Aces High Bulletin Board

General Forums => Aces High General Discussion => Topic started by: Max on August 01, 2003, 11:10:40 AM

Title: MSFlight Simulator 2004 vs AH
Post by: Max on August 01, 2003, 11:10:40 AM
After anxiousley awaiting the release of the much touted new Flight Simulator 2004, I grabbed it the other day and loaded her up. Unless you're a big fan of GPS IFR/ILS, save your $$$ The new weather graphics are nowhere near as "real" as what we have in AH...rain & snow not withstanding.

Granted, I'm running a Geforce3 Ti-200 card.

Just thought it worth a mention.


DmdMax
Title: Re: MSFlight Simulator 2004 vs AH
Post by: AKIron on August 01, 2003, 11:21:00 AM
Quote
Originally posted by DMax
After anxiousley awaiting the release of the much touted new Flight Simulator 2004, I grabbed it the other day and loaded her up. Unless you're a big fan of GPS IFR/ILS, save your $$$ The new weather graphics are nowhere near as "real" as what we have in AH...rain & snow not withstanding.

Granted, I'm running a Geforce3 Ti-200 card.

Just thought it worth a mention.


DmdMax



Can't agree, the weather in FS2004 is great.

Still, there's no comparison. In one you get to kill your despised enemies and win the admiration of yer buddies. The other, you fly around and admire the weather and scenery.
Title: MSFlight Simulator 2004 vs AH
Post by: Apache on August 01, 2003, 11:24:34 AM
Quote
you fly around and admire the weather and scenery


Hey, I know some guys who do that in AH too.
Title: MSFlight Simulator 2004 vs AH
Post by: Furball on August 01, 2003, 11:41:04 AM
yeah, they fly a plane called the P-51
Title: MSFlight Simulator 2004 vs AH
Post by: Rutilant on August 01, 2003, 11:41:58 AM
I did that a while ago in bigisles.. flew 300 miles (equiv of baltic) in an A20 in uncontested bish heartland..
Title: MSFlight Simulator 2004 vs AH
Post by: muckmaw on August 01, 2003, 11:49:52 AM
Quote
Originally posted by Apache
Hey, I know some guys who do that in AH too.


Leave me out of this!
Title: MSFlight Simulator 2004 vs AH
Post by: Apache on August 01, 2003, 12:32:34 PM
Quote
Originally posted by muckmaw
Leave me out of this!


Lol! As I recall, you were down in the weeds with us lastnight.
Title: MSFlight Simulator 2004 vs AH
Post by: muckmaw on August 01, 2003, 12:39:32 PM
Yes, but keep it quiet...I have a reputation as a "Sky accountant" that I need to uphold.
Title: MSFlight Simulator 2004 vs AH
Post by: genputty on August 01, 2003, 12:43:59 PM
i have always thought MS had a great flying sim. I saw some pics on the new one..... what ells has been added ?
Title: MSFlight Simulator 2004 vs AH
Post by: Apache on August 01, 2003, 12:49:48 PM
Quote
Originally posted by muckmaw
Yes, but keep it quiet...I have a reputation as a "Sky accountant" that I need to uphold.


Oh ok, mums the word.
Title: MSFlight Simulator 2004 vs AH
Post by: SlapShot on August 01, 2003, 01:25:00 PM
Quote
Originally posted by Apache
Oh ok, mums the word.


Apache ... he knows it, but can't admit it ... he has been "bitten"

Visualize this ....


Muck : "Hi my name is MuckMAW"

Assembly : "Hello MuckMAW"

Muck : "I am a furballer !!!"
Title: MSFlight Simulator 2004 vs AH
Post by: icemaw on August 01, 2003, 01:33:02 PM
Nice avi Slappy I am mesmerized by the suttle swaying motion.
Back and forth back forth my eyelids are getting heavy back and foorth back and forth I am feeling sleepy back and forth back and forth.
Title: MSFlight Simulator 2004 vs AH
Post by: SlapShot on August 01, 2003, 01:58:55 PM
Quote
Originally posted by icemaw
Nice avi Slappy I am mesmerized by the suttle swaying motion.
Back and forth back forth my eyelids are getting heavy back and foorth back and forth I am feeling sleepy back and forth back and forth.


