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X-Plane 12 Early Access

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Re: X-Plane 12 Early Access

#11

Post by mazug »

juice_bus wrote: post #2

How does X-Plane compare to the latest Microsoft Flight Simulator?

I tried the latest MS Flight Simulator on X-Box. It was incredibly difficult to figure out how to set things up to reasonably simulate something like flying an ILS approach. Maybe on the PC it's better, but it just didn't seem to be the focus. And there's background music playing like it's an un-serious video game. X-Plane seems much more oriented towards realistically simulating the tasks involved in actually flying aircraft. Microsoft's seemed more oriented towards having pretty dang spectacular graphics and providing a fun experience for people who aren't really that interested in the rest of the minutiae of piloting aircraft. It's pretty cool that you can see your actual house on the Microsoft one though.

Re: X-Plane 12 Early Access

#13

Post by GekkePrutser »

juice_bus wrote: post #2

How does X-Plane compare to the latest Microsoft Flight Simulator?

The experience in VR is much much better in X-Plane. Sadly it doesn't have the amazingly realistic cities and world textures of MSFS but the controls work so much better. Especially X-Plane's "ergonomic yoke" which uses the tilt sensor in the controller instead of having to hold up your hand in thin air. MSFS is far behind this.

And why call out VR specifically? Well, VR is in my opinion absolutely groundbreaking in flight simulation. I've flown small planes too and I've never felt that a flightsim was able to provide the feeling of flying. Until VR that is. Now it's amazing.

Re: X-Plane 12 Early Access

#14

Post by GekkePrutser »

beardedscotsman wrote: post #6
TedShiller wrote: post #4

Earlier quoted context omitted.

XPlane is a simulator. MSFS is a game.

That’s not entirely true. They gameafy some aspects for sure, but that’s just about accessibility. You can run it like a full sim and there are great videos of real Boeing pilots talking about it. Even the old flight sim was so advanced MSFT had contracts with the French military for their mapping tech from the game specifically. This is back in the day now.

To be fair, you do have to buy some expensive addons to make it that realistic. Most of the buttons in the included boeing don't work at all.

Re: X-Plane 12 Early Access

#16

Post by GekkePrutser »

McDev wrote: post #8
TedShiller wrote: post #4

Earlier quoted context omitted.

XPlane is a simulator. MSFS is a game.

I used MSFS a lot for practising VFR navigation / dead reckoning skills, very helpful for that with how good the scenery is. Not sure I could achieve the same in XPlane

Yeah if you fly VFR in areas you know real-world, it's really helpful to have the photorealistic scenery in MSFS!

Re: X-Plane 12 Early Access

#17

Post by gburdell3 »

mazug wrote: post #11
juice_bus wrote: post #2

How does X-Plane compare to the latest Microsoft Flight Simulator?

I tried the latest MS Flight Simulator on X-Box. It was incredibly difficult to figure out how to set things up to reasonably simulate something like flying an ILS approach. Maybe on the PC it's better, but it just didn't seem to be the focus. And there's background music playing like it's an un-serious video game. X-Plane seems much more oriented towards realistically simulating the tasks involved in actually flying…

I've found that MSFS works much better when you turn off all the "fun" stuff and use add-on aircraft. I enjoy flying Airbus planes, so using mods like FlyByWire (free) and Fenix (paid) can drastically improve the experience since the built-in A320neo is pretty barebones. Those mods can also load flight plans straight from SimBrief so I avoid ever using the built-in flight planner. I just load up at the gate with an empty flight plan, load in my real plan from SimBrief, and pretend I'm flying a real A320.

Re: X-Plane 12 Early Access

#19

Post by asciimike »

beardedscotsman wrote: post #6
TedShiller wrote: post #4

Earlier quoted context omitted.

XPlane is a simulator. MSFS is a game.

That’s not entirely true. They gameafy some aspects for sure, but that’s just about accessibility. You can run it like a full sim and there are great videos of real Boeing pilots talking about it. Even the old flight sim was so advanced MSFT had contracts with the French military for their mapping tech from the game specifically. This is back in the day now.

Here's a great example of why the flight model is... lacking: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6GX9lTvKuqU

It's perfectly fine for most things, but _really_ bad with things that could actually kill you.

Meanwhile, in X-Plane land: https://developer.x-plane.com/2022/02/x-plane-12-flight-mode...

Re: X-Plane 12 Early Access

#20

Post by WhipeeDip »

clumsysmurf wrote: post #5

I've never used X-Plane or Microsoft Flight Simulator. Can anyone recommend a good $200 (or less) joystick?

If you want both a stick and throttle for under $200, you'll likely want the Thrustmaster T.16000M FCS (~$150). If you're willing to add another ~$150 to the budget, I highly recommend the VKB Gladiator NXT EVO with the SCG Premium grip (~$210 with US shipping) and picking up the Thrustmaster TWCS throttle alone (~$130).

Either way, the Thrustmaster TWCS throttle does have some stiction and you might want to clean it up, or even better 3D print/buy a slider replacement for about ~$40 on Etsy.

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