FSX, a first look (with pics)

[G-BOAD]

hey, i had FSX so quite some time and decided to write a first impressions review. i posted it on W900 here:

http://www.wings900.com/vb/general-squa ... -pics.html (http://www.wings900.com/vb/general-squawk-talk/27563-fsx-first-look-pics.html)

enjoy

[Matt Molnar]

Who are you to say you don't see UFO's when you fly to Area 51?! :)

Some of the new features and missions sound pretty neat. What kind of machine do you have? I can't even run FS9 with all the graphics options turned on, so I'm guessing FSX will have to wait until I get a new computer. :(

[SengaB]

Nice Article G-BOAD,
I too had FSX the day or came out. I have been faily disappointed with its performance and bugginess and the lack fo anything improved other than eye candy. Despite all of its short comings I still enjoyed flying it. I think it be cool to get a group of people together and fly sometime.


Gotham, Most people can't run the game well as you know, its kind of pathetic..I mean going from 50+fps that I had with FS9 fully maxed out with Real life airliners installed as AI planes to 6-20fps with average settings in FSX. No AI planes and no Autogen. I'll be getting a new cards in a few months when they come out.

I am disappointed with the taking away of the P2P MP option we had for so many years.

Ive never been a fan of having to connect to gamespy , battle.net or similar sites and stayed away.
I do enjoy the shared cockpit option..

I'll post a few of my shots
Senga

[SengaB]

Heres a few of my new shots from FSX.
For now I dont use autogen as it steals about 50 percent of my FPS :(
http://www.nycaviation.com/hosting/fsx07.jpg
http://www.nycaviation.com/hosting/fsx05.jpg
http://www.nycaviation.com/hosting/fsx04.jpg
http://www.nycaviation.com/hosting/fsx08.jpg
http://www.nycaviation.com/hosting/fsx06.jpg
http://www.nycaviation.com/hosting/fsx02.jpg
http://www.nycaviation.com/hosting/fsx03.jpg
http://www.nycaviation.com/hosting/fsx01.jpg
Senga

[nwafan20]

Nice shots Senga, the formation flying with a 737, awesome!

[T-Bird76]

OUTSTANDING Graphics! The water looks nothing short of real. I might have to add that to my Xmas list!

[Matt Molnar]

Those graphics are pretty, but it must suck at 9fps.

[SengaB]

Yes it does, I had stated that in my previous post. It goes from 8-13fps when I am flying multiplayer and in large cities like NYC, HNL, LAX etc, MIA and DCA areas are pretty much unflyable.
The lear shot on short final was LGA runway 22....at 6 FPS it was prety much unflyable . For now I stay way frmothe big cities.
As you see in the shot with the nuke plants it gets higher when I am by myself.

I feel like this is FS2000 all over again :)

I'm running FSX on a 3.4 ghz Geforce 6800 256MB 1 gig ram system. I can only imagine what many others experience in this game.


Senga

[SengaB]

TOmmy,
Heres a few shot of the Terminal Gate area you asked about. Unfortunatly animated Gates and groundcrews are only at some of the major airports. Flying into HPN I found out that there isn't even a fuel truck at the airport in the sim! So if you fly a BBJ in there you have to taxi over to the manual self serve gas pump on the GA ramp-LAME
I was at like 3-5 FPS with the AI planes and ramp services in NYC. Totally unplayable. Big cities are a no go for me in FSX and probably 80 percent of others. Its like Giant TFR for poor frame rates :)
This 737-800 was being unloaded,loaded when I took the pik.
http://www.nycaviation.com/hosting/fsx09.jpg
http://www.nycaviation.com/hosting/fsx10.jpg

Senga

[T-Bird76]

Senga does the ground crews really unload the plane or is it just static display?

