Is the Dream Really Dead?

[Fr. Bill]

Is the Dream Really Dead?

Well, is it?

[ShaneG_old]

No offense to anyone here, but from what I've experienced with it so far from other games, I would rather not see another MSFS than see it get strapped to the Games for Windows Live service.  Do you really want another process or two running in the background? Not to mention the hassle of registering the thing by phone if you don't have internet (yes people like this exist. ). What purpose does this serve for a flight sim that we don't already have created by the true enthusiasts of the hobby? They screwed the pooch with gamespy, and now they want to take it to the next level of aggravation.

Their Xbox live is cool and all, but I just can't stand the PC version of it.

 If they are so keen on it being an online interactive experience, which I am 100% all for, than do it the way it was done on FS9, forget how it was done in FSX, and for our sake, leave GFWL out of it! Just another form of control.

And what I see here is : they got rid of people who knew what current problems were, and how to approach solving them, and replace them with people who get to create a whole new batch of problems that they will need to solve with FS12.

Microsoft needs to quit trying to reinvent the wheel, and start trying to perfect it.

Nice to know it has a future though.

JMO and 2 cents worth.

[BAW0343]

Gamespy is as far as Im willing to go. If I have to get Windows Live for the next version then screw it, I'll stick to FSX.

I dont think the people who are making this Sim really know what the die hard Simmer wants. And getting a new guy into this may take it somewhere it does not need to go.

All we can do for now is just wait and see, none of us will have much of an affect on what MS decides to do, so if the next version sucks, who cares, I'm happy with FSX and I will be happy with it for a long time.

[NickN]

The fat lady aint singin,.. is she  

My informed intuition tells me your informed opinion is correct Bill

[pete]

MS never listens to the people who really know. They have a massive arrogance spurned from the monopoly of 'Windows' and it's subsequence dominance on software. They think they know what everyone needs. Steve Balmy is a great example of why we need to fear for the whole world. Stupid people in power. Monopoly grown into arrogance and control by 2nd rate thinkers. People who simply don't care about the bigger picture. Or think they know it all - and they plainly don't.

In our little world - Look at CFS3!! Prime example where MS thought they knew what we needed rather than stop to hear, for one second, what the CFS enthusiasts were actually calling for. Result? CFS dead.

FS would be nothing - DIED IN THE DUST YEARS AGO - without the addon-ability- which incorporates 1000's of enthusiasts customising things the way they want.

The MSFS series is not only financially successful. It gives joy, entertainment and education. It is a serious pastime and hobby for 100's of 1000's.

In it's current form it has plenty of time left but it is not short of a crime for MS to bury the Flight Simulator series so no one else can take it on.

An on line FS game? Unless - the small chance - that we will still be able to add to it and customise it to our taste ..... ?? I'm not too hopeful ....

It is a sad world where, through chance, a 2nd rate PC OS company has so much dominance. Us humans can do some great things. And some very stupid ones.

... and it would really make my day if I was proven wrong ...

[Fr. Bill]

I'll let PC12's latest blog entry speak for itself:

"I am VERY happy to say that I am now back to doing something productive at Microsoft. My job is basically the same as it was before, but working on a different product (not yet announced and thus doesn't publically exist).

I am also happy to say that I have several interviews to conduct in the coming week or so and more folks should be joining me in the world of employment soon.

What a relief!"

http://paul-flightsimguy.spaces.live.co ... ear%3d2009

[pete]

What a relief!"

for him maybe .... but if it's as I expect .... a non freely addonable 'game' then *I* certainly wouldn't be relieved .....

However I do believe that a hobby with such a steady following as the FS series will not go hungry.

[Fozzer]

..I often wonder, in the overall, greater scheme of Microsoft's financial, etc, thinking, how important a program such as a "Flight Simulator" program falls... ..!

In the overall, profitability, "Greater Scheme of Things", I always imagine we must be in quite a small minority, and only marginally profitable to the giant MS organisation?

Paul... ...!

[Brett_Henderson]

As hardware gets cheaper and faster.. FSX's biggest problem (how much computer needed to run it) will go away. Then, the freeware/payware market can really take off.

Add-on scenery; add-on aircraft; add-on "you name it" will have a HUGE canvas to fill. FSX is an almost open-ended product, that way.

Flight-model short-comings can be fixed by active, XML modules, FSUICP, invisible gauges.. you name it. Take a look at what A2A has done with 'Accusim', and you can see that it's just the tip of the iceberg. "Smart' flight-models... 'Smart' scenery.. even 'Smart' weather are possible.. with ALL of these elements 'talking' to each other, seamlessly and invisibly. Higher resolution textures for everything from aircraft to scenery are possible, too. We have YEARS of new simming in front of us with FSX.

What worries me.. is if MS decides to take the FSX ball home with them.. forcing us to play with whatever new ball they come up with.

Obviously, they can refuse to grant payware licenses.. but I think they can also, turn FSX off. As in, at some point just stop activating it. It wouldn't surprise me if the EULA allows for that after a certain date.

If the next version of MSFS, with this 'live' nonsense, resembles something like what Valve (Steam) does... I'm out, for good. That's just too intrusive.

There ARE alternatives.. And if MS arrogantly pushes us away, our shifting loyalty could make something like X-Plane something special.. or even some yet-to-be-known entity to adopt this profitable, loyal, following.

[JBaymore]

Interesting find, Fr. Bill!

[NickN]

I'll let PC12's latest blog entry speak for itself:

"I am VERY happy to say that I am now back to doing something productive at Microsoft. My job is basically the same as it was before, but working on a different product (not yet announced and thus doesn't publically exist).

I am also happy to say that I have several interviews to conduct in the coming week or so and more folks should be joining me in the world of employment soon.

What a relief!"

http://paul-flightsimguy.spaces.live.co ... ear%3d2009

Yep... Looks like Paul is back in the saddle

It appears this may have simply been a reboot/regroup for the MSFS franchise and not its demise.

[aussiewannabe]

FS would be nothing - DIED IN THE DUST YEARS AGO - without the addon-ability- which incorporates 1000's of enthusiasts customising things the way they want.

Amen to that

[Keep It Simple]

Cold it be that MS was unhappy with the (perceived) slow progress of FSXI, etc (ACES)

[BFMF]

[quote]Like I said before, my main

[NickN]

[quote]Cold it be that MS was unhappy with the (perceived) slow progress of FSXI, etc (ACES)