX:SE on the strength of "a few tweaks".

 

PS- I've got 8 other sims and games on Steam and can access them fine.

If Steam goes up the spout I lose the games, but that's the risk we all take, so the best bet is to try to buy standalone games on disk that don't need Steam.

Problem is, many games nowadays will only install through Steam, so we've no choice.

Incidentally if you buy a game on disk it might still have to be downloaded and installed through Steam, and will say so in the packaging small print.

 

To play your Steam games simply log onto your free Steam account then click 'Library' and the list of games that you've downloaded from Steam will come up, for example here's a screenshot of my opening Steam page (I'm PoorOldSpike) with my 8 games listed down the left.

I've selected 'Fleet Command', you see the 'Play' button has come up, I click it and I'm away..:)

PS- All games are different, some can be played without logging into Steam, and some can't, but it doesn't really matter either way.

 

http://i53.photobucket.com/albums/g64/PoorOldSpike/sub3/steam-account_zps2tlifod6.jpg~original

[drobson]

I have both installed on the same computer with zero problems. I do prefer Steam simply it seems to run smoother on my system than the boxed version. It is a bit more difficult to install addons, but many programs are compatible. I, too, bought Steam on sale for $5.00, and is well worth that. (I spend way more than that on beer and snacks).

 

Darrell

[jring2]

. . . . I, too, bought Steam on sale for $5.00, and is well worth that. (I spend way more than that on beer and snacks).

 

Darrell

 

$5?!?! Sheesh! Its $90 atm for the bells and whistles, which I already bought for my FSX original. $25 for bare bones. I wonder how often they have it for the sale price? What came with the $5 one or was it bare bones?

[drobson]

It's on sale quite often.

 

Darrell

[jring2]

No need to worry about disc damage/loss/wear. The discs are not copy-protected and the EULA provides for a backup copy. Just copy them, or, better yet, create ISO's, and use the copies when needed.

 

Doug

 

Thanks for the heads up Doug. I never tried copying them assuming they had some un-copy able file to prevent it as they had in the past.

 

You sound a tad techier than I. How do I create ISO's?

[StringBean]

Its $90 atm for the bells and whistles, which I already bought for my FSX original

 

Then there is no need to buy all of the "bells and whistles" as I believe all of those addons you have bought are already Steam compatible.

 

That package is a pretty good deal for those who have not already bought those addons.

 

peace,

the Bean

[ScatterbrainKid]

The Steam new year sale ended Jan 4th when FSX:SE was only 5 dollars, but here's the link to their FSX:SE page in case prospective buyers want to keep checking the price.

Today (Feb 3rd) it's selling for 19.99 GB pounds (29 US dollars)

 

http://store.steampowered.com/app/314160/

 

PS- at the link scroll a little way down and click the 'See all' tab (yellow arrow) to see the available SE addons (currently totalling 106)

 

http://i53.photobucket.com/albums/g64/PoorOldSpike/sub2/FSX-SE_zpsstucsafr.jpg~original

[loki]

The Steam new year sale ended Jan 4th when FSX:SE was only 5 dollars, but here's the link to their FSX:SE page in case prospective buyers want to keep checking the price.

Today (Feb 3rd) it's selling for 19.99 GB pounds (29 US dollars)

 

http://store.steampowered.com/app/314160/

 

PS- at the link scroll a little way down and click the 'See all' tab (yellow arrow) to see the available SE addons (currently totalling 106)

 

http://i53.photobucket.com/albums/g64/PoorOldSpike/sub2/FSX-SE_zpsstucsafr.jpg~original

 

If one has a Steam account, one can add a game to your wish list and they will notify you when it's on sale.

[ScatterbrainKid]

If one has a Steam account, one can add a game to your wish list and they will notify you when it's on sale.

 

That's kool, but if anybody doesn't want to wait forever, they could buy FSX:SE now for around 19 GB pounds (29 US dollars) which is peanuts anyway in the grand scheme of things. Heck I spend around 20 GBP on food at the local grocers 3 times a week..:)

[StringBean]

That's kool, but if anybody doesn't want to wait forever, they could buy FSX:SE now for around 19 GB pounds (29 US dollars) which is peanuts anyway in the grand scheme of things. Heck I spend around 20 GBP on food at the local grocers 3 times a week..:)

 

And what does your week look like if you had to do without one of those trips to the store?

 

Sorry, just not fond of people being flippant with other's money.

[W2DR]

Thanks for the heads up Doug. I never tried copying them assuming they had some un-copy able file to prevent it as they had in the past.

 

You sound a tad techier than I. How do I create ISO's?

 

Easy to do John but you need a couple of programs. One to create the ISO disc images from the DVD's and another to create a virtual DVD drive to run the created ISO's. Both can be had for free. There are many options around but I've regularly used both of these programs and can vouch that they work as advertised.

 

To create the ISO's: https://www.ashampoo.com/en/usd/dld/7110/burning-studio-free/

 

To make a Virtual DVD drive: http://www.slysoft.com/en/virtual-clonedrive.html

 

Making all this work is really simple. Just load a DVD into a drive, pick the create ISO option in Ashampoo, and, once the ISO is created, right-click on the .iso file and select the Mount option on the newly created virtual DVD drive. Done.....

 

If you run into any issues feel free to send me a PM or just post them here.

 

Doug

[ScatterbrainKid]

And what does your week look like if you had to do without one of those trips to the store?

Sorry, just not fond of people being flippant with other's money.

 

Huh? It's all my money because I'm lucky enough to be single and living on my own with nobody to spend it on except myself..:)

[jring2]

Huh? It's all my money because I'm lucky enough to be single and living on my own with nobody to spend it on except myself..:)

 

Ahhh to be young and unencumbered! Enjoy them whilst they last Scatterbrain. I live on the other end of the spectrum and seriously contemplate any purchase that has something in front of the decimal point :D I was your age once, but they were softer, kinder times. Wish I had mattressed a bit more of what I spent then.

 

Thanks for the links Doug!

[ScatterbrainKid]

Ahhh to be young and unencumbered!..I was your age once, but they were softer, kinder times..

 

Young? Me? Nah mate, I'm 67 for my sins and still unencumbered because I decided in my teens that I didn't want to do 'family', so I've stayed single because I've never had the slightest desire to have a bossy wife and noisy smelly kids..:)

[jring2]

Ahhh. The "kid" threw me off Scatterbrain. :) So much for jumping to conclusions!

[Karl]

Does one have to be connected to an active Steam connection in order to use the software? In other words, if Steam goes out of business then your software no longer functions?

 

I haven't seen that definitively answered unless I missed it. With 3 pages of response, I might have.

 

I have both. I point the FSX:SE to the FSX for aircraft and scenery to save disk space. FSRecorder doesn't work at all in SE. AICarriers needs to tweaking to get it to work. The scenery and aircraft all work well. I don't have anything PMDG or the like.

 

I purchased a scenery from Steam which did not work well (KCGX). They have it encrypted down so I can place it into the boxed version. The support from Dovetail takes weeks, is handled by some folks in Asia, and is not very helpful.

 

I see no advantage in running the SE version aside from some of my buds only have the SE version.