Microsoft Flight Simulator Taking Off August 18th; Content Tiered Across Game Editions

[RedelZaVedno]

Pure GaaS cancer game this is, using that MS Azure cloud AI technology to stream and making you dependent on that UWP garbo. And $60 USD for more content, totalling at $120. I'd avoid it like plague.

MS FS2020 consist of two petabytes (2.000 TB) of geographical data. How do you intend to store that on your SSD? With that being said, FS will give you an option to pre-download certain areas on your local SSD to play the game in full detail offline. Mind you, you'll need around 1TB SSD to download 250.000 km2 of world map on average (much more over populated areas), but you'll have an option to do it. I can see people buying one or to 2TB SSDs and downloading something like 10.000-30.000 km2 of the world map for an off line playground (or much more over less complex areas like Sahara etc).

 

[bug]

MS FS2020 consist of two petabytes (2.000 TB) of geographical data.

Apply JPEG compression which is like 10:1. Problem solved

 

[moproblems99]

Like I said above, MS could have made this require a monthly subscription, just be thankful they didn't go down that route.

See, that is the problem though. Allowing bullshit because hey, it could have been worse just leads to more bullshit being norm. I don't have a problem with pricing tiers but 10 planes and 10 airports for double the price? That is silly talk. +$20 would have been fine.

 

[Ashtr1x]

Isn't this a good example of using the cloud in games? How much power would it take to do what this game does locally?

You sure that most people have enough space on their PC's for full resolution worldmap?

Sure, they should release this to the public in an offline format that has the entire world mapped out locally without needing cloud streaming. Oh, the game is now multiple terabytes? Damn you Microsoft!
But go on; cloud bad, innovation bad, me only play offline like its 1995
How about you just do what normal people do and just ignore it if you're not interested? It's not like it's offensive in any way... Why are you so riled up?

I understand this is one of the benefits of the cloud gaming, but Crackdowngrade 3 shows how great it is. And relying on a Server side technology is never a good thing, games and softwares last for years. I think MS will not pull the plug on this but, So many MP modes for games are dead because of this technology hurdle, having a local setup of any piece of software always trumps the reliance of this fraud called GaaS, this is the FIRST step, they will say this is how the game works and will work for next games when they try to make people locked to their services forever, those Physical Disc less PS5/XSX, PC already lost that despite Bluray sadly. Plus there's always the bandwidth issues and QoS issues as well with this, extra processing cycles as well. And OS compatibility too add DRM too, like Denuvo which adds 48Hr validation check for a game to be online (Yes, Steam already is a DRM but it does have Offline mode & there are ways to circumvent that for temporary purposes)

And please don't tell me that there's no compression or decompression technologies available with these companies, even the game setups so many AAA devs and publishers do not care to use proper compression on the game files causing the ultra bloated size.

Hitman series is another case for the pure GaaS, yeah they added a patch to make the things available with the offline mode but it ruins the gameplay, destroys the purpose of the level design and achievements, once IOI pulls the plug after 4-5 years Hitman 1,2 won't be playable offline 1:1 experience, where as old HItman games which are even more dark like Hitman : Contracts still has a GOG release for full offline gameplay.

Google is doing the same with Android Filesystem by removing the capabilities of it's R/W access by encouraging more Cloud imitated from Apple from Android 11, MS UWP also does this to an extent by limiting the application access to the FS, and now this is a bit more sidestep but it's a case to consider because, UWP has a new project reunion which bakes in built Telemetry into the API of UWP+Win32, if this game evolves over the time *IF* that reunion takes flight properly then more lockstep into the Application control loss to the end user.

 

[bug]

See, that is the problem though. Allowing bullshit because hey, it could have been worse just leads to more bullshit being norm. I don't have a problem with pricing tiers but 10 planes and 10 airports for double the price? That is silly talk. +$20 would have been fine.

How do you know that's bs? Would you rather MS didn't do another FS at all?

 

[RedelZaVedno]

I understand this is one of the benefits of the cloud gaming, but Crackdowngrade 3 shows how great it is. And relying on a Server side technology is never a good thing, games and softwares last for years. I think MS will not pull the plug on this but, So many MP modes for games are dead because of this technology hurdle, having a local setup of any piece of software always trumps the reliance of this fraud called GaaS, this is the FIRST step, they will say this is how the game works and will work for next games when they try to make people locked to their services forever, those Physical Disc less PS5/XSX, PC already lost that despite Bluray sadly. Plus there's always the bandwidth issues and QoS issues as well with this, extra processing cycles as well. And OS compatibility too add DRM too, like Denuvo which adds 48Hr validation check for a game to be online (Yes, Steam already is a DRM but it does have Offline mode & there are ways to circumvent that for temporary purposes)

And please don't tell me that there's no compression or decompression technologies available with these companies, even the game setups so many AAA devs and publishers do not care to use proper compression on the game files causing the ultra bloated size.

