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[CamHostage]

A nice MS video on Flight Sim, covering the tech and making-of and accomplishments, even a bit of the MSFS history.

Its a title that were it to have come out a different time, and on a different platform would not be getting a fraction of the attention is currently attracting.

No, FS got a good amount of attention in its PC release, and it's getting properly spotlighted again for coming over intact to Xbox Series X/S.

Actually, it's a little less attention than maybe it deserves for how impressive it is, but that's the problem MS has with FS being a straight-up sim: it's both a monumental event and a meh non-event.

It is the most advanced and graphical impressive game ever released on a console (arguably? inarguably? I'm not sure what the argument against that would be, although I guess the Bing Maps do a lot of the work and the argument would be how much tech Asobo could have put over it.) However, it is also a very traditional flight simulator with niche appeal that MS has only been able to do so much so far to lower the bar for casual play interests. So MS can't be like, "HELL YEAH, this is next-gen!!" like they or their competitors could be with a different title, because they'd just be showing footage of planes flying over grass or 747s hovering in the clouds and they'd get LOLed back down to Earth, yet they should hell-yeah because they made something amazing.

...It will be on Game Pass though, so it can wow without drawing that many complaints of, "f***ing thing isn't a game?!" The only thing you waste is 123GB of HDD space for a little while. It's a little like when 3DTVs came with a BD copy of Avatar, just to show you how awesome the new system is even if you never play it again.

 

[Chukhopops]

Is this a counter-argument or an advert?

"the flight sim to end flight sims" ? WTF.

I never said you shouldn't be excited, I just said its appeal is to a niche, not a mass-market audience the same as any other transport sim. And the only reason its getting so much hype is because its useful demonstration of a bunch of MS' technologies.

Its comical to me, we're on a forum where the delay caused by watching a cut-scene is often excoriated as not being "respectful of people's time". How are people going to react to a game where the overwhelming majority and point of the experience is simply moving point-to-point above vast and admittedly beautifully detailed landscapes?

How many Xbox fans bashed Death Stranding for this exact reason?

I don’t get what you’re trying to convince people of, everyone knows it’s a flight sim and you fly planes in it. You’re free not to like it and call it « barely a video game » and a « screensaver » but that’s the genre of the game.

This is as stupid as people criticizing the Forza Horizon reveal for being a racing game.

 

[Hendrick's]

Game is beautiful and will be huge but enjoyable time suck. Can't wait.

 

[Interfectum]

Is this a counter-argument or an advert?

"the flight sim to end flight sims" ? WTF.

I never said you shouldn't be excited, I just said its appeal is to a niche, not a mass-market audience the same as any other transport sim. And the only reason its getting so much hype is because its useful demonstration of a bunch of MS' technologies.

Its comical to me, we're on a forum where the delay caused by watching a cut-scene is often excoriated as not being "respectful of people's time". How are people going to react to a game where the overwhelming majority and point of the experience is simply moving point-to-point above vast and admittedly beautifully detailed landscapes?

How many Xbox fans bashed Death Stranding for this exact reason?

Death Stranding's game director created Metal Gear Solid so clearly there were expectations there the game didn't quite meet.

Also, with simulators there is no expectation of amazing, varied gameplay nor does it have to be respectful of a gamer's time. It's a simulation, it's simulating something.... it's in the name.

Finally, this game will be downloaded millions of times on Game Pass and will be huge on streaming. It won't be niche at all.

 

[Certinty]

Can’t believe it’s not a midnight release.

 

[ChuckeRearmed]

It is the most advanced and graphical impressive game ever released on a console

I already heard arguments that it is "not the same type of next gen graphics" so...

 

[CamHostage]

...everyone knows it’s a flight sim and you fly planes in it. You’re free not to like it and call it « barely a video game » and a « screensaver » but that’s the genre of the game.

Thinking of when I was a kid, it's kind of sad to think that there was a time when people played sims and other types of games (or maybe it's sad that we kids didn't have a choice to be this way back then?)

