FSX is in stores now!! (Tips and tweaks)

[TX-EcoDragon]

Yep, you can go grab a copy off the shelf. . .

I'll be running it tonight.

Circuit City lists 59.99 for the Deluxe version. . .10 bucks off other places.

S!

TX-EcoDragon
Black 1
TX-Squadron XO

[TX-Rahman]

As always...I preordered and it hasn't arrived. (sigh)Regards,TX-Rahman"BLACK 4"

[TX-EcoDragon]

Yeah, there is a reason I never pre-order. I had pre-ordered the Ace Expansion which came 6 days after I could have walked into gamestop and bought it. . .since then I don't bother.What's really silly is many people have had it for a week already since BestBuy stores were selling it even before the release date. I've been messing with it for about an hour and so far it looks like trash, and runs worse.  I've got high hopes that some tweaking might get me playable at 1024x768. Ugh. Worse than I expected in the fps hit department. I guess I need a new computer. . .too bad the magic 8 ball says there isn't one in my future.OK, back to the tweaking.S!TX-EcoDragonBlack 1TX-Squadron XO

[TX-EcoDragon]

I haven't yet applied any of the tweaks, but here are some that I've found so far:http://www.fs2004.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=92583http://www.fs2004.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=92413 http://forums.flightsim.com/dc/dcboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=32&topic_id=7328&mesg_id=7328&page=2http://forums.flightsim.com/dc/dcboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=32&topic_id=6359&mesg_id=6359&page=2S!TX-EcoDragonBlack 1TX-Squadron XO

[TX-ScubaSteve]

Yeah, when I was trying out the demo, my fps was really bad--even though I didn't see any seagulls to fly into.  The reviews I've read so far say that even with the best PCs on the market right now, you're not going to see frame rates above the teens with all the graphics sliders slid over to the right.  Supposedly, you can't even see it's true graphics potential anyway until DirectX 10 comes out with that new O.S.  Not sure if that will improve frame rate or not--I doubt it though--probably the opposite...I really like the potential it has, and plan to buy it tomorrow... but am disssapointed that my computer won't be able to handle it... Wish there was a way to network 2 or 3 computers together to help process everything faster.  Looking forward to trying out the missions though, and seeing if the scenery from where I grew up has had any improvement.TX-ScubaSteveWhite 4

[TX-EcoDragon]

After much frustration at baaaaaaaaad frames I've managed to get semi-playable frame rates as long as I'm not flying near anything fancy, and there are clear skies.  I've tried the built in multiplayer using the GameSpy service. . so far I've had connection stability issues, and haven't quite had the chance to really see the MP in action. I did a little gliding with about 30 people at Edwards AFB, no voice, and hear some iffy transmissions by a guy acting as SFO tower. . .certainly not as smooth as vatsim just yet, the good news is the planes were smoother to form up on than in previous versions, so perhaps when the bugs get worked out, and I get a new machine, there could be some decent formation flying in MSFS at last.I'll be on tonight trying the MP again. . .I have a feeling it takes something like this to run at medium settings at 1280x res: http://cgi.ebay.com/QUAD-SLI-7950-2GB-VIDEO-RAM-GAMING-PC-AMD-AM2-5000_W0QQitemZ260040836605QQihZ016QQcategoryZ140076QQcmdZViewItem S!TX-EcoDragonBlack 1TX-Squadron XO

[TX-CUDA]

Is what Ya'll are talking about FS-X or something for IL2?TX-CudaMinister of Information

[TX-ScubaSteve]

Yep, we're talking about Microsoft Flight Simulator 10...  I just picked up my DELUXE copy this afternoon at Fry's for $45--so, that was a nice surprise...TX-ScubaSteveWhite 4

[TX-EcoDragon]

Damn. . that's the best bargain to be had!!S!TX-EcoDragonBlack 1TX-Squadron XO

[TX-ScubaSteve]

Here's another good link for tweaking... http://www.fox-fam.com/wordpress/?page_id=41TX-ScubaSteveWhite 4

[TX-EcoDragon]

OK. . . who wants to share the cockpit with me????S!TX-EcoDragonBlack 1TX-Squadron XO

[TX-ScubaSteve]

I would Eco... if I could just get my frame rates up...  Let me know when you might be on.  I'd love to fly sail planes online... but so far I've just been flying offline, and have had no luck riding a thermal.The only thing I've tweaked so far that made a huge difference on my frame rates, was reducing the number of tree species.  Cutting cloud and tree texture sizes down by half didn't seem to have any effect, and neither did renaming "default.xml" in the autogen directory seem to make any difference for me...  I've tried some of the posted fsx.cfg configurations--but they sometimes make my frame rates worse!At my current settings I get 25fps easy with ultralight at Friday Harbor, but 15 in anything w/ a cockpit, or even in an ultralight in Zimbabwe's Hwange National Park of all things... maybe those elephants eat up the frames...FSAutoStart helps give me about 5fps...TX-ScubaSteveWhite 4

[TX-EcoDragon]

Steve, you shuld try the Sailplane missions. . .kinda silly things where you fly through hoops. . .but the scenery is nice, and the weather is set up so thermalling is a fairly easy affair.I haven't tried messing with weather yet to see how it effects thermals, I guess I should do that. Just tell me when you'll be on and I will be too!I'm gonna go back in and see why my ptt aint workin now!S!TX-EcoDragonBlack 1TX-Squadron XO

[TX-ScubaSteve]

I've tried the sail plane tutorial mission a few times... and even though I can see where the thermals are (very realistically ), when I fly into one and orbit in one (with as shallow a bank angle I can muster and at a speed around 50 KIAS), I continue to sink...  The next thing I know I'm pulling tumbleweed out of my teeth...  I dunno maybe I shoudn't release the tow rope until I'm much higher, but the instructor strongly suggests that it's impolite to NOT drop the rope once reaching 2,500 AGL, since that's all "we" paid for.I'll probably be on around 1900 PDT (2100 CDT) tonight...TX-ScubaSteveWhite 4

[TX-EcoDragon]

Hmm. . .shallow maximizes the efficiency of the aircraft since you are at lower angle of attack, and as such lower induced drag, but it also causes you to leave the area of the thermal more rapidly. I guess if you've got a nice long swath of ridge lift that's useful. If it's a thermal, I don't think it much matters. I use 45 degree banks when the variometer really getts beeping in a thermal, I try to find the area that comprises the thermal and if it's a wide one then no biggie, I fly an oval track in it, if it's small I just constantly orbit over the highest lifting portion of the thermal aroudn 45 degrees of bank since not much need for efficiency then, then you want to stay as close to in one spot as possible.That's my take on it, I've never gotten close to landing out yet so I keep doing it!I'm on, it'd be fun to try to join a multiplayer session and hunt thermals in a gaggle!S!TX-EcoDragonBlack 1TX-Squadron XO