A good year for FSX

[logjam]

What do you do for sound there buddy? Make raspberry noises? har har har

[Bass]

....

2013 was indeed, a great year for FSX.

YES, 2013 was a great year. 2014 is NOT
I've just backed up all my folders, program data, program files(86), rex, users and you name it!!
My restore or security copying dont work anymore
Ofcourse i have backups of everything i've payed for or downloaded, BUT the work i can see before me is driving me mad....

Anything i should remember before going "down the drain"

[OldAirmail]

Back to what made FSX so much more enjoyable to fly in 2013.


The OZX Grand Canyon


Within the first month or two of installing FSX, I went off the "GRAND CANYON". Only it wasn't so grand in FSX, and I never went back.

Actually, I think that I did go back once, but it was still disappointing.


While not quite as stunning as their OZX Death Valley, this is much more fun for canyon racing.


On with the pictures!
(For those who are interested, the plane is an Aero Commander 520. I don't remember where I picked mine up, but you can find a few here on SimViation.)


Approaching the rim from KGNC to the south.







Going DOWN











Unfortunately, Orbx Vector rears its ugly head. This is a Vector problem that is well known to them from many complaints.


Their solution is to uninstall Vector. Or, preferably, disable it.

Unfortunately, their solution doesn't work for many people. What I had to do, was to create a folder in MS FSX/Orbx called Vector Cra Stuff.

You then move FTX_VECTOR & FTX_VECTOR_AEC to that folder.

This will give you an error when you start FSX up, but you only need to do this for the small number of sceneries with similar problems.



After flying places like the Grand Canyon or Madeira X, you drag & drop the folders back into the Orbx folder.



Back to the flight, and back up to the rim.










There's no question, FSX can be made much more enjoyable. And, sometimes, it doesn't cost a thing!

[OldAirmail]

What do you do for sound there buddy? Make raspberry noises? har har har

Sorry, I keep missing posts here and there.


What do I do for sound?

Although I like to listen to music, my sound system is setup for my flight sim.

This is no multi thousand dollar music sound system, but a set of components that work very well together.





It starts with a slightly better PC sound system - mid, bass, and two tweeters. The older PC speakers are still in use, but play secondary rolls.

The Old bass speaker is an independently powered speaker. That shares the bass output with the ButtKicker. With both being independently powered it's not a problem splitting the signal.

That old bass can really put out the low signals. So when I have some powerful engines, such as four 1,200-horsepower Wright Cyclone in a B-17 I can REALLY feel the vibrations in the table mounted yoke, and my body.

Believe me. With all the speakers and the ButtKicker going, there's no need to make extra sounds. It wouldn't be heard.



If anyone wants to try setting up something like this, remember - it does not have to be a high cost audiophile set of speakers. You're aiming at hearing the engines and aircraft sounds.

And if you have Accu-Feel, you can enhance the sounds much better than FSX will normally put out. AND you can do that with just the speakers that you have now!

[OldAirmail]

I'm making a weather engine recommendation change here.

I've been viewing REX4 Texture Direct HD videos on YouTube and I have to say that it looks great.

Now that's ALL I know about it, that it looks great. Opus FSX has some very strong advantages, but I think that REX4 actually looks better judging from this video.



If you don't have the ButtKicker it might be a tough call. You'd have to check out the features on each to see what was more important to you.

More than likely, you'd be happy with either one.

~
~
Time goes by
~
~

I was just watching more REX4 videos, and after watching this one I can definitely say DO NOT BUY REX Essential PLUS With OverDrive





REX Essential PLUS With OverDrive! What a waste of money!

I wish that I could trade it in on REX4.



Oh, I still think that Opus has more to offer me. But I'd use REX4 at the same time and be a VERY happy camper.

[OldAirmail]

In a nutshell!



What has made FSX GREAT for me in 2013.
(Not in any particular order)


Orbx FTX Global - this has not only added better ground texture for the whole world, but also many much needed points of interest landmarks too. 5 STARS

OpusFSX Live Weather AND REX 4 Texture Direct - I have to call this a draw. One or the other will appeal to different people. But BOTH make a very significant difference to FSX. 5 STARS

Accu-Feel - This is a sleeper. This lets you feel like you are inside of a plane. Even if all you have are is a halfway decent set of speakers, this'll enhance the feeling of being there. Trust me on this one. 5 STARS

FSGenesis - World Terrain Mesh - For only $20, this has made a fairly nice improvement to the terrain elevation mesh for those areas outside the US and parts of Europe. 4 STARS



Those four are the foundations upon which to build.

But it doesn't stop there. We all have something that makes our flight sim feel more real and enjoyable.

It may be an actual desktop GPS, or it may be a particular plane.

It could be a scenery set like my new Orbx Wale/Scotland/UK/Australia scenery.

Even if you have no money, the quality of the OZX Death Valley, or the OZX Grand Canyon can easily transport you from sitting in front of a monitor, to a fascination flight in a new part of the world.

2013 has been a VERY good year, and 2014 will be even better.

[Fozzer]

@ OAM....

For your flights above, down Grand Canyon and the Colorado River, you will find this fascinating reading, I'm sure... >>>

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-25491932

Amazingly brave people, the early settlers to North America in the 1800's, especially those travelling Westwards in search of new, unexplored land!

Paul.... ...!

I discovered California in 1997, with the aid of my trusty "Flight Unlimited II".... >>> http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flight_Unlimited_II .... ....!
..been exploring daily it ever since... ...!

[OldAirmail]

From your wiki reference;

"John Nolan of Computer Games Magazine stated that, with the new flight model, "The results are generally good, although there are some questionable areas." However, he believed that, "All in all, the flight model is more than adequate for the task at hand, which is to immerse you in the experience of general aviation.""


When I'm "flying" I don't notice the edges of the monitor anymore.

I also have a hard time really remembering what the original FSX was like. Most of my complaints are gone.


What's that, that Saitek says? "Closer to reality." I think that I hear the government about to knock on my door and tell me that I need a license.