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#4356652 - 05/10/17 06:36 PM Question about flight sims in general  
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PanzerMeyer Online centaurian
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If you used to play flight sims but then stopped due to losing interest, about how old were you at the time?


I'm just trying to figure out if maybe there is a relationship between passing a certain age (40 for example) and losing interest in flight simming or if maybe it has more to do with getting burned out with the entire genre?

Or maybe its neither of those things and it has more to do with how flight sims changed in both style and content when they went from being mostly made by US and Western European developers to now being made by Eastern European/Russian developers?


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#4356656 - 05/10/17 06:55 PM Re: Question about flight sims in general [Re: PanzerMeyer]  
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Falcon 4 ( and subsequently AF and BMS) was the last hard core flight sim I played much for a long time. I also played the Third Wore series a lot for less hard core and just jumping in for fun.

I stopped because anything and everything newer than that had lousy campaigns and even game play and were just plain not fun. Prime examples would be DCS and IL2, which really are terrible at the reason I play, which is fun.

I'm older but age doesn't factor in... I've got more time now than before. I just spend it doing other things that are fun.

Really. the eastern bloc shift, and the associated attitudes of the developers to their customers has in my view done most of this in ruining the fun of it.


It's on them, not on the customers. They left me.


"For I know the plans that I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans for welfare and not for calamity to give you a future and a hope." Jeremiah 29:11

Blessed are you when people insult you and persecute you, and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of Me. Matthew 5:11

Indeed we call blessed those who have persevered. You have heard of the perseverance of Job, and you have seen the purpose of the Lord, because “the Lord is compassionate and merciful. James 5:11
#4356657 - 05/10/17 06:56 PM Re: Question about flight sims in general [Re: PanzerMeyer]  
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68 years old and still fly EAW .,IL-2 1946 and CLOD I dn't fly any Jet sims They got too complicated for me


Russ
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#4356661 - 05/10/17 07:10 PM Re: Question about flight sims in general [Re: PanzerMeyer]  
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43 years. Still playing flightsims although nowadays I pretty much exclusively fly the DCS series. I'm spending far less time on flightsims (and computer games in general) though than 10 years ago, but this is more due job/family/friends rather than a loss of interest.


"...late afternoon the Air Tasking Order came in [and] we found the A-10 part and we said, "We are going where!? We are doing what!?"

Capt. Todd Sheehy, Hog pilot, on receiving orders during Operation Desert Storm

#4356667 - 05/10/17 07:26 PM Re: Question about flight sims in general [Re: PanzerMeyer]  
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Still simming, and finally got a setup I'm happy with. Play BMS and Elite Dangerous. I did take a break from these games for a year though, so just getting back to them now.


- Ice
#4356670 - 05/10/17 07:32 PM Re: Question about flight sims in general [Re: PanzerMeyer]  
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Bib4Tuna Offline
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I have bought, played the demo or tried probably most games with a realistic representation of a winged/ flying vehicle that have come out in the last 27 years. Nothing in the last 10 years (except BMS and EECH) has "stuck" with me for long enough to say I "played it". Probably also due to boring campaign syndrome. If I am investing 60 hours in getting proficient with a modern platform, I should better have some damn fun playing it. No need for a "drive to work" simulation any more for me.

Last edited by Bib4Tuna; 05/10/17 07:34 PM.
#4356671 - 05/10/17 07:32 PM Re: Question about flight sims in general [Re: PanzerMeyer]  
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56 and while I still have RoF, IL2 (all three versions), X Plane on my PC I don't fly with any regularity like I used to. Part of it was the interminably long wait for IL2 CoD. The forums were a caustic mess. The game was released in a much less than finished state. So my desire withered even as the new IL2 rolled out the door. It wasn't what I felt it was supposed (promised) to be and I fell deeper into disinterest.

I had no issue with the play mechanics and how their campaigns worked. I don't really get the whole campaign where you are given a back story and squad briefings, complete with squad members. About as close to anything like that I played was Wing Commander and I could care less about the in between stuff. Get me into the air (or space as that was the case).

WALDO DIED!!! Who's Waldo? Oh... the wing mate who flew off on his own and abandoned the mission objective - even though I gave him the appropriate commands? Oh well. I was never attached to him. I can't get emotionally involved in pixelated characters who I never get the feeling they are fighting and flying along side me. So those kind of campaigns ring hollow to me.

I am starting to rekindle my flame again. I'm looking to build a new PC and VR within the next month and I'm excited for that.

