My Big Question...!

[Kiwikat]

I have never been described as overly social.

I've got to be one of the most antisocial people on earth.

It is still really fun getting to know the people you talk to on forums a little more.

 

[Lotus]

Kiwikat's poll here has had some really interesting responses, it's been very enlightening to read.

Aside from the drawbacks of gamespy, which admittedly is finicky to say the least, and certainly no friend of mine this week, I think that most of the concerns about multiplayer would be solved simply by finding a good group of people to fly with.

In my experience the types of sessions around are as varied as everyones' personalities. They range from screaming kids ripping around in F-18s to hardcore ATC sessions and anything you can imagine inbetween.

To find a good group of people to fly with means wading through all of this, the good, the bad, and the ugly, so you have to get your riot shield out for the first little while, but when you finally find those people, ones whose attitudes and schedules line up with your own, man there's just nothing like it. In my experience though most people don't judge each others' flying skills. I can't remember ever running across it actually, and I've done a LOT of mp flying!

The road wasn't easy in finding my 'place' in the multiplayer world, but now that I've found it I can just never go back to solo flight. I've met so many cool people all around the world through it. A couple of them have become really excellent friends too, people I communicate with all the time outside of FSX, and I wouldn't trade that for the world.

Socially I consider myself a bit of hermit really, hehe, but in multi I'm all for meeting new people. And besides, in reality it's not always easy to disengage from a situation you don't enjoy, but in MP, the disconnect button is right there.

-Mike

 

[Bjoern]

An example of an organized MP flight would be the folks at WSP (World's Serious Pilots). Every Wednesday evening they get together for a group flight, usually at least an hour in duration and most of the time everyone is flying the same airplane. They have a set flightplan, everyone knows the route, altitude, airspeed, etc and real world weather. Off they go and all use TS for Comm, so there's chatter going on almost non-stop.

Well, the only difference to a normal flight is that there's real chatter via Teamspeak.
To me, this simply isn't worth the effort (install TS, install GameSpy, get a Gamespy account, set up everything, etc...). If I want in-flight entertainment I just read while cruising along or get out my laptop and do something else.

Don't get me wrong though, I normally like multiplayer modes in games (been an avid online player of BF1942: Forgotten Hope and Joint Operations), but MSFS is a big "no-no" for me.

In other games, like shooters or strategy titles, you got an entirely different experience in multiplayer, since the all-seeing, all-knowing AI is replaced by humans will all their benefits and drawbacks. You die way more often since your opponents usually aim better, but at the same time you can employ ambush tactics and combat behaviour learned in your military days which work out since you usually won't be seen behind shrubs, trees and walls.
In MSFS, well it's just standard phraseology and the occasional nonstandard comment. Worth the effort? For others yes, for me no.

 

[falcon409]

Well, the only difference to a normal flight is that there's real chatter via Teamspeak.
To me, this simply isn't worth the effort (install TS, install GameSpy, get a Gamespy account, set up everything, etc...). If I want in-flight entertainment I just read while cruising along or get out my laptop and do something else.

Don't get me wrong though, I normally like multiplayer modes in games (been an avid online player of BF1942: Forgotten Hope and Joint Operations), but MSFS is a big "no-no" for me.

In other games, like shooters or strategy titles, you got an entirely different experience in multiplayer, since the all-seeing, all-knowing AI is replaced by humans will all their benefits and drawbacks. You die way more often since your opponents usually aim better, but at the same time you can employ ambush tactics and combat behaviour learned in your military days which work out since you usually won't be seen behind shrubs, trees and walls.
In MSFS, well it's just standard phraseology and the occasional nonstandard comment. Worth the effort? For others yes, for me no.

No comment. . .to each his own Bjoern.

 

[Kiwikat]

To me, this simply isn't worth the effort (install TS, install GameSpy, get a Gamespy account, set up everything, etc...)