If thats putting you to sleep ... then maybe you outta go see a doctor ... LOL
Title: speaking of msfs
Post by: snocone on August 01, 2003, 02:00:30 PM
does anybody know where to get free ils, vor, airport and region charts, i am to cheap to pay jeppeson. i think they should be available from ms since they make the dam game and it aint much fun without them. thanx fellers
Title: MSFlight Simulator 2004 vs AH
Post by: flakbait on August 01, 2003, 03:54:45 PM
You can look up that info on the FS2k4 GPS system; they modified it so you can pull up airport info/freqs at will. If you want US airport info, download PALAFD from...

http://www.penguinair.com/demo.html

It lists every airport, seaport, and helipad in the US-Alaska-Carib area. You can search the database too. No ADF/VOR freqs are given, though (commo freqs are) so it is kinda limited.


FYI: FS2k4's weather system is infinitely better than what we have in AH (use the real weather, you'll see). The only thing AH has over FS weather is the "cottonball effect" when you fly into any cloud. Here, it's like flying into pea soup no matter which cloud type you head into; in FS you only get that effect when flying into overcast cloud walls.



-----------------------
Flakbait [Delta6]
Delta Six's Flight School (http://www.worldaccessnet.com/~delta6)
Put the P-61B in Aces High
(http://www.worldaccessnet.com/~delta6/sig/end_net.gif)
Title: MSFlight Simulator 2004 vs AH
Post by: jigsaw on August 01, 2003, 04:05:41 PM
Quote

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
you fly around and admire the weather and scenery
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Hey, I know some guys who do that in AH too.


Heck, lately if I get bored looking for a fight, I practice goofy stuff like Lazy 8s and Hammerheads. Haven't found anything yet that will Lomcevak though. :D
Title: MSFlight Simulator 2004 vs AH
Post by: snocone on August 01, 2003, 04:15:42 PM
big thanx flakbait
Title: MSFlight Simulator 2004 vs AH
Post by: jigsaw on August 01, 2003, 04:23:40 PM
Sno,
Check your local airport for a friendly FBO and ask them for outdated charts, AFDs, and approach plates.
Title: MSFlight Simulator 2004 vs AH
Post by: ALF on August 01, 2003, 08:35:47 PM
MSFS2004 is an ok sim for high altitude flying.  But its a pathetic mess down low.  Trees look PASTED ok like an afterthough (totally out of synch with the pallet for the ground...the really look like pieces of cardboard glues in place)

Except for a few select buildings, the run of the mill 'clutter' is bland and composed of numerous gray shaded boxes.

Radio Towers shimmer and blink in and out of existance even at 8x FSAA (they are plasters on top of the 3d image aparently...cause theres Z E R O effect of turning FSAA on)....they look HORRID.

Some of the planes have 'names' that are 'pasted' on the fusalage....but they used a 12 point font and just blew it up large enough to cover a 60' tall plane....ugly (most evident in the Landmark 737) and all planes with changable tail #s suffer this problem....and again...these images are aparently POST 3d, cause FSAA has Z E R O effect at smoothing them out.


All in all, the down low fly by the seat of your pants scenery is ugly as hell.
Title: MSFlight Simulator 2004 vs AH
Post by: Ike 2K# on August 01, 2003, 08:41:26 PM
is there gonna be CFS4 after they release MSFS 04?
Title: MSFlight Simulator 2004 vs AH
Post by: AHGOD on August 01, 2003, 10:35:47 PM
Slap love the Avatar!  Mine got banned and was no where near that lol.  I thought your other one was pretty good too ;)
Title: MSFlight Simulator 2004 vs AH
Post by: udet on August 01, 2003, 11:08:37 PM
Quote
Originally posted by jigsaw
Sno,
Check your local airport for a friendly FBO and ask them for outdated charts, AFDs, and approach plates.



