FS2004 or FSX?

tomanders91 · 5 Sep 2007 at 10:47

Which one do you think i should try? I never really was interested in these games before, but ive noticed a lot of poeple who normally hate these types of games have been trying them and actually enjoying them.

I understand FSX needs a monster rig to run well, my rig is ok but it wont run maxed out or anything, what about FS2004? is that any good?

Im trying the demo for FSX to see if i like it first, but im not expecting high settings unless i downloaded SP1 for the full retail version.

The_KiD · 5 Sep 2007 at 11:50

Cant speak for 2004 as I have never tried it, but going for the latest version seems like a sensible idea as any updates and things would be done for the new rather than the old I would imagine.

I installed FSX last night and it ran choppy as hell on my system, but after installing SP1 it ran fine at medium-high settings (might be able to go higher, but i didnt try it).

My machine is:

6800GT (AGP)
2Gb DDR400Mhz
Intel 3.5Ghz(hyperthreading)

So it is not a massively poweful machine by any stretch of the imgination.

Kirth Gersen · 5 Sep 2007 at 11:53

Once you apply the service pack to FSX, your rig should run very well. Received wisdom is that 20FPS is the minimum before you run into stutter (although I personally feel happier with 30FPS). Your rig should get you above 20FPS in 90% of situations with scenery and other display options in the mid range - which will still look reasonably good). The 10% where you and even people with Q6850 / 8800 Ultra rigs will get stutters will be flying around major airports (eg JFK and Heathrow) with display options in the high area. Something we learn to live with.

I personally only fly light aircraft and never go to those places

.

However, your rig will run FS9 (FS2004) like a dream. You'll be in the 30-60 FPS range with settings maxed.

FSX is really just a pretty, slightly commercialised version of FS9. Off the top of my head, (this list is what I have noticed without going through a quality check)you get:

* Missions - the best bit IMHO - where you get a tricky task ranging from red bull air racing (totally hookable) to rescuing people in jungles.
* better scenery graphics - slightly better trees, much better water, clouds haven't really moved on IMO
* different and improved stock aircraft. Actually the ones in FS9 which have been dropped were fun.
* marginal improvement in aircraft graphics. The quality 3rd party aircraft are far better. IMO - the light aircraft of choice is the Realair Siai Marchetti, which blows away anything produced by MS. They have versions for FS9 and FSX. The FSX version is marginally better.

Apart from FSXs prettier interface, I believe that FS9 still represents excellent value for money. There is a massive freeware market out there, and on mocern machines - the sim runs very, very well. If I was new to this - I would get that over FSX, save some money, decide if I like it and upgrade when the code is tighter, and works well with DX10 and Vista.

The_KiD · 5 Sep 2007 at 12:21

FYI I got my FSX Deluxe for £25 (inc p&p) from ebay, the seller was busbygilchrist and delivery took one day from ordering, so if your looking to buy it, but dont want to shell out £40+ I deffinitely recommend that ebay seller.

jas72 · 5 Sep 2007 at 15:39

The FSX demo plays great on my machine

E6300
2 gig DDR2 ram
BFG 7600GT 256MB

the initial settings were low and I've cranked them all up by 25-30% and it still plays good. I don't know what FPS but it's not choppy at all.

I never thought i'd enjoy it so much. Download the demo and give it a try first.

It's great fun taking off at night in a jet..... :S the intermediate mission on the demo is good fun as well.

tomanders91 · 5 Sep 2007 at 15:42

thanks, so the demo isnt with sp1 is it? So i will need to run it at low settings?

Azagoth · 5 Sep 2007 at 15:47

Personally I stayed with FS2004 because I have way to many add-ons, around 30GB and close to £500, that wouldn't work in FSX!

tomanders91 · 5 Sep 2007 at 16:07

hmm.. just tried the demo and its amazingly complicated, i couldnt take off and ended up going straight for te water, i tried the so called 'learning' bits and they dont tell you anything, basicly i havent a clue what im doing

.

Kirth Gersen · 5 Sep 2007 at 16:17

tomanders91 said:
hmm.. just tried the demo and its amazingly complicated, i couldnt take off and ended up going straight for te water, i tried the so called 'learning' bits and they dont tell you anything, basicly i havent a clue what im doing .

I counsel patience. Heck take off is relatively simple - it takes hours in both the sim and real life to land well. It is amazingly complicated because it is a very true simulation of the real thing - so that is a good thing

.

I haven't looked at the tutorials in a long time, but last I looked - it is all there. You shouldn't try to jump in and do the actual flying lessons, without getting some handle of the basics.

Enjoy. If you stick at it, you will realise it is one of the best value pieces of software out there!

The_KiD · 5 Sep 2007 at 16:20

tomanders91 said:
thanks, so the demo isnt with sp1 is it? So i will need to run it at low settings?

From what I saw of it I had to run it almost on absolute minimum settings to make even remotely playable.

Now with SP1 can have medium-high settings.

The_KiD · 5 Sep 2007 at 16:24

tomanders91 said:
hmm.. just tried the demo and its amazingly complicated, i couldnt take off and ended up going straight for te water, i tried the so called 'learning' bits and they dont tell you anything, basicly i havent a clue what im doing .