Partly, there were few options and we didn't always get a choice of telling our parents what we wanted if they decided the house needed a flight sim. But generally, we were more apt to enjoy things that were made well. And the "gamification" of games wasn't so concrete, where the goal was winning and seeing the end cutscene and collecting a trophy. Just getting to land a plane or see the horizon or pull out of a stall or see how far you could fly around the world on a lunchbreak, those were their own Achievements. Simulators were something we all played and had fun with; we collected all the Marios and Mega Mans, but you had to have at least one thing like MSFS or SimAnt or Buzz Aldrin's Race into Space or even Pilotwings or Populous to add some spice and nutrition to your diet.

In some ways, sims really were were the "casual games" of their day.

 

[Kagey K]

I already heard arguments that it is "not the same type of next gen graphics" so...

WTF does that even mean?

The downplaying is going to be something fierce on this one.

 

[Sealord of Braavos]

I'm going to check out Los Angeles tomorrow and see if I can find my building. It's quite distinctive and the the tallest one one in a mostly single-family residential neighborhood.

P.S. for all you flight sim pros I want to see more gorgeous videos of this game.

I’m a bit older than the baseline around here and likely somewhat more technically challenged as compared to the baseline…but I’ll TRY to post some pics and maybe even video of my home region here in the PNW…

Probably should be a dedicated thread for this?

can’t wait to see what some others might post.

 

[twilo99]

If it hasn't been mentioned yet,

series S holding back "next gen" in a big way here.

 

[Great Hair]

And here I was thinking "its not a real game"

/s

Well if they had added some red, green and blue balloons to pop, they could have made this into a fantastic game. As such, it´s just a boring simulation with pretty visuals, where you fly straight all the time.

There is not even a Red Bull Air Race or a Tom Cruise Mode ... c´mon!

BORING!

 

[Kagey K]

Well if they had added some red, green and blue balloons to pop, they could have made this into a fantastic game. As such, it´s just a boring simulation with pretty visuals, where you fly straight all the time.

There is not even a Red Bull Air Race or a Tom Cruise Mode ... c´mon!

Top Gun expansion comes out in the fall.

 

[phil_t98]

used to have flight sim on pc years ago. used to take off my plane in the morning before work, set the route and put in on autopilot in real time. go to work for 8 hours and come home and land the plane lol wonder if that's poss in this to on xbox lol

 

[twilo99]

A nice MS video on Flight Sim, covering the tech and making-of and accomplishments, even a bit of the MSFS history.

Impressive.

At the end there he says that the local hardware (cpu, gpu) is no longer the limiting factor, and I think this is a very important point that a lot of people are missing.

 

[DragonNCM]

Impressive.

At the end there he says that the local hardware (cpu, gpu) is no longer the limiting factor, and I think this is a very important point that a lot of people are missing.

Amassing tech..........

 

[Schmick]

If it hasn't been mentioned yet,

series S holding back "next gen" in a big way here.

Haha yea that's been my thoughts recently with regards to this game. That argument simply does not have any weight and never really did.

 

[bender]

I don't know about everyone else but I'm upset this game called Flight Simulator is a Flight Simulator. PHIL!!!!!!!!

 

[ChuckeRearmed]

WTF does that even mean?

The downplaying is going to be something fierce on this one.

I mean, we already hear here that "it is not the game thus the graphics is good", "google earth graphics", "not that type of next gen" and so on.

 

[Riky]

Series S just knocking it out the park here. I can't wait to see how Forza Horizon 5 runs on it.

 

[Sealord of Braavos]

WTF does that even mean?

The downplaying is going to be something fierce on this one.

If the Flight Sim “downplayers” are trying to be entertaining they are succeeding mightily.

If it’s just a reflection of their insecurity that their preferred platform is without a title like this…well…that’s just sad.

I strongly suspect it’s the latter scenario.

As an Xbox guy I couldn’t conceive of having any desire to wade into a Ratchet and Clank thread and try to minimize its quality. Honestly….who ARE these people?

 

[GHG]

One day you guys will learn how to have fun without the persecution complex and insecurities.

So many own goal posts in this thread, it's no coincidence that this is how they all end up.

