Which simulator is better for you?

[Katahu]

I have always wondered which simulator people love the most.

Let's talk about these 3 sims:

1. FS2004 ACOF
2. X-Plane
3. Orbiter Space Flight Simulator

However, everyone has their own taste for realism, performance, and add-on developement.

I like FS2004 when it comes to visual realism [weather, flight models, scenery]. However, I don't like it when it comes to making the addons for it. For those of you who make the addons, you know how frustrating it can be when you load your own model and you see it bouncing around on the first try. Or when you create scenery.

I don't know about X-Plane because I don't have. However, I have read a lot about it when it comes to making addons for it.

I also like Orbiter because it is extremely flexible, has a small and simple folder structure, relies on pure realism [in terms of learning], and is easier for the addon developers [in a way].

To know more about Orbiter, go to:
http://www.medphys.ucl.ac.uk/~martins/orbit/orbit.html

What about you people?

[nicecloud]

I am testing X-plane since a few months, an older version. Once I tweaked it alright which required me some search, I was very surprised. I just enjoy so much better the take off and landing. One friend of mine who is airline pilot on retirement never reacted when I showed him FS2002 or any previous version. However, he got hooked by X-Plane. Landing the Space Shuttle, experience the towing and so on.
On the other hand, I am impressed to see the progress in scenery in FS2004. The mountains of Zaire, Congo, are really there, and I can somehow go back to those places I lived before, it's incredible. I watch the planes mostly from the oustside view, amazing. But I feel something wrong with the flying of those planes, except if I install an addd on like realair simulation or Fokker 100, or Rob Young. This is much better. I just use both sims and stay a little on the side and test some planes, especially if I notice the designer is good. I wonder what will come out of all this?  I spent 20000 hours flying around the world as a flitht attendant and still enjoyed even Pro Pilot 99.... Not to recommend at all..

[BFMF]

Only tried Orbiter once, but couldn't figure out what could be done so I dumped it

[Ambassador]

I like Orbiter Space Fight Simulator.  It is a lot of fun to use.

[Katahu]

Just yesterday, I checked on Avsim and there was this neat add-on for Orbiter. It includes an entire package of the classic Star Trek ships including the USS Constitution, USS Federation, and so on. Avsim has a huge load of addons for this.

The latest version of Orbiter is 031105.

The smoke effects are incredible. Even better than the ones you see in FS2004. Not only that, you never have to bother with the rollercoaster effect of the external view ever again [compared to FS]. It even has more view modes than FS.

Orbiter does lack a few things. But as time goes by, it gets better.

There has been some talk among common Orbiter users that the sim might one day be used for on-line multiplayer.