Hitman series is another case for the pure GaaS, yeah they added a patch to make the things available with the offline mode but it ruins the gameplay, destroys the purpose of the level design and achievements, once IOI pulls the plug after 4-5 years Hitman 1,2 won't be playable offline 1:1 experience, where as old HItman games which are even more dark like Hitman : Contracts still has a GOG release for full offline gameplay.

Google is doing the same with Android Filesystem by removing the capabilities of it's R/W access by encouraging more Cloud imitated from Apple from Android 11, MS UWP also does this to an extent by limiting the application access to the FS, and now this is a bit more sidestep but it's a case to consider because, UWP has a new project reunion which bakes in built Telemetry into the API of UWP+Win32, if this game evolves over the time *IF* that reunion takes flight properly then more lockstep into the Application control loss to the end user.

You can't compare games like Hitman with the game that renders 510.100.000 km² in 3D, literally the whole World. That's been unheard of until FS 2020. If you'd told me 2 years ago, we'll have a whole Earth as a playground soon, I'd say that you're plain crazy. I'm grateful that Microsoft decided to finance & technologically support this game. Flight sims are a very niche market and I don't believe MS will profit from MS FS2020 at all. It's more likely to be considered a payed promo for Xbox X. Awesome commercial to sell new console, but in reality 99 % of Xbox X gamers giving up on the game first month when they realize what a steep learning curve it demands.

 

[Frick]

I understand this is one of the benefits of the cloud gaming, but Crackdowngrade 3 shows how great it is. And relying on a Server side technology is never a good thing, games and softwares last for years. I think MS will not pull the plug on this but, So many MP modes for games are dead because of this technology hurdle, having a local setup of any piece of software always trumps the reliance of this fraud called GaaS, this is the FIRST step, they will say this is how the game works and will work for next games when they try to make people locked to their services forever, those Physical Disc less PS5/XSX, PC already lost that despite Bluray sadly. Plus there's always the bandwidth issues and QoS issues as well with this, extra processing cycles as well. And OS compatibility too add DRM too, like Denuvo which adds 48Hr validation check for a game to be online (Yes, Steam already is a DRM but it does have Offline mode & there are ways to circumvent that for temporary purposes)

And please don't tell me that there's no compression or decompression technologies available with these companies, even the game setups so many AAA devs and publishers do not care to use proper compression on the game files causing the ultra bloated size.

Hitman series is another case for the pure GaaS, yeah they added a patch to make the things available with the offline mode but it ruins the gameplay, destroys the purpose of the level design and achievements, once IOI pulls the plug after 4-5 years Hitman 1,2 won't be playable offline 1:1 experience, where as old HItman games which are even more dark like Hitman : Contracts still has a GOG release for full offline gameplay.

Google is doing the same with Android Filesystem by removing the capabilities of it's R/W access by encouraging more Cloud imitated from Apple from Android 11, MS UWP also does this to an extent by limiting the application access to the FS, and now this is a bit more sidestep but it's a case to consider because, UWP has a new project reunion which bakes in built Telemetry into the API of UWP+Win32, if this game evolves over the time *IF* that reunion takes flight properly then more lockstep into the Application control loss to the end user.

All fair points except for online games, which do shut down in the fullness of time and this is one of those.

 

[RedelZaVedno]

All fair points except for online games, which do shut down in the fullness of time and this is one of those.

You'll be able to play FS2020 off line (they will even sell hardcopy of a game), just not in full detail and without real life weather/traffic generation. But you'll be able to pre-download maps (just like with google earth) on your SSD to see downloaded areas rendered in full detail even when you're off line. You'll just need to A LOT of SSD space (few 100 GB if not a TB or more) to download decent amount of play area. I can see hardcore simmers buying few 2TB SSDs just to download maps.

 

[Frick]

You'll be able to play FS2020 off line (they will even sell hardcopy of a game), just not in full detail and without real life weather/traffic generation. But you'll be able to pre-download maps (just like with google earth) on your SSD to see downloaded areas rendered in full detail even when you're off line. You'll just need to A LOT of SSD space (few 100 GB if not a TB or more) to download decent amount of play area. I can see hardcore simmers buying few 2TB SSDs just to download maps.

Cool, didn't know that.

 

[moproblems99]

How do you know that's bs? Would you rather MS didn't do another FS at all?

If you don't see an issue, carry on. $99 games he we come.

