Microsoft ACES Closing Down?

[N242AM]

Thank you for your concern Mr. Olieman.

First, what does knowing someone's name and location have to do with the current flight simulator situation? Does a name and location reflect in the way you or anyone else would respond?

Secondly, maybe I read the forum description incorrectly, "Pilot's Lounge - Let Your Hair Down"? I believe I did that! I wrote what I felt regarding the closure of ACES. Did I do something wrong?

I do understand your concern as a provider of flight simulation news and information. The closure of ACES has added to the uncertainty of the future of, at least, a Microsoft PC based Flight Simulator. And yes, I do realize that FS9 and FSX still work and will in the future.

In the past few days I have read many reports in a forgotten number of forum posts and blogs. Possibly you have information that other do not, but from what I have read, the future is NOT as positive as you portray or as written in the latest Microsoft press release.

Obviously, I am not as optomistic as you for a future "PC" based flight simulator other than the current MSFS and X-Plane.

Finally, if you feel I am in some way harming your site, them please delete (censor) my ability to post here.

N242AM

[Jackpilot]

Just a few thoughts for cockpit builders:

How really different is the situation for us, before the announcement and after?

What was MS bringing to our cockpits, or doing for us, besides correcting a few bugs just after a release and pumping out a new version every few years.?

Today's cockpits with all their bells and whistles exist, not because of MS, but because of people like Pete, Enrico and all the newcomers(Software and Hardware) who had a vision and the genius to make happen. And these people are still around, as are all our favorite hardware manufacturers.

My opinion is that, contrary to previous versions, we have reached a very high plateau with FS9 and even more with FSX (most obvious bugs have been corrected ), and we have more on the plate than most of us can digest if we want to fully implement the capabilities of these two software, with the help of all the good people that made this hobby being what it is. I do not think that a lot of us have reached the point where they have a perfectly working Sim and no more challenges within the capabilities of both versions
And even then....it would be ideal to be able to spend 100% time TO FLY the darn thing...

Because FLYING it is what it was all about. For me at least, and a few others I know.

And I agree with Matt, Maurice, John and others that predicting the future on the basis of present facts is like flying IFR without a ticket..

I am not against innovation and new technologies, I just think that it can be good to have less pressure from the Rat Race and will fully enjoy the opportunity to be able to catch up with what I have on my workbench and in my dreams.

[JBaymore]

Possibly you have information that other do not, but from what I have read, the future is NOT as positive as you portray or as written in the latest Microsoft press release.

N242AM,

It depends a lot on whether you tend to see a glass as half full or half empty.

Personally, I've found that my version of fs2004 is serving me quite nicely both before and after the ACES layoffs. I have not noticed any sudden performance changes nor stutters nor missing data. So ..........

The future is what you make of it. I've lots of work still to do on the pit. It just gets better and better to use. There are tons of addons to the sim software I still want to try. The fs2004 stuff (freeware and payware) just keeps coming.

And for me........ eventually there is still the FSX nut to crack. Bringing that up to its full potential (no one has SEEN that yet) will then "up" the whole thing sometime in the future for me (and many others). There are YEARS of fun still ahead.

I stand by my earlier posting in this thread on this whole subject. MS weill be back with a new flight sim. There's money to be made. That is what Microsoft does best.

And as to using people's names and knowing a bit about them......... it kinda' is a nice touch of common courtesy. Makes the place friendlier.


best,

.....................john

[tasmanet]

Hi all

N242AM why don't you put your first name and at least State/County/Area and Country ???

Matt why do we allow people on this forum who don't do the above. ???
I know they can fib anyway but there must be a simple way around this.

Maybe someone should point out in all of the FS forum's that FSX will
remain on sale.

Maybe M$ could release a Ultimate Final Version with all the updates
and add ons on one set of disks ???


Steve

[fweinrebe]

FSX and FS2004 is mature enough for the time being. So the (temporary) closure of ACES MSFS is not a real problem.

In the end if you think about it, MSFS is the strong foundation on which everything else was build. That foundation is standing strong and will be standing strong until the time is right to design a new foundation.

