Game Discussions Microsoft Flight Simulator

[Ian Skippy]

I must be missing something. Isn't GSync just a fancy version of vsync for variable framerate? And shouldn't your monitor fall back to standard vysnc when your FPS drops to 30? I can see the issue if you can hit the 40s and GSync can't go that low (in my case I just set refresh to 144 and vsync at 48), but otherwise I'm still confused why 30 fps is a problem... Perhaps this GSync isn't what I thought it was - I'll happily accept education if I'm wrong.

VSync prevents tearing by locking FPS below the threshold of your monitor's max refresh rate. So at 60Hz, VSync locks the game to 60FPS (and adds some input lag). VRR is the general term for variable framerate, and on PC comes via Freesync (AMD) and GSync (NVidia). With HDMI 2.1 you also have the default VRR consoles most likely use (and which is pretty much identical to Freesync).

What VRR does is match the refresh rate of the monitor to the output of the app. So a 60Hz monitor goes down to 45 if I only get 45FPS. But I cant go below 40Hz, that is a hardware limitation of the monitor. What LFC does is double the framerate so it falls back into the range of the monitor: a 24FPS becomes 48FPS, which is back into VRR range.

The advantages are significantly reduced when you have a nearly perfect locked FPS at something your monitor's native refresh rate is a multiple off, but it is still an advantage.

 

[askavir]

Started my tour of the US Cascade Range, and what better to start than (the remains of) Mount St. Helens.

Spoiler: On the way to Mt. St. Helens, Mt. Adams is seen in the distance

Spoiler: Arriving at Mt St. Helens

Spoiler: CirclingMt St helens, Mount Rainier now pops into view in the distance

It can't be properly be shown in pictures, but the games does a great job at showing how far from the mountain the damage from the 1980 eruption reached across the surrounding valleys and hills in the region, and how this previously idyllic place with a pretty snowy peak across the once beautiful Spirit lake is now mostly a giant scar left by a whiff of earth's raw power.

 

[Old Duck]

But you'll miss exploring all those different coloured skies in Odyssey.

Been there, done that

 

[Navigare Necesse Est]

I know this isn't a fair comparison, but strictly from my perspective, it will take me 100+ times longer to exhaust all the variety found on this one little planet earth in Flight Simulator than it did with the billions of planets in ED. Video killed the radio star, and I think MSFS killed the ED star, for me at least. That's not to say I'll never play ED again, but it's a good thing I made Explorer Elite before MSFS dropped.

Fair - not fair - I think it is a good indicator that procedural gen just isn't quite enough for interesting worlds.

 

[Ian Skippy]

Fair - not fair - I think it is a good indicator that procedural gen just isn't quite enough for interesting worlds.

I very much doubt that. I see no reason why you cannot procgen sat data, and then use the same approach to generate a fake Earth. The issue with ED is not procgen but that non-atmo planets with no flora or fauna are inherently dull and samey after some time. You wouldn't enjoy flying over the real Mars or Moon either for weeks, it is just rather dull.

 

[[VR] optimal_909]

Fair - not fair - I think it is a good indicator that procedural gen just isn't quite enough for interesting worlds.

Partly true only, as the lighting and 'random' atmospheric effects contribute a huge chunk of the experience. Imagine this weather/cloud tech scaled up to a gas giant... and the upgraded planets in Odyssey do look interesting (assuming that they provide a reasonable variety), but it's just not enough to make the game interesting again, especially after VR is dropped. I'd abandon FS too if they swapped focus from flight to walking around at airports and shooting smugglers... but I doubt the FS community will put 'air legs' on their wish list.

 

[Ian Skippy]

Partly true only, as the lighting and 'random' atmospheric effects contribute a huge chunk of the experience. Imagine this weather/cloud tech scaled up to a gas giant... and the upgraded planets in Odyssey do look interesting (assuming that they provide a reasonable variety), but it's just not enough to make the game interesting again, especially after VR is dropped. I'd abandon FS too if they swapped focus from flight to walking around at airports and shooting smugglers... but I doubt the FS community will put 'air legs' on their wish list.

That is where ED should shine: flight model variety should be FAR higher due to different gravity/atmospheric conditions than any Earth-only flight sim could ever get. Its the #1 reason for wanting atmo. I dont care about blue/purple/green skies, I care for how it impacts the flight experience.

Which made it a bit of a bummer that they recently said they are 'considering' an atmo-flight model. :/

 

[Old Duck]

My live weather has been working lately except for wind. Which is weird, because ATIS reports accurate wind, but my own instruments and the "real world" (wind socks, flight dynamics, etc) does not. When I manually set the wind, everything behaves as I would expect. But I much prefer live weather for any sort of distance flight, since weather changes as you go. Anybody else notice that wind is being ignored in live weather?

 

[Ian Skippy]

My live weather has been working lately except for wind. Which is weird, because ATIS reports accurate wind, but my own instruments and the "real world" (wind socks, flight dynamics, etc) does not. When I manually set the wind, everything behaves as I would expect. But I much prefer live weather for any sort of distance flight, since weather changes as you go. Anybody else notice that wind is being ignored in live weather?

So far I have heard reports that wind is bugged in the US, for some odd reason (something like 3kt/221 or some such).

