Mike VanHoose:Thanx alot..
That rises another question, what are the big differences between FS9 and FSX? I have never played FS9 myself.
Mike VanHoose
WWA2015
Seattle Hub
FSX introduced a slew of new things. Probably the biggest changes, at least from my standpoint is they changed the texture setup for aircraft, although textures from FS9 are sometimes compatible (there have been some alpha channel issues), and introduced bump mapping. Many FS9 aircraft models are compatible with FSX, the problem has been panels, FS9 could use fs98 era gauges, FSX can't and you'd be amazed at how many fs9 panels still used fs98 era gauges. On the minor side of things the way the FSX folder is organized in relation to aircraft is also different from FS9 and the previous versions.
They also changed the model of the earth. In prior fs versions the earth was modelled as basically flat. In FSX MS switched to a round earth model. This has turned out to be a big issue especially with the addon scenery producers. Now in my opinion MS also just needs to stop lying about minimum system specs. FSX requires a fairly robust system to run at what most of us would consider acceptable. This is one reason I haven't switched yet. Being a real world pilot I travel alot.....thus I tend to do most of my WW related activities on the road (at home time is time with my wife and kids), so I as of yet cannot afford a new laptop that would run FSX ok. IT's getting closer though and Uncle Sam may help me out. I think once/if I make the switch we may see a little quicker pace on getting aircraft into the FSX hangar........
Now keep in mind that the EC has been discussing whether or not we want the fleet for FSX and future versions to be as large as the FS9 fleet. While the FS9 fleet is great, taking care of a fleet that large has proved to be very time consuming, and frankly we have a bunch of overlap with competing aircraft types in the different categories. My feeling is that the FSX and future fleets will never be as large as the FS9 fleet, it simply takes too much time to get there and then maintain it.......
Now the great wild card right now is when is FS11 (or whatever it will be called) going to hit the shelves? If MS holds to it's present pattern it could be as soon as late this fall (which I kind of doubt), but I expect it will be sometime in 2009. If someone knows different please share.........
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