But now is the time of the add-on developers. And they should listen to their clients. The 3rd party add-on developers should now look at developing even better products for MSFS. They should also invest in development of aircraft systems with offsets that is accessible through FSPUIC. That is something that can be improved and Microsoft is not needed for this improvement. At least for the time being.

Of course there is X-Plane and FlightGear to consider.

That's my 1c worth. (I had to cut a bit so I can't offer 2c. Saving a bit until better economic days )

[N242AM]

Please read this second article by Phil Taylor.

http://www.futuregpu.org/2009/01/end...links-and.html

Take note of his comment about several FS11 team members approaching Microsoft about buying it for development. Microsoft refused. Also note the comment about the code becomming stagnent the longer it sits undeveloped.

We are not talking about replacing the checkout people at the local food store. Any new flight simulator untaking will require serveral years and who knows how much money. Who wants to work for free for several years and not know if their product will be purchased?

If a new sim is developed, will you dump all that you have now for the new one?

What we have available now for MSFS is in part due to the predictable and mostly compatible chain of updates to MSFS. That drove the add-on developers. Some provided updates at no cost (thank you) while others charged to update their product to the current MSFS version (completely understandable).

That process has now stopped. Would you still be as content if all you had was MSFS 95 or 98?

Label me a pessimist if you like for I do not see the future as rosy as some.

[super80]

I am frankly not all that concerned about this, although I feel sorry for anyone who loses their job. I was there back in 2001 and it sucks..

As far as FS, it's not going to affect us as cockpit builders all that much. For those of us that have been inside real level-D commercial simulators, most will attest that the quality of the graphics are not all that special. In fact, FS9 with scenery add-ons looks better than most commercial sim graphics.

So why are some of you so negative about this situation? It's not like we are being forced to burn down our projects. Look how far this hobby has come in just 5 years. It's remarkable really. There are some home pits out here that look exactly like the real thing, and with functioning systems logic to boot. A real step forward I must say. Let's focus for a bit on the progress we've made, as opposed to this small step back.

[mauriceb]

Would you still be as content if all you had was MSFS 95 or 98?

No, or course not. We all prefer light bulbs to candles to light up our lives, but that's because we know light bulbs exist. I'm sure Neanderthals would have been thrilled to have candles and would have never wished for light bulbs.

FS9 & FSX are in a different league altogether than FS95 or 98. There are tons of ways to further improve the latest FS versions, with or without Microsoft. Progress can be made in almost all areas without MS developers. MS provided the turkey and developers provided all the trimmings.

Just imagine...FSX with worldwide photo-realistic scenery (already possible), 270 degrees visuals (possible but will be much better with faster PC hardware), full motion software interface for FS* (if not already possible, can be developed by non MS developers), better flight models than default aircrafts (already available).

Basically, MS developers are not absolutely needed for any of the above. What is needed however are enough people who can afford & want the upgrades to make it worthwhile for developers & suppliers.

Ultimately, the limit will not be set by Microsoft or X-plane, or ???. The limit will be set by how much money you have to spend for a flight simulator, and if money is no object, then a nice full motion CAE simulator is already available for a mere few millions

Maurice

[Paul Thomas]

Bad news from Microsoft, but I'm sure this won't be the end for us flightsimmers. I'm convinced something good is going to happen either way. The simmarket with it's dedicated simmers is far to big just to stop.
Regard Paul

[project 727]

A Warm Hello to All on behalf of the PROJECT 727 TEAM,

For now, at least, it is quite clear to all of us that we must all hold on tight to and preserve our favorite version of FS to be able to enjoy our great hobby.

That being said can anyone tell us, or me at least, which is the best way to preserve our FS CD's or DVDs ? Is there any special precautions to take so that the disk itself will not decay any time soon?

Would hate to purchase a new computer 2-3 years from now and not be able to install FS9 on it due to a corrupted file on the disk when all that time the disk was in its case on my shelf.

I do not know much about CD or DVD technology. Perhaps the answer is simple and and full of common sense. Its just that we love this hobby so much that we just want to make sure we are not missing out on something we should know about disk preservation.

Any knowledge shared on this topic would be appreciated
Thanks to all
Joe Maldonado
PROJECT 727
www.xsn.net/project727