#4356674 - 05/10/17 07:58 PM Re: Question about flight sims in general [Re: PanzerMeyer]  
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My flight sim interests have faded once (about 8 years ago), returned briefly (about 4-5 years ago) and then faded again (2014-present). At present, I can't imagine returning to flight sims.

I'm not sure its due to age, or free time. But my peaks in flight sim interest seemed to coincide with peaks in computer/hardware interest. Back from 1994 to 2008-9, I was deeply interested in PC hardware and sims. At present, my PC/hardware interests are at an all time low.

If I had to buy a new gaming PC tomorrow (let's hope not!), I honestly can't feel certain that I actually would do so.

Last edited by adlabs6; 05/10/17 07:59 PM.

WARNING: This post contains opinions produced in a facility which also occasionally processes fact products.
#4356675 - 05/10/17 07:59 PM Re: Question about flight sims in general [Re: PanzerMeyer]  
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F4UDash4 Online cool
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The "hardcore" fanaticism has killed flight sims for me. I enjoyed Falcon 4.0 to an extent just because it had such a great dynamic campaign, but I never could be bothered to learn the sim in depth. I learned to fire missiles, drop bombs and that was it. Anything that requires me to execute a half dozen keystrokes, with lots of ALT, SHIFT and CTRL keys thrown in, just to get a weapon ready to fire/drop I just don't enjoy.

I want realism of the environment, the proper weapons etc for a given time period and I want accurate flight models and accurate weapons performance I just don't want to learn exactly how it's done in the real aircraft, IE figuring out SOI, and which switches need to be in what position to fire/drop a weapon etc. I want to select the weapon then pull the trigger/press the pickle button and it works.

Third Wire was great, especially when multiplayer worked. It is to this day the flight sims I still fly the most.

IL2 is pretty good, with all the mods that have added new theaters, aircraft etc. I could never get too excited about flying one of the dozens of variations of Bf-109's or Fw-190's on the eastern front. I was super jacked when Pacific Fighter was announced but they managed to even make that boring what with no torpedo bombers etc.

Almost two years ago I built a new PC for about $1500, built a cockpit for another couple hundred, and added CH rudders and throttle to complete my HOTAS for another $3-400. And I've spent a grand total of maybe 20 hours using the thing. Mostly trying to get various sims working with my HOTAS rather than actually flying. Of course losing my job and being diagnosed with colon cancer last year also has something to do with that.

I still love the idea of flight simming, it's just that the producers of flight sims haven't done anything recently to turn up the wick on my flight sim flame.

Edit: Oh and if we're comparing ages I'll be 55 next month wink



Last edited by F4UDash4; 05/10/17 08:03 PM.

"In the vast library of socialist books, there’s not a single volume on how to create wealth, only how to take and “redistribute” it.” - David Horowitz
#4356676 - 05/10/17 08:03 PM Re: Question about flight sims in general [Re: PanzerMeyer]  
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36 here, but I don't think it's an age thing at least for me. It's more laziness and being a victim of my own "want more gadgets" syndrome.

You see, it used to be the case that when I wanted to play a game, all I had to do was take the joystick from the top of the PC case and put it on the desk, click run, and play, maybe also insert the CD but that was it.

Nowadays if I want to play I have to:

1) Take the Warthog base from the overhead cabinet and clamp it on the desk.
2) Do the same for the stick.
3) Take the rudder pedals and position them.
4) Lower chair, bring monitor forward.
5) Put TrackIR.
6) Start TrackIR, start TM T.A.R.G.E.T and load the profile, load the profile in my custom panel if I'm playing a different game than last time.
7) Finnaly, play.

That's a ton more work than I'd like to do most of the time... so I just fire up Age Of Empires or Virtual Pool for a quick match. Sims were never casual, but now with all the peripherals it's a lot less casual than ever.


When you're feeling sad, just remember that somewhere in the world, there's someone pushing a door that says "pull".
#4356678 - 05/10/17 08:29 PM Re: Question about flight sims in general [Re: F4UDash4]  
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Airdrop01 Offline
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Originally Posted by F4UDash4
The "hardcore" fanaticism has killed flight sims for me. I enjoyed Falcon 4.0 to an extent just because it had such a great dynamic campaign, but I never could be bothered to learn the sim in depth. I learned to fire missiles, drop bombs and that was it. Anything that requires me to execute a half dozen keystrokes, with lots of ALT, SHIFT and CTRL keys thrown in, just to get a weapon ready to fire/drop I just don't enjoy.

