If you guys haven't heard Flight has been released and ready to play.

http://microsoftflight.com/en-US/home/

Tell what you guys think of it below.

It's a game. I'm pretty bored after a few minutes.

I had the chance to test the beta (from 20 Jan to 28 Feb) and was not impressed. The there is not much difference between the beta and just released free version.

So far, I have done all 4 "training" missions, all Aerocache hunts except the high flying glider. Not got that last one because the Steerman and the Icon5 are having trouble reaching that altutude. I got to 15,000 and could see it but was gaining altitude at a painful rate of about 10-15 feet a minute. All the Free Trial Aerocaches are in the same location as in the Beta, so I'm repeating it again, how boring (grrrrrr)! The challenges are a tad boring as well.

Simply put. This is not what I want to do with a Flight "Simulator", of which MS Flight does not feel like to me.

I'm off to fly a Captain Sim 707 from Australia to anywhere (except Hawaii)! :D ;D

Mark

The new flight sim aims for the more casual gamer that does not have to fly any aircraft combined with checklists etc.

Imo it's a bit in between flight simulation and arcade flying and intend to be more arcade then professional flying. For the real flight simmer that is using charts and checklists it's a no go area.

Well, I for one had high hopes for this product, but it's a poor rendition of flying in my opinion. I understand the gammy part, but the planes are not very realistic and the ORBX scenery is way better.

FSX is still the best there is...  :(

Lou

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Well, I for one had high hopes for this product, but it's a poor rendition of flying in my opinion...

Me too. :(


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FSX is still the best there is... :( Lou

I agree.

Is the flight and/or weather engine better somehow?

Pinatubo wrote on Feb 29^th, 2012 at 10:07pm:

Quote: Well, I for one had high hopes for this product, but it's a poor rendition of flying in my opinion... Me too. :( [quote]FSX is still the best there is... :( Lou

I agree.[/quote]

Glad I came here first...

I'm not even going to bother.

The next REAL greatest thing will be CS7X7 Captain which I'm sure will not disappoint.

WOW, I really truly liked all those Jetliners and Helicopters and thunder storms in it too. Really Awsum. Ahhh wait , I just woke up from a nice Dream, and now ya'll tell me it ain't happinin ?? OMG somethings gone terribly wrong ! What happened to the simulator flight experience that we all loved so much ? Ohhh well, they'll have to learn just like the Edsel car company and that disasterous YUGO car company. :'(

I can only say - CRAP!

This is all about Microsoft attemptin to have people to now pay up on line for a lot of stuff they used to provide as a package as part of Flight Sim FS9 to FSX. This is all about Microsoft shifting people who sim casually, like at the office, to pay license fees and other nice little pay as you go enhancements for the 'game' instead of one price for one package. It is the logical direction for a company that wants it all and hates the idea that others do it better. No internet no flight game, no credit card no goodies. >:(

The way I see it some weasel bean counter in Seattle looked at all the stuff everybody did for free (because of their passion for flying, its history and the chance to tinker with arcan computer stuff) and saying if we had a piece of that or control of it imagine how much more money we would make from all these sim nuts out there. Then they put the heavies on the software developers (ex ACE guys and girls) to produce it. Next it will appear as some form of App on your I phone or similar.

Lets face it when they closed ACE Microsoft shut down flight simming as we know it and basically signalled to all their sim customers that was it. Thank goodness for the ACE team to drop out the guts of the process into the SDK's and make that available to all and sundry.

The crunch will come for all of us when they change the operating system from Win7 to something else.

Time for the flight simm community and the many businesses out there to now really get behind X-Plane or similar that does not depend on the good will or otherwise of Microsoft.

What a bunch of $#@!'s.

When you turn the FSX flying aids on and go for a mission of some kind, you will be able to see a large part of Flight already. Means audio notes, goals, pointers, rewards.
When you enter Flight, turn off the aids and jump into the free flight screen, you have a good rendition of flying around in smaller planes and I can't spot any big downsides on the behaviour of them. In fact, I actually think that some of the stuff is rendered more correct and more detailed as on FSX planes. The landing part and turbulence comes to my mind. Sound details and lighting too.

We're still talking about a totally free game and from reading some of the impressions about the pay-contents, it's not that bad at all. Even compared to FSX payware which not only offers some well done and detailed titles, but also some lame ducks for 30 bucks.  :-/

So I wonder where the strong language comes in and I also wonder if some folks remember the first FSX days.
The only 'crap' I've found is the rather rigid way to sell new stuff and to pay for each and every item which goes beyond one Hawaiian island without ATC and other planes flying around. That's not something I'm too tempted about, especially when being able to enjoy the good FSX payware I already own. Since they also refuse third party devs to enter, I really wonder what the future will bring for Flight.

