Y'all can call it whatever you want to, but you can't change Websters.
In ww2 they put pilots in a wooden box with a few gauges and a teeter totter underneath and called it a simulation.
There is no definition of simulation that says what features are required.
Does anyone know how detailed the first 3D simulation the US air force used was? I'll wager it wasn't as complex as AH.
It's a fun frkn simulation!!!
I agree with what you are saying. Along with your statement what many people miss , is that the word simulation by it's self is meaningless. Because the would simulator, must be accompanied by a classification.
Obviously AH is not a dish water simulator. Also the next question is what is a product trying to simulate, and why. Many simulators are made simply to learn system management. The feel of flight, and the edges of the flight envelope are completely irreverent. An IFR simulator would not need much world detail, but the gauge placement would be incredibly important.
You can also not just assume recreating all details will make an accurate simulation. Many times an overall effect must bee looked at, as an example there we people during the war dedicated to provide intercept information to pilots, so some way must be found provide the information those people provided.
And also it must never be forgotten that AH is a game. It's primary purpose is to provide entertainment. At some times adding extreme simulation detail & accuracy to part of the game provides entertainment. Other times adding things do nothing be detract from fun, (example having to wait for oil temp to reach temp before take off, I.E. wait 5 mins on the run way). I do this on cold days in my RV, I don't find it enjoyable in the RV either.
Adjustments must be made for the equipment you a using. The lack of tactile feed back on a computer makes some things much more difficult then real airplanes. The joy stick alone works nothing like a real plane stick. Hence trimming a computer is far more difficult then trimming a real plane.
HiTech