[SengaB]

Everything you see in the pik moves.....I tried to get the fuel truck closer but its moved away before I could take a shot LOL
The tug gives you a push back too. The AI ground crews also taxi all overt the airport and dont just sit at the gates.....you have to be careful not to hit one when you are taxiing around cause they don't stop for you!(give me a break MS!) Wether you are in a Cessna or a 747. If you take a closer look you might even see Mike M !
Senga

[Matt Molnar]

Do the default cockpits have any more functionality? I was frustrated by the shortage of controls in FS9.

[SengaB]

Yes they even included a APU Gasp!!! GLad I don't have to sit there with one engine running so my power doesnt cut off. I usually used the 2d panels in the past but now you cant see over them in FSX.whats the point of having them in FSX now that you cant see over them when you are taxiing, landing/TO.
BTW this quesiton will be comming from someone later......NO FSX does not fix the problem with AI planes comming in at the same time.. Makes you wonder that MS was doing over the last few years! Instead of making a sim unplayable I was hoping they would focus on irorning out the issues that plauged FS9.
FS9 KMSP arrivals
http://www.nycaviation.com/hosting/wtf5.gif
I saved these as gifs so they look kind of funny.

Can anyone pick out the NEW colors NWA DC-9 and A320 in this pik?

Senga

[hiss srq]

the 9 is directly behind a old colors 9 real hard to spot out and the bus in new colors is the second to last plane

[SengaB]

Very good you get a free version fo FSX :)
When I was in FSX a while back I whitnessed this happening again with only TWO planes! I cant tell you how annoyed I was. I was like .. WHYY!!!!!!!!!!!! WHY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! arms raised

Senga

[hiss srq]

Senga can you post some stuff on the airbus and the CR7 for me so I can get an idea of how realistic the cockpits and outside look?

[SengaB]

Sure I'll post some either later tonight or tomorrow. I'll check to see if I have any already on the system.

Senga

[hiss srq]

Shweet!

[G-BOAD]

how do you get a plane to dock, and have the gates and fuel, luggage, and other stuff activate? i don't know how to do it

[G-BOAD]

i lowered some settings, this is the flight deck of the 747.
http://i97.photobucket.com/albums/l233/mateu21/747cockpitFSX.jpg

[hiss srq]

A little fast for that altitude there eh cowboy? :lol:

[G-BOAD]

yeah, was not really flying it, but did it to take the photo.

[hiss srq]

I know I was being a wise guy lol. I always found boeing line of glass cockpit airplanes to have quite an astheticaly pleasing look to them from the pilot seat perspective and pretty well laied out to boot for convinence.

[Matt Molnar]

Looks like FS9. :(

[SengaB]

Ok heres a few cockpit shots of the CRJ you asked about Hiss.
The first one is the 2D Panel layed out with all the extra ones. The second is the virtual. cockpit. The VC is fully functional now basically accept for the MFD and a few other parts.
I'll do the Airbus later today.


http://www.nycaviation.com/hosting/fsx11.jpgxxxx
http://www.nycaviation.com/hosting/fsx12.jpgxxxx
http://www.nycaviation.com/hosting/fsx13.jpgxxxx
http://www.nycaviation.com/hosting/fsx14.jpgxxxx
http://www.nycaviation.com/hosting/fsx15.jpgxxxx

Senga

[nwafan20]

Does the APU system actually do anything in FSX?

[SengaB]

Hiss,
Heres the A321 shots you requested.

Tommy the top shot depicts refueling. The yellow truck os a firetruck (Gabon in Africa)
http://www.nycaviation.com/hosting/a32001.jpg
http://www.nycaviation.com/hosting/a32007.jpg
http://www.nycaviation.com/hosting/a32004.jpg
http://www.nycaviation.com/hosting/a32005.jpg
http://www.nycaviation.com/hosting/A32006.jpg

Senga

[nwafan20]

Senga, do the FIRE switches actually do anything or are they just there to look pretty?

[mirrodie]

Been following this thread and it looks nice.

Senga, what are these new 'missions' like? Can you show a screenshot of mission descriptions? Do they have mini-ojjectives? (catch the localiser, etc)?