However, I think the open minded folks should fly more than 5 minutes and then may come to the point of looking at it with an interest on further developments. It's free! Just head for the first missions and then free flight is available. Otherwise it's very much like judging a book by its cover. Just sayin'. They had a forum full of rants over at Avsim. I doubt that there was much use, but a ton of emotions.  :-?


Quote:

Is the flight and/or weather engine better somehow?

I like the actual display and the behaviour of the planes much better. As said, I've only tried the free ones so far, but the folks running the Hawaii addon plus the other planes seem to be happy. Just make sure to disable all the helping things with autorudder, mixture and so on and you'll get the FSX-alike setup with the benefits of less performance impact and, in my eyes, a better display.

However, I would have loved to see more 'future' on the whole graphics aspect. It surely received improvements over FSX, but I had expected more. It runs fine though, even on my old laptop.

I may add that I'm looking for some more addon dev's statements on X-Plane 10. Looks like a good setup for me, at least an interesting one. Their dev studio isn't closed. And it surely aims at simulating things, which of course leads to the more or less awkward ways of interacting, just like on our well known FSX, we've already got so used to.  ;)

http://img62.imageshack.us/img62/1867/mona2t.png

It took a while, but I was able to climb the 2 seat amphibian up to 14,000 feet and get a look at the observatory at Mauna Kea.

I've been there in real life and will be there next week again when I'm on vacation in Kona. It is very cool to walk around the observatories and be at 14,000+ feet. You do everything a bit slower. A small rise in the road is a big hill to your lungs.

I still like the way the planes fly in FSX, but for something free, I guess it's not bad. I wonder why they changed most of the keyboard commands? I'll keep playing with the game and even try out some of the other planes.

Lou


Uploaded with ImageShack.us

Is there a chance that the game can be expanded to include more of the world?  Will third party companies add airplanes at some point?  I think the weather in FSX is a little lacking, is it better in Flight?

Nice shot and detail, Lou. Perhaps someone looks up that spot in FSX and posts a screenshot. Would be a nice comparison of 2006 to 2012, right? Maybe there's some freeware in FSX. As far as I can see, that free section may never make it into the Flight money concept.  :-/

Great idea CoolP!

This is FSX with scenery at max
http://img214.imageshack.us/img214/4512/mona3h.png

Google Earth
http://img707.imageshack.us/img707/8849/mona4.png

Flight
http://img214.imageshack.us/img214/916/mona2.png

For level of detail, Flight is very good vs standard FSX.

Lou

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True. That is a difference. Nice comparison. Lets see if FSX addon stuff or freeware can help.
Here's a guy with a video on FSX at Hawaii with addons. Very nice video by the way and beautiful livery on the first plane.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UHuwNCT966U
But Flight, at least this part of it, comes for free. So that's a big win. However, the rest of the world may be cheaper in FSX so far. Maybe MS gives us bundle prices.  :D

I couldn't find any FSX addon for that special mountain. Only some FS9 freeware.

Here's some guy flying an addon Mauna Kea in FSX. Couldn't find it though. Must be some secret freeware.  :-/ I hope his frames are better when he isn't recording.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I-vnSiKSDwA

Very nice scenery in that add-on!

Flight, for what it is, gives a pretty good idea of what the outside world looks like, and as you so rightly point out...It's FREE!

I found the free plane a bit sloppy and wonder why they don't allow my throttle (G-940) to work???  :-/
The stick and rudder work, but not the throttle.

Also, I tried to fly the Stearman, but after I went through the sign-in process it asked me for a product code???
I tried to contact their help but it kept me going in circles so I gave up.  :(

So for now, I still think FSX with CS planes & ORBX is pretty good.  :)

Lou

Since it is free, I always watch out for secret or 'click me!!!!!' buttons with very small text at the lower end of the page, reading
when clicking here, you subscribe to the fancy addon channel at 60 Dollars a month and two free addons. First is some more island.


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So for now, I still think FSX with CS planes & ORBX is pretty good.

Me too. Nothing ground breaking new so far to pull me away from all that money I've spent on FSX. And it runs fine, I can't complain.

You can change the controls (Key Assignments) to suit yourself, just like you can in FSX.
I've see quite a lot of complaints about quite a few Flight controllers (MS Xbox-type controller should work fine though).
The setting null zones doesn't seem to be possible (I haven't looked so I'm going by what I've read from others).

@Lou. There is a fix for the Steerman problem. You need to "buy it". Don't worry. It's still FREE but you will then get a code to enter so you can use it).

