FSX Steam Edition: Cessna C152 II Add-On Download In Parts
Dardo Hameed
The announcement was made via a YouTube video previewing the new sim. At first, we thought it was a hoax (like our 2014 April fools joke) however the video was verified and had been released on Microsoft's official Xbox YouTube channel.
Finally, after all the waiting, Microsoft Flight Simulator is set to be released on the 18th August 2020 courtesy of Xbox Game Studios and Asobo Studio. The release will be available for PC as well as Xbox Game Pass for PC (Beta).
There is also a highly detailed and comprehensive new checklist system. This interactive guide of the instruments allows the virtual pilot to test their abilities and indeed knowledge of virtual flight. It can be set to full manual right the way to full assist meaning that whether you a veteran of the virtual skies or about to embark on your first adventure, the new feature will be of great benefit.
Of course, as important as the details of the aircraft are, there is also the virtual world around them, something which has certainly been taken into account and improved by the developers. For example, even at the airports themselves, the background animation of cargo and luggage being loaded onto planes or carriers, or even the realistic way the windsocks blow in the wind all add that extra element of authenticity.
However, the features of the new dynamic weather engine mean the virtual pilots have the option to switch between live-weather or set it to their own liking. Whichever you choose, and whichever conditions you fly in, not only will they appear realistic, but they will have a realistic affect on your chosen plane.
Another newly improved feature is the night and day engine. This allows the pilot to not only set the time of day (or night) that they wish to fly but also the time of the year. If you are looking to improve your skills in specific conditions, then this particular improved feature will be of benefit to you.
Furthermore, the landscapes and beauty of the planet have also truly been captured intricately and accurately. From roads, rivers, mountains, fields, and woodlands, whatever you might expect to see should you glance down from a real plane you will see from your virtual cockpit. Just to demonstrate the amount of detail that has been captured, as well as these natural features and purposely built roadways, the program features replicas of over 1.5 billion buildings.
Just to note, it is possible to upgrade from one edition to another after purchase, but you should expect to pay more (overall) to do so. Essentially, if you think you are interested in the Deluxe or Premium Deluxe editions, it is perhaps worth opting for that one at the outset as opposed to trying out the standard edition first. Potential users should also note that license sharing is not allowed.
One question that appears to come up a lot from anticipating users, is whether the new release will be able to be played across multiple monitors, with the user able to view the cockpit on one, and the outside elements on the other. At this stage it is uncertain if this will be the case, at least initially. However, as soon as there is clarity on this issue, you will read about it here.
If the trailer is anything to go by, it is easy to understand this rampant anticipation. The difference between the virtual world and the real one, once you become immersed in the simulation, is a delightfully blurred one, with stunning graphics that appear as though they are from a movie as opposed to a simulation.
Here is our official release showcase video. It also doubles as an unofficial trailer video. We have produced this video to demonstrate the final released product by Microsoft. It features various locations around the globe and also many of the aircraft featured in the release version of the simulator.
The file features a complete printable, single-page PDF document as well as a Microsoft Word document (.docx) along with a viewable web page with every single default keyboard command and binding present. Also included is a JPG version should you prefer an image to work with.
All of the commands featured are the stock out-of-the-box commands. You can change and customize the bindings yourself if you wish in the settings sections within the sim. Microsoft have kept the controls as close as they can to the legacy FS9/FSX setup - this was a request by many users of the older sims - it keeps everything familiar.
We have now launched our official "best of" freeware Microsoft Flight Simulator freeware mods and add-ons article - you can read it here. This article is updated regularly with many new freeware releases so be sure to visit and bookmark that page. Covering aircraft, scenery, and tools/utilities for the new sim it covers everything and is fine-tuned to really include the best - and only the best - freeware releases.
We have started our own file library featuring these new mods and add-ons. The library is in its early stages and is growing daily - but it's exciting - freeware developers are creating files in abundance for this brand-new sim. While the SDK is primitive and not fully developed, developers are being proactive and making the most of what's available.
