Best Flight Simulator?

[ibanana]

Which flight simulator game is the best in you opinion ?

[dukebound85]

xplane
http://www.x-plane.com/

[dmr727]

This question comes up quite a bit.

But I agree with the X-Plane answer.

[liptonlover]

x plane hands down.
a) It comes with the plane maker and world maker
b) People can make plugins
c) It's very customizable
d) It's cross-platform
Other than that it also just has a great feel. It doesn't crash, it works with my equipment, it has a very realistic feel, it looks great, everything about it is awesome. There's my two cents

[Huntn]

Originally Posted by dmr727

This question comes up quite a bit.

But I agree with the X-Plane answer.

I also agree with X-Plane except that it has no damage modeling. If you want to dogfight other people, I'd recommend Warbirds although my disclaimer is it's been a decade since I've played it and I believe it requires a subscription.

[ComputerPilot]

After reading so many good things about X-Plane I downloaded their trial version for both Mac and PC. Both failed miserably. I don't have a joystick or rudder pedals so for demo purposes I had to use the keyboard/mouse.

On the PC, pressing F2 to open the throttle simply started Microsoft Word software. On the Mac it increased the screen brightness.

Pressing the "b" key to release the brakes did nothing in either case.

Lower half of the instrument panel was hidden in both cases. Couldn't move it and could not operate those controls.

Clicking the mouse in the center of the windscreen brought up a white box but nothing else happened.

The only thing that seemed to work was that I could listen to tower chatter.

[Topper]

Originally Posted by ComputerPilot

After reading so many good things about X-Plane I downloaded their trial version for both Mac and PC. Both failed miserably. I don't have a joystick or rudder pedals so for demo purposes I had to use the keyboard/mouse.

On the PC, pressing F2 to open the throttle simply started Microsoft Word software. On the Mac it increased the screen brightness.

Pressing the "b" key to release the brakes did nothing in either case.

Lower half of the instrument panel was hidden in both cases. Couldn't move it and could not operate those controls.

Clicking the mouse in the center of the windscreen brought up a white box but nothing else happened.

The only thing that seemed to work was that I could listen to tower chatter.

I wouldn't say that X-Plane is the easiest software to learn.
I think your main problem is your keys are conflicting with other applications.
I do not understand why "b" wouldn't work. You could try "v" as that will apply and release the brakes also.
I know this is obvious but make sure you don't have your caps or numbers locked on the keyboard.
Go to Settings>>Joystick & Equipment>>Keys. You can change your keys there.

With a little practice the mouse should work okay for you.
I like using my Wacom tablet and pen.

[maccompaq]

Originally Posted by Huntn

I also agree with X-Plane except that it has no damage modeling. If you want to dogfight other people, I'd recommend Warbirds although my disclaimer is it's been a decade since I've played it and I believe it requires a subscription.

X-Plane 9 is a very good simulator for flying and keeping flight skills current. It was not designed to be a "shoot m up" game.

[Huntn]

Originally Posted by maccompaq

X-Plane 9 is a very good simulator for flying and keeping flight skills current. It was not designed to be a "shoot m up" game.

X-Plane is a very good flight sim, but damage modeling is essential for bragging rights.

[lairdjtk]

Originally Posted by dukebound85

xplane
http://www.x-plane.com/

Hello the xplane looks very good but anyone know of good controls that work on xplane & imac

would like a joystick then maybe throttles and pedals

though price may rule this idea

[maccompaq]

Originally Posted by lairdjtk

Hello the xplane looks very good but anyone know of good controls that work on xplane & imac

would like a joystick then maybe throttles and pedals

though price may rule this idea

I'm using Saitek Pro Yoke and Throttle Quadrant on my Core i7 desktop for X-Plane 9 with Snow Leopard and MS FSX with 64 bit Windows 7. I'm using CH Flightstick Pro on my Core2Duo 2.8 GHz desktop for X-Plane 9 with Leopard. Both the joystick and the yoke work great for me with X-Plane.

FSX did not like my joystick, but it somewhat likes my Yoke. X-Plane likes both units. I have the yoke and quadrant programmed for utmost efficiency in X-Plane, and everything works to perfection. Same for the CH joystick and X-Plane.
I am having a problem getting the yoke and quadrant programmed in FSX just like I had with the joystick. Some programming would take, but then would not work with the next flight. Other programming just will not take. Anyone have clues to make it work?

[sushi]

Originally Posted by ibanana

Which flight simulator game is the best in you opinion ?

Currently -- don't know.

On Mac OS 9, A-10.

Awesome realistic flight sim. Advance maneuvers like accelerated stalls could be performed. Really enjoy that flight sim.

[dmr727]

Originally Posted by sushi

On Mac OS 9, A-10.

Awesome realistic flight sim. Advance maneuvers like accelerated stalls could be performed. Really enjoy that flight sim.

I'll second this too - I loved A-10. For me, 90% of the realism comes from frame rate. A consistent ~60fps is what I need. A-10 with no textures at 60fps is far more 'real' to me than the latest and greatest MSFS (or whatever) at 30fps.

And along the same vein - I liked the Hellcats titles too.

[dimme]

X-plane is always the winner in this form. I have X-plane 9 and also MS Flight Simulator X. Both are good, but X plane wins with me for 2 reasons.
1- I do not have to deal with Windows.
2- X plane does not crash like FS X.