In other games, like shooters or strategy titles, you got an entirely different experience in multiplayer

The time it takes to do those things you said is about what it takes to get FSX loaded... maybe even the time it takes to boot your computer if its slow. So the amount of effort and or time is completely irrelevant.

As for the multiplayer experience, I think it is very different from single player. Adding even a little interaction when there used to be none is a big deal imho.

But as falcon said, whatever floats your boat. I know I can't change peoples' minds whom are already set. There do seem to be several people who have responded that may be interested in learning though. Hopefully we can set up a session and we can introduce more people to the multiplayer world.

BTW, Falcon, did you get my PM?

 

[Reddog]

The time it takes to do those things you said is about what it takes to get FSX loaded... maybe even the time it takes to boot your computer if its slow. So the amount of effort and or time is completely irrelevant.

As for the multiplayer experience, I think it is very different from single player. Adding even a little interaction when there used to be none is a big deal imho.

But as falcon said, whatever floats your boat. I know I can't change peoples' minds whom are already set. There do seem to be several people who have responded that may be interested in learning though. Hopefully we can set up a session and we can introduce more people to the multiplayer world.

BTW, Falcon, did you get my PM?

Since i have 2 servers already set up would be willing to use one of them for a session if interested. PM me if u want.

 

[Bjoern]

No comment. . .to each his own Bjoern.

I know. Just wanted to elaborate...a bit more. :d

 

[dswo]

The summer before FSX came out, I flew on VATSIM almost every day; learned a lot. Then FSX came out, sans SquawkBox, and I never got back in the habit. Coordinating timezones and locations is part of the problem; a lot of my flying is for reviews, and if it's a scenery review, my flying is pretty localized.

 

[Z-PurpleBubble]

Just voted

I just voted "never" merely for the fact that online flying is laggy to me... Probably my connection.

I'm also a bit of a solitary person and a very bad pilot.

 

[guzler]

I tried setting up multiplayer following instructions on here some time ago, but got completely lost when trying to understand how to open ports, god knows what else and never did get online. I used to play CFS2 alot online and it was so much simpler then even on dial up !

If it can be made easy, I would have a dabble on multiplayer, but my previous experience put me off even trying again.

 

[guzler]

Part 3, on a roll here, lol

One area that can be a real pain here is if you are running a router. All the ports required by FSX and FSHost to run must be forwarded. If not, then either you'll be kicked off or you'll cause someone else to get kicked. Most admins on a server keep track of this and can usually tell who it is that didn't forward the correct ports, but not always, so look at the brand of router you have and check online to get into your routers setup and forward all the necessary ports. Chances are, if you've never flown MP or it has been a long time since you have and you are using a router this port forwarding will have to be done.

This is where I got lost last time. I really didn't understand what I was doing here.

 

[Meshman]

I voted for Never, as it's been a looonnnngggg time for me. In FS9 I flew online with some friends, one living in Spain at the time. For FSX I use to have Sunday morning flights with a guy from Greece, which allowed for the time differences. He was worried about flying online because of his accent and "almost" 100% understanding/use of English. I just told him to listen to my Greek for a second... <long pause> ... and said if he didn't make fun of my lack of Greek-speak, I wouldn't make fun of his English. We got along well on those Sunday excursions.

When I fly nowadays it's to check out WIP or already made scenery. Some people have some of my stuff, Don or eD wELLES, so if anyone ever wanted a tourist guide I'd be happy to adjust my schedule. Hoping as life settles back down to it's normal, boring ways that opportunities might arise in the future.

But should that day come..., there is a valid reason some of my Spanish-speaking friends call me "Loco Gringo"!

 

[falcon409]

This is where I got lost last time. I really didn't understand what I was doing here.

Yep, I got rid of my router after I dropped one PC from my setup and was glad of that. It took me a bit to figure out the port forwarding as well. One option would be to get Team Speak setup and then get on the TS Server when Dave or one of the other knowledgeable folks are online in the evenings. They could probably walk you through the process and get you setup.:salute:

 

[flyinjake]

Recently

I have started flying on the sim-outhouse server quite frequently. Have noticed some others but other than my Dad I have not flown with anyone else. If people are interested I can be found online and on TeamSpeak3.