Many files have been released already including livery/repaint packs for the default aircraft, revised and missing airports/airfields included in our scenery section along with utilities and tools to make your MSFS 2020 (FS2020) experience more rewarding.
Note: If you are a freeware developer or enthusiast who has created an addon/mod compatible with this simulator package then we'd love it if you would share it with our community. You can read about our file library, our community, and submit your creation on the submission page here.
Touted as "the missing manual" or "the manual Microsoft didn't include" - this guide covers much of the sim in high detail and provides you with a manual that you can use to navigate your way through the brand-new simulator.
The book includes walkthroughs and tutorials for almost all of the features and screens of the latest flight sim release including; flying with ATC and configuring camera controls, to using the accessible user interface (UI), and completing your first training flight. Also included is highly detailed information for each of the hand-picked release airports (depending on what version you purchased).
Here we will feature selected payware releases for the new sim. Only a small selection is featured below as we will (eventually) craft an entire article covering payware releases for MSFS 2020. But here is what we have so far.
This addon brings an easy way to set specific weather setups in MSFS without customizing each and every field of the weather settings - each of the presets do that for you. All you have to do is select them.
Some of the weather presets included (but there are many more); Sandstorms, Zero Visibility, Hurricane conditions, Tropical storms, High-level clouds, Overcast, Big and Bold, Blazing Sunshine, Calm Winds, Humid Storms, Snow Flurry, Arctic Chill, and Blizzards.
In light of the recent events, it is not only these most recent developments that have been delayed. For example, there is expected to be another Feedback Snapshot update in early April. And Episode 8 in the Microsoft Flight Simulator developments is expected to be available a week or so later in the middle of the same month. As is a Partnership Series update.
If we turn our attention back to the Feedback Snapshot we can anticipate what that next update might look like or comprise of. For example, some of the top questions revolve around a list of aircraft and airports, as well as users looking for information on the Bing Improvement Plan/update frequency, or for information on the campaign modes and missions. It is most likely, at least in part, that these questions will be addressed in one of the upcoming updates.
Plenty of other users expressed a desire for more helicopters, while others wished for better peripherals, seasons, and even shared cockpit functionality. Whether the items on this wish list are addressed and/or actioned only time will see, but if they are, you will find out about them here, so make sure you bookmark this page.
Perhaps items of concern that will most likely be addressed are the Top Alpha Issues experienced by users. Top of the list were issues with Controls Mapping, but other issues such as Input Sensitivity and issues with Live Weather have also been highlighted by those who have had access to the developing database.
We should expect most, if not all of these to be addressed over the following updates, although, perhaps we should note that at the best of times delays can happen, and these are certainly are not the best of times.
At the event and on their releases, they announced that they are working with several real-world aircraft manufacturers and also announced that the new simulator will cover, "a broad range of aircraft" which include light aircraft, business jets, commercial aircraft (large passenger jets) and general aviation aircraft. This will be good news to simmers as they were concerned that the "heavies" won't be included... they will be pleased to know it appears the 747-8 is going to be available out-of-the-box - you can't get any heavier than that!
So far we have no news on helicopters or rotorcraft being included but with many more updates to follow (and development time) we are sure that Microsoft has thought of this, listened to the community and will be including some whirlybirds in the release.
Microsoft, now they have taken the reins back for Flight Simulator X on Steam has released a new beta edition which will help them "gain valuable new telemetry data" for the upcoming release of Microsoft Flight Simulator (FS2020).
Some chatter suggests they are gathering data to make the new simulator more backward compatible with FSX so users are able to use (most) of their FSX add-on with the 2020 release... wouldn't that be great!
Indeed, while we will get into it in more detail as we go and there will undoubtedly be some caveats to the following statement, but if the two days in Renton are an indicator of the quality of the final product it would appear to be a safe bet that virtual pilots everywhere will be in for a real treat.
b37509886e