Posted: 11/16/2006 12:01:31 PM EDT
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What's the best flight simulator for a PC? I want to get it for my brother for Christmas. He's not too far from getting his pilot's license, but work has kept him from finishing it up. Anyway, I'm looking to spend about 60-70 bucks on the simulator and I guess he needs some kind of joystick or wheel...?? Obviously, I need help. Thanks |
There is debate about that, FSX uses a ton of resources, several people have taken days to get frame rate usable... I would recommend FS2004, much easier to use and less "cartoonish" like FSX appears to be. I use FS2004 and fly online at VATSIM. www.vatsim.net You can download thousands of planes go to www.simviation.com or www.avsim.com Loads of fun. I would wait awhile or check heavily into the specs of FSx and your brothers system. Many systems are not going to run it properly. Also FSX is not as configurable. |
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Sorry, when I was refering to the MSFS series. I have MSFSX but haven't installed it yet. I ran the demo and it ran very smooth on my machine. I fire up FS2000 every so often and take it for a spin. to the original poster, if there is a real plane, I bet you can find one or more models of it for the MSFS series. -d |
demo worked ok on mine too, lemme know how it works when you get it going. I have been hearing horror stories about frame rate etc. FSX is rumored to use all yr resources and then some..... Let me know how you like it! |
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I recently bought FS2004-a century of flight. I was going to buy FSX but after reading the reviews, my machine(and most of the machines out there) can't handle it without a massive loss of FPS. It appears the FSX is meant for the future machines and the current high end gaming machines(dual core processors and dual graphics cards on a crossfire). I have been "flying" for about a week and if you get the add-on software like FSnav and Squakbox it can be very real. A friend of mine is a pilot and he stopped over and I showed him some of the stuff and it gets very close. The online play is the most interesting to me. They have Virtual Airlines both cargo and passenger and they have online Air Traffic Control where trained operators g othrough an academy and when they graduate give approaches, departures routing and such. This can be done by voice server or chatboxes. The people at some of the VA and ATC have a Teamspeak server and the guys are very helpful in learning the sytems and if you dont understand some of the equipment on the planes. |
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I have a force feedback joystick from Microsoft... but after about two weeks of having it, I turned off the FF feature.. drove me nuts! But it has the throttle control on the joystick and it swivels for rudder control. A yoke will probably be better for an actual pilot, if they are used to using something like that to begin with. -d |
+1. I find force feedback obtuse and retarded. Definitely go with some sort of flight controller for enhanced experience, though. I use stick, throttle and pedals but most of my sim flight is combat craft or helos. CH Products has a nice throttles-on-yoke unit. |
Wow! Thanks for all the feedback fellas. Yeah, I checked out the yoke from CH Products and it does look pretty nice. I might end up getting it. |
| I use a Saitek aviator joystick. It cost $40 and it has a hat switch and dual throttle lever for the bigger planes. It also has 4 programable toggles for gear, flaps trim settings and such and it twists to control the rudder. So if your looking to spend 60 buks or so you can get FS04 and the Aviator and still be within your price range. |