The initial setup takes some time but once you have it installed and setup its easy to get on FSHost.

Jake

 

[b52bob]

Don't

limited bandwidth

 

[Ferry_vO]

I use the SOH FsHost quite often, but not as much as I used to fly on the Netwings server. Would love to see more Europeans on the SOH server in the evening though!
Flying hoplists is fun, but it's even more fun when you have someone to chat with.

 

[c87]

I fly about 1 hour max per week, if that, given family and life constraints. The only reason I'd want to fly multiplayer is for formation flying. Flying around with other "live" flyers that are miles away does nothing for me. Given all that, there's no reason for me to do anything other than offline flying.

 

[falcon409]

My first excursion into online "Multiplayer" was with Lago in 2003 I guess and what was true then is still true today: Those who have tried MP flying and enjoyed it, immersed themselves in all the gadgets available be it TeamSpeak, Vatsim, FSHost, Virtual Air Force, Virtual Bush or Virtual whatever have found it rewarding, fun, relaxing, informative and while there may be times that it becomes somewhat boring and they take a hiatus. . .they still return in like numbers and pick up where they left off.

Those who tried it and either found it immediately boring, couldn't connect and got discouraged, didn't have a mic or headset, didn't like having to type in the chat box, didn't have the time, didn't like that animations couldn't be seen or the proper aircraft wasn't visible, lived in the wrong time zone or any number of other reasons for not trying it or staying with it will, for the most part, continue to have those negative reactions to the concept of MP. It's why there were so many who seemed to get excited at the idea of an SOH Flight Server and why so few actually take advantage of it now that it's reality.

Willy and PRB and Taco and several others have "Flight19" which takes off every evening to some far flung destination. Dangerous Dave and a few others are always on the main Hoplist servers most evenings either flying a hoplist or two or doing free flights or setting up a flight plan on the fly and heading out. Plenty of opportunities for folks who would like to get a grasp of what MP is about to ask some experts and join the fun. I'm sure those guys would take a few minutes or the time necessary to get you up and running.

Bottom line is, if you've made up your mind that MP is a waste, nothing we say will probably change that, even though we would disagree wholeheartedly, so it's great that you participated and voted to let kiwikat see the numbers and the reasons.
On the other hand if you're on the fence and just need a little push to come join MP, then by all means, connect on Team Speak sometime and let those guys give you the assistance you need to get you up and flying. The information you need can be found in the Flight Server Forums and you can post questions to Dave and the group there to get on board. Hope to see you soon in the MP skies.:salute:

 

[Kiwikat]

I am kind of surprised this thread popped back into existence!

I've been flying a lot lately at Eagle Valley Air, a bush-flying virtual airline, so I haven't been on the SOH servers as much lately. It is nice to see that there are still a few people enjoying my world hops. I really should spend some more time back on the SOH server...

 

[OleBoy]

My vote. Never/Not enough to mention.

Not that I wouldn't like MP. To me it would a BS session more than flying. Always has, and always did turn out that way. Don't get me wrong, I've spent my fair share of time on teamspeak. And for the most part I enjoy it. We're all here with common interest. The love of flight. Whatever form that may be is the reason we're here. We're all alike, somewhat.
.....Something that always twisted my noodle was the flying...with others. If you didn't have the model they had, they were all a cessna. And, verse-visa. That was the big clincher for me. As I was not going to buy the same aircraft someone else had just to make the experience seem to have more realism. I got my planes that I like already. I know, there's freeware. Some darn nice freeware too. Either way you look at it someone almost always had to submit. That was the case with me anyway.

As for the online virtual flying, that type of stuff is not to my likings. I like to fly in any direction I please and take off whenever I feel.

I think I answered 1, 2 & 3. Though I may have gotten a bit loose lipped. My apology.