New to MS Fightsim
Don Burnette
I have had MS FS2002 installed for a while now, and figured I would give it
a go. I had only briefly played around with it before.
I would like to get into it, and wanted some opinions and advice if you
don't mind.
Should I go ahead and get FS9 instead?
What is the best way to proceed, go through and read the manuals and go
through flight training?
Thanks for any tips,
--
Don Burnette
Black Prussian
started the lessons that come with software. Combined with gradually
upgrading hardware (flight yoke, dual monitors, etc..) that really got me
going.
IMHO unless you have a pretty powerful machine, I would stay with fs2002.
"Don Burnette" <d.bur...@clothes.comcast.net> wrote in message
news:_dqdndiSO5M...@giganews.com...
Gregory Abbey
Here's a handy guide to system specs for MSFS v8 an v9 taken
from the side panel of each software box.
http://mywebpages.comcast.net/g-abbey/sim_specs.gif (9k)
What is says is 1.5x increase in CPU.. and 2x increase in RAM.
Notice the video spec did not change. Hard drive space is also
increased indicating MORE textures or files.
I'm running FS2002 still (have FS9 installed) because of 500MHz
platform.. however if you look at the 4x column.. that's probably
where the cutoff is... 1.5 to 1.8GHz CPU. Just a subjective
comment.. others may different opinion.
-Gregory
-------------------------
On Sat, 30 Oct 2004 13:17:57 -0400, "Black Prussian"
<black_p...@leckett.com> brought the following to our attention:
>After flying around for awhile without really knowing what I was doing, I
>started the lessons that come with software. Combined with gradually
>upgrading hardware (flight yoke, dual monitors, etc..) that really got me
>going.
>
>IMHO unless you have a pretty powerful machine, I would stay with fs2002.
>
>
>"Don Burnette" <d.bur...@clothes.comcast.net> wrote in message
>>
Don Burnette
Athlon XP 2800+ over clocked to 3200+ speeds.
Nforce 2 mb with 1 gb ddr ram.
Radeon 9800 Pro video card.
Thanks,
--
Don Burnette
Gregory Abbey
<d.bur...@clothes.comcast.net> brought the following to our
attention:
>I should be ok hardware wise,
>
>Athlon XP 2800+ over clocked to 3200+ speeds.
>Nforce 2 mb with 1 gb ddr ram.
>Radeon 9800 Pro video card.
>
>Thanks,
Let's reiterate the video spec.. notice how it's preposterously low..
however the hidden message is that the spec is unchanged. Also
notice the trend as the specs are extended and multiplied.
In no less that TWO experiments with video card upgrade.. the
performance of Sim either didn't improve.. and when doubling VRAM
the fps actually took a 25% hit!! The conclusion for this experiment
is that adding a graphics `aperture' or load out of the proportions
shown could lead to reduced framerate.. albeit with more details
and extending further out in the distance.
-G
p.s. would like to see some test data to support or refute above..
Jim Hendrickson
> Hi all,
>
> I have had MS FS2002 installed for a while now, and figured I would give
> it a go. I had only briefly played around with it before.
Welcome the the flight sim world!
>
> I would like to get into it, and wanted some opinions and advice if you
> don't mind.
>
> Should I go ahead and get FS9 instead?
I would stick with the 2002 that you have. FS9 has been out for about a
year and a half and they're likely going to release another version next
year (its usually every 2 years).
>
> What is the best way to proceed, go through and read the manuals and go
> through flight training?
Get a basic joystick, preferably one that has a throttle wheel on it. Go
into your flight sim options and turn most of the realism settings down,
then just get in a plane and fly. This will familiarize you with what
flight sim looks like for the most part. Once you've done this a bit,
you'll want to start learning some stuff.
The way I did it was to start with most of the realism settings on full,
except weather, which I left clear and calm. Then I put a Cessna 172 (I
prefer the general aviation flying aspects of FS) at my local airfield and
just practiced flying the pattern and touch & go's. Then I flew around my
local aire and landed at other airfields that are nearby (within 30nm or so)
VFR. Then I turned on weather (FS9 has real world weather options) and
started night flying. Then I read up on navigation and started doing the
cross country flights.
Each flight I would aim to learn something new, until I was confident enough
to just make a simple flight plan, take off and fly. I'm going to practice
instrument flying next, but for now am just having fun with the VFR
cross-country flights. I'll find an airfield someplace that looks like it
may be interesting, fly to it, then read about the city/area it is in on the
internet.
