Greetings,
For those awaiting Elite Dangerous 2.3 going live, the PS4 version being released and/or looking for an alternative experience when one needs to take a break from ED or wants A LOT more depth may I suggest an alternative.
X-Plane 11 officially released on 30 Mar 2017. It took 5+ hrs to download the 60Gb digital version (Seems limited to 4MB/S from their servers at best) downloading all the world scenery. Major changes in the User Interface with lots of improvements, more controls (huge list of G1000 inputs), multiple windows for maps and more...all redesigned. Scenery and airports (well the ones I fly at) have substantially been improved and weather/cloud visuals are looking pretty realistic...a big issue for many in previous versions.
That's the good news.
With a completely redesigned UI there is going to be a good size learning curve for experienced X-Plane 10 users and a huge one for first time users. You thought setting up a HOTAS in ED was difficult? It's simple compared to the multiple pages of control options in XP11. One can also setup entirely different controller inputs for each aircraft. That is an advantage as one does need many more inputs for a Boeing 757 versus a Cessna 172. It also adds to the complexity.
As usual there are issues with payware/freeware aircraft for XP10 being updated to XP 11. One will need to use the Plane Maker author section of the aircraft to edit them for many of them to show up in XP11 (that is the easy fix). Many seem to fly well in XP11 but there are numerous adjustments (some big so far ones are engine idle and converting to sRGB graphics) required that the casual pilot may not be aware of or notice the difference. More complicated aircraft which bypassed XP10 interfacing may be more difficult to update (a guess). Vendors are coming on line with updated aircraft but if one's download license has expired they may get the opportunity to buy them again. Verified as my Gulfstream G650 by X-Hangar purchased in 2013 will cost me another $18 US to download the XP11 update. Maybe whining will help.
If one is into creating their own airports the World Editor for XP11 is still in Beta testing. Still two that I designed for XP 10 loads without any noticeable difference and the advanced weather works nicely. I haven't tried the complex commercial versions yet.
It is still to early to tell on the plugins still per the first indications those who used LUA scripts will probably have issues. YouTube already has a few videos showing plugins like X-Camera is working well so far.
Anyway first impressions with a pilot who has thousands of hrs flying X-Plane and maybe 8 hrs looking at the new version. Whenever the Windows OS is updated there are always issues getting older software to work. Works the same for X-Plane but at least we don't have to buy Office 2016 to merge nicely with Windows 10! Overall XP11 has really pushed the bar up and nailed a lot of the past issues plus much more depth setting up controllers and aircraft. It is a VERY serious flight simulator with a huge learning curve if one wants to fly more than a Cessna. A user can easily spend $5000 or more on controllers, aircraft and scenery. Just for helicopters check out the two links below and there are other vendors. So much for the cost of a Thrustmaster Warthog in ED. The word "game" should never be associated with X-Plane.
When Elite Dangerous becomes a little too much in the updates, nerfs and buffs, "grind" as each player perceives it or not I'll just fly my Gulfstream G650 from the USA to Jamaica or Paris, maybe fly a Bell or Robinson helo or my De Havilland DHC-6 with floats in the visually stunning areas of Canada and Alaska (which Google maps supports in game). Atmospheric landings in ED with cities to see will be awesome but I hope some of the Devs fly X-Plane to see how amazing it can be.
Regards
Pro Flight Trainer
Heli-Kit
A few more controls than a Cobra Mk III or a Corvette and they work in X-Plane...
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For those awaiting Elite Dangerous 2.3 going live, the PS4 version being released and/or looking for an alternative experience when one needs to take a break from ED or wants A LOT more depth may I suggest an alternative.
X-Plane 11 officially released on 30 Mar 2017. It took 5+ hrs to download the 60Gb digital version (Seems limited to 4MB/S from their servers at best) downloading all the world scenery. Major changes in the User Interface with lots of improvements, more controls (huge list of G1000 inputs), multiple windows for maps and more...all redesigned. Scenery and airports (well the ones I fly at) have substantially been improved and weather/cloud visuals are looking pretty realistic...a big issue for many in previous versions.
That's the good news.
With a completely redesigned UI there is going to be a good size learning curve for experienced X-Plane 10 users and a huge one for first time users. You thought setting up a HOTAS in ED was difficult? It's simple compared to the multiple pages of control options in XP11. One can also setup entirely different controller inputs for each aircraft. That is an advantage as one does need many more inputs for a Boeing 757 versus a Cessna 172. It also adds to the complexity.
As usual there are issues with payware/freeware aircraft for XP10 being updated to XP 11. One will need to use the Plane Maker author section of the aircraft to edit them for many of them to show up in XP11 (that is the easy fix). Many seem to fly well in XP11 but there are numerous adjustments (some big so far ones are engine idle and converting to sRGB graphics) required that the casual pilot may not be aware of or notice the difference. More complicated aircraft which bypassed XP10 interfacing may be more difficult to update (a guess). Vendors are coming on line with updated aircraft but if one's download license has expired they may get the opportunity to buy them again. Verified as my Gulfstream G650 by X-Hangar purchased in 2013 will cost me another $18 US to download the XP11 update. Maybe whining will help.
If one is into creating their own airports the World Editor for XP11 is still in Beta testing. Still two that I designed for XP 10 loads without any noticeable difference and the advanced weather works nicely. I haven't tried the complex commercial versions yet.
It is still to early to tell on the plugins still per the first indications those who used LUA scripts will probably have issues. YouTube already has a few videos showing plugins like X-Camera is working well so far.
Anyway first impressions with a pilot who has thousands of hrs flying X-Plane and maybe 8 hrs looking at the new version. Whenever the Windows OS is updated there are always issues getting older software to work. Works the same for X-Plane but at least we don't have to buy Office 2016 to merge nicely with Windows 10! Overall XP11 has really pushed the bar up and nailed a lot of the past issues plus much more depth setting up controllers and aircraft. It is a VERY serious flight simulator with a huge learning curve if one wants to fly more than a Cessna. A user can easily spend $5000 or more on controllers, aircraft and scenery. Just for helicopters check out the two links below and there are other vendors. So much for the cost of a Thrustmaster Warthog in ED. The word "game" should never be associated with X-Plane.
When Elite Dangerous becomes a little too much in the updates, nerfs and buffs, "grind" as each player perceives it or not I'll just fly my Gulfstream G650 from the USA to Jamaica or Paris, maybe fly a Bell or Robinson helo or my De Havilland DHC-6 with floats in the visually stunning areas of Canada and Alaska (which Google maps supports in game). Atmospheric landings in ED with cities to see will be awesome but I hope some of the Devs fly X-Plane to see how amazing it can be.
Regards
Pro Flight Trainer
Heli-Kit
A few more controls than a Cobra Mk III or a Corvette and they work in X-Plane...
