Opinions on FSX

[Kocrachon]

Ok so far I think the game is fairly solid, the missions are awsome, and the new features such as ATC and Copilots are cool... but anyone else think the game poorly optimises.

It seems like I can run 2004 on all max detail but I have to turn all my settings down on FSX and it looks terrible... And I still get about 5 FPS it feels like... Other than that, solid game.

[Choff]

I think I read some where that FSX was in the begining going to be released with vista, because of its dx10 capabilities, and dx10 hardware being widely avalable. But after popular demand, it was released earlier for XP. When Vista comes out there will be some sort of patch to get fsx up to date. Maybe that is why it is some what badly optimized?

correct me if Im wrong

[Dukey]

I am not sure that the FS team really have any time for FM's or avionics, but the graphics are good.

[Funky]

I've only played their last demo, and I got extremely horrible FPS. Anybody can have a look at my system specs below... I'm not nearly outdated yet, but I'm getting barely 7 FPS with options maxed out.

Funky

[Raptor-F4i]

If you watch any of the TV commercials you can see the ingame video is roughly 10fps if not less, I for one won't be buying this POS if the demo acts like the final product.

[liquid_rockface]

You know, I had exactly that problem with this game, and one other (was a demo of some new FPS). I mean, 2004 on full settings looks WAY better than FSX on lowish settings, and 2004 runs really smoothly and FSX runs TERRIBLY.

Also, is it only me but in the cockpits you can't see outside (except for the microlight), it is just black outside. I'm referring to the demo.

PLEASE, for Fighter Ops, if it looks bad, it MUST run smoothly!!!! None of this "looks bad AND bad framerates" stuff please! If I can run game X on high quality and get 30fps, then FO on a similar quality must get a similar framerate, not 2fps! Just had to get that off my chest.

[aburge]

FSX sets a new bar in flight sim graphics, I hope FO can aspire to this level too.

There are some tweaks in this thread to help your framerates. I can get around 20 fps with medium slider settings... (P4 2.8 geforce 7600 GS 512mb 2gig ram)

but check out Seattle !

http://www.fs2004.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=92413

rgds
alan

[Deckerd]

Be sure you have the right demo version(there are two).
@Funky your rig seems better that mine. My setting are medium to high, fps are acceptable. Though, picture stutters while taxiing.

[Afterburner]

Anybody can have a look at my system specs below...

Funky Your rig is a kick ass one....its Dual Core with plenty of RAM for crying out loud :tongue:

[Funky]

Its just the demo that I'm playing so far, but why the heck then is my FPS so low ???!!?!?!

[Afterburner]

Lack of optimisation maybe.....texture prefetch / scene drawing is set too high by the developers.....lets not forget 3D card drivers :evils:

I know nuts bout software so pls excuse me..... :tongue:

[SilverWrath047]

I am running FSX-Ultimate on XP with everything set to ultra-high (except I have the resolution turned to 1920x1200 and AA turned on) and I get 25 or so FPS over Scenery and 8 or so over cities. It looks absolutely beautiful. I have not had any problems as far as seeing out the windows. I think that the retail version is much better than the demo. Currently my specs are high, but not nearly as high as some others.

Laptop
Pentium M. 2.26
2 GIGS DDR2 557
GeForce GO 7800GTX

Some of the missions are totally AWESOME (IFR in a monsoon, visibility 1/8 mile, ceiling 800ft. serious wind sheer [put my 747 on its wingtip just as I was putting her down] just plain amazing)

[Bogusheadbox]

I have it running respectably on my comp.

AMD 4000+
1 gig ram
1 x Asus 6800 256 mb
a8n SLI Delux mobo

There are a few tweaks that have been released to help you run the game. I have used about 3 and it runs ok for me.

There are a few issues though.
1. Default planes are not too indepth.
(a) jet engined helicopters. just one click on the fuel switch and your rotors are at speed in 3 seconds.
(b) For the life of me i cannot find a switch in the 3d cockpit to shut down the learjet engines
(c) No real engine management
(d) resolution on aircraft and 3d pits is pretty attrocious

2. The deluxe version of FSX gives you planes equipped with the garmin 1000 glass cockpit. No point in that though as its a dumbed down version of the garmin and it only has very basic functionality. THe manual clearly states that you cannot set a flight plan using the garmin, you have to use the MSFS fight plan interface which loads it in to the garmin for you - - WHATS THE POINT IN THAT ??? :bigeyes:

3. There is bugger all ATC available at airports. Only major airports have their own ATC/Ground control. Take for instance UK airports such as nottingham and Sywell. No ATC there. you will get no response. These two airports definitely have their own atc.

4. There are issues with the some of the missions. Take for instance the Area 51 mission. In the 3d pit you cannot start the engines. Yet change to the 2d pit and regardless of wether you have the ingnition acitvated or not, just flick the fuel cock and that engine will start automatically.

5. I think it is poorly optimised and has a LOT of work needed to be done on it. I await some updates eagerly.

6. I am pretty sure there is a monsterous memory leak in the game. I can fly out of London heathrow with acceptable frame rates. But after a 2 hour fly in to heathrow and it can turn into a slide show. Though some other major airports are ok ?? (e.g. Brisbane international) - I find flying in australia, far less taxing on the frame rates than flying in the UK.

7. There is a problem with TrackIR and MSFS. Though there are new drivers that help with this. MacAfee users are in for trouble if you are trying to use TrackIR. I don't use MacAfee, and the new drivers and updates have got me going. Though TrackIR does cause quite a noticable Frame rate drop for some reason. Naturalpoint are still working on this issue to resolve it.

8. - MY BIGGEST PEEVE - AND HOW DO THEY GET AWAY WITH IT.
It says on my deluxe copy - minimum specs -
Processor - 1 gig
Hard drive 15 gig
Direct x 9 audio card
Direct x 9.0c video card with minimum of 32mb ram and T&L support.

WTF !!!!!

Its clearly known that any graphics card that has less than 256mb of memory will turn this "Sim" into a slide show. Having a card with 32 mb of ram what the hell is that all about ?????????????:nono:

There is a lot of good to this game. But it has a few pot holes that need to be fixed. But i still use it and enjoy it. The tweaks i have used are (deforest + Tiles reduction + pan stutter fix)

That makes it work fine for me - though there are plenty more mods out there to squeeze more frame rates out of it.

I still enjoy it, but i will have to wait for 3rd party add ons to get the level of detail out of the aircraft that i really want.

[Deckerd]

@Bogusheadbox thx for detailed review. I will sure take a look at those tweaks you mentioned.

[Bogusheadbox]

For anyone interested about the tweaks i have used.

The pan fix, is a config line adjustment that increases the memory allocated while panning. This will releave the stutters as you comp will put more effort into the panning manouvers.

Deforest is a reduction in the amount of tree models the game uses in foresting areas. At vanilla version i think there is about 10 trees and shrubs that make up forests. There are also shrubs modelled inside deep forest areas that won't be seen and take up resources. This fix will reduce the amount of trees modelled in game. City areas will have 1-2 types of trees, and rural areas will have 2-3 types.

Tile reduction. Vanilla version has tiles saved on your comp (if i remember correctly) at 1024 x 1024 - your computer then has to load these and resize to put into the game consuming resource. This mod will reduce the size of the tiles into a 512 x 512 format which reduces the loading times and should help those that get blurries.

Plenty more fixes out there though. :wink2: