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I finally got both copies of FSX, the standard and deluxe versions. My key questions wasn't playability, but Multi-player interface, it's ease of use and can you connect to an IP game and/or upgrade it from standard to deluxe.

First, I installed the standard version and chose the 'do not register' option. While exploring the game, I noticed no MP option on the menu. It's only after you put in your serial number and register that MS turns on the option of MP. Once I registered and the MP option was there, I clicked on the link and found out there are 2 options, GameSpy network and LAN. Needless to say, the lack of an IP option was disappointing as CC has met up for an IP game every Sunday for the past several years.

The game MAKES you register at GameSpy in order to do MP and I think that's a mistake on MS' part. I do realize it was easier for MS to let someone else host the MP lobby than to do host it themselves as I'm sure the infrastructure was close to being in place at GameSpy and it wasn't a big leap for GS to get it working. Don't get me wrong, I've been a member of GameSpy for a number of years, but your account there is different than the game account so you'll have to register again requiring another username and pw to write down or remember. Registering the user name and pw took several attempts and kept getting errors and after 20 minutes of scratching my head, it FINALLY worked...

Once you're signed up, the lobby comes up easy enough, it just seems a shame to do an extra step. On the bright side, it'll let us advertise our Sunday game and perhaps get some new members...lol

Upgrading. I was really wondering about the upgrade feature. Can you upgrade from FSX standard to FSX deluxe? Yes, you can! Putting in the Deluxe version gave me the option of upgrading. While the upgrade did seem to hang on Disk 2, it did work. It did require you to use the Deluxe key and wrote over the standard install key.

I'll let you know more as I find out more, but this is a start...:wink:

I can't really see a problem with using GameSpy. Sly and I had a test the other night and the connection was very stable.

The CC server could be set up as it is now with the game published in the GS lobby, the server will still be in control of weather etc.

The main difference between what we do now and what we will need to do is the preparation, the flight/aircraft and time must be set up before joining a MP game as they cannot be changed once in game.

CC flight plans can be loaded prior to a flight as normal.

The direct IP connection in the multiplayer section is for a LAN connection only, it won't connect to the CC server.

I personally believe the benefits of running FSX outway the small inconvenience of using GameSpy.

FWIW it may be worthwhile to keep an eye on what goes on with FSHost and FSX, as an alternative. Check this thread at Chocolate Software:

http://www.chocolatesoftware.com/forum/index.php?topic=546.0

The new multiplayer overhaul is something the FS series has needed for a very long time IMHO and CFS3 definitely showed how archaic the FS series MP options had become. Unfortunately it sounds like many features weren't conisdered. Maybe now that they've broken the eggshell they'll cook the omelette up right in upcoming releases tho....lets hope.


In the meantime, maybe by the time more of us start slow the transition to the next generation, the next FSHost in development will be available and alleviate some teething pain.

Great stuff!

Some more fuel to add...:D

It seems as if after doing some MP testing, we've seen some issues. If you have an addon plane and the host doesn't have it, you won't be allowed to join. This is a bug and I hope MS fixes this.

Also, some players were having problems seeing some animations. For example, if you shut off your engines and restart them again, the other players can't see the prop spin. Others had problems turning off their 'smoke' effects and lockups seem to have been a problem for one person. You won't be allowed to switch planes in MP either. Once you have your plane, you're stuck with it unless you completely get out of the game. Also, if the host shuts down, it boots everyone completely off MP and EVERYONE has to reconnect to GS, then the game once the host gets the game back up.

Frames in MP are in the low double digits for most and I'm thinking with some tweaking, will allow some slower computers to join and the faster computers to get up in the high teens.

Joining on GameSpy has a feel of the "Zone" to some degree and it's nice to see all the games running.

one Swallow doesn't make it summer ........... yet !

- Shadow_Bshwackr

... If you have an addon plane and the host doesn't have it, you won't be allowed to join. ...

Cfs3 heritage? I hope they'll fix this, 'cause I'm positively sure one of the reasons of the ever shrinking Cfs3 community stands in the troublesome handling of the MP platform... I don't think there's any particular need for anti-cheating devices in a civil simulator.


Marco

I agree Marco and Sly and I tested this out more than once to make sure that was the case. I'm not too sure it doesn't have more to do with GameSpy than the game, but I'm not sure.

Also, we didn't try the stock plane with repaints. This may or may not allow you to join and perhaps someone here can clarify. If not, I'll see about trying that next time.

It seems like an issue they would almost certainly have to address. With the number of addon planes numbering in the thousands down the road, as with FS9, you would almost certainly have to have two copies installed, one for MP and one for yourself. Most folks, myself included, download planes all the time, would be a pain to have to match up with everyone else!

Biggest disappointment for me is that it seems you can't have MP missions (as yet)

I have succesfully moved FX files around and now get huge explosions when I drop flour bombs, but it seems that the dropping of objects is part of the mission file.... so as at the moment no B17 raids... yet
It may be possible, its interesting to note that there is a smoke effect attached to the Extra that can be seen by others whereas some planes have no smoke fitted

Thinking about joining a MP game with a unique aircraft... the tests me and bushy carried out weere with the FS9 captSim C130.. this aircraft may not be properly configured to FSX hence the refusal to let me in to Bushy's stock game... Altho I could host a game OK with the C130

Still Looking Sly

I don't think it's a point of matching up as it was in CFS3, you simply can't join a game with an addon plane if the host doesn't have it. If you pick a stock plane and the host has an add-on, it should work fine.

As Sly said, it may be just his plane file aka Capt Sim and not every add on. This is something else to check out.

I also have a bit to add.....Flying single player mode I created a flight. Now I started off with a solid 15 to 17 fps. After about 30 min flight time I dropped to 9 and 13 fps. I do not know if this a cache building up or what but the only way I could get back to 17 fps is to restart. Bare in mind I only have an on board 128mg video setup so I wasn,t expecting any thing fantastic.I run a clean system with 3.0 gz processor, 2 gig of ram I also had a lack of memory shutdown after running HL and FB-PF and MS mess before starting FSX. I assume that the shutdown was due to to much resident memory used up...I rebooted and had no further problems ...Anyway I will be getting my 256 card in by wednesday so I,ll check for improvment.


Rigel

Things are happening fast.....y'all been watching this development???

The 1.0 BETA client is ready to download and allows FSX multiplayer to join FS2004/2002 servers....youse guys what are lucky enough to have FSX installed already could conceivably use it in this coming weekend's Sunday flight alongside the FS2004 fliers!

New forum for it here (read what one user says about FPS in MP with it):
http://www.chocolatesoftware.com/forum/index.php?board=11.0

And the info and download link here:
http://chocolatesoftware.com/fshost/?fshostclient.html

Looks promising !!

Thankx for keeping a watch on it Stoopy !!


fled

Great bit of info and I hope to get some testing done on this asap...