I want realism of the environment, the proper weapons etc for a given time period and I want accurate flight models and accurate weapons performance I just don't want to learn exactly how it's done in the real aircraft, IE figuring out SOI, and which switches need to be in what position to fire/drop a weapon etc. I want to select the weapon then pull the trigger/press the pickle button and it works.

Third Wire was great, especially when multiplayer worked. It is to this day the flight sims I still fly the most.

IL2 is pretty good, with all the mods that have added new theaters, aircraft etc. I could never get too excited about flying one of the dozens of variations of Bf-109's or Fw-190's on the eastern front. I was super jacked when Pacific Fighter was announced but they managed to even make that boring what with no torpedo bombers etc.

Almost two years ago I built a new PC for about $1500, built a cockpit for another couple hundred, and added CH rudders and throttle to complete my HOTAS for another $3-400. And I've spent a grand total of maybe 20 hours using the thing. Mostly trying to get various sims working with my HOTAS rather than actually flying. Of course losing my job and being diagnosed with colon cancer last year also has something to do with that.

I still love the idea of flight simming, it's just that the producers of flight sims haven't done anything recently to turn up the wick on my flight sim flame.

Edit: Oh and if we're comparing ages I'll be 55 next month wink




This is a more detailed explanation of exactly what I was trying to say! Nice job!


"For I know the plans that I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans for welfare and not for calamity to give you a future and a hope." Jeremiah 29:11

Blessed are you when people insult you and persecute you, and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of Me. Matthew 5:11

Indeed we call blessed those who have persevered. You have heard of the perseverance of Job, and you have seen the purpose of the Lord, because “the Lord is compassionate and merciful. James 5:11
#4356679 - 05/10/17 08:37 PM Re: Question about flight sims in general [Re: PanzerMeyer]  
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Arthonon Offline
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I'm 53, and reduced my amount of playing flight sims around the time Falcon 4 came out. I was really into Falcon 3, but 4 just took too much of my time to learn. I still played other sims, and still do, but not as much, mostly due to time availability. I don't play many other types of games at all.

It seems like every time I tried to get back into it, something happened to disrupt it. I started with an online squadron a few years ago and started training with them on F4:AF, and made some good progress, but then bought a house and had to move, disrupting that. I started to get into BMS when it came out, but they kept changing the setup and I got tired of starting over on my HOTAS setup every time.

Right now I'm practicing with FC3, using the Nevada terrain. I was just flying some of the early missions in 1.5, but I bought A-10C back when Nevada came with it, so I've installed that on my new gaming rig and it's got a good mission for practicing using the CBUs, something I never got to work well in the actual missions. FC3 is a little simpler to set up and get into, so I'm hoping it's a gateway to getting back into BMS.


Ken Cartwright

No single drop of rain feels it is responsible for the flood.

http://www.techflyer.net

#4356682 - 05/10/17 08:59 PM Re: Question about flight sims in general [Re: PanzerMeyer]  
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61 here and still using DCS.

Like a few have said here that by the time I've got the Cougar, track IR, MFDs, etc set up I usually run out of time to actually play. I used to sim with Falcon 4.0 with an online squad going through their training and getting a lot deeper into the simulation than I probably would have on my own, I learned a lot and enjoyed multiplayer over an ISDN line. Then from about 2005 onwards never had the time and now I just can't spend the little free time I have learning the intricacies of the likes of DCS, yeah I enjoy flying in it, I had my hour a week's worth tonight flying the Spitfire and loved every minute of it, but I'm not about to learn every Ctrl - Alt - Del -Fn key press of every aircraft in it.

Multiplayer is totally off the table, there is too much background noise where my PC/desk is from the TV which is about arm's length from me, this position is a compromise between my wife and I, she does not want me to be shut off in another room away from everyone.


Chlanna nan con thigibh a so's gheibh sibh feoil
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Clan Cameron
#4356683 - 05/10/17 08:59 PM Re: Question about flight sims in general [Re: PanzerMeyer]  
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48 and I'd say I was maybe 32 or 33 when I stopped. At the time I was still playing Tornado and learning Back to Baghdad and Janes F15, and when I went from Win95 on my P133 to Win98 on my P4 I had a hell of a time getting them to run with any kind of stability. They'd both BSOD multiple times in a mission, and by the time I got around to upgrading to Win98SE and soon afterward to XP I'd lost interest. Even after I set up my P133 with 95 it just wasn't fun any more. So I had a 5-year run, starting with playing F15SEIII, F3, and X-wing & TIE Fighter like there was no tomorrow before the marvel that was Tornado came out. Flanker and B2B didn't really impress me, and I didn't give Longbow much of a chance before going back to Tornado & F3.


