872: FS2024 Sim Update 1 Public Beta

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

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

Suggested optimizations Continue reading

870: Scale Down FS2024 UI Font Sizes

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

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

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

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

864: Using FS2020 Addons in FS2024

FS2024 allows the use of FS2020 addons.   But we have to enable them manually in My Library.  Otherwise, they won’t show up.
FS2020_Enable
This applies to third-party addons, such as aircraft, scenery, etc., we purchased from Steam or MS Store directly, as long as they are compatible and available.

Addons purchased from other stores Continue reading

863: Using FS2020 Keyboard in FS2024

In FS2024, there’s not only coming with a keyboard file structure very different from the one in FS2020, many of its commands and hotkeys are different, too.

I must say re-adapting to the new keyboard usages is one of the greatest annoyances I don’t want to deal with.

Fortunately, Asobo is considered enough to include an FS2020-style keybaord set to make my life easier, even though it is not 100% compatible due to new features and functions added to the simulator.FS2020_KB01
What I do is to Continue reading

862: You’ll get happier when treating FS2024 as a new product

No doubt, FS2024 still has many bugs to fix.  But after launched for nearly a month with two little updates so far, I have to say that it’s now more playable.
FS2024_Impression2_resizeUnlike its predecessors, many components in FS2024, such as aircraft, are stored on the Asobo server and will only be streamed to clients (our computers) when it is run.

In a way, this harms the flexibility of user customizations.  But on the bright side, there might be many un-announced fixings going on in the backend.

I suspect that’s the reason why I got an impression that this simulator is getting better everyday — not somethings concrete but bits and pieces here and there.

I might be wrong, of course.

Anyway, if you are thinking of when to get the FS2024, it is time IMO.

But keep in mind Continue reading