yup...good advice.
Title: MSFlight Simulator 2004 vs AH
Post by: Kev367th on August 02, 2003, 06:12:58 PM
FS2002 with all the extra traffic from ProjectAI or Ultimate Traffic was awesome. Nothing better than lining up behind 20 other aircraft to take off (all "proper" liveries). If you haven't installed any ProjectAI stuff I highly recommend it, and its FREE! Of course to get the airports busy you'll need the appropriate AFCADS to add extra gates.
Just waiting on the updates being relased for ProjectAI as Microsoft have modded a few things in FS2004 that need added to the ProjectAI stuff for full functionality.
Link to PAI so you can add all the extra aircraft (A320,321,B757,767 etc etc) and airlines (Delta and a host of others).
http://projectai.flight1.net/

If you want totally automatic use Ultimate Traffic ($29.95), lots more Airlines.
http://ultimatetraffic.flight1.net/

Both are being updated for FS2004 compatibility.

Of course scenery can be improved and is available at many sites.
Title: MSFlight Simulator 2004 vs AH
Post by: udet on August 02, 2003, 06:25:57 PM
first of all comparing AH and FS is like comparing apples and leechee nuts (yum).
second, my biggest qualm with FS2k2 was its simplified ATC which IMO makes it useless as a procedure trainer for VFR flights.
I got FS2k2 2 months ago, so I'm not in a rush to get 2004 which would prolly laugh at my system. If I have time I'll try to fly the cross country flight 'll be doing on Tuesday (weather permitting), to see if any of the landmarks I saw on the chart are present, and if they look anything like their real-life counterparts.
Title: MSFlight Simulator 2004 vs AH
Post by: acepilot2 on August 03, 2003, 01:54:05 PM
Quote
is there gonna be CFS4 after they release MSFS 04?



i dont know.  here are my thoughts.

CFS2 was a great, beautiful game that ran well on low-end computers.  CFS3 was a literally a piece of junk.  They threw everything good about the game out the window.  The scenery and terrain was terrible.  It is just a smudge, and there are no hills or changes in the terrain.  The graphics were terrible, even though the planes looked nice, but barely ran on my 2.4 ghz, P4 512 RAm geforce4 system.  And, the flight physics were bad, along with the gameplay.  It had a pretty cool campaign engine but it got very repetive. Also the dogfights got noticably easier, plus being a bomber pilot...it was a joke.  No one ever flew in formation with you, and when you ordered them to attack ,the you bomber wingman that were probably dogfighting now started to dive bomb to attack.  It was a funny sight to see a b26 do this. CFS3 snagged terrible reviews.  It kinda really shamed the whole CFS and FS series because the rest were excellent games and were graphical masterpieces with great special effects.  However CFS3 kinda ruined it...The whole game seemed like an early beta version and incomplete.


They may, but after CFS3, I do not think they will...considering how disasterous it was.
Title: MSFlight Simulator 2004 vs AH
Post by: jigsaw on August 03, 2003, 03:35:41 PM
Quote
They may, but after CFS3, I do not think they will...considering how disasterous it was.


Like that ever stopped M$ from trying to ram a product down the publics throat before? :p
Title: MSFlight Simulator 2004 vs AH
Post by: Otto on August 03, 2003, 04:46:48 PM
I've had every MS flight sim going back to the SubLogic days on my Apple II.  Everyone has been worth the money and FS2004 is no exception.

 What is your Major Malfunction?
Title: MSFlight Simulator 2004 vs AH
Post by: Halo on August 03, 2003, 08:43:40 PM
I have to say I like FS2004.  Didn't like some of the previous versions, mostly because their view arrangements seemed so cumbersome and counterintuitive.  

I fly just for simple fun, no complicated training for real flight or navigation ... yet.  I've always vowed to do more of it, and I likely will in FS2004.  

FS2004's viewing is as much fun as Aces High's, except you can't adjust the cockpit seat.  Neveretheless, the virtual cockpit is much fun, and flying around from the chase position is absolutely gorgeous, especially in weather.  Like being in your own movie.

