MSFS2024

876: Single-needle VOR2 for C172 in FS2024

| Tom Tsui

The VOR1 and VOR2 on the C172 were initially different as shown in the image below when FS2020 was launched.

After 18 months or so, the VOR2 had changed to adapt an identical layout of the VOR1, making both gauges look the same.

Now in the new FS2024, the VOR2 on the C172 Basic models has reverted back to use the single-needle version again. Not sure if the instrument is going to follow the path of its bigger brother to become identical to VOR1 in the future or not.

Some MSFS C172 gauge users emailed me not long ago if I could re-develop the single-needle C172 VOR2 for FS2024.

Frankly, I don’t have an answer since FS2024 is still buggy and prone to changes.

However, Continue reading →

875: DXGI_ERROR_DEVICE_HUNG error

| Tom Tsui

Still full of frustration when playing the buggy FS2024.

About a month ago, I started getting the DXGI_ERROR_DEVICE_HUNG (0x887a0006) error when loading some airports I frequently visited in the past.
The notorious error was reported by many players.  Although there are many suggestions for the issue, such as changing the values of some specific registries, etc, none of them helps in my case.

What I am doing now to Continue reading →

874: Stream Deck Profiles for FS2020 & FS2024

| Tom Tsui

Despite the differences between FS2020 and FS2024, I am currently using the same profile set of my Stream Deck XL for both simulators.

From the Stream Deck profiles I was describing in Post 846, I set to load a home page called MSFS_INFO_C172 automatically when FS2020 is run.

In order to load the same profile set for FS2024, what I did was to duplicate the same home page and rename it as MSFS_INFO_C172_FS2024, and then assoicate the new page with FlightSimulator2024.exe. 
Now, Continue reading →

872: FS2024 Sim Update 1 Public Beta

| Tom Tsui

Microsoft has released Sim Update 1 Public Beta Test.  Anyone interested could join to test it according to instructions here.

Don’t see any difference in performance compared to the official version.  However, there are some changes in the settings and streamed contents of the beta version.   Also some fixes seem not working as stated, such as infrequent CTD during exit to Stream, etc.

Anyway, worth a try since Continue reading →

871: FS2024 Graphics Optimization

| Tom Tsui

Found two videos on YouTube comparing results among different graphics settings.

Suggested optimizations Continue reading →

870: Scale Down FS2024 UI Font Sizes

| Tom Tsui

UI fonts in FS2024 are undesirably big, especially on smaller monitors.  A new free addon “MSFS2024: Inteface Scale Option” by Cygnific on flightsim.to allows users to scale down the fonts effectively.
InterfaceScaleOption
A very useful tool Continue reading →

869: FS2024 Control Commands Hotkeys

| Tom Tsui

The file structure of Keyboard Control Commands in FS2024 is different from its predecessors.  It is divided into two categories — the Airplane Controls Group and the General Controls Group.  Hotkeys assigned to each group comes with an FS2020 version too, which allows users to choose  either one or customize a combination they are familiar with according to their practices.

For quick reference, I compiled two tables showing all the Hotkeys for the two Control Command Groups, with their FS2020 equivalents listed next to them:

FS2024_Hotkeys_AirplaneFS2024_Hotkeys_General
You can download Continue reading →

868: Command to Toggle ATC Panel in FS2024

| Tom Tsui

One of the many confusions FS2024 brought to me, as a long-time flightsim user, is the changing of many widely used FSX/P3D/FS2020 hotkeys and commands.

For example the Toggle ATC Panel action, it took me a while to figure out that I need to change to use the new “Open Communications Panel” command instead of FS2024_ATC_Panelthe previous “Display ATC”.   Because the latter now can only open the panel but not close it.

Similarly bad, due to the minimum size of the UI texts used in FS2024 is still relatively big and the ATC panel is unable to resize vertically, only four choices can now be listed.

In other words, we are forced to use the mouse to scroll forward and backward on the narrow scroll-bar many times if we want to see all the options available.

This is awfully clumsy and not user-friendly at all, not even to the X-Box platform.

I know complaining won’t help change what has happened. Continue reading →

867: FS2020 is still my Preferred Choice

| Tom Tsui

No doubt, FS2024 has nicer terrain presentations, more realistic flight dynamics, and smoother performances under lower fps, in addition to many new features and improvements brought to the game over FS2020.

However, its user-interface and game management are more inclined to the X-box side.   For example, the ATC panel I use a lot in FS2020 is now nearly unuseable — texts are big, number of options displayed are limited, panel frame is not resizable.  The worst, it can only be closed by the mouse.

I’ve been trying to play FS2024 as much as possible these days, hoping that I could get used to its awkwardness as soon as possible.   Unfortunately, I found the more I play it, the more I resist it.

I can’t help going back to FS2020 for comfortable flights.

I know FS2024 will get mature someday but if you are happy with FS2020 now, there’s really no need rushing to FS2024 at all.  Wait for at least 3 more months to see what it improves.  Continue reading →