 

[SpiceRacz]

Flight Simulator and this in the same month.

 

[twilo99]

Amassing tech..........

Indeed and a colossal effort by multiple teams. ms seems to actually care about this one

 

[CamHostage]

I already heard arguments that it is "not the same type of next gen graphics" so...

...I could actually entertain hearing somebody's debate points, but only if they really knew their stuff, and only if they weren't a dick about it.

(Likewise, I've seen some counterpoints to R&C Rift Apart "WOW OMG" posts that actually broke down what the tech was really doing and where it was revolutionary versus where else it's using clever tricks that you just don't know you've seen before. Done well, those posts made me appreciate the game's achievement more when it wasn't just described as a miracle beyond imagination. So, Flight Sim, same thing, I'm willing to learn, but don't try to kick sand in my cake just because I'm smiling...)

One place Flight Simulator could improve (and might have rivals?) is its weather system. It has gorgeous realtime clouds and fog, but if you want to get into moving weather systems and storms, you've got to start looking towards plugins (which are mostly a PC thing so far.)



Lots of the storms that you see in console games is fakey, so I'm not sure where you're going to find competition on that front (DriveClub looks hot, but they don't need to be "realistic" all the way down there on the ground,) but it will be interesting to see how Guerrilla's Horizon Forbidden West comes out with its advancements to the Nubis system, and also to compare that to Forza Horizon 5 (and Flight Sim makes use of some ForzaTech,) so yeah, let's see who takes the gold this year in Best Clouds competition...

 

[Clear]

I don’t get what you’re trying to convince people of, everyone knows it’s a flight sim and you fly planes in it. You’re free not to like it and call it « barely a video game » and a « screensaver » but that’s the genre of the game.

The only one trying to convince people is you. I expressed an opinion and explained the rationale behind that opinion. I actually wrote that its fine, excellent even, for what it is, all I pointed out was that this sort of offering by its very nature is really niche and thus an unusual candidate for such high profile coverage.

And let's get this straight, I didn't say it was a screensaver. What I wrote was that for the mass-market gamer what it offers is little more than that of a screensaver in terms of enjoyment. An entirely self-evident observation given the expressed tastes of the majority of users everywhere. You know this to be true.

This is as stupid as people criticizing the Forza Horizon reveal for being a racing game.

Perfect example of the difference between a game and a simulation. Horizon is a capital-G Game. As you wrote its a game about racing, not a game about driving. Entirely different focus and market appeal.

 

[Insane Metal]

I really wish I could play this.

 

[Stuart360]

I really wish I could play this.

Sure you can, buy an Xbox if you dont have one. Of if you have a PC, get it on there. Hell its on Gamepass on both systems.

 

[Insane Metal]

Sure you can, buy an Xbox if you dont have one. Of if you have a PC, get it on there. Hell its on Gamepass on both systems.

I talked about it here multiple times. It's prohibitively expensive here in Brazil. I can't afford it.

I'll play it once xCloud comes to Brazil.

 

[Neil Young]

Can't wait to try this.

The first time I played Flight Simulator, I was very young and visiting my mom's work. One of her co workers let me play the game on his pc and it looked like this....but monochrome. How far we've come.

 

[ReBurn]

On the one hand I'm glad that I'll have a great AAA game to play but on the other hand it's gonna be sofaking boring.

 

[ChuckeRearmed]

One place Flight Simulator could improve (and might have rivals?) is its weather system. It has gorgeous realtime clouds and fog, but if you want to get into moving weather systems and storms, you've got to start looking towards plugins (which are mostly a PC thing so far.)

MFS uses one of the most advanced cloud, fog and wind simulations no? I don't remember the limitations of the storms - I recall they don't affect the planes or something - but I don't believe that the new Forza or Forbidden West will come close to the same level of simulation. They will probably look nice due to various tricks, but it won't be on the same level.

 

[freefornow]

ACG:



"Get it..."

Love the honesty and integrity of his reviews. Best out there!

