There's no waiting involved, really. All of us have one or more sims that we're currently flying, likely happily so. Myself, I have FSX, FSX:SE, P3Dv3, XP and DCS to keep me, er, busy. But that doesn't mean that I'm not looking forward to seeing whatever might be coming on the horizon.
OT: Dovetail to launch two new flight sim titles in 2016
- Thread starter hschuit
- Start date
There's no waiting involved, really. All of us have one or more sims that we're currently flying, likely happily so. Myself, I have FSX, FSX:SE, P3Dv3, XP and DCS to keep me, er, busy. But that doesn't mean that I'm not looking forward to seeing whatever might be coming on the horizon.
Mach3DS
Charter Member
Good point! I suppose if it does t pan out we'll stick with the current.
Not. Based on FSX.
I think it's a great announcement - I applaud the effort they're sinking into it.
Might be a good strategy as well. Release a tightly controlled, fully self contained first version (DTG Flight School), which will serve to not only gain new customers but to test new technologies without the added complexity of dealing with third party addons. Then, once the platform is refined slightly, and they have some experience with how it's being perceived, they release what they are describing as a 'proper' full flight sim (DTG Flight Simulator) complete with, we're presuming, third party support.
The fact that they're releasing two separate, but closely related, flight simulators is going to confuse the heck out of everyone however, and likely make any thread like this a mess as people weigh in on either or both versions!
Not really closely related. One is a Flight School sim, a closed platform, (no 3rd party add-ons) the other is a Flight sim, hopefully with 3rd party add-ons.
Could this be similar to FSX, but with the training missions take out & now a separate program?
Not related in function or purpose, but it's likely that they'll share the same engine. I meant 'closely related' from a technical standpoint. I'm sure they're going to use the experience they gain with their initial release to tune and work with the latter release.
The expected target market for each, and purpose for existing, is clearly far apart.
StormILM
Charter Member
That's the $50,000 question many want to know. I've heard a number of sources note that every addon from FSX would come to a grinding halt in a 64bit version (supposedly due to gauges and a number of other factors) but I've heard others say that's not necessarily the case or at all. I do take note that FSX and P3D are both 32 bit programs which will run fine on a 64bit OS. I do understand the difference, the addons are built/optimized to run inside a 32bit program but I still believe there is likely a logical (and possibly painless way) to migrate. Maybe I'm wrong on my supposition of the latter but I'm sure this is being looked at and worked on from every conceivable angle. With regards to the question of "why not just go ahead and get P3Dv3"?, my biggest ill (as well as many users) is the VAS limitation and other bugs related to memory, etc. I think DFS is going to pretty much cure all the FSX bugs and open a whole new world of capabilities (if I am reading the tech end of all this correctly). I believe both DFS and P3D will end up sharing a number of common elements and this news (regarding DFS being 64bit from the get-go) seems to parallel the word that P3D will get similar 64bit treatment in due course. I don't think any of us will be disappointed in the end product but I do believe the current FSX user migration will be gradual much as it was for many who changed over from a long use of FS9 over to FSX during the last decade.
Firekitten
Charter Member 2016
Lost two generations of developers?
I'm in my late 20s... I consider myself one of those generations.
We are still finding new ways to bring features to fsx and p3d, so its hardly dead, in fact, i'd say its more inovative and creative than ever.
Plus, they make a point of avidly avoiding p3d... dx11... 64 bit....
What if their new flightsim is simply the same line of evolution with an entertainment licence? its clearly been done and thus possible... why work with flight, a broken piece of gosa, when an architectural direction of evolution exists?
I'm in my late 20s... I consider myself one of those generations.
We are still finding new ways to bring features to fsx and p3d, so its hardly dead, in fact, i'd say its more inovative and creative than ever.
Plus, they make a point of avidly avoiding p3d... dx11... 64 bit....
What if their new flightsim is simply the same line of evolution with an entertainment licence? its clearly been done and thus possible... why work with flight, a broken piece of gosa, when an architectural direction of evolution exists?
YoYo
SOH-CM-2023
I hope not only for Windows 10.
https://news.xbox.com/2016/02/11/dovetail-games-flight-school-for-xbox-one-in-april/
https://news.xbox.com/2016/02/11/dovetail-games-flight-school-for-xbox-one-in-april/
SpaceWeevil
SOH-CM-2024
I agree with everything you say about P3D, but at least this holds out the prospect of a new sim / upgrade path for the many FSX users who don't qualify to use P3D. Also, maybe, a way back into flight simulation at home if P3D gets too 'professional' down the line.