As CoolP has stated, there are some really good things being said about the Hawaii Pack (with free? RV-6) and the Maule. The P-51D is an exterior only, from what I have heard. Even with all that, there are comments that there is something "lacking" in Flight (ATC, AI and road traffic). Not sure if these are going to be added at a later date.

Unfortunately for me, I'm bored with the Free one and I'm reluctant to purchase the Hawaai pack or the Maule (P-51D is not even under consideration).

Has anyone been able to reach the High Flying Glider Aerocache (without having bought the Hawaii pack or any other aircraft)? With the Steerman and the Icon A5 I am between 5 and 6 kilometers away from it when fly directly below it when I am flying at 14,000 - 15,800 feet and it is directly above me. This means that the Aerocache must be at about 35,000 feet which is well above the service ceiling of both aircraft, but is just below the service ceiling of the P-51D. This Aerocache is also listed as one of the Free Trial ones available, but is unreachable without buying at least the P-51D. The Maule has a service ceiling of 20,000 feet and the RF-6 has a service ceiling of about 25,000 feet so even those two should not be able to reach it.

http://i669.photobucket.com/albums/vv58/Markoz958/HighFlyingGlider-Aerocache.jpg

So downloading and installing MS Flight, without buying any extras, is nothing more than a trial version and I am pretty bored with it already.

I start it up, go for a flight and five minutes later I'm bored again. I can't see having the Hawaii pack as making a difference. To buy the Hawaii pack and the Maule will cost about 35 USD (probably more than half the cost of FSX Gold).

Mark

Mark names it, the costs involved to get some more doesn't make sense. You get another island and some one or two planes for the bucks. That's it. The rest has to be produced and then you have to buy it again.
So while FSX would allow an exploration or even a simple airliner route, the Flight world is limited in high optical detail, so to speak. If it would look overwhelmingly better, it may be worth a shot. But, in my eyes, the difference is noticeable but not the leap into the future.

Lou, the throttle on the G940 should work. Here's my setup.
http://img831.imageshack.us/img831/3954/throttle.th.jpg


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Has anyone been able to reach the High Flying Glider Aerocache (without having bought the Hawaii pack or any other aircraft)?

I wouldn't be surprised if you had to buy some extra rocket boosters for that.  ;D

I hit YOU all with this from someone who has inside knowledge - This is from Pete, the owner of the "Simivation", Flight Sim Web Site :          
I would be interested to know what Pete thinks as he was an insider for a while prior to release and got to see everything from the other side of the fence.

Matt


I'm a freak for freedom and control - ME controlling what I do. How can I enthuse about a game telling me what to do  .... on any level?


I have to say I started a mission just to see what it was like ..... seemed to get locked into that mission --- then found I could not slew ... I have NO interest in flying along a digital coastline - I got bored enough with that back in about 1986 when I 1st started to use FS and decided time to see how to make an aircraft and explore the world (which mostly didn't exist)


I'm about as seasoned a FS user as you will find on this planet. I had BAO Flightshop before MS bought it. I used to make airports that didn't exist. I started a FS website called Simviation. I have even designed a few aircraft.

& now we have Flight -- which is purely built as a GAME. There will be no world. There will be no user input. There will be no jets. (& PLEASE - speculators -- realise this. I have heard it from the team. Clearly stated: NO WORLD. NO OPEN INPUT. NO JETS. ) This is not a game I will be using. That's about it.

For me the big - BIG downer is closed structure - meaning the only input comes from a tiny few employed people who will throw out a Carenado payware prop once every month or 2 for users to buy if they want & again play around Hawaii. & that's it ..... It's no surprise that MS went this way but it IS  a great shame. Very few companies like open input from users -- but I really believe it's the best way forward. Look at Android. I believe that will win over Apple in the long term.


I've read the menu at the Flight restaurant. I'm walking on to find somewhere else to eat ...... FSX will do fine again.  They have a BIG menu, lots of potential .. and I like it there ....

now that we see msflight it is apparent that they are not marketing to us. This is a game pitched to the 11-15 year olds who have no ms fs9/fsx experience. it's only one notch above the wii flying experiences. if youve recently visited any bigbox stores you will no doubt have seen a paucity of flight sim titles. it's all fantasy and shootemups. let's hope we can keep the  fsx platform working.

And FSX is no game?  ::) Did you read what e. g. CS says about FSX? 'It's just a game'. Shocking, but true.

I don't have a problem when folks copy over statements or even attitudes, but why not develop own ones?  :)
So head for the free flight and disable the flying aids in Flight and then come back and state that FSX is so much more 'realistic'. Seriously, I doubt that it is on e. g. the behaviour of the planes or even some sounds on the props. Maybe try the weather in that free sim or check out the better lighting too.

