Just Like Election Night

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I went home after work last night and monitored the forums to see who had a chance to download and try the demo--lot's of folks, it turns out. As expected reviews varied but I think they were mostly positive. What's been facinating to me reading all the threads is trying to determine what people were expecting because clearly different people had different expectations. More on that later. I have work to do.

 

However I do want to point out a few more gotchas that have emerged:

  • Some people are complaining about the default graphic settings. There is a bug where AMD Athlon PCs get down-graded because of the way they report their CPU speed. AMD users check your settings.
  • Problems with CH Products peripherals. A few last minute fixes (including a peristent 'Brakes' message for CH rudder pedals) did not make it in time for the demo. These should be fixed in the final release.
  • Ground textures don't look hi-res. Two things here: first, we don't default to 1m textures except for very high end systems-check the Terrain Texture Resolution slider in your scenery settings; second, we have a bug where we don't render the ground detail texture when you have your water detail set to any of the Shader 2.x settings--try a 1.x setting if your ground looks blurry (this should be fixed in the final product)
  • The virtual cockpits have some switches that don't appear to be hooked up. Yup--still working on those.
  • Install problems with MSXML4. Hmm, gotta dig into that some more.

I also need to check out a pinned thread at AvSim where folks are recording their problems with the demo. Keep the feedback coming!

Comments

  • Anonymous
    August 10, 2006
    I am having a lot of fun playing around with the demo.  Thank you very much for putting it out!  Even with its issues I think it's great.
  • Anonymous
    August 10, 2006
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  • Anonymous
    August 10, 2006
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  • Anonymous
    August 10, 2006
    Mike, I'm having a lot of fun playing with the demo, and because it's a demo, limited in scope and you have a lot of bugs to fix, etc. I'm enjoying it for what it is, a simple "preview" of what's to come. One question if I may: I know you've stated the autogen isn't complete and is still being worked on; but I've noticed in the demo that most of the autogen objects "pop up" a short distance from your position regardless of the density setting selected. Please tell me this will be reduced or even mostly eliminated in the final product, autogen doesn't noticeably do this in FS9 and I'm hoping it won't in FSX either. FSX is going to be a great successor to FS9; thanks for your hard work and the info you're providing to all of us!
  • Anonymous
    August 10, 2006
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  • Anonymous
    August 10, 2006
    Could you clarify what the issue is for the Athlon CPUs?  I have an Athlon64 3000+ and wonder what settings you are referring us to check.  Thanks for the demo, by the way.  At least it gives us something to chew on while we wait for the real deal!  :)
  • Anonymous
    August 11, 2006
    I love the demo! Thanks so much for making it available. It's sad to see so much negative reaction on some forums-- I think you guys are doing a great job.
  • Anonymous
    August 11, 2006
    Thanks for all your hard work Mike. One plea I want to make is (and I don't now for how much the ACES team this can decide) not to release FSX if you feel that there are still too many bugs.
  • Anonymous
    August 11, 2006
    I also fixed the MSXML4 problem by installing from microsoft.com but I used MSXML6.
  • Anonymous
    August 11, 2006
    If you havnen't checked yet, the FsPassenger forum has a pretty vibrant FSX area going (http://www.fspassengers.com/forum).

    Again, a mixed bag - some love it, some hate it (the demo).  Personally, I have tweaked everything to set the level of detail equal with FS9 and then began inching it up.  It looks like this version will require a bit more processor power, as the ground traffic and water textures over 2x min tend to pull things down but, I expected that might be the case.

    Here's a weird bug, in case no one's reported it: on changing aircraft types at the starting airport, I returned to find the airport, the runways, the roads and buildings had all turned pink!

    Anyway, still a very promising work.  Can't wait for the final and now, for the first time, I may just have the proper system setup BEFORE FS hits the shelves!

    I did notice that Traffic Tools wouldn't decompile the traffic bgl file.  Will there be a traffic editor for this?  I would hate to lose all my PAI traffic.  Anyway, counting the days 'till October now!  Good stuff!
  • Anonymous
    August 13, 2006
    Sad to see again that the SIDESLIP in flight is not realistic.

    I have flown all ms flight simulators from Fs-4 on.

    Flight unlimited 2 simulated this effect very well. Years ago.

    When you put full rudder to the right and aileron to the left to keep the wing level your plane will come down like a stone, the drag create this effect, and is used by a dead stick landing to lose altitude, also tail draggers without flaps using it on landing.

    I am very disappointed

    Willem
  • Anonymous
    August 16, 2006
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    August 18, 2006
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  • Anonymous
    February 02, 2008
    PingBack from http://essentialstructure.wordpress.com/2006/08/11/fsx-demo/