What is the scoop on "Xplane"

[Modlerbob]

There is a download section devoted to "Xplane" but I can't find any other information about this sim. Is it new? Is it worth $59.95. Does it require learning a whole new set of keyboard assignments? One thing I didn't like about "Flightgear" was the lack of a common set of keyboard commands from plane to plane and the requirements to go through a long preflight list of button pushing and dial turning. Is "Xplane" more of the same or is it more like the microsoft series of flight sims?

[Bass]

I dont have it, and dont think i ever will.
Here's a little topic about it
viewtopic.php?f=11&t=30980

[Modlerbob]

I found a little more about it and loaded the demo. The joystick interface is very quirky and I couldn't find the right adjustment for me. From what I did see before I crashed, the scenery isn't much different than FSX and I don't see where it is worth paying the $59.95 when I already have FSX.

[papituwall]

The comments of OAM in the topic that suggests Bass are right. I won't insist in this comments.

Certainly, if you have spent some years with Microsoft sims, the user interfacelooks difficult because is different, but this program is like "plug and play" you don't need tweaks.
The time you spend configurating FSX is much more tan the time spent in learning X-plane. No stutters, no fps problems, scenery instantly loaded.

All graphics as HDR, etc. that Prepar3DV2 has, are in X-plane.

The program is in continous development and I can tell you an example: I have the Carenado Baron for both programs, I bought first for FSX, after installing in X-plane never fly it in FSX.

If you have FSX running well, it's OK but if you want a second sim, X-plane deserves the place. In my case started as second sim and today it is my first sim.

[ftldave]

... From what I did see before I crashed, the scenery isn't much different than FSX and I don't see where it is worth paying the $59.95 when I already have FSX.

You are very wrong in your first impression. Compared to FSX, Xplane is a vast, empty planet. Airports without buildings again and again until you download some airport sceneries. I flew Xplane 8 and 9, enjoyed the wonderful variety of concept and fictional planes, but the scenery ... gack! Even in its old software age, FSX is way beyond Xplane unless you enjoy flying over a barren world.

[harrisjb78]

XPlane does take some getting use to, some like it others don't.

I agree that the older versions are lacking scenery wise but you should really spend more time with V.10 - the scenery is much better and i feel it is even on a higher level than FSX.
also the plane design is very complicated in XPlane but it is much more accurate modeling - very fun to try different things to see how it would work out.

You can pick up an older copy for $5-10 so it might be worth it to fool around with?

[OldAirmail]

A few more comments for anyone interested in X-Plane 10.


You'll hear a lot about how much more realistic X-Plane is compared to FSX.

To some degree that may be so, but for the vast majority there will be little noticeable difference.

You are still flying a simulated aircraft on one or two monitors using plastic controllers.



I'd bought X-Plane 10 when it first came out. At that point I'd been flying FSX for about one year.

I had no paid FSX aircraft or scenery.

I DID, however, have a lot of add-on hardware that didn't work, or that didn't work well, in X-Plane.

I THINK that for the most part, that situation has been resolved.



Flying into, and out of, airports was like a Steven King novel - an empty world.

With an exception or two the airports were totally empty. Not even a generic control tower.

As I understand it, now there is a lot of free-ware and pay-ware. YOU pick and choose what you want to add.

I preferred the Microsoft way - populate most of the bigger airports with at least generic scenery.



It really does take a lot of time to become comfortable with FSX/Prepar3d or X-Plane 10.

There's much to like about either one. There are also difficulties on each side that you'll have to live with.


But if you have a lot of time and money invested in FSX, you'll probably be happy happier staying with FSX or switching to Prepar3d V2.

Long story short - Either one will be a good choice.



Side note - X-Plane is more realistic? I've actually landed a 172 on a lake, shut it down, started it up again - AND TOOK OFF FROM THE LAKE!

[mrplanecrazzy]

I tried XPlane, but after having flown MSFS for so many years the Xplane learning curve was a bit too much for me (hotkeys,etc...)
I resorted to the old adage "why go out looking for milk when you have cream at home". Some folks swear by XPlane, but 'tis not for me.
And as most will tell you, It is a beast on hard drive space. Somewhere in the range of 60-90 GB with installed scenery.