 

[Jibran#one]

Who's flying over their homes ? The moment this is available to play. I'm going straight to my hometown
First real next gen game of Xbox and people are downplaying it it's borderline sad at this point
Go enjoy ur 2 player walking,climbing simulators

 

[M1chl]

 

[Raekwon26]

One day you guys will learn how to have fun without the persecution complex and insecurities.

So many own goal posts in this thread, it's no coincidence that this is how they all end up.

Shhhhh. Shut up. Let them continue.

It's hilarious to read.

 

[Sealord of Braavos]

ACG:



"Get it..."

Great review right there.

If this thing launched at midnight I’d probably end up playing till dawn.

On the one hand I'm glad that I'll have a great AAA game to play but on the other hand it's gonna be sofaking boring.

Ah well, condolences on your impeding boredom. I wouldn’t worry about it too much, not everyone is cut out for self-directed gameplay and enjoys the process of exploration, but instead prefers scripted experiences.

I can tell you right now that this game will be a wondrous experience for me, just based on how I’m wired.

 

[Dusktildawn48]

So fucking excited, what a great week for Xbox!

 

[CamHostage]

MFS uses one of the most advanced cloud, fog and wind simulations no? I don't remember the limitations of the storms - I recall they don't affect the planes or something - but I don't believe that the new Forza or Horizon will come close to the same level of simulation.

Guerrilla's Nubis system was always pretty robust and out there, and in the Horizon sequel, they've advanced it in terms of multiple layers of different cloud types as well as movement (partly because the game requires swirling storm systems as part of its story.) So like they've been working where clouds can drift into a mountain and wrap around, or cascade off a glacier and dissipate in the atmosphere, or churn in an unearthly swirl of cloud gatherings. Lots of those effects would have been done with like particle tricks or animation of skyboxes or whatnot (if ever a game even attempted them,) here they're working on 2.0 of tech that was already pretty envious back in 2017. (Weirdly, the original didn't do much much as far as rain or other surface-level weather, so we'll see if that's a part of the sequel or not?)

Could this game or some other come along and challenge what's in MFS? I would assume so, eventually (although most games have more to worry about than clouds, whereas that's obviously super-important... then again, there aren't many scenarios where Flight Sim would be dealing with fast-moving clouds or resetting weather patterns or like "cloud stunts" that an action game might push the tech to do.)

Of course, the fact that Flight Sim is always a plug-in away from having even more advanced weather effects and simulation kind of moots the debate...

(And just on Forza Horizon real quick, I don't know if it's documented, but a poster here said that in addition the to the FTech graphic engine, FH and FS share some weather technology... so the beautiful skies over Mexico you drive under in Forza might literally be the same that you fly over in Flight Sim.)

 

[Elbow Identity Shallow]

Just to give people an idea, this is the guided for download speeds for the PC version. I don't know if that's any different for the Xbox version, can't find any info on that but I suppose to compare to the best looking videos of it playing on Series X you're probably going to need to be able get +50Mpds to match those.
I usually get about 35-40Mbps so I really hope it doesn't compromise it too much.

 

[Kagey K]

I just want to go fly around some of the sights. Statue of Liberty, Golden Gate Bridge, Grand Canyon, Stonehedge, Brazil Jesus.

 

[JLB]

WTF does that even mean?

The downplaying is going to be something fierce on this one.

Oh, theres some little guys around saying things "but the Series S version has some pop in textures" or "if you go close enough to a lost island in the bermuda triangle you will see low res maps"

 

[JLB]

Just to give people an idea, this is the guided for download speeds for the PC version. I don't know if that's any different for the Xbox version, can't find any info on that but I suppose to compare to the best looking videos of it playing on Series X you're probably going to need to be able get +50Mpds to match those.
I usually get about 35-40Mbps so I really hope it doesn't compromise it too much.

I just got a nice 1TB connection at home, and for free (the update, not the service itself). But I guess the key here is not the speed, but the stability of the connection.