In the full version you get training missions which guide you through very simply and easy, I also didnt have a clue what I was doing, but picked it up in no time last night.

jas72 · 5 Sep 2007 at 16:28

tomanders91 said:
hmm.. just tried the demo and its amazingly complicated, i couldnt take off and ended up going straight for te water, i tried the so called 'learning' bits and they dont tell you anything, basicly i havent a clue what im doing .

there aren't any tutorials in the demo really. The one the give with the flour and sandbags is really hard.

Choose free flight, make sure the time is during the day and choose the microlight plane (all others end up in an upsidedown landing.) Choose mouse yoke by right clicking and get your plane in the air. Once up don't be afraid to use p.

Also a tip for turning is the mouse is very sensitive when you turn the plane don't go too steep and look for a gentle turn, when you want your turn to straightenout move the cursor to the center of the screen and wait for the plane to level out. going from right to left will just end up with your plane going out of control. I was playing around for two hours last night and only then at the end did I manage to land the mircolight where I wanted and take off again. Very good feeling of achievement. Still can't hit any of the pontoons with the bags of flour though.

Also annoying is the time out inthe demo just when you are enjoying it hehe. The jet is simply too fast for me I can get it in the air but after that it's just luck keeping it up there... but hey no one can fly a jet after two hours. also watch your engine speed (which is easy with the microlight) and play around I was flying at 50% power ( 2700 RPM) with that thing (not sure how low I can throttle before falling out the sky will try tonight) you have to throttle down to land anyway and it gives you the opportunity to make all the adjustments you want before landing.

riddlermarc · 5 Sep 2007 at 16:29

The_KiD said:
FYI I got my FSX Deluxe for £25 (inc p&p) from ebay, the seller was busbygilchrist and delivery took one day from ordering, so if your looking to buy it, but dont want to shell out £40+ I deffinitely recommend that ebay seller.

Was that a kosher copy then? A colleague is looking to buy but isn't sure on forking out the full shop price.. I have my copy already, a bit late for me

Azagoth · 5 Sep 2007 at 16:55

jas72 said:
tAlso a tip for turning is the mouse is very sensitive when you turn the plane don't go too steep and look for a gentle turn, when you want your turn to straightenout move the cursor to the center of the screen and wait for the plane to level out.

Jas, you ever thought about getting a joystick? Just how you can fly a plane naturally with a mouse is beyond me!

The_KiD · 5 Sep 2007 at 16:56

riddlermarc said:
Was that a kosher copy then? A colleague is looking to buy but isn't sure on forking out the full shop price.. I have my copy already, a bit late for me

Yeah all sealed, authentication marks in place and I Authenticated it with MS online. No problems.

riddlermarc · 5 Sep 2007 at 20:25

The_KiD said:
Yeah all sealed, authentication marks in place and I Authenticated it with MS online. No problems.

Hmm.. interesting.. thanks for that

tomanders91 · 5 Sep 2007 at 21:04

jas72 said:
there aren't any tutorials in the demo really. The one the give with the flour and sandbags is really hard.

Choose free flight, make sure the time is during the day and choose the microlight plane (all others end up in an upsidedown landing.) Choose mouse yoke by right clicking and get your plane in the air. Once up don't be afraid to use p.

Also a tip for turning is the mouse is very sensitive when you turn the plane don't go too steep and look for a gentle turn, when you want your turn to straightenout move the cursor to the center of the screen and wait for the plane to level out. going from right to left will just end up with your plane going out of control. I was playing around for two hours last night and only then at the end did I manage to land the mircolight where I wanted and take off again. Very good feeling of achievement. Still can't hit any of the pontoons with the bags of flour though. Also annoying is the time out inthe demo just when you are enjoying it hehe. The jet is simply too fast for me I can get it in the air but after that it's just luck keeping it up there... but hey no one can fly a jet after two hours. also watch your engine speed (which is easy with the microlight) and play around I was flying at 50% power ( 2700 RPM) with that thing (not sure how low I can throttle before falling out the sky will try tonight) you have to throttle down to land anyway and it gives you the opportunity to make all the adjustments you want before landing.

this is really stupid, but i dont no how to take off

i look in controls and theirs about 1000 difference things lol.

Also, FS2004 maxed out, does that look as good as FSX on medium?

edit: I cant find 2004 anywhere, is it called Century of Flight? I dont wanna fly old planes

philio16 · 5 Sep 2007 at 21:19

I use my 360 controller for FSX, as my new pc wont take my ye-olde-day sidewinder

works a treat though..rumbles too!

tomanders91 · 5 Sep 2007 at 21:38

ok i can take off in the small little strange plane, but its still very complicated, which version is more user friendly? And offers the best tutorials, i sort of want to get 2004 atm, because i can run it maxed out smoothly, and its got a lot better reviews. (but it does all look very good)

One other thing, can you use a mouse and keyboard for everything, i cant afford all the equipment.

The_KiD · 6 Sep 2007 at 08:28

You can use the keyboard and mouse for everything and the tutorial missions at beginning of FSX tell what keys to press and when, however a joystick makes things much easier.

When I installed it and went in to free flight, without any instructions I was able to take off and land in the microlight straight away and even took off and flew in a 737.

Have a look on t'ebay for a SideWinder2 should be able to get one for about £20.00