[papituwall]

Learning curve!

X-plane has only one learning curve. If is your first sim it is not longer or higher than that of FS9 (my first sim, excluded a flight simulator in my 1980's Sinclair QL...). These curves have an end.

But FSX or P3D have another learning curve that is higher, longer and never ends: tweaking fsx.cfg (thanks Bojote and Kosta!), flush caché, fps limiter, nvidia settings (first nhancer, today inspector), Steve's fixer ... -TO BE CONTINUED-

No realism in my swiwel chair and joystick, but I need to believe in my humble joystick, it is my link with the computer!

[Modlerbob]

Learning curve!

X-plane has only one learning curve. If is your first sim it is not longer or higher than that of FS9 (my first sim, excluded a flight simulator in my 1980's Sinclair QL...). These curves have an end.

But FSX or P3D have another learning curve that is higher, longer and never ends: tweaking fsx.cfg (thanks Bojote and Kosta!), flush caché, fps limiter, nvidia settings (first nhancer, today inspector), Steve's fixer ... -TO BE CONTINUED-

No realism in my swiwel chair and joystick, but I need to believe in my humble joystick, it is my link with the computer!

Other than loading new planes and scenery I have had to do nothing to "tweak" FSX. I started out using the original Microsoft flight simulators and progressed up to FS 2002. At that point I stopped using flight sims other than Fighter Ace. I recently got back into the flight sim community and purchased FSX. I was very happy to find that over 90% of the key commands are still the same. I didn't have to recalibrate my joystick as it worked perfectly on my initial flight. I was curious about xplane as there are a few planes I am interested in that have been modeled for that sim which are not available for FSX.

[OldAirmail]

The solution is VERY simple - - - -

Download the free X-Plane 10 Demo

Get a free demo version of the X-Plane 10 flight simulator using the following installer.
This demo is nearly identical to the full version of X-Plane 10 Global—it has the same
aircraft, with the same world-class flight model and beautifully realistic rendering
technology—but it only comes with scenery for the Seattle area (instead of the whole world),
and it will ignore joystick input after 15 minutes.

This free demo includes:

◾over 40 aircraft, including general aviation planes, airliners, gliders, helicopters, and fighters,
◾the ability to shoot IFR and VFR approaches with ATC guidance, and
◾immersive scenery for Seattle-Tacoma International Airport and the surrounding area.

All you have to do is to click on the link above.

[OldAirmail]

BTW - You DID have a learning curve way back then unless you were born knowing ALL of the keystrokes.

It just may seem short looking back in time.

[Modlerbob]

The solution is VERY simple - - - -

Download the free X-Plane 10 Demo

Get a free demo version of the X-Plane 10 flight simulator using the following installer.
This demo is nearly identical to the full version of X-Plane 10 Global—it has the same
aircraft, with the same world-class flight model and beautifully realistic rendering
technology—but it only comes with scenery for the Seattle area (instead of the whole world),
and it will ignore joystick input after 15 minutes.

This free demo includes:

◾over 40 aircraft, including general aviation planes, airliners, gliders, helicopters, and fighters,
◾the ability to shoot IFR and VFR approaches with ATC guidance, and
◾immersive scenery for Seattle-Tacoma International Airport and the surrounding area.

All you have to do is to click on the link above.

I already did that! And as far as learning the key commands, of course I had to learn them originally. What I don't understand is why developers of new flight sims feel they have to rewrite the language of flight simming. It would have been just as easy for them to use the microsoft keymap. I think that alone would be a great selling point.

[Bubblehead]

I'm almost finished downloading the XPlane 10 Demo but from what I read from feedbacks on the subject, I think I will simply uninstall it without even trying. I'm happy with FSX but I'm concerned about it's transition to the FSX Steam Edition.

[OldAirmail]

Give it a try, just don't expect your familiarity with FSX to work for you.

Once you learn how to use, and set, the controls things will be MUCH better.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G3aZQSJVsIo[/youtube]



There is only one flight sim that uses anything close to the FSX interface, and that's Prepar3d.

No one else is permitted to imitate that due to copyright laws.