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The ambition of Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024

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Re: The ambition of Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024

#11

Post by epgui »

w_for_wumbo wrote: post #10

Maybe I'm being simplistic of overly optimistic - but I would think that there would be a massive opportunity for collaboration with fluid dynamics to simulate and 'fast-forward' the weather to see likely impacts. It might not be correct the first time, but as we map the changes from prediction against the reality, we could adjust for factors that we hadn't considered. It seems to me that we shouldn't be too far from…

That simply doesn’t work, for the same reason we can’t even model three massive bodies interacting with each other via gravity, which is a much much simpler problem.

Re: The ambition of Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024

#12

Post by gadtfly »

polishdude20 wrote: post #7

It would be so cool to use Microsoft's "earth copy" for stuff other than just flight sim. They say it's the most accurate representation of the earth ever. Wonder if you can do some interesting science with that.

MSFS 2020's Earth is unbelievably good from the air, but it (understandably) does not look great and is sometimes not entirely physically coherent up close at the surface (outside of airports and a limited set of bespoke areas).

There's also some crazy errors that are visible from the air, like many rivers being raised up hundreds of feet[0], and many bridges being solid underneath[1].

I always assumed one of primary things in a sequel would be to train an even bigger and better satellite maps -> 3D scenery model, especially one that understood a wider (and better-localized) variety of building configurations, so we'll see.

[0] https://forums.flightsimulator.com/t/river-altitude-raised-w...

[1] https://forums.flightsimulator.com/t/fix-photogrammetry-brid...

Re: The ambition of Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024

#13

Post by ekianjo »

w_for_wumbo wrote: post #10

Maybe I'm being simplistic of overly optimistic - but I would think that there would be a massive opportunity for collaboration with fluid dynamics to simulate and 'fast-forward' the weather to see likely impacts. It might not be correct the first time, but as we map the changes from prediction against the reality, we could adjust for factors that we hadn't considered. It seems to me that we shouldn't be too far from…

predicting weather beyond a very short amount of time is a myth or a delusion. its a chaotic system just like any fluid that goes out of the newtonian zone.

Re: The ambition of Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024

#14

Post by arnaudsm »

polishdude20 wrote: post #7

It would be so cool to use Microsoft's "earth copy" for stuff other than just flight sim. They say it's the most accurate representation of the earth ever. Wonder if you can do some interesting science with that.

"earth copy" is just marketing lingo. Models are approximations made for a specific goal at a time. You cannot build a model that is both good for gaming and meteorology.

99% of that engine value is procedural terrain and graphical shaders. It looks great but has no scientifical value.

Just like the "digital twin" hype train, cool simulations have fancy graphics, useful simulations don't.

Re: The ambition of Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024

#15

Post by deanCommie »

One thing I've always wished Microsoft would do with every version of Flight Simulator but especially this one is have an "Arcade flying" mode.

I want to see the hyper-realistic rendered world in as high resolution as possible.

I want to fly around the planet.

But I don't want to be limited to the detailed specifics (and speeds!) of real life planes.

Why can't we have a mode to make a plane as easy to fly as it is in GTA5. Or "superman" mode where I don't even have a plane, and I can just move around at (almost) any speed [i'm sure rendering would become a problem]

Re: The ambition of Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024

#16

Post by nottommo »

lttlrck wrote: post #4
ddoolin wrote: post #3

This is the first I'm even hearing of MSFS 2024, I figured 2020 would just be a continuous WIP for a long time to come. I used it for practice but haven't dusted the equipment off in awhile, but this sounds like some nice improvements. 2020 was already pretty astounding in its quality and the leap from the existing flight sims.

2020 is astonishing in VR. I get the same melancholy I do on a real plane and can fly for hours sightseeing out the window. There is also a real sense of peril. It's quite the experience. I can't wait for 2024.

Why do you feel melancholy?

Re: The ambition of Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024

#17

Post by actuallyalys »

“The team built a “digital twin” of the Earth, much like would-be metaverse companies want to do.” Was this actually a goal of “would-be metaverse companies”?

My impression is that they were much more focused on highly abstracted spaces designed to facilitate work and social interactions.

Re: The ambition of Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024

#19

Post by ramesh31 »

arnaudsm wrote: post #14
polishdude20 wrote: post #7

It would be so cool to use Microsoft's "earth copy" for stuff other than just flight sim. They say it's the most accurate representation of the earth ever. Wonder if you can do some interesting science with that.

"earth copy" is just marketing lingo. Models are approximations made for a specific goal at a time. You cannot build a model that is both good for gaming and meteorology. 99% of that engine value is procedural terrain and graphical shaders. It looks great but has no scientifical value. Just like the "digital twin" hype train, cool simulations have fancy graphics, useful simulations don't.

>You cannot build a model that is both good for gaming and meteorology.

This was the prevailing wisdom in AI before generalized transformers as well. We're rapidly moving toward black box hyperintelligent AGI.

Re: The ambition of Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024

#20

Post by arnaudsm »

ramesh31 wrote: post #19
arnaudsm wrote: post #14

Earlier quoted context omitted.

"earth copy" is just marketing lingo. Models are approximations made for a specific goal at a time. You cannot build a model that is both good for gaming and meteorology. 99% of that engine value is procedural terrain and graphical shaders. It looks great but has no scientifical value. Just like the "digital twin" hype train, cool simulations have fancy graphics, useful simulations don't.

>You cannot build a model that is both good for gaming and meteorology. This was the prevailing wisdom in AI before generalized transformers as well. We're rapidly moving toward black box hyperintelligent AGI.

I was comparing expert systems here, not emergent ones
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