LOL at the wife

Hang in there malibu43, Flight has only been out a bit over a month and so there are still people just now discovering it and being outraged all over about it stealing their wife, dog and car.

Like FSX initially, I hope in a few months, the number of new people feeling the outrage will die down, as the disappointed move on to titles that make them happier, just as hopefully on the AVSIM forum the people new to Steam who are outraged about how it works or the fact that games go on sale for cheaper than the price they paid on release will also have died down...

Alas I'm cursed with the gene of glass-half-full appreciation so I feel neither the outrage at Flight or Steam... just pros and cons and joy at having choices.

Impossible. Some of us are Americans, including me, and we can't stop saying exactly how we feel. It's part of the culture, my German friend.

I think of the comdedy "This Blue Line" with Rowan Atkinson. Put in flight sim programers and their clueless manager and you've got a perfect match.

The only thing that is really worrying about Flight is these planes without cockpit. That's not good.

I remember the following pre-release Flight video which had some of the team members.



In that vid, to me the actual devs seem decent and like they care about making a good flight simulator, the project and product managers just sound like the typical IT corporate talk drones who know marketing, spreadsheets and project plans but don't care much about the actual product being a simulator and instead refer to the product with words like "vision" "ecosystem" "experience", so I tend to give the actual devs the benefit of the doubt (the Maule is a great plane even in FSX payware standards) and point my dislike at the guys in charge of the strategy.

I agree that "killing" Flight =\= kill the genre. But, in one way that list you put up shows how dire things are:
*Let me say up front I actually have played and enjoyed all of those sims except Aerofly (still waiting for it to come state-side on steam) Warthunder (still in closed beta) and condor soaring (what the hell is that?). This isn't a "rant" but more a quick "industry overview."*

DCS Series: Shows you can make genre defining titles....if you recycle 10 year old code and shunt the development costs to government defense contracts. Also, compared to combat sims of yore, lacks dynamic campaigns.

X-plane 10: An excellent software given it's sourcing, but (IMHO) it's always been about a version behind the MSFS series in terms of graphics and sophistication, up until it's latest version. XPX does look to have a bright future though,this must be said!

Aerofly: Pretty looking, but still some steps backwards, only one time of day, and one country. Also lacks advanced systems modeling. Still great (from what I read; I plan to buy a copy) but it's simply very narrow. Basically an aircraft physics engine laid over a map of Sweden.

Take On Helis: The commercialization of a major upgrade to a ground combat sim. Fun, but still shows it's roots in a few too many areas. Painful voice acting doesn't help either.

Strike-Fighters NA: So this is the first "totally new" entry in the series in 7 or so years? ::long, deep sigh:: <NOT a series I'd use to highlight how "rosey" the flight sim genre is at the moment">

War Thunder: Is this actually going to be a sim?

Falcon 4 BMS: ...Isn't making anyone any money.

Rise of Flight: Has a community dividing price model (note: I'm fine with it, but others aren't as happy), took a long time to fix, and has no successor in the near future.

Condor Souring: Devs forgot to code engine physics and marketing team saved the day.

<JK, I've never played it, so can't really comment. Still, I doubt this changes my overall argument much>

Combat Helo: Looking forward to this programmers side-project that's been "two weeks" away for years.

Cliffs of Dover: I'm betting there's a reason this one didn't make your list, and that's all I'll say


Remember, Flight sims used to be the creme dela creme of the PC game shelf at your local big-box. We're talking a time when the "Janes" name was more lucrative than "Madden." They had cutting-edge graphics, sound, and programming. All the big pubs had a sim in the works as a tier 1 project. If the Genre was "better than ever" Mass Effect 3 would have been sharing budget costs and manpower with Janes Joint Strike Fighter and World of Warcraft would be hosted in the same facility as World of planes.

If you want to compare how the genre is doing now, the better comparison is where they are versus other titles. Heck, compare flight sims to driving sims: Imagine what a flight sim could be with with Gran Turismo 4's budget.



And let's not get started on the hardware market. (Do a search for Suncom Talon )


Again, please understand I'm thankful for what we have, and love all my sims,but I'm showing that things aren't as great as they could/should be.

Now, if you'll all excuse me, I have a date with an angry, ugly, and sexy Russian attack 'copter

PS: Regarding the dead horse- The beatings will stop when MS improves moral. Namely by focusing on the little details, like cockpits.

So here's a question - where are all the threads claiming that Aerofly is killing flight simulators?

Im feel optimistic about the Flight sim Genre. Its looks a lot better now, than it did 2 years ago. We need lots of competition otherwise there is no reason to keep developers on their toes.

I agree with AgressorBLUE's post above. which sums it up for me. FSX still has a long life and X-Plane is still playing catch-up, but in 2 years or so will mature into a great sim. (Keeping fingers Crossed)

DCS series is still amazing at what they can do with old code and still keep it looking great.

I havent bought Aerofly yet, but plan to soon.

Flight is very good, (not my cup of tea) but Im glad people are enjoying it and I can already see lots of new people on AVSIM's forum's, so I think its bringing new people into the genre, which is good for all flight sims.

Its not all about the graphics to me. A sim has to offer a lot more to keep me interested. I think thats where things turned for the worst. Not just in Flightsims, but all PC games. It just became about the graphics and gameplay took a back seat. Now we have great looking games with no substance.

I dont think flightsims will ever get the status they had back from the 90's, but they will continue to thrive, at least enough to keep us busy.

Rob

'es not dead, 'es pining for the fjords!

*snickers*

g.

With regard to saying FLIGHT SUCKS.... I never said that. Draw your conclusions if you must, but my frustrations are with the helmsman but not necessarily with the crew.