Prepar3d Learning Curve

[mrplanecrazzy]

Hello to all from sunny Florida
I just purchased Prepar3d and already noticed it's a wee bit different than FSX.
Wow, I guess the next thing to purchase is a Tutor and a "migration" tool.
I'm sure I'll be back to ask redundant questions.
Please go easy on me, as I'm an old dog that decided to learn some new tricks.
Any tips, tricks and guidance will be appreciated.
MPC

[OldAirmail]

I don't think that there's as much of a learning curve switching to Prepar3d as there was learning FSX.


I hadn't used a flight sim since the early '90s.

I had so much trouble with FSX on day one, I was going to uninstall it the next day.

I literally said to myself "There's a lot of people who like it. There must be something good about it".


Moving to P3d hasn't been painless though. I think that most of that was caused of LM trying to read the Microsoft code for FSX.

But it's gotten a lot better. Think of it: Prepar3d V1.x was almost all FSX code. With V2.2 they started getting things the way that they wanted.



Actually, you installed V2.4 too early. Versions V2.3, & .4 were updates to V2.2

That gave you a choice do a full re-install, or just an update to V2.2

With V2.5 there is no upgrade. It's a full install.


I was going to skip V2.5, but it doesn't matter. LM is creating a new folder structure, so an upgrade/update isn't an option.

In short - enjoy Prepar3d V2.4, but don't install a lot of stuff.



On the plus side - there's a LOT of stuff from FSX, and even some from FS9, that still works.

Sometimes you can just drag and drop things from FSX to P3d.

To conserve hard drive space, both FSX AND Prepar3d are sharing the same scenery files.



The Migration Tool from Flightsim Estonia will go a long way towards reinstalling some of your FSX programs.

Not all though. And as P3d changes there will be less and less.

[G.K.]

P3D is a step forward imo but there are limitations. Most of the issues reported on the LM forums are caused by add ons so be very selective what you import. Do loads of research to see if others have had issues.

If you haven't got a top rate PC you will probably not be able to use all of the aircraft that come with P3d. Pottering along in a single prop works fine on my rig but thrashing about while low flying in the F22 causes massive stutters and texture loading issues.

[OldAirmail]

Yes. Prepar3d V2.2/3/4 has been something of a "learning adventure".


What's a "learning adventure"?

A pain in the A%%.


Sometimes, the only thing that kept me going (with V2.2) was the belief that "they" would fix it.

And, FINALLY, they did with V2.4.

Mostly

All in all, I now find Prepar3d V2.4, to be an improvement over FSX. Not a major one, but still better. I think. Sometimes.



As to the fact that some things from FSX don't work in P3d, not a problem.

As I said before - FSX & P3d share the scenery files.



Are they all compatible? No. But I know the ones that will work in one and not the other.


How do I know?

Usually by crashing one or the other.

As I said - not a problem.



Here's a question to those who moved from FS9 to FSX - Didn't you run into problems along the way?




BTW - That folder on the E drive? The one holding the scenery files used by both P3d & FSX?

It's BIG. If that scenery was in BOTH flight sims, it'd be almost 300GB.






LAST WORD - As G.K. mentions, add-ons, can cause most of the crashes. Don't make a lot of changes, and then try them out later.

Install/Test. Install/Test. Install/Test. Install/Test. Install/Test.

[mrplanecrazzy]

Well I am back..
I appreciate the responses.
I've learned many things from many people
over the years that have contributed to
Simviation, and for that I am grateful.
This post was no different, as I was able to
get some info and ideas, that have so far been
quite helpful.
I'm still testing P3d, so will post more as
time allows.

PS
I was able to use A2As AccuFeel by moving
the.dll files in FSX/modules to the P3d/modules folder and writing into the P3d .xml the AccuFeel code from FSX .xml

That's the learning curve I was referring to.....
Incorporating the old into the new without repurchasing everything.

MPC

[OldAirmail]

There is a lot of info on getting one thing or another to work with P3d. Finding it can take some creativity.

It's getting better all the time, with a few stumbles now and then.

Keep on keeping on, and you'll get there ahead of the pack.



I find it all fascinating, and the best part is the future.

Right now P3d is just a little ahead. But it's starting to move faster.



Future problems may be ahead though. At this point we can see Microsoft's strategy.

Lockheed Martin gets the rights for professional development.

They'll sell P3d to anyone with the "assumption" (wink, wink) that you'll use it for flight education/training.

In my view, WE are the beta testers for LM.


STEAM has purchased the entertainment rights

That part is pretty simple.



So where's there a problem???

Lockheed Martin will, someday, develop P3d into 64bit software that's great for training pilots, and flexible enough for military training.

My bet is that AT THAT POINT, they'll either be more restrictive in who they sell it to, OR raise the price of the software to the point where it'll be beyond what most people are willing to spend.


How much? Who can tell at this point.

As best as I can recall dBase III+, back in the mid eighties, cost $600 - $650. The company that I worked for made it clear that I better be able to use it.

The point being that REAL professional software will always cost more.



If I feel that way, why do I buy into it?

At some point, maybe V5.x - V7.x, I'll have a GREAT flight simulator.

Or I may be dead. Who knows.

Until then, I'll have as much fun as possible.

[mrplanecrazzy]

I agree with most everything you said OLD AIRMAIL.
And at this point I am pleasantly surprised with P3D.
I do notice an overall improvement compared to
FSX. I can see that P3D is capable of utilizing
the power of current hardware and can remain stable
and consistent for the most part.
Was able to port my FTX/ORBX Scenery and
Carenado/Alabeo AC over using a free migration ( http://parshukov.com/2014/09/russian-mi ... 4-support/ )
tool I found.
The resulting test flights were flawless and visually stunning.
I would gladly pay LM for a 64bit version.
But until I win the lottery, or that Baron from Nigeria sends me
that inheritance, 32bit is fine for now.