 

[Old Duck]

So far I have heard reports that wind is bugged in the US, for some odd reason (something like 3kt/221 or some such).

Yes, 3kts is what I'm seeing! Hmm... Well, at least I know it's not me.

 

[Juniper]

Fair - not fair - I think it is a good indicator that procedural gen just isn't quite enough for interesting worlds.

Procgen is just a tool.

Like any tool, the results you achieve depend entirely on how adeptly you use it.

My hammer is the same hammer as a master craftsman's.

 

[Old Duck]

Procgen is just a tool.

Like any tool, the results you achieve depend entirely on how adeptly you use it.

My hammer is the same hammer as a master craftsman's.

Thing is, most barren alien worlds will be "boring", so I don't totally fault ED for airless moons having a certain level of sameness. Still, they are missing the boat by not giving us landable lava worlds, comets, and lots of other cool IRL heavenly bodies. The tenuous atmosphere planets will likely just be airless moons with a little air (and better procgen, I'll grant that based on videos).

 

[PiLhEaD]

Me too. The FSS killed exploration in Elite for me....

Same for me. Sadly.

 

[encrypted]

Completed first bush trip - Nevada / California. Amazing overall.

Took quite a time - 25 legs overall. First one + last one were probably a little more difficult than others. Some 'airports' were almost invisible. Notepad notes are sometimes quite deceiving, and if you'll try to follow them without map references, you'll be lost in 50% of cases, imo - but again, English is not my native language. VFR map is purely schematic, but thanks to lakes / rivers, sometimes you can navigate using it. Also that rotating compass thingy on a CUB is quite ... questionable.

Loved it, can't wait to complete other 2 (not sure how much are there in Deluxe version, I have standard). This is overall very nice concept - would love more of this + some kind of missions. Military testing sites, abandoned cities, deserts, mountains, Black rock city (hey, Burning man), Yosemite. I've been to those places once, and Yosemite + Death Valley are probably one of true 'once in lifetime' memories - truly gorgeous places. We've rented convertible Corvette in Las Vegas and drove to LA / SF / NAPA, Death Valley, Yosemite - that was probably one of best trips I've done IRL.

Spoiler: On a last leg I've got icing in mountains. Very cool.

Spoiler: Besides autogen glitches / some bugs I must say I don't like these blurrrrry clouds. Hopefully something will be done on them in future

 

[[VR] optimal_909]

Completed first bush trip - Nevada / California. Amazing overall.

Took quite a time - 25 legs overall. First one + last one were probably a little more difficult than others. Some 'airports' were almost invisible. Notepad notes are sometimes quite deceiving, and if you'll try to follow them without map references, you'll be lost in 50% of cases, imo - but again, English is not my native language. VFR map is purely schematic, but thanks to lakes / rivers, sometimes you can navigate using it. Also that rotating compass thingy on a CUB is quite ... questionable.

Loved it, can't wait to complete other 2 (not sure how much are there in Deluxe version, I have standard). This is overall very nice concept - would love more of this + some kind of missions. Military testing sites, abandoned cities, deserts, mountains, Black rock city (hey, Burning man), Yosemite. I've been to those places once, and Yosemite + Death Valley are probably one of true 'once in lifetime' memories - truly gorgeous places. We've rented convertible Corvette in Las Vegas and drove to LA / SF / NAPA, Death Valley, Yosemite - that was probably one of best trips I've done IRL.

Spoiler: On a last leg I've got icing in mountains. Very cool.

Spoiler: Besides autogen glitches / some bugs I must say I don't like these blurrrrry clouds. Hopefully something will be done on them in future

Check your settings, on low/med the clouds look like what you see, on high/ultra they are breathtaking.

 

[encrypted]

Check your settings, on low/med the clouds look like what you see, on high/ultra they are breathtaking.

Well, yes, my clouds settings are on ultra, yes, so not too sure what's wrong there. Thanks.

 

[Old Duck]

Well, yes, my clouds settings are on ultra, yes, so not too sure what's wrong there. Thanks.

 

[Ian Skippy]

It really depends on the clouds; some really are not that impressive at all. Also in ultra here.

 

[askavir]

@Old Duck the pics on your post make me want to jump into those clouds, they feel so bumpy and soft, like if they made of cotton candy... of course it might not end well for me.

First time I felt like jumping into clouds was when I was in the island of Tenerife, near the Las Cañadas caldera at sundown overlooking what the locals call "the sea of clouds"...It looked just like the name suggests... Fortunately I resisted the temptation.

Pic is taken at around 2000 meters elevation, "sea of clouds" is on the right, and the Mount Teide Volcano in the distance:

Spoiler

I sure miss travelling...

 

[askavir]

Loved it, can't wait to complete other 2 (not sure how much are there in Deluxe version, I have standard). This is overall very nice concept - would love more of this + some kind of missions. Military testing sites, abandoned cities, deserts, mountains, Black rock city (hey, Burning man), Yosemite. I've been to those places once, and Yosemite + Death Valley are probably one of true 'once in lifetime' memories - truly gorgeous places. We've rented convertible Corvette in Las Vegas and drove to LA / SF / NAPA, Death Valley, Yosemite - that was probably one of best trips I've done IRL.

+1. I hope more bush trips are on the way. With many thousands of incredible places all around the world, the potential for this feature is huge!