 

[ChuckeRearmed]

Guerrilla's Nubis system was always pretty robust and out there, and in the Horizon sequel, they've advanced it in terms of multiple layers of different cloud types as well as movement (partly because the game requires swirling storm systems as part of its story.) So like they've been working where clouds can drift into a mountain and wrap around, or cascade off a glacier and dissipate in the atmosphere, or churn in an [URL='https://static1.thegamerimages.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/horizon-forbidden-west-2.jpg]unearthly swirl of cloud gatherings[/URL]. Lots of those effects would have been done with like particle tricks or animation or skymaps or whatnot (if ever a game even attempted them,) here they're working on 2.0 of tech that was already pretty envious back in 2017. (Weirdly, the original didn't do much much as far as rain or other surface-level weather, so we'll see if that's a part of the sequel or not?)

Could this game or some other come along and challenge what's in MFS? I would assume so, eventually (although most games have more to worry about than clouds, whereas that's obviously super-important... then again, there aren't many scenarios where Flight Sim would be dealing with fast-moving clouds or resetting weather patterns or like "cloud stunts" that an action game might push the tech to do.)

Of course, the fact that Flight Sim is always a plug-in away from having even more advanced weather effects and simulation kind of moots the debate...

(And just on Forza Horizon real quick, I don't know if it's documented, but a poster here said that in addition the to the FTech graphic engine, FH and FS share some weather technology... so the beautiful skies over Mexico you drive under in Forza might literally be the same that you fly over in Flight Sim.)

And that's my point. Neither Forza nor Forbidden West will use the same level of simulation because there literally no reason for them to do - they player's won't fly through the clouds anyway, while MFS literally simulates the weather and clouds, including the wind flows because it is necessary for the experience.

In Forza it is literally a skybox no? They recorded the sky essentially. In Guerrilla's engine it is less of recording, but it still a skybox with particle effects, that will look nice. Like in Hellblade 2, I remember there was some small video of the clouds. But it is still nowhere near real simulation anyway.

 

[Insane Metal]

The LOD popping in really bugs me. The snow mountains reminded me of old PSX games with pixels dancing on the screen. Really bad. The Series S is way worse in other areas too, unsurprisingly.

Still looks really damn good. I just didn't expect to see those pop ins with the SSD and new tech... oh well.

 

[Hezekiah]

Because it is, it's not a title for an average Joe, it's a simulator, it's in the name even, it targets a specific group of people/enthusiasts, and once the visual impression wears off, once people check out how their hometowns look in the game etc. I really don't expect many XB players to stick with the title for longer, people who are really into this stuff have already been playing it for year on their PCs, with throttles, pedals, VR googles and what's not. Because really, there isn't much gameplay in it other than some sightseeing, the franchise is decades old now, for someone who wasn't into it already there won't be anything new in FS2020.

It's basically an expanded tech demo. Visually impressive, but not something that's going to appeal to a large proportion of PC gamers. It's a much more niche PC crowd that are into it.

 

[Julius Ibidus]

Who's flying over their homes ?

i tried that, and it's there:

I just want to go fly around some of the sights. Statue of Liberty, Golden Gate Bridge, Grand Canyon, Stonehedge, Brazil Jesus.

and the Vatican, Easter Island, Niagara Falls and maybe the Great Wall.

 

[Shmunter]

What’s it like on xcloud? This would be the ideal model for that as the streaming data could actually be local to the data centre

 

[rapid32.5]

Just to give people an idea, this is the guided for download speeds for the PC version. I don't know if that's any different for the Xbox version, can't find any info on that but I suppose to compare to the best looking videos of it playing on Series X you're probably going to need to be able get +50Mpds to match those.
I usually get about 35-40Mbps so I really hope it doesn't compromise it too much.

how many GBs per hour of my internet cap this beast is gonna eat for an ideal breakfast?

 

[AnotherOne]

I’ve bought this one on eBay;

I bet you just love flying in storms and turbulence.

 

[Ozzy Onya A2Z]

Yep, you sure can.

Here's an example of one being used (about 44 seconds in).

This dude is awesome. Tour guide, travel planner and hype wingman all in one.

EDIT: My cousin who flys rescue choppers, and built up licence hours on an older version of MS Flight, is going to flip his shit when I tell him helicopters are coming to this version of Flight Sim.