Main thing is that to me, FS2004 finally feels like real flying (I am not a pilot, but been up often enough).  It's fun just to hop in a plane and fly around.

The plane choices are excellent, everything from 777 to Wright Flyer, including floatplane, glider, helicopter, aerobatic, exec jet, historics, and the most popular props.  Makes you appreciate the classics even more.  I've always been a fan of the Piper Cub and DC-3, and particularly enjoy chugging around in them.  

The weather is amazing, and the terrain realistic enough.  Some day we'll probably see real satellite terrain with all the details unless terrorism and other potential hostiles keep that option too militarily useful.

Aces High is still terrific, and Aces High II should be even more fun.  Nevertheless, FS2004 provides a terrific counterpart or supplement.  Both are keepers.
Title: MSFlight Simulator 2004 vs AH
Post by: singh7 on August 03, 2003, 11:58:33 PM
prefer xplane to MS flight simulator myself
Title: MSFlight Simulator 2004 vs AH
Post by: jigsaw on August 04, 2003, 11:22:14 AM
Quote
What is your Major Malfunction?


Other than hating M$ like huge number of other people? :p

Actually, I'm quite fond of their non combat flight sims. I've used them for years. FS2002 easily paid for itself in the time I spent practicing holds and approaches when I was getting ready for my instrument checkride. I expect FS2004 will easily do the same when I'm getting ready for my CFII next month. I especially like being able to play with the Garmin. We used to be able to take power carts out to the planes to play with them, but since someone left the master and mag switches on in a seminole, they thought it best to put a stop to it. I can't imagine why.

CFS3 on the other hand... bites. All the reasons have been covered, so no need to reiterate.
Title: MSFlight Simulator 2004 vs AH
Post by: Otto on August 04, 2003, 02:30:49 PM
Jigsaw, I should have left off that unnecessary sentence.  Too much wine that night.:eek:

  Good luck with your CFI review.  That's a scary way to earn a living.
Title: MSFlight Simulator 2004 vs AH
Post by: Gixer on August 04, 2003, 05:30:19 PM
I just wish a flight sim would come out with a decent helicopter flight model. Have no interest in flying 747's and cessna's in real life let alone in a sim.

(sigh)


...-Gixer
-Hells Angels-
Title: MSFlight Simulator 2004 vs AH
Post by: Halo on August 05, 2003, 09:42:08 AM
I don't know how decent the flight model is, but FS2004 has two helicopters that are fun to fly.

It's also great having airports all over the world to choose from.  Had a nice evening flight around Oahu, a sunrise flight at Wake Island, a night buzz over Baghdad, and some bad weather penetrations over Canadian Rockies.  

Fun way to scout the world, however limited the scenery may be.
Title: MSFlight Simulator 2004 vs AH
Post by: ChuBBs on August 05, 2003, 12:03:17 PM
2 good choppers i got 15 choppers  hehehe  but i usualy just fly the blackhawk. I also got many jets i fly but not fun without guns that will shoot. o well
Title: MSFlight Simulator 2004 vs AH
Post by: Kaz on August 05, 2003, 05:12:57 PM
Just out of curiosity, could anyone tell me when Kilauea erupted? I've been flying around in MSFS 2002 using the MSFS 2000 scenario, trying to find that darn eruption to no avail.
Title: MSFlight Simulator 2004 vs AH
Post by: Gixer on August 05, 2003, 06:36:33 PM
When I tried MS2004 helo's they are far to sensitive. Let alone having any sort of real flight modeling physics.

I can't remember the sim now, think it was some russian combat helo combat sim. The modeling there wasn't too bad. Atleast you could split the engine and rotor rpm to simulate an autorotation. But the rest from there on in was poor.

Be interesting to see what X-Plane is like.


...-Gixer
-Hells Angels-
Title: MSFlight Simulator 2004 vs AH
Post by: Ack-Ack on August 05, 2003, 07:25:17 PM
Longbow series still is the best helo sim out there.  I still play Longbow2 every once in awhile just to see the fantastic lighting effects at night from a Hellfire as it heads to the target.


ack-ack