Author Topic: MS Flight Simulator 2002 (Read 461 times)

muckmaw · « **on:** April 11, 2003, 11:45:02 AM »

Any thoughts on the quality of this sim?

Last one I tried was MSFS 2000 with Airport 2000 scenario disks.

Your input in greatly appreciated. I would especially like to know about the ATC feature.

Thanks in Advance.

Eagler · « **Reply #1 on:** April 11, 2003, 12:29:40 PM »

they forgot the guns ....

mora · « **Reply #2 on:** April 11, 2003, 01:21:22 PM »

Well it's #1 product in it's category, though there really isn't competition. Overall pretty good sim, the flight model is pretty good in normal flying but it has a few unbelievable mistakes. FS2004 is going to be released next summer so I wouldn't buy it now. ATC is fun at first, but it really doesn't have much to do with the real thing, and if you are going to fly according to real procedures you cant use it.

flakbait · « **Reply #3 on:** April 11, 2003, 01:29:56 PM »

It might not be accurate in Finland, Mora, but some instructors (and even the FAA) allow limited training using M$FS. Which could be taken either way, really

Actually FS2k4 is due out this summer. FS2k2 is pretty good all around, but there's a few glaring errors here and there. Being able to drive the Extra 300S backwards at 100mph is something I found a bit much. The ATC function is pretty cool, just don't file IFR and get up to take a leak. By the time you get back they'll cancel your clearance.

FS2k4 will fix both of those, and allow you to change airports in mid-air. Plus you can file IFR, request a different altitude, and change jetways while in flight. Taxi signs will get added (finally!), and they're adding a mess of historical AC to the list. Weather will be a LOAD better than 2k2's as well. They're importing CFS 3's weather engine into FS2k4. Unlike 2k2, 2k4 will only have one version; no more "standard" and "pro" stuff. Everybody gets everything for 55 bucks. They're calling it "A Century of Flight".

More info over here....

http://zone.msn.com/flightsim/FS02SpecialFS9.asp

For the lazy...

Key New Features

* Dynamic weather system based on realistic atmospheric physics, with true three-dimensional clouds that form and dissipate, and automatic real-world weather updates when you're connected to the Internet.
* Weather “themes” that generate a wide variety of stunning—and challenging—flying conditions with just a few clicks of a mouse
* Enhanced interactive air traffic control (ATC), including traffic at all airports around the world (including non-towered airports), altitude changes en route, pop-up IFR clearances, and precision and non-precision approaches to multiple runways
* Interactive 3D “virtual” cockpits—tune radios and operate key aircraft controls and avionics by pointing and clicking in the virtual cockpit view.
* Scenery improvements, including taxiway and runway signs, enhanced auto-gen 3D objects, more high-detail airports, and improved lighting and sky effects
* Garmin 500 and 295 series GPS with color moving maps and airport/facility information
* Improved full-color map view with terrain display
* Improved support for 3D graphics hardware acceleration in multiple windows and across multiple monitors
* Learning Center--a “Web site on the disc” available while the simulation is running that includes a Key Topics visual guide to the features in Microsoft Flight Simulator, direct links to flights and lessons, flight briefings, how-to procedures, aircraft handbooks, and more.
* New and expanded lessons and ground school topics
* Kiosk mode for unattended demonstrations

Core Features from Previous Versions

* Worldwide scenery with accurate 3D terrain and auto-gen objects that fill in the world with appropriate buildings and vegetation no matter where you fly.
* Jeppesen NavData database, including VORs, NDBs, ILS, low- and high-altitude airways, intersections
* Approximately 24,000 airports worldwide (increased from about 22,000 in Microsoft Flight Simulator 2002).
* Flight planner to create realistic VFR and IFR flight plans and navigation logs
* Flight analysis to play back a flight on a moving map that shows ground track, key flight data, and a vertical profile
* Instructor's station--link two PCs so that one pilot can observe a Flight Simulator session, change weather, fail systems, and provide comments and help via a chat window.
* IFR training panels for selected aircraft that include all key instruments, avionics, and controls in one window for realistic IFR flights.
* Multiplayer capability over a local network or the Internet.

Tools for Add-On Developers and Enthusiasts

* gmax 3D modeling tool from discreet
* Other tools to customize and enhance Microsoft Flight Simulator: A Century of Flight will be available via download from the Microsoft Flight Simulator Insider Web site.

