Simviation Forums

This is taken from VATSIM's message boards:

Theres a fair amount of pilots out there who prefer either the default FS9 ATC or an ATC add-on like Radar Contact over Vatsim. One would think most would prefer real people providing realistic ATC services over something computer generated. But those pilots know they will get ATC services from these programs, on Vatsim getting ATC service is basically a crapshoot so many of them just avoid it.

In some ways I think these ATC generating programs are bigger competitors to VATSIM than the other online ATC services.

BUT I never turned my back on VATSIM only since I had worse experiences offline than anything I experienced online. Are you one for online ATC services? I control online myself on that network, as VVTS_TWR (until I can control approach).

I used to love online ATC services because in terms of procedures (and also pilot lingo), online services can be a lot of fun.  BUT, if I have the money for Radar Contact, I would rather use that instead, and the reasons are as follows:
-While VATSIM, and various ATC groups have extended coverage around the world, there are still too many holes in which you won't encounter ATC over certain areas.
-Theres many pilots flying, but unless its a busy airport like KLAX or something like that, the VATSIM world seems comparatively empty.  I don't mind a little traffic here and there in other areas.  

How good is Radar Contact (in terms of ATC quality) compared to VATSIM human controllers?

In ATC, for me, quality is paramount to quantity, I enjoy a good controller at a near-empty airport better than the whole kit of Radar Contact ATC at a rush hour... AI traffic has perfect pilots while no one on VATSIM is.

i prefer the game doing the ATC to many 10 year olds that have no clue what the N in your callsign stands for.......

i prefer the game doing the ATC to many 10 year olds that have no clue what the N in your callsign stands for.......

Where did you last fly online to gain that impression that the ATCs were pre-pubescent kids that never were trained in that aspect of phraseology?

I know the N means the aircraft is privately registered in the U.S. (if one flew under a private US registration).