Keep in mind that this was the way I started with it. I had actually been a
casual flight simmer for many years (since the Commodore 64 days!) and had
FS5 and FS98 and "flew" quite extensively, but never got into the serious
aspects of it until a year or so ago.
Once you get confident with it, the next rev of flight sim will be out and
you'll want to get some new FS hardware. Among some of the things you may
want to get.
Good quality yoke or stick (depending on what you like to fly)- I have a PFC
Cirrus)
Good quality pedals (currently using the CH Pro pedals)
Track IR-there hasn't been any single peripheral that has increased the
immersion of flight simulator than this nifty little tool. You'll never use
the 2d panels again and will spend your entire flight in the virtual
cockpit.
Avionics controller hardware- I like the stuff from GoFlight, its highly
customizeable and modular, so you can start with a small set and build up
from there.
The goal of all this hardware is to avoid ENTIRELY using the keyboard/mouse
during flight.
Hope this helps, and enjoy your flight.
Marshall Banana
> In no less that TWO experiments with video card upgrade.. the
> performance of Sim either didn't improve.. and when doubling VRAM
> the fps actually took a 25% hit!! The conclusion for this experiment
> is that adding a graphics `aperture' or load out of the proportions
> shown could lead to reduced framerate.. albeit with more details
> and extending further out in the distance.
Also, there are a lot of companies that manufacture 256MB video cards
using really cheap slow ram chips. You can often get better performance
from a 128mb card with fast ram. But you're right, FS framerates really
don't much depend on having a super video card. What a super video card
will give you is the ability to have a higher quality picture due to
better antialiasing and anisentropic filtering.
Dan
--
There are three schools of magic.
One: State a tautology, then ring the changes on its corollaries;
that's philosophy.
Two: Record many facts. Try to find a pattern. Then make a wrong guess
at the next fact; that's science.
Three: Be aware that you live in a malevolent Universe controlled by Murphy's
Law, sometimes offset by Brewster's Factor; that's engineering.
Don Burnette
Thanks for all the great information !
I am not new to flight simming, I do fly combat sims, like IL2FB and EECH. I
am new to civilian flight sims, like the MS series. FS2002 was the first
civilian flight sim purchase I made a little while back. I have really
gotten back into combat sims, and now flying civilian planes, realistically,
really appeals to me. I would like to progress to where I can pilot say a
737 on a planned route, using the instruments would normally have to , etc.
I know it is a very indepth sim, which is why I asked for help on the best
way to proceed.
Luckily, I do have a good setup in the TM Hotas Cougar, with the Elite
rudder pedals. I know it is not a yoke and such, but it should do me fine in
MS2002 for now I would think.
I did not know if it would be best for me to go through the flight school,
etc, or whether to just jump in and go. I am sure I will at least need to do
some reading up on the navigation and intrument manuals to get somewhat of
an understanding of them.
Thanks for all the help folks, much appreciated!
--
Don Burnette
Don Burnette
<snip>
> Good quality yoke or stick (depending on what you like to fly)- I
> have a PFC Cirrus)
> Good quality pedals (currently using the CH Pro pedals)
> Track IR-there hasn't been any single peripheral that has increased
> the immersion of flight simulator than this nifty little tool. You'll
> never use the 2d panels again and will spend your entire
> flight in the virtual cockpit.
> Avionics controller hardware- I like the stuff from GoFlight, its
> highly customizeable and modular, so you can start with a small set
> and build up from there.
>
> The goal of all this hardware is to avoid ENTIRELY using the
> keyboard/mouse during flight.
>
> Hope this helps, and enjoy your flight.
Oh, also , forgot to mention. Yesterday was my 25 year anniversary with my
company, and I received a very nice plaque, along with a bank gift card.
I had heard about Track IR about a month ago, and have been reading up on it
at their website drooling.
So now, I will be using part of the gift card to get it - hard to believe
technology is where something like that can be done. I didn't even know it
existed till I saw folks mentioning it in posts and I finally googled it to
see what it actually was.
Thanks again,
--
Don Burnette
Dallas
> Athlon XP 2800+ over clocked to 3200+ speeds.
> Nforce 2 mb with 1 gb ddr ram.
> Radeon 9800 Pro video card.
I know for a fact your rig will run FS9 beautifully.
And I would get FS9... it is worth the $50 bucks even if you only use it for
10 months till FS10 comes out.
Dallas
Don Burnette
I may do just that, as I am ordering a Track IR Pro3, and on the games
supported section it lists FS9, but not FS 2002.
Thanks,
--
Don Burnette