 

[lemonadesoda]

No 737-800/900? Wtf

I guess it is to stop the 3rd party Boeing maxcrash plugin that would fail the pitots and force automatic stall prevention system nose up.

 

[MxPhenom 216]

I guess it is to stop the 3rd party Boeing maxcrash plugin that would fail the pitots and force automatic stall prevention system nose up.

That would be for the 737 MAX though.

 

[bug]

That would be for the 737 MAX though.

Probably reserved for the next Forza Horizon though

 

[Haile Selassie]

These kind of games use to sell high-end PCs in the past. Every respectable publisher had to had at least one good flight sim under their belt if they were to be considered serious.
Big respect to MS to release such a game in todays' FPS/PUBG/MOBA saturated market. I will be buying the boxed version for $119.99 USD for sure.

 

[yotano211]

These kind of games use to sell high-end PCs in the past. Every respectable publisher had to had at least one good flight sim under their belt if they were to be considered serious.
Big respect to MS to release such a game in todays' FPS/PUBG/MOBA saturated market. I will be buying the boxed version for $119.99 USD for sure.

Most people buy PCs to play rocket league or any low level f(r)ee-pay(win)-game

 

[disasterman]

Looking at all the Beta tester provided videos, it does seem that the scenery is spectacular. Oddly missing though are some of the most iconic and desired planes that fly in the real world, like the 737 and regional jets, and once again despite claiming that you don't have to buy a bunch of addons . . . . you have to buy a bunch of addons.

Most of their planes seem to be really small sport planes, with the only noted airliners being the mammoth (and old) 747, the A320, and Boeing 787 Dreamliner. What's up with THAT? The same shortage of detailed airports and plane choices leaves me with a Meh taste in my mouth, and their tiered pricing to me is just stupid considering the minute additional items offered. They should have just included all of it, and sold it for $120.

I'm also suspicious about the AI traffic. Getting kinda sick of "World Airways," etc.. If they don't even have a flyable 737 or CRJ in the simulator, what about their AI traffic? If they have realistic AI, why didn't they give us those airliners?

I think it was more of an effort to round up more Windows 7 holdouts and force them to use Windows 10. (and there's no real reason for that requirement either, considering that the two are still based on the same framework).

The real world "Bing earth" topographical addition is great, but their removal of some of the most wanted aircraft is idiotic. I wonder what deals they made with the third party payware developers..... I've had every version of FS ever released so far, and bought lots of addons for them, but even though I just built a gaming rig to run this, and was getting ready to get a VR headset (now not supported) and new monitor, I just dumped the entire plan. I'm not buying it, nor am I going to go forward with the hopelessly messed up Windows 10. Double fail Microsoft. Good luck with your Bing Earth Simulator with limited Airport Scenery Effects package.

 

[Splinterdog]

I've been mulling this over for some time and whilst I'm not a devoted 'simmer' - car racing, flying etc - it seemed a bit crazy to pay $60 for a game which is atypical of the games I usually play, with the risk of not being able to fully get to grips with it on keyboard and mouse.
I'm completely awestruck by the videos I've seen of MSFS2020 and of course, the standard edition is included in Game Pass.
So in the end I signed up for XBox Game Pass at $1 for the first month and $4.99 thereafter with the added bonus of having access to loads of other games without breaking the bank.
That's a win-win in my book.

 

[INSTG8R]

Manually recreated, rest are built by AI based on sat photos, i.e. lower detail.
Watch some gameplay videos and you'll notice the difference between auto generated areas and those edited manually.

As for price tags, this will surely make it to game pass in some form so entry price will be much lower than $60.
I don't like the tiered approach but considering it's a flight sim you're already looking at fairly smaller market where high prices are standard (just look at DCS and its $50-60 plane prices).

It’s already on Game Pass I have it “preloaded“ I’m of course only expecting access to the base tier. I’m an old school IL-2 veteran you mentioning DCS’s insane pricing model. Well it’s caught on. The original IL-2 Devs reformed and maintained and gave a huge overhaul to Cliffs Of Dover making it a completely different game download(Blitz) free to all original owners. Well they put out their first new paid DLC content at $60 for 5 planes and a new map. I thought it was insane but it he community has no problem with the price and use the DCS model as justification. I get they deserve to get paid but precedent has been set and simmers only have a few options and just have to accept it.

 

[Splinterdog]

I haven't played a flight sim since the early 2000s when I had a joystick and I found helicopters to be easier to control. I'm pretty sure I even played an earlier version of MS Flight Simulator.
This is why I went for the Game Pass, just glide around and admire the scenery. I can always cancel, which pretty much answers my question about tiered content.