StormILM
Charter Member
They stated very early that this will be a Windows 10 only platform and I've seen no revision of that plan to include W7 or W8. My guess is that W10/x64 will allow more room for new features and future expansion.
Naismith
Charter Member
If so, then I think that is me done after 22 years of MSFS. Haven't had any games (I tell a lie, I did reinstall Skyrim) on my PC since the "Great Windows 10 Calamity" of October. Lost all enthusiasm and found other things to amuse me.
bazzar
Charter Member 2018
Not sure what all the fuss is about frankly. There is absolutely no reason on earth why anything in FSX should be compatible, backwards or anything else. There is no reason why existng FSX productions should be made to be compatible. This is a completely new game and should be considered as such. The only assessment you really need to make is whether it is what you'd like to play or not. Like P3D , Xplane, DCS or any other simulator game out there.
Similarly, you want an XBox game, You buy an XBox.
If the operating system has to be W10/64 than so be it. You either go with that or not. Why do we assume these people have to owe us anything? They have supported FSX to give it a future and will increase its potential. They are introducing a new fun "sandbox" training scenario and now released the master plan for a new simulator. Good for them. And good for us...
Similarly, you want an XBox game, You buy an XBox.
If the operating system has to be W10/64 than so be it. You either go with that or not. Why do we assume these people have to owe us anything? They have supported FSX to give it a future and will increase its potential. They are introducing a new fun "sandbox" training scenario and now released the master plan for a new simulator. Good for them. And good for us...
StormILM
Charter Member
Bazzar, I agree with much of what you noted but to point out what DTG noted thus far regarding forward compatibility, unless something has changed (or may change) they did indicate there was going to be some cross-platform compatibility (much as it was with a number of FS9 models porting well into FSX). It's logical to assume that there will be a number of antiquated addons which are probably not going to make the grade but there is very good reason to migrate higher end models & scenery over to the new Sim. Another reason I believe this is that I read what PMDG noted about upgrading their products for a future 64bit version of P3D. I assume that they would not have made that statement (or hint) unless there was something very significant behind it and I'd further assume they wouldn't want to cut short the sale of their existing product line (for FSX and P3D) by not moving them into 64bit versions of both Sims. Of course re-builds/updates for migration is one thing, I agree that the true point of all this will be to also have a brand new starting point (again, much as FSX gave us what we have now compared to FS9).
Naismith, sorry to hear that. I concluded that I'd stay in W7x64 as long as I possibly can as too many folks have lost use of their Sim due to compatibility issues that were not tested thoroughly nor resolved before many jumped on-board W10. I feel certain though that in this case (as has been with P3Dv3), the guys behind DFS will have beaten the dents out of this Sim well before we get our hands on it. From there, we are a community of problem solvers and thinkers and I feel certain we'll be able to deal with issues as we get settled into the new Sim when it comes out.
Naismith, sorry to hear that. I concluded that I'd stay in W7x64 as long as I possibly can as too many folks have lost use of their Sim due to compatibility issues that were not tested thoroughly nor resolved before many jumped on-board W10. I feel certain though that in this case (as has been with P3Dv3), the guys behind DFS will have beaten the dents out of this Sim well before we get our hands on it. From there, we are a community of problem solvers and thinkers and I feel certain we'll be able to deal with issues as we get settled into the new Sim when it comes out.
Last edited:
Firekitten
Charter Member 2016
The Windows 10 screaming amuses me... only flightsimmers seem to be upset, but its actually a great OS. Stable, efficient, fast, and runes P3d and Fsx fine... wazza problem?
Rimshot
Charter Member
Source please. In the official announcement on their website it says: 'Dovetail Games Flight School and Dovetail Games Flight Simulator will both be available on PC'. No mentioning whatsoever of the sims being released exclusively for Window 10 systems.
StormILM
Charter Member
This from DTG's Facebook page dated August 7, 2015:
"Dovetail Games At this moment in time we are only targeting a Windows 10 release and are fully focused on creating the best possible flight simulation we can for the PC platform.Whilst we may look into a console release down the line at the moment our efforts are exclusively PC based."