Alsol, in one of hte earlier screenshots, looks like you were flying with a bunch of other people online. I love it. Thanks for all the great photos.

[T-Bird76]

Wow I'm impressed big time. I think I'll be putting this on the Xmas list. Senga how are the addon's for it so far?

[MarkLawrence]

My big ones - PMDG and PSS are working on it still...I need to look this weekend into my others - particularly the add-on airport ones.

[G-BOAD]

i got some more:
red bull really low in in the UAE (surprisingly i did not fly from Dubai, like always):
http://i97.photobucket.com/albums/l233/mateu21/redbulllow1.jpg
http://i97.photobucket.com/albums/l233/mateu21/redbulllow2.jpg

737 "JANET" from AMS with engine failures. (two different flights)
first:
failure in E 1
just landed, safely
http://i97.photobucket.com/albums/l233/mateu21/janetfailsafeland.jpg

failure in E 1
took off and crashed

http://i97.photobucket.com/albums/l233/mateu21/janetfail2crash.jpg

[Deltafan2006]

Cool graphics

[SengaB]

G-BOAD how did you get the engine flire :)

I haven't flown the 737 yet

Senga

[SengaB]

For those interested. I think Tommy asked about the airport jetways in fsx. I did find out how to animate them. Press (CTRL J)
However, they only work with the default FSX planes and planes that have been modified to work with FSX and FSX planes. If a plane doesn't have "Contact points" it will not work and you will have to manually add the command lines. The "Contact Points" or Coordinates tell FSX where to position the jetway on the plane.
Under the "exists" line in the "aircraft.cfg" file heres the Boeing 737-800 as an example.
[exits]
number_of_exits = 2
exit.0 = 0.4, 52.6, -5.0, 8.0, 0 //openclose rate percent per second, longitudinal, lateral, vertical positions from datum (feet), type (0=Main 1=Cargo 2=Emergency)
exit.1 = 0.4, -38.5, 4.5, -3.0, 1 //openclose rate percent per second, longitudinal, lateral, vertical positions from datum (feet), type (0=Main 1=Cargo 2=Emergency)
exit.2 = 0.4, 33.5, 3.5, -4.0, 2 //openclose rate percent per second, longitudinal, lateral, vertical positions from datum (feet), type (0=Main 1=Cargo 2=Emergency)
sd
http://www.nycaviation.com/hosting/zl01.jpg
http://www.nycaviation.com/hosting/zl02.jpg
http://www.nycaviation.com/hosting/zl03.jpg
It looks pretty cool also the ground vehicles also come to other coordinates too at other points on the plane.
Senga

[nwafan20]

Man, that looks so cool! Senga, what computer are you running that on? It looks amazing!

[nwafan20]

Also, GBOAD, how did you get the engine fire, that is awesome!

And Senga, can you open the overwing exits? I have always wanted to do that in FS. Are there any emergency slides that can be deployed on any of the exits?

[SengaB]

Matt,
I am operating at the following specs:
P4
3.4ghz
1GB ram
256MB Geforce 6800 vid card

I don't think the developer animated the wing exists. I think the front left exit is the only animated exit. However if he did it would be under another key command that I don't know right now. Nope no emergency slides or anything. I downloaded a few planes that had animated stairs though.
Senga

[nwafan20]

Matt,
I am operating at the following specs:
P4
3.4ghz
1GB ram
256MB Geforce 6800 vid card


Dang man!, nice setup! The only thing that you may POSSIBLY ever need is another gig of ram! :D

[cancidas]

does FSX support FS9 aicraft? i've got a few helicopters for 9 that i don't want to lose. also, whats up with the graphics in the top pix? are they really that bad or are the settings just low?

[nwafan20]

He has his settings turned down for those (a lot)

From what I have seen, FSX has some awesome graphics, but eats your system resources!

