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natatos

macrumors regular
Original poster
Dec 23, 2008
137
0
Iowa
Before I switched to mac I used to play it a lot but about a month before I got my mac I had a viruse on my computer and had to reinstall the OS but never installed Flight Simulator. I've tryed installing it on Parallels but it said something about the graphics card I've also read that Boot Camp is better for playing Windows games on Mac so could I play it on on Boot Camp or Parallels or is there some software where I could play the game on Mac.
 
An alternative would be to try X-Plane which is available as a native Mac application.

I don't find it quite as much fun as MSFS, but it's a skazillion times more realistic and accurate. Worth taking a look, in any event, especially since it sounds like Microsoft have killed of Flight Simulator for good.
 
An alternative would be to try X-Plane which is available as a native Mac application.

I don't find it quite as much fun as MSFS, but it's a skazillion times more realistic and accurate. Worth taking a look, in any event, especially since it sounds like Microsoft have killed of Flight Simulator for good.

yea I've tried x-plane but when I started it the controls wouldn't work and my big controller stick thing wouldn't work either
 
of course you can use a joystick in xplane , read the manual , trust me it helps....
 
I'm not quite sure what you mean, since the control sensitivity is mostly a matter of your drivers and settings. X-Plane doesn't have a whole lot to do with that.

By realistic I mean that the physics model is actually accurate and complete unlike MSFS where the physics model is just faked to approximate the flight model and performance of each aircraft.

You can actually practice crosswind landings in X-Plane and it matters which wheel you touch down first, for instance, unlike MSFS where there really isn't ground effect or wheel friction in the simulation.

Heck, X-Plane is even certified for use for FAA flight instruction (in specific configurations) and that's a direct consequence of its realism and accurate flight model.
 
I spent the weekend installing Windows 7RC1 and flight simulator x on my 2008 mac pro. performance s excellent. No problems or stuttering. I am locked at 40fps and everything is at high(one notch down from the highest).
 
I spent the weekend installing Windows 7RC1 and flight simulator x on my 2008 mac pro. performance s excellent. No problems or stuttering. I am locked at 40fps and everything is at high(one notch down from the highest).


Looks like I'm gonna have to try Windows 7 then, are sure no stutters? I have almost the same rig as you.

MP 8x2.8 4GB 8800GT

Also, have you updated FSX to SP1/2 or Acceleration or tweaked any setting?

Sorry for all the Q's, I'm desperate to get this working!
 
Looks like I'm gonna have to try Windows 7 then, are sure no stutters? I have almost the same rig as you.

MP 8x2.8 4GB 8800GT

Also, have you updated FSX to SP1/2 or Acceleration or tweaked any setting?

Sorry for all the Q's, I'm desperate to get this working!

No stutters, I installed SP1 & SP2. I did launch FSX once before installing the SPs. No other special tweaking except for locking the frame rate to 40. I have installed custom scenery for my area.
Oh one mor thing I am running Windows 7 RC1 64bit.
 
No stutters, I installed SP1 & SP2. I did launch FSX once before installing the SPs. No other special tweaking except for locking the frame rate to 40. I have installed custom scenery for my area.
Oh one mor thing I am running Windows 7 RC1 64bit.


Ok thanks Dimme, just need to get Windows downloading now. Have a rubbish connection here!
 
I'm not quite sure what you mean, since the control sensitivity is mostly a matter of your drivers and settings. X-Plane doesn't have a whole lot to do with that.

By realistic I mean that the physics model is actually accurate and complete unlike MSFS where the physics model is just faked to approximate the flight model and performance of each aircraft.

You can actually practice crosswind landings in X-Plane and it matters which wheel you touch down first, for instance, unlike MSFS where there really isn't ground effect or wheel friction in the simulation.

Heck, X-Plane is even certified for use for FAA flight instruction (in specific configurations) and that's a direct consequence of its realism and accurate flight model.

Does anyone know how accurate X-Plane's models are for helicopters? Trying an autorotation in MSFS is a joke... the aforementioned lack of wheel friction causes a helicopter on skids to hit the runway at the end of a full down autorotation (or even just a run-on landing) and coast down like an airplane in its landing roll-out. Last time I tried either in a real helicopter it stopped FAST when contacting the runway. Bonus points if X-Plane shows sparks flying from the skid plates for either of these landing types when done at night.

And for the OP, boot camp is your best bet.
 
My Logitech joystick works much better in FSX that in Xplane. I am not sure if it is Windows that makes it better or Xplane that makes it worse. I have tweaked the setting in Xplane but that does not seem to help. It is so bad with some planes tht I don't even bother flying with them. I also like the fact the FSX supports force feedback!
 
Thanks Dimme!

Hi,

Thanks alot for the tip on Windows 7. Finally got the 64bit version down last night. Ran the Nvidia driver, installed FSX, then ran it, then updated to SP1 then SP2. It has to be the best I've seen it run. I was even getting 60fps in San Fransisco bay (a few stutters, but better at 40fps).

My next test is gonna be to remove it and then try to install my FSX Acceleration pack (i love the F18!). This will really tell me if it's 7, or if it's the expansion pack.

Thanks alot, soon I may be able to do some flying.

RE:X-Plane and Joysticks... it is very hard to set it up so that it isn't too sensitive. I got a HOTAS Cougar the other week and it was very accurate with it, but I sent it back under wife pressure...:eek:
 
I am using the boot camp driver, is there a better one?

Oh ok, I haven't put the boot camp stuff on. It may not matter, it came up with a MS WDM driver so I went to Nvidia and got a windows 7 BETA driver

I don't know if it's any better or not.
 
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