I didn't get what I paid for

[gordie3640]

I need to express my disappointment and frustration with Microsoft and its FSX. I am a retired pastor; a computer USER not a computer DEVELOPER. I love to fly but can’t afford a plane so I purchased a CH Flightsim yoke and FSX. I’ve tried with no success to communicate this disappointment directly to Microsoft with no satisfaction.

 

I live near an airport located close to the Western Shores of Lake Michigan. There are three iconic lighthouses within a thirty-mile stretch of the shore. However, none of them appear in the “Deluxe Edition.” It is like buying a watch on line then discovering that it has only four numbers on it. But wait. Somehow I discover that there is the potential of adding scenery objects, but I have to perform several developmental tasks perfectly. The result will be “tools” in my SFX. Never mind Microsoft doesn’t tell me this and they don’t tell me how to do it.

 

A third party developer evidently realizes this same frustration and graciously provides software called “Scenery Shortcut.” It takes a little extraneous coding, however, I’m able to do it and now I have lighthouses with gulls flying around them plus several other local landmarks that make flying much more realistic. But wait. I receive a new computer as a gift but it runs on Windows 10 and “Scenery Shortcut” is no longer compatible and my landmarks have all disappeared.

 

I have the potential to place objects but, evidently I missed something in one of the many SPs installed and DLLs modified (thanks to a lot of willing developer types). So still no “Tools.”

 

I paid for these objects but don’t get to enjoy them because I didn’t get what I paid for: something that works when it comes out of the box.

[gordie3640]

I didn't expect my landmarks to be there. However, they supposedly made it possible to add with SDK but didn't bother to tell me how to make it work, but started with the default that object placement was DISABLED!

[lnuss]

Hmmm... I've had FSX Deluxe (now with SP1 & 2) since it came out in late 2005, and I was never aware that the program included object placement tools, as such. I knew that the SDK provided (provides) lots of tools for programmers, and lots of information about the sim's internals, but I was not aware of an actual included object placement tool.

 

But wait. Somehow I discover that there is the potential of adding scenery objects, but I have to perform several developmental tasks perfectly. The result will be “tools” in my SFX. Never mind Microsoft doesn’t tell me this and they don’t tell me how to do it.

 

So if they didn't advertise it, you didn't read claims (by MS) that you could add objects, and you "Somehow discover" there might be a tool, I don't understand what there is to complain about. They provided the SDK (in the Deluxe edition, but not in the other version back then) so that third party developers could do as they've always done in MS sims. And you're talking to MS about this a number of years after they completely dropped the program, and even the staff that created it?

 

And please note: SDK = Software Developer's Kit, so it's aimed at programmers, not at laymen, they didn't tell you you could do your own add-ons "as is", so why did you expect to be able to add anything without add-ons? MS certainly provided all they advertised -- the rest is a nice bonus, for those who have the skills.

 

Also, did you go to Microsoft's Product Information web pages? Where they have a tremendous additional amount of information?

 

Note that ADE, which you can download from ScruffyDuck Software, is a FREE and, relatively, easy to use airport development program which you can use to add objects (especially to airports, but elsewhere too), modify airports, or even make up your own airports. There are several payware programs, too, that let you add your own objects, some pretty easy to use.

 

It looks to me as if you got what you expected when you bought the program, or "what you paid for." I'm puzzled at your attitude...

[jorgen.s.andersen]

Just pure speculation on my part, but could the OP's issue be that FSX is maybe installed to the default location? Just a thought that UAC could have something to do with that, especially since this is under Win 10....

 

Jorgen

[gordie3640]

Eternal optimist, I guess. That and everyone is talking about it in flight sim forums. ;-)

[bdf369]

Communicating your displeasure to Microsoft would not help, they abandoned FSX long ago, we're lucky the activation servers are still working.

 

There is an object placement tool in the SDK, with the surprising name of Object Placement Tool. There's a nice and concise tutorial on how to set it up and use it here:

https://library.avsim.net/esearch.php?CatID=fsxsd&DLID=140601

 

If you have trouble installing the SDK, the instructions are here:

http://www.fsdeveloper.com/wiki/index.php?title=SDK_Installation_(FSX)

And troubleshooting installation is here:

http://www.fsdeveloper.com/wiki/index.php?title=SDK_Installation_(FSX)_-_Troubleshooting

 

FSX has a lot of built-in library objects you can place into scenery, there's a convenient web page you can use to browse what's available:

http://lc0277.gratisim.fr/sceneobjects/

 

You'll find lighthouses in the buildings library, and birds in the animals library.

 

Developing scenery for FSX is actually a lot of fun if you take the time to read up and get into it but there is the danger that you'll find yourself spending more time making scenery than flying. :D

 

Personally, for object placement, I use Instant Scenery 3 which you can get from Flight1. It costs some money but works great (I'm using it with FSX on Windows 10).

[napamule2]

The question was: 'Did you install to default folder (ie: C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Games\Flight Simulator X')?. THAT is why Win 10 is not 'co-operating' with you due to UAC restrictions on making any changes to any file in that folder. Simple as that. Please be aware that deletion of FSX has to done right, or again MS rears it's ugly head (hehe), due to needed changes to the registry. You've got to read up (like the rest of us had to do) to make FSX work under any OS and especially Win 7 and now Win 10. It's just new 'stuff' you have to 'cope' with but not impossible to 'fix' with a work around. That's computers for you. Always changing, and like the weather, you don't always get what you 'expect' and on occasion not always what you 'want'. Good luck.

Chuck B

Napamule

[jorgen.s.andersen]

The information needed is already out there. It's a matter of searching the threads in this forum for "installing FSX" or similar, then reading carefully and taking notes. That's what I did when I got back into the game in 2013, and it was very obvious then from what I read that the most critical thing to avoid was installing into the default location. And you pick up so many other useful bits of information on the way.

 

Jorgen

[zswobbie1]

Padre', you seem to be preaching in all churches, including Simviation, about this very issue of yours..

 

I posted this there..

 

Ghost in the machine?

 

Anyhow.... FSX has been long discontinued, BUT still runs perfectly on Windows 10 (please, no debate!) So, FSX works, Windows 10 works, BUT an add-on (non Microsoft) does not?

 

Very quick to always bash Microsoft when 3rd parties do not update their stuff!

 

Padre', Microsoft provided/sold us the basic engine, that we bought, for better or worse (the devil made me do it), & it is/was up to 3rd party developers, both payware & freeware, to offer us add-ons. It is up to them to keep their own add-ons up to date, not Microsoft.

[jorgen.s.andersen]

To this, I can only add: Amen.

 

Jorgen