FSX... X-Plane and Prepar3d

[saggs]

I enjoy AH, but I also enjoy playing around in GA simulators as well.

So I've had FSX for years, got a few add-ons to make it pretty, and a bunch of GA planes I like on it.  But I have a couple things I don't like on it.

First thing is I've never been able to get FSX to run smoothy on my system.  I can run AH with all the sliders up just fine, I've played a couple racing games with far better graphics and they run smooth, but I've never been able to get FSX to not be a little jittery.  Second thing is the flight modeling just feels wrong, like the planes are just mushing through super-duper thick air or water almost.  The two planes I can compare FSX to real life is the C172, and Piper Supercub.  In both cases the FSX flight dymanics seem off to me.

So the other day I downloaded the demo for X-plane 10.  The scenery and graphics seem on par with stock FSX ones, but run soooooo much smoother.  Also in messing around with the 172 in X-plane the flight dynamics feel a lot more realistic as well.  Also it seems to have a huge freeware community for add-ons, plus the advantage of continued support (FSX is long dead as far as MS is concerned) and it's 64bit.  So I was all set to jump ship and order X-Plane 10.  When I hear about Prepar3d....

So apparently Lockheed Martin bought the source stuff for FSX from MS, worked out all the bugs so it runs smoother and updated the scenery and graphics and called it Prepar3d. what I haven't been able to figure out is if LM changed the flight modeling at all.  So now that's another option to consider. 

But here's the kicker, the EULA for Prepar3d from LM specifically states that it is not for "personal consumer entertainment."  They do have an academic version of the license for $60, but they state it is only for K-12 and undergraduate students or teachers.  For other use like "simulation" or "learning" for anybody else they sell a "professional license" for $200    Also they do not offer any demo.


I think I'm ditching FSX for sure just based on the way it won't run smooth, and the lack of current and future support.  So, should I get X-Plane 10 for $60, or get the academic license of Prepar3d for $60 (even though technically I should get the $200 license..) I mean I don't think Lockheed would come after me or anything, but then again I'd be technically violating the EULA...  But without a demo I don't even know if I want Prepar3d...

Lastly, I'm also thinking of Oculus Rift support (seems to me like that will be the near future in flight simulators.)  X-Plane has stated that they will have Oculus Rift support.  Don't know about Prepar3d, and of course FSX won't since it's a dead program.

Any flight simmers here have any experience with either of these programs?  Thoughts?

[Oldman731]

Any flight simmers here have any experience with either of these programs? 

I have FSX and X-Plane 10.  I haven't noticed a huge difference in flight models, although X-Plane claims to be more accurate.  The nice thing about X-Plane is that the world is closer to reality (Wings Field, KLOM, is still N67 in FSX) and it's easier to load different weather patterns.  The maddening thing about X-Plane is that it requires so much effort to set the system up.  It has a huge number of variables, which will appeal to wireheads but are anathema to computer morons like me.  FWIW, on my computer X-Plane required me to eliminate much of the eye candy in order for the plane to fly correctly (otherwise everything was in slow motion).

- oldman

[jigsaw]

Data from FSX is becoming out of date.  Things like runway and airway numbers change over time. KSNA just changed runway numbers as an example. With no support team updating the FSX data, more will fall behind. If you're looking for something for GA, and details matter, find something with current support. If details aren't important, then what you choose wont matter.

...and as a p.s.  KSMO probably wont exist in a few years.

[Mister Fork]

heh.  I was just going to come to the O'Club and post "anyone here use Prepar3d?"

I'm an aviation enthusiast, not a pilot.  Though being a pilot would be awesome cept I have a young family and no spare $40k sitting around.  To justify $200 on a sim that I 'may' enjoy is questionable.  The combat version (at over $2k) sounds awesome - again I cannot justify that kind of coin.  Sounds more geared towards an air force, not someone like me.

I do have a Ferrari for a system to run the latest/greatest...but again I can't justify the spend.

So OM - is X-Plane better than FSX?

 

[GScholz]

X-Plane is better... Simply because it isn't 8 years old and unsupported. X-Plane also has better flight modeling. Both look pretty good with a lot of modding, but FSX is limited by its 32bit memory limitations and lack of multithreading. X-Plane utilizes the full power of newer systems.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uo93IAvjzhw

[Chalenge]

Dovetail Games has picked up the FSX title for support on STEAM along with the add-on supplier Flight1. Some time in 2015 they will be releasing a new Flight Simulator version. For 2014 FSX will be released on STEAM.

http://www.dovetailgames.com/news/2014/jul/25/dovetail-games-flight1-software-partner-for-fsx-launch-on-steam

http://www.dovetailgames.com/news/2014/jul/9/dovetail-games-licensing-deal-with-microsoft-takes-flight

[Oldman731]

So OM - is X-Plane better than FSX?

For you, probably X-Plane is better.  You love screwing around with computer settings AND you have a Ferrari of a computer.

The 172 and add-on Piper Arrow and Piper Saratoga planes, so far as I can tell, fly about the same in both sims, and you can adjust the stick settings to mimic the way the real planes fly.  Regrettably, neither sim has a well-modeled Garmin 496 or KLN 94 GPS, so your ability to do kewl IFR stuff is limited.  I bought someone's add-on 496 for X-Plane, but never could figure out how to get it to interact with the autopilot.

I've no idea what real jets are like to fly, so can't sensibly comment on that aspect.

- oldman

[saggs]

So it seems like no one has any real experience with Prepar3d.

I'm leaning toward getting the full version of X-plane.  Demo only gives you the seatac area, and only lets you fly for a few minutes before locking out your joystick, but what the little I've played with it seems alright.  I did have to tweak a few setting, mostly widening up the FOV a lot.  Took about 30 minutes to get all the keys/buttons mapped and setting where I was happy with it.

On the flight modeling... the best example I have is slow flight in the 172 in both FSX and X Plane.  I tried to do some intentional spins in FSX and could never get it, it would just mush around, and both wings seemed to stall simultaneously, no matter what the attitude or control inputs.  Fired up the 172 in X Plane, flaps 1 notch, 75% power, pull back, wait for the stall horn, kick the left rudder, and it drops into a spin just like real life.  Release back pressure, opposite rudder and it recovers just like real life.  I could never get that in FSX.

X-Plane is also on steam right now, but it is a HUGE download that would kill cost me a fortune with my ISP.  So I think I'll order the discs.  Better to have a physical copy anyway I think.

[Wolfala]

OK the long short of it is this.

If you can put up with the watermark in a corner of the screen that no one cares about - Prepar3d will be a good follow on to FSX. That'll set you back $50. If you want to get rid of it, then it'll cost you $200 - its the exact same program, except the $200 gets rid of the watermark.

It can do everything FSX can do, except its a bit more, how i'd describe - MILSPEC. Its definitely not a game like FSX, and not like navigating LINUX with Xplane.

[Wolfala]

Here's a Prepar3d tech demo I did last night.

This is utilizing the Megascenery for Southern California out of San Diego and California.

The aircraft is freeware.

http://youtu.be/NINE2hAD7wE

[Meatwad]

Thats pretty sweet

[MrRiplEy[H]]

Here's a Prepar3d tech demo I did last night.

This is utilizing the Megascenery for Southern California out of San Diego and California.

The aircraft is freeware.

http://youtu.be/NINE2hAD7wE

Was that radio chatter by players or some record?

[Wolfala]

If that was by players you would not have aces high or digital combat simulator.

Those are red flag recordings

[MrRiplEy[H]]

If that was by players you would not have aces high or digital combat simulator.

Those are red flag recordings

Thats what I thought, sounded a bit too professional to be gamers.