However, It could be that some people's ego needs that distraction between the 'oh so realistic' flying guy and the one just playing a game. I couldn't tell which one is better and I could hardly tell about their age too. Lack of a factual basis. So I'm of course surprised to see that other folks are able to tell it that clearly and convinced.  :-?
Strange fact, both groups double click a Windows exe file and grab some plastic stick or yoke when flying. Then they stare at some flat screen and might very much just play a game. Not? Nothing wrong with that, but both cases aren't too close to real world flying, right?

So for the basics of flying, Flight may not be the enemy you want it to be, but maybe spot on. Some nice details are there and free, as e. g. Lou has shown. Downside is, you will have to pay extra for anything more. Now that game is called capitalism, but you didn't criticize that one so far. How come?  8-)

I personally have not tried flight. My thinking, at the moment, is that when MS comes up with a B-717 in HAL livery (with FSX default systems) and atc, etc. I'll jump in and start buying the dlc for Hawaii. I've been to all the islands many times (going to OGG for 10 days 4/28) and I do enjoy island hopping Hawaii in FSX, but not in ga type planes.

For whatever reasons I simply can not seem to get interested in the complex stuff. I am very content recreating the hundreds and hundreds of airplane trips I've had in my full career in the travel industry using the default systems. Even flying, as it were, the CS 727 and 707 I use the default FSX gps flight plan tracking. Never have even tried vor to vor. So, although I probably spend as much time on this hobby as most do here, and over at AVSIM, I guess I'm in that much scoffed at group of dedicated soft-core simmers that aren't even considered real fake pilots!

;D

Bruce

PS – Lou, have a great time on the Big Island! Was there a couple years ago. Will be riding the UA DEN/OGG non stop 763 4/28.

Burce,

The beauty in my mind is that all these things can be something for everyone.

Take FSX for example. You can just start up the simulator and go fly, or you can plan a flight and do it in real time with real weather and have stuff break and try to keep it safe or you can explore various missions - it's all there. Not too much different in Flight. The stock plane that you start with is more like an ultralight, which I have lots of time in over the years. The way the plane flies reminds me of the way the engine power curve was and the spartan cockpit lends itself to a beginner pilot. I see this as something a novice pilot could actually use and maybe it could interest them enough to dig further into flight lessons. Who knows?

As for the cost, as CoolP pointed out, it's FREE! Good price in my book. If you want to move deeper into the program, what's wrong with paying for more? In the years I've played with the progressions of Flight Sim I wonder how much money I invested in this hobby. In FSX alone if I count the cost of the high end computer along with all the add-on software, I bet I could buy a small car - but so what, I enjoy it !

CoolP is correct - that method of sales is capitalism, and I am glad to pay something for something. CS in my mind is a good example. We all have put out a few Euros or Dollars and bought something we wanted. The value is in the enjoyment for me. I can't tell you how many times I've sat down at the computer and fired-up the CS 727 or 707 and just went for a ride. I think you get out of this what you put in. You don't want to learn to fly VOR to VOR, fine you don't have to, just enjoy it at your level. For others, it's not the actual flying but the learning about something in detail that turns them on - GREAT!

Here is another photo I found.

http://img94.imageshack.us/img94/9650/chinams.jpg

Tiananmen Square on my visit to China just before the Olympics.

Uploaded with ImageShack.us

Great picture, Lou. Never got there, myself. Bet it was very interesting.

You and CoolIP are, of course, correct on all points. At some later date I am sure I will try Flight. Doesn't excite me at the moment, but It's encouraging that there are a number of real world big iron guys, like yourself, as well as some expert simmers, that are pretty enthused with it's potential. I'm optimistic as a result.

I uploaded a 6 1/2 half minute video of our trip to KOA a few years ago. If you care to take a look here's the link.

http://vimeo.com/37919229


Bruce

Hey, a quick question about Flight. I have no interest in downloading it--at least not until it improves (if ever), but I was wondering how immersive the Microsoft planes are. The default scenery is obviously better than FSX, but are the default planes?

The default Icon A5? The instruments look nice but in my opinion are poor! The GPS or Map cannot be zoomed in or out (might change if you get more points, but I certainly haven't made it far enough to find out). Not even sure if it is realistic, but the way Icon talks about it "It is a very good likeness to the real one". YUCK. I wouldn't buy one in real life, even if I could afford one, that's for sure!

http://i669.photobucket.com/albums/vv58/Markoz958/MSFlightIconinterior.jpg

The instruments in Steerman is the best of the free ones IMO. The instruments are what I would expect in a plane like that (it's probably retro fitted to more modern "steam" gauges).

Mark

I think I might want to try it out. It might get me back into Flight Simulators again. (I purchased FIFA 12. GO MAN UTD)