FS X has more additions you can buy but some ca be imported into X plane.
To be honest If I was a windows user I might prefer MS FSX.

[sushi]

Originally Posted by dmr727

I'll second this too - I loved A-10. For me, 90% of the realism comes from frame rate. A consistent ~60fps is what I need. A-10 with no textures at 60fps is far more 'real' to me than the latest and greatest MSFS (or whatever) at 30fps.

Even though A-10 was a game, I never ran it as a game. I just used it to fly. I had have a three control set up which made it a lot of fun especially doing extreme maneuvers.

Originally Posted by dmr727

And along the same vein - I liked the Hellcats titles too.

Hellcats was awesome.

I believe programmers for Hellcats were the ones who did A-10. Have to check on that to be sure.

Originally Posted by dimme

X-plane is always the winner in this form. I have X-plane 9 and also MS Flight Simulator X. Both are good, but X plane wins with me for 2 reasons.
1- I do not have to deal with Windows.
2- X plane does not crash like FS X.

FS X has more additions you can buy but some ca be imported into X plane.
To be honest If I was a windows user I might prefer MS FSX.

Interesting.

I am looking to purchase a current Flight Sim.

My take:

- MSFT FSX is very good procedural wise.

- X-Plane is better for the flight realism.

[iwuzbord]

Google Earth actually has a built in flight simulator. i think that its very interesting to see google doing something like this. they even allow joystick control.

like i said, probably not the best choice, but a very interesting one indeed.

[dmr727]

Originally Posted by sushi

I am looking to purchase a current Flight Sim.

My take:

- MSFT FSX is very good procedural wise.

- X-Plane is better for the flight realism.

Once you make that purchase - lemme know what you discover. I haven't done the flight simulator thing in many years, but your take is exactly how I saw things back then. Once I get an Intel Mac, MSFS will be back on the table for me, and I'll re-evaluate.

[beowulf70]

Originally Posted by dmr727

I'll second this too - I loved A-10. For me, 90% of the realism comes from frame rate. A consistent ~60fps is what I need. A-10 with no textures at 60fps is far more 'real' to me than the latest and greatest MSFS (or whatever) at 30fps.

And along the same vein - I liked the Hellcats titles too.

Ditto! We used to play A-10 and Hellcats at work all the time, (when possible). Both were really quick, even on a Quadra 700 (25 MHz processor)!

[Les Kern]

Consider FlighGear.
You can make it as pretty as you want.

http://www.flightgear.org/about/gallery-v2-4/

[BestPilot1]

I just bought this 24" top of the line iMac, installed Paralells (software that allows you to run Mac and Windows simultaneously without the need to reboot each time) with Microsoft XP and then loaded up my Microsoft Flight simulator (Gold Edition Delux with Accelerator). Big disappointment. First, it takes FOREVER to load up the FS and get it running, and second the screen is ONLY about 1/5 of the whole 24" screen

What am I doing wrong? HELP, please

[dimme]

Originally Posted by BestPilot1

I just bought this 24" top of the line iMac, installed Paralells (software that allows you to run Mac and Windows simultaneously without the need to reboot each time) with Microsoft XP and then loaded up my Microsoft Flight simulator (Gold Edition Delux with Accelerator). Big disappointment. First, it takes FOREVER to load up the FS and get it running, and second the screen is ONLY about 1/5 of the whole 24" screen

What am I doing wrong? HELP, please

You need to use Boot Camp!

[Skald]

I would be doing it on a new MacBook Pro 13" with (alas) just an Nvidia 320M, 256MB, using (cough, hack) Windows 7.

I have and plan to try IL2 1946. I was surprised that no one on this thread mentioned it.

[flymacscruffy]

Don't see how xplane is so great. It does not have other air traffic to contend with as does Microsoft. Why would you want to fly alone in an empty sky? or at an empty airport? If you have xplane that includes other air traffic please let me how you got to that point.
Thanks.
flymacscruffy.

[yanr]

I'm a huge fan of the MS Flight Simulator series. Having a few quality add-on aircraft (e.g. anything from PMDG, Level D Simulations) and flying online with VATSIM/IVAO makes the game extraordinarily realistic. I only recommend this if you are a serious simmer though, this path is definitely not for someone who wants to boot up the game and start flying.

[Huntn]

Originally Posted by flymacscruffy

Don't see how xplane is so great. It does not have other air traffic to contend with as does Microsoft. Why would you want to fly alone in an empty sky? or at an empty airport? If you have xplane that includes other air traffic please let me how you got to that point.
Thanks.
flymacscruffy.

Can you see other airplanes flying around in the MS sim? Do they clear you to follow another airplane to the airport? Don't get me wrong, I'm not being critical, just curious...

What is most interesting for me is that when I am flying in the mid 30's (RL not simulated) and look out the window, usually I see no other airplanes, but if I look at my TCAS there are planes all around.

Originally Posted by BRLawyer

Same here, but my fun was with something EVEN more old-school: Chuck Yeager's Air Combat

I loved CYAC, but that was definitely in the arcade category. Considering when it came out, all the sims back then probably qualified as arcade.

Anyone correct me if I am wrong, but my impression is that X-Plane has the best flight modeling. It is the only home simulator that calculates drag based on the shape of the airplane. Most home simulators like the MS product just rely on performance charts. I guess you could argue that if the charts are good what does it matter? My response would be if the program calculates based on shape, it should always be more realistic, maybe only slightly, but still it is an advantage.