Compatibility
Aircraft and scenery created for Flight Simulator 2000 and later work with Microsoft Flight Simulator: A Century of Flight, provided the developer followed the guidelines in the Flight Simulator SDK.

-----------------------
Flakbait [Delta6]
Delta Six's Flight School
Put the P-61B in Aces High

CMC Airboss · « **Reply #4 on:** April 11, 2003, 01:39:35 PM »

FS2002 runs much better than FS2000, which was widely felt to be a resource hog. I've seen much better frame rates with FS2002. The "atmosphere" and feel of flight is fairly good. The flight models can be... well, strange. Full range control motions (from travel limit to travel limit) takes much longer than it should for the aircraft with non-hydraulic control systems. It is almost like the control surfaces are connected to the controls with rubber bands than with steel cables. Control response particularly suffers with the rudder controls in small airplanes. It also "feels" like several airplanes have no vertical tail surface, except for the movable rudder portion. As a result, it is possible to fly nearly sideways in level flight - especially the included Corsair.

Bottom line: expect a large increase in performance of the entire sim but don't expect perfection in the flight models.

MiG

muckmaw · « **Reply #5 on:** April 11, 2003, 02:10:49 PM »

Once again, the O'club boys come through and save me money!

Thanks Airboss, Mora, and Flakbait.

I will wait until V.2004 comes out.

Eagler · « **Reply #6 on:** April 11, 2003, 02:23:25 PM »

Quote

Originally posted by muckmaw
Once again, the O'club boys come through and save me money!

Thanks Airboss, Mora, and Flakbait.

I will wait until V.2004 comes out.

it still won't have guns ...

might as well "sim" a city bus driver - minus the red lights and traffic

Otto · « **Reply #7 on:** April 11, 2003, 02:48:07 PM »

I love it. I usually fly it a couple of times a week. My real time experience is only in Sailplanes and Cessna's and MSFS does a pretty good job at that end of the spectrum.

In fact the Sailplane model is very, very good.

rpm · « **Reply #8 on:** April 11, 2003, 02:58:54 PM »

I hear it's a hot seller in Syriah.

Animal · « **Reply #9 on:** April 11, 2003, 04:02:26 PM »

I use a CH yoke, rudder pedals, and FS2002 to practice some routes and precedures before I fly for real.

That said, the sim has some bad flaws. The view system is bad. Visibility (at least in the Cessna 172, the only plane I rally use) is awful, much worse than real life, where inside a 172 I can easily look over the dash.

The instrument representation is very good. Its greatest redeeming factor.

The flight model doesnt seem precise, but its good enough that you get the idea of how a plane may act in real life. Map accuracy, at least for Puerto Rico, is not very accurate. Distances seem wrong, and the textures show land and ocean where theres not supposed to be any in real life. This might be fixed if you download some texture pack or something, but I have not found any for free.

All in all, its a nice sim, but its not the best of the best that some people claim it to be. Other than to get familiarized with some procedures and instrument functioning, I wouldnt recomend it as replacement for real world practice. And believe it or not, some people dare to.

You might also try X-Plane, but I cant recomend it cause I have not tried it in ages.

mora · « **Reply #10 on:** April 11, 2003, 04:29:53 PM »

Quote

Originally posted by flakbait
It might not be accurate in Finland, Mora, but some instructors (and even the FAA) allow limited training using M$FS. Which could be taken either way, really

I believe it's a great tool, especially in instrument training. I have heard from many flight instructors that those who have FS time are the quickest learners.

mora · « **Reply #11 on:** April 11, 2003, 04:35:50 PM »

Quote

Originally posted by CMC Airboss
FS2002 runs much better than FS2000, which was widely felt to be a resource hog. I've seen much better frame rates with FS2002. The "atmosphere" and feel of flight is fairly good. The flight models can be... well, strange. Full range control motions (from travel limit to travel limit) takes much longer than it should for the aircraft with non-hydraulic control systems. It is almost like the control surfaces are connected to the controls with rubber bands than with steel cables. Control response particularly suffers with the rudder controls in small airplanes. It also "feels" like several airplanes have no vertical tail surface, except for the movable rudder portion. As a result, it is possible to fly nearly sideways in level flight - especially the included Corsair.

The default flight models are very poor. There are add-on planes with with far better flight models.