[SengaB]

Matt,
Yes FSX is a massive system Hog. I'n my 18 years of computer gaming have NEVER seen a program run as ineffeciently and as unacceptably as FSX does. The sad part is the only difference in FSX and FS9 is nothing but eye candy. I do plan on getting a new vid card and 1 or 2 more gigs of RAM after the FSX patch comes out and some new vid cards are marketed. FSX still has a chance of ending up like FS2000 I think.

In my opinion FSX is quite buggy and isn't streamlined like FS2002 and FS2004 was. They tried to push forward but maybe pushed a little too hard too fast with FSX

Matt C.
I think G-BAODs shots are dedault for his set up.

I read yesterday that FSX can suck up almost a gig of memory under certain circumstances.

Interesting thread on FSX..most are like this.

http://jonpatch.wordpress.com/2006/10/06/should-you-buy-fsx-now

This video pretty much sums up FSX :)
tcW3hbnR2EI
Senga

[Iberia A340-600]

So I got FSX for christmas today and I'm having a totally sh*t time with it! :(

I keep crashing and I'm not going to get started on my landings... :lol:

[SengaB]

Gordon, are you new to MSFS?


Senga

[Iberia A340-600]

Gordon, are you new to MSFS?


Senga

Eh... I've had FS2004 and the FS98 in the past but haven't really ever gotten into it, I'm going to try though.

[SengaB]

Why was it hard for you to get into it?
I had gotten really into FS2004. I spent the last 2 years perfecting my FS2004 with all real airlines and flight plans. and customizing the NYC airports.

Senga

[Iberia A340-600]

Why was it hard for you to get into it?
I had gotten really into FS2004. I spent the last 2 years perfecting my FS2004 with all real airlines and flight plans. and customizing the NYC airports.

Senga

I guess I just never really sat down and played it but now that I have less things to do I'll put more time into it. I'm going to try to land into SXM with a CRJ-700 then head off to bed and hopefully have the satisfaction of actually completing the landing.

[SengaB]

Good luck let us know how it goes :)

Press "V" for screen shots!
Senga

[Iberia A340-600]

Sucess! Well atleast I landed at SXM, not exactly on the runway but I did!

[SengaB]

As long as you landed thats all that matters :)

Senga

[nwafan20]

Yeah, I will probably wait a few more years for FS11, hopefully it won't be as system hungry as FSX.

[SengaB]

I am sure others might do the same. It might take a whiel for most gammers to get systems that will run FSX well enough to where ti si as enjoyable as FS2004 and FS2002 have been. I hear more and more people sayting they are going to just stay with FS2004 for now. I would have done the same but I had to replace a HD so I figured I'd have to start all over aain with geting MSFS customizednso I might as well get FSX.
Heres a shot from my FS2004. Unfortunatly I lost all my other images on the other HD.
Gif images so its grainy.
It took me 2 weeks to get JFK finished with all the gates, custum ramps, airlines and models.
http://www.nycaviation.com/hosting/internaional1.gif

Senga

[nwafan20]

Is that traffic built into FSX?

[SengaB]

LOL! yea right :) They just use those lame fake airlines....they actually have better colorschemes than the trash we see coming out real life though :)

Right now I could not utilized FSX like that with the real planes and schedules because FSX is already raped my system out so to add that stuff would not make any sense right now. By the time I was done I had EVERy airline and aircrat that visits the US installed.
Senga

[nwafan20]

Oh, sorry I thought that was an FSX screen shot! :D

Hey, have you uploaded that to avsim or similar? Nice work!

[SengaB]

I thought about it but I decided not to..There would always be someone who would find something wrong with this and that.....and so I decided to upload it....If you would like I can send you the BGL file... I also have all the airlines and flight plans still as well. Unfortunatly I wasn't able to get the midified aircraft.cfg files before the HD failed.