Phil

“The biggest problem people have is they don’t think they’re supposed to have problems.” - Hayes Barnard
#4356688 - 05/10/17 09:20 PM Re: Question about flight sims in general [Re: PanzerMeyer]  
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Chucky Online sosad
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I lost it about 2005 (age 45). Made several attempts to get back in but all failed.

I do have a free copy of Flight Sim World I can try once it's released but that may be the last chance.


EV's are the Devils matchbox.
#4356689 - 05/10/17 09:23 PM Re: Question about flight sims in general [Re: PanzerMeyer]  
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73 and still playing games, lol. I fire up Xplane regularly and also the new 747 in P3D at least twice a week. Of course I work in the developer end as a texture artist so FSX is my working platform anymore and I seem to avoid it otherwise.

As for combat flightsims COD with all the mods is still fun.


"A time when America was great,,when the chrome was thick and the women were straight" - Micheal Savage

"If you really want to experience flight in this life then you have to strap a DC-3 to your ass." - Buffalo Joe McBryan President & Captain Buffalo Airways
#4356692 - 05/10/17 09:55 PM Re: Question about flight sims in general [Re: Warbirds]  
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F4UDash4 Online cool
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Originally Posted by Warbirds
73 and still playing games, lol. I fire up Xplane regularly and also the new 747 in P3D at least twice a week. Of course I work in the developer end as a texture artist so FSX is my working platform anymore and I seem to avoid it otherwise.

As for combat flightsims COD with all the mods is still fun.



Curious, based on your handle, did you play "Warbirds" online? Were you in a squadron?


"In the vast library of socialist books, there’s not a single volume on how to create wealth, only how to take and “redistribute” it.” - David Horowitz
#4356693 - 05/10/17 09:56 PM Re: Question about flight sims in general [Re: Airdrop01]  
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Originally Posted by Airdrop01


This is a more detailed explanation of exactly what I was trying to say! Nice job!


I started to just quote your post and add a "+1" biggrin

Great minds think alike!


"In the vast library of socialist books, there’s not a single volume on how to create wealth, only how to take and “redistribute” it.” - David Horowitz
#4356695 - 05/10/17 10:00 PM Re: Question about flight sims in general [Re: PanzerMeyer]  
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I recently saw the new beta screenshots for DCS Normandy. I couldn't help thinking that, years ago, I would have been so excited that I would hardly have contained myself. Now I said, "Looks nice," and moved along. I have no intention of buying it.
Age? I don't know. But I certainly have lost interest. I reinstalled DCS because I thought I wanted to fly that beautiful F-86 again. Flew it a few times and now it's just wasting space on my hard drive.
I'm painting a lot, now. Every day. Ships, trains, landscapes. And even I'm surprised that I haven't done a single airplane painting.
For me, it may be that I just simply burnt myself out on it. It's all I wanted to do. Think, eat, dream airplanes. Now, if I play a game at all it's World of Warships for awhile before I hit the sack.


"From our orbital vantage point, we observe an earth without borders, full of peace, beauty and magnificence, and we pray that humanity as a whole can imagine a borderless world as we see it, and strive to live as one in peace."
Astronaut William C. McCool RIP, January 29, 2003 - Space Shuttle Columbia

#4356696 - 05/10/17 10:10 PM Re: Question about flight sims in general [Re: F4UDash4]  
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Originally Posted by F4UDash4
The "hardcore" fanaticism has killed flight sims for me. I enjoyed Falcon 4.0 to an extent just because it had such a great dynamic campaign, but I never could be bothered to learn the sim in depth. I learned to fire missiles, drop bombs and that was it. Anything that requires me to execute a half dozen keystrokes, with lots of ALT, SHIFT and CTRL keys thrown in, just to get a weapon ready to fire/drop I just don't enjoy.

I want realism of the environment, the proper weapons etc for a given time period and I want accurate flight models and accurate weapons performance I just don't want to learn exactly how it's done in the real aircraft, IE figuring out SOI, and which switches need to be in what position to fire/drop a weapon etc. I want to select the weapon then pull the trigger/press the pickle button and it works.


In case of DCSW if you remove that "hardcore" part - the Alt, Ctrl, Shift... what left don't worth be touched with a long pole, because the "realism of the environment, etc." still very WiP. smile

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