Microsoft Flight Simulator 2020

[julian64]

El stovey said:

I don’t really know anything about computers but isn’t a bit of the difference going to be that the scenery will be downloading from the cloud or whatever?

It’s coming out on the Xbox too, obviously with reduced graphics and features but I think that will be fantastic to play on if you just want a quick hoon about and to try flying under or through tower bridge.

Edited by El stovey on Monday 14th October 15:50

Downloading from the cloud is going to one gazillion percent slower than downloading off my M2 drives.
Even if I was sitting in Microsoft's front office.

I thought it was a bit telling that Microsoft didn't want to discuss PC spec in the video as well.

I think the videos are stunning, but I suspect that in the real world everyone will be running off cache data on their hard drives to make is useable (unless you live in south Korea), and I do wonder at that point if no use of later graphics card capability, how realistic these demos actually are.

Problem is that in the offices of Microsoft they can effectively stream video and they can cloud compute as well as cloud data store. We need an actual demo by a home user

[JaredVannett]

julian64 said:

El stovey said:

I don’t really know anything about computers but isn’t a bit of the difference going to be that the scenery will be downloading from the cloud or whatever?

It’s coming out on the Xbox too, obviously with reduced graphics and features but I think that will be fantastic to play on if you just want a quick hoon about and to try flying under or through tower bridge.

Edited by El stovey on Monday 14th October 15:50

Downloading from the cloud is going to one gazillion percent slower than downloading off my M2 drives.
Even if I was sitting in Microsoft's front office.

I thought it was a bit telling that Microsoft didn't want to discuss PC spec in the video as well.

I think the videos are stunning, but I suspect that in the real world everyone will be running off cache data on their hard drives to make is useable (unless you live in south Korea), and I do wonder at that point if no use of later graphics card capability, how realistic these demos actually are.

Problem is that in the offices of Microsoft they can effectively stream video and they can cloud compute as well as cloud data store. We need an actual demo by a home user

ok I'll bite now.... long time Flight Simmer here.... currently on P3D V4.5 (technically old FSX).

I've been hush about the reveal as to not sound like a debbie downer, but I completely agree with your points Julian.

• I running an i9 9900k, 32GB with M.2 drives. I'm averaging around 40-50 fps with mods (Active Sky 4 Weather Engine + Orbx Scenaries etc). I built this machine last year at considerable cost, but soo worth it for smooth framerates.

• Whenever a new FS is released, the hardware required to make it run with decent frame-rates for the average retail customer is usually a few years away. The hardware may already exist but at ridiculous pricing. P3D is a little different because it stems off FSX, so one did not have to go through the same process of waiting for new hardware/cost.

• The cloud streaming sounds great, but is there a backup model of the world on the hdd? ...So that if their service fails (albeit short term) the sim can fallback to basic world map?

• I am pretty certain this will be a drip-feed monthly pricing model as it is with everything. One positive is that the software (client) will be continuously developed I guess.

The trailer was mighty impressive, but for older simmers, we've been here before. As Julian says, we need to see this running on a retail home installation.
I'm in no rush to switch anyway... it'll take a few years for the decent mods to come out, eg. PMDG aircraft etc.

[Narcisus]

Who knows ? It may run very well on a decent modern rig. Its built from the ground up after all not some dinosaur like P3D.

I guess if you manage to join the alpha test it will give a good idea.

I’ve been dropping in on the fs forums from time to time. Honestly it’s pathetic and amusing in equal amounts.

[kowalski655]

When FSX was released 10 years ago there was much wailing & gnashing of teeth about hte high(for the time) specs needed. Now it can run a modern cheap PC out of the box (or out of the Steam download) although if you want to fly a PMDG plane over MegaScenery you will need something stronger. Same with P3D,X plane & even DCS, flight sims will always need a beefy PC at release & then grow into the hardware. A fully fleshed out FSX/P3D install now with all the bells & whistles is 100% different from stock FSX.
At the moment 2020 is in pre-Alpha & MS have said its not optimised. I bet the demo PCs are beefy but the Alpha tests (fingers and toes crossed I get into that) wil show how it runs on home stuff,and THEN what needs to be done to make it more accessible.

[CrutyRammers]

JaredVannett said:

• The cloud streaming sounds great, but is there a backup model of the world on the hdd? ...So that if their service fails (albeit short term) the sim can fallback to basic world map?

Yes, they've certainly said it will use a local cache for offline periods. I imagine they'll have a base world model as part of the install, and add the detail on top of it. It sounded as if you can tell it to cache the detailed scenery it streams from the cloud (which'd be like generating tiles with ortho or whatever).
AIUI, the cloud compute stuff is doing things like the realtime weather, the detailed scenery and procedural generation for all the 3d objects and things like that.