Senga

[SengaB]

Heres what happens in FS9/FS2004 when you get overtaken by a C-5 on short final to runway 9 at (Stewart SWF) Wake turbulence.
http://www.nycaviation.com/hosting/wake.jpg

Senga[/img]

[nwafan20]

I would love anything you have, just not now, My computer is fixed and I will get it back this weekend, if you could send it to me then, that would be great!

[SengaB]

Ok let me knwo when you get it back.
You are using fs2004 right?

Senga

[nwafan20]

Yessir, and funny wake turbulance thing, did you stage that?

[SengaB]

Nope,
It was just bad timing he arrived at that point at the same time ebcause FS2004 and NOW FSX doesnt control spacing.
For FSX... They didn't even bother to fix this problem! You woudl think they would have addressed this issues before all that performance stealing eye candy they put in FSX. It was just bad timing.
Heres my HPN FS2004. I don't like to add scenery because it just makes it more difficult to install everything all over again so I just edit what is already in the database that way I can just overwrite a single file and its good to go.
http://www.nycaviation.com/hosting/hpn2004.jpg

Senga

[Iberia A340-600]

Yes!

http://i126.photobucket.com/albums/p82/JanuaryJFK/2006-12-26_20-12-53-38.jpg

Sh*t...

http://i126.photobucket.com/albums/p82/JanuaryJFK/2006-12-26_21-21-44-38.jpg

:lol:

[DHG750R]

Senga,
You know I was thinking about upgading from FS9 , the scenery looks amazing on your machine , but I hated FS2000 for the framerate drop

[mirrodie]

For Senga and anyone else who has this, can you comment on what the missions are like?

[SengaB]

Gordon, I take it based on those shots you crashed? LOL OH GOD!!!!!. WErE all GONNA DIEEEEEEEE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Whats up with the compas Gordon?


Yea, DHG750R
FSX has a lot of the same problems FS2000 had. If you get FSX id keep both on your computer thats is what a lot of people do.

Mario,
I tried the missions 2 times and they are pretty much unplayable because they are rendered. I personally don't the missions options-i think they should have left that stuff for the consoles like PSX and Xbox etc.

Senga

[nwafan20]

What do you mean unplayable because they are rendered? Seeking clarification.

[SengaB]

I mean that the Missions are much more graphic and audio intensive than the nomral "free flight" ". They have alot more animations and stuff kind of like a movie.
This woudl make the computer have to work more.

Senga

[SengaB]

Check out out these awsome shots and my frame rates :)
http://www.nycaviation.com/hosting/shuttle01.jpg
http://www.nycaviation.com/hosting/shuttle08.jpg
http://www.nycaviation.com/hosting/shuttle04.jpg
http://www.nycaviation.com/hosting/shuttle06.jpg
http://www.nycaviation.com/hosting/shuttle07.jpg
http://www.nycaviation.com/hosting/shuttle05.jpg
Senga

[MarkLawrence]

HOLY S***...those are aweosme! I think my FSX I got for Xmas might need to get an installation!...

[G-BOAD]

I like the missions, but like i said, they are much more a game then simmulator.
Here is an examlpe of some things you can do:
ILOW landing
SXM landing
Qito landing
Fly from Las Vagas to A51 JANET
Chopper some inspector to an oil rig
Look for a crashed plane in calarado
Fly A321 in paris flight show
AMS-LHR flight, pasenger gets sick

[SengaB]

That is true G-BOAD..for someone liek msyelf I proably wont even bother with the missions.
FSX is a simulator and not a videogame ..I wish MS didn't try to push that part of it. To bad they didn't use those same reasoures as well and work on fixies the issues had with FS2004 :/


Senga

[mirrodie]

Actaully, Senga and Boad, the missions might be a good way to get the uninterested videogamers into the mode of actual simming!

[SengaB]

That's true :)

Senga

[G-BOAD]

Sh*t...

http://i126.photobucket.com/albums/p82/JanuaryJFK/2006-12-26_21-21-44-38.jpg

:lol:

you will have that job with Qantas in no time!
:roll: :wink: :lol: