Is it worth it?

[Freeman]

Is it worth buying FS 2004 if I already have FS 2002 professional?

[Politically Incorrect]

I can't answer biasly because I have never flown anything but FS9, but after being here a TheV for over a year and reading a lot of postings I would say yes!
But there are still many who prefer 2002 over FS9 anytime so I guess it would be a matter of preferance.

P.S. Welcome too the Club!!!

[Freeman]

I suppose I should also ask what the main differences are.

[JBaymore]

Freeman,

HI and welcome to SimV.

That is hard to answer because as they say "to each his or her own".   Which means that you'll likely get a lot of different answers to that question.  In the end... you'll have to do your homework and decide for yourself.

Have to say that I think it is a bargain for what you are getting even at the full retail price....and that price has started dropping a lot.

The biggest question to ask yourself before you consider "is it worth it" is if your hardware will measure up to all the "promise" on the box.  FS2004 is amazing when compared to fs2002....... but having all that promised complex stuff comes at a price.  If you have to turn down the sliders on many of the new systems and effects... then you will be getting less than what you THINK you are getting.

That being said..... there are many improvements over fs2002.....too many to fully mention.  One that seems to work regardless of the hardware setup you have is the improved ATC.  It works FAR better than 2002.  That alone might be worth the upgrade  ;).  Now vectors seem to make sense most of the time.  The communications menu for ATC is improved and has more possibilities.

The visuals are stunning..... particularly the clouds and weather.  This upgrade is a LOT about visuals.  Stuff just looks more "real".  There is more eye candy.  Screen shots can almost look like photos.  But those wonderful visuals demand a fast machine with a really good video card to fully realize them without significant frame-rate hits.  "Good" is pretty much defined there as one of the top one or two cards.

The AI traffic system works much better now.  Planes fly to places they didn't before and they seem to "behave" better.   (But they still sometimes seem to be flying drunk  ;) .)

From my point of view, the aircraft list they supplied this time is not all that great.  But the number of add-ons available for fs2004 is immense.  Ditto for scenery.... and the add on scenery is better.

BUT.......... there are few here who seem to have everything .... and I mean everything..... set to the maximums and acheive consistent frame rates of at least 20 FPS on short final into a large international airport with lots of AI traffic around.  Most of those folks seem to have cutting edge gamer machines.  Keep that in mind.  If your machine is "less" than that.... you will likely have to turn some stuff down to make it both as good as you can get it visually and also have frame rates that let you fly important manuvers effectively.

Go back and scan all the thread headers in the fs2002 forum back to the time of release...and pick the ones that seem to interest you in your research to read.  That will give you a "real world" picture of what others have experienced with the new sim as we have all "figured it out".

This sim is driving me nuts.... but I still think it is worth it.  ;D

best,

..................john

[Freeman]

Cheers for that. My computer seems to manage 30 fps well with all of the sliders right up in FS2002 and I probably wouldn't mind a slightly lower scenery quality.
The ATC sounds like a plus point as the 2002 one seemed a bit useless, just telling you to turn every now and then. I don't like having high traffic levels because they tend to get in the way.
As for aircraft, I hardly use the standard ones anyway. I've been using downloads from this site (which is quite shockingly still free!) since I had FS98. Some of the downloads are a better quality than the supplied aircraft.
I've just spent all of my money on a new joystick so I'll have to wait a while before buying FS04.

[jordonj]

It's only $30 at best buy...

[Freeman]

$30?!?! The cheapest in the UK is

[MattNW]

Cheers for that. My computer seems to manage 30 fps well with all of the sliders right up in FS2002 and I probably wouldn't mind a slightly lower scenery quality.
The ATC sounds like a plus point as the 2002 one seemed a bit useless, just telling you to turn every now and then. I don't like having high traffic levels because they tend to get in the way.
As for aircraft, I hardly use the standard ones anyway. I've been using downloads from this site (which is quite shockingly still free!) since I had FS98. Some of the downloads are a better quality than the supplied aircraft.
I've just spent all of my money on a new joystick so I'll have to wait a while before buying FS04.

If your computer can do 30 fps with FS2002 then you might be able to get a decent FR with ACOF but you'll need to turn a few things down a little. I have about a middle range machine and it is flyable around a major airport but just a little frustrating. Got a new computer "in the building phase" but I can fly the one I have OK.

ATC is much improved. Now if you encounter IFR conditions at your destination you can open a flight plan in flight. They also don't cancel your IFR just because you can't climb like a rocket. AI traffic is a little better behaved but still tend to want to race you for the runway.

The visual stuff is fantastic. The one improvement that I think makes the sim look immensely more realistic is the addition of a haze on the horizon. Now when flying with some clouds you don't have that perpetual blue sky ahead of you that never seems to get any closer. The graphics also look crisper and the 3D clouds really look like clouds.

I got ACOF just after it came out (got the little airplane and souvenir box too) and I've considered it worth the expense. That's about all I can say.

[Foxtrot Sport]

I would say get 2004, I had the same problem as you, have fs2002 pro, but don't know whether or not to get fs9.  I am glad that I did.  The clouds and updated airports are worth the money alone.  If your comp can handle that then you should be pretty safe with fs9.  Mine runs pretty well for a pretty crappy vid. card and a ridiculously low amount of RAM (128).  But either way the choice is up 2 you.

HF  ;D

[Politically Incorrect]

I have what is considered a weak system, the basic Dell Dimension 4500, which I upgraded with a FX5200, 768 mb ram, and a sound blaster audigy 2zs.
I can steadily maintain 35+ FPS with almost everything maxed out, keep my frames at 20 just because it helps, and keep consitant FPS and flying smooth, so definately not a "gamer" machine but runs FS9 pretty good!
After you get the inital tweaking done you'll find it a joy to fly.
I like most here bought FS9 shortly after release and was quite bothered with the multiple problems (bugs) with it, so I think now would be the time for a upgrade, since so many here are now familiar with it, help is easier to get than when I first got it, and a answer to a problem is just a matter of minutes after posting!

[flight994]

Yes