[chow pan toon]

CrutyRammers said:

JaredVannett said:

• The cloud streaming sounds great, but is there a backup model of the world on the hdd? ...So that if their service fails (albeit short term) the sim can fallback to basic world map?

Yes, they've certainly said it will use a local cache for offline periods. I imagine they'll have a base world model as part of the install, and add the detail on top of it. It sounded as if you can tell it to cache the detailed scenery it streams from the cloud (which'd be like generating tiles with ortho or whatever).
AIUI, the cloud compute stuff is doing things like the realtime weather, the detailed scenery and procedural generation for all the 3d objects and things like that.

There is a video on the insider section that explains this. Basically the whole world in full detail is 2 petabytes worth of data, there will be varying levels of detail depending on your streaming performance from moment to moment. There is a full world "base" map that is installed for offline use (which still looks fairly good) but there will be the option to cache areas of the world on your computer for offline use.

I can't wait for this as the weather looks so true to life, that has always been the thing that has spoilt simulations for me compared to real life, the look of scudding around under cloud looking for the brighter spots is something I've never been able to get close to on a game.

[menguin]

EK993 said:

Think you’ve nailed it - will be subscription based. It’s where all the technology companies are headed to lock customers in and guarantee predictable revenue stream and a strategy that Microsoft has excelled at pivoting their company towards - a move away from perpetual licensing models.

I believe they want to make everything authentic, including the pricing model. As you fly over different sovereign territories you will incur overflight fees as you would operating a real plane.

[anonymous-user]

menguin said:

EK993 said:

Think you’ve nailed it - will be subscription based. It’s where all the technology companies are headed to lock customers in and guarantee predictable revenue stream and a strategy that Microsoft has excelled at pivoting their company towards - a move away from perpetual licensing models.

I believe they want to make everything authentic, including the pricing model. As you fly over different sovereign territories you will incur overflight fees as you would operating a real plane.

Extra micro transactions for landing too.

[chow pan toon]

El stovey said:

menguin said:

EK993 said:

Think you’ve nailed it - will be subscription based. It’s where all the technology companies are headed to lock customers in and guarantee predictable revenue stream and a strategy that Microsoft has excelled at pivoting their company towards - a move away from perpetual licensing models.

I believe they want to make everything authentic, including the pricing model. As you fly over different sovereign territories you will incur overflight fees as you would operating a real plane.

Extra micro transactions for landing too.

If they include an overcooked bacon sandwich then I'm in!

[kowalski655]

New Insider video out
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XVUyD_CwCUc
dealing with weather clouds & lighting
Fucck me it looks amazing
I wonder how many kidneys I will need to sell to get a PC to run it?

[xjay1337]

I'm looking forward to it.

Il need to buy a new Joystick though!

[Narcisus]

ash73 said:

Too much emphasis on how it looks, not enough on how it flies.

Thanks for the info that’s a shame. How much time have you had flying it ?

[anonymous-user]

Narcisus said:

ash73 said:

Too much emphasis on how it looks, not enough on how it flies.

Thanks for the info that’s a shame. How much time have you had flying it ?

[FourWheelDrift]

New gameplay video - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BCBgO6St9ug

And another, cities - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z2HwLeJSAGc

[kowalski655]

"See how amazing it is to fly over the beauty that is Naples, or Barcelona, or Zurich, or err..Southampton

[FourWheelDrift]

kowalski655 said:

"See how amazing it is to fly over the beauty that is Naples, or Barcelona, or Zurich, or err..Southampton

Notice it was a dull day over Southampton

[LimaDelta]

My big concern for this is the bandwidth I expect will be required to see the decent scenery. Not sure if my 10Mb-on-a-good-day rural broadband will cope.

Happy to be proven wrong of course.

[AmosMoses]

LimaDelta said:

My big concern for this is the bandwidth I expect will be required to see the decent scenery. Not sure if my 10Mb-on-a-good-day rural broadband will cope.

Happy to be proven wrong of course.

This is my concern to, i'm really excited about the game i just hope i can play it!

[anonymous-user]

Are the base buildings all 3D and load like on google earth? Plus it’s doing dynamic weather?

Google earth has a great little basic flight sim on the desktop version but it suffers massively from pop up especially if you’re doing more than 50kts even with a fast 60-70meg broadband connection.

[Donbot]

I heard it is using Google maps for terrain and building shapes and using procedurally generated models to add details. Iconic buildings etc modelled in. So it shouldn't need really high speed internet.