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| Microsoft Flight Simulator X Deluxe DVD | 
 enlarge | From: Microsoft
Category: Video Games
List Price: $39.99
Buy New: $24.99
You Save: $15.00 (38%)
New (50) Used (11) from $24.99
Avg. Customer Rating:  281 reviews
Sales Rank: 573
Platform: Windows Xp
ESRB: Everyone
Media: DVD-ROM
Autographed: No
Memorabilia: No
Batteries Included: No
Age: 5 - 20 years
Shipping Weight (lbs): 3
Dimensions (in): 0.1 x 0.1 x 0
nv:Software Type: Games
MPN: 9am-00014
UPC: 882224258043
EAN: 0882224258043
ASIN: B000GCJ6MK
Release Date: October 17, 2006
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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| Customer Reviews:
 FSX On My New Computer -Much Better October 22, 2006
5 out of 5 found this review helpful
The one big gripe I have with this software-Microsoft really should have published REALISTIC system requirements, not "minimums." On my old machine, it ran, but with all settings at zero; it flew OK but looked horrible, and if ANY other task became live on the computer it was brought to a halt (my old rig had 512mb of memory) because it used EVERY BIT of physical memory. So like many of the reviewers here, with much more recent systems than I, I was sorely disappointed.
But, it was time for a new computer, as it's been about 5 years (not just to run flight simulator of course, lol), so I looked at what would be fairly powerful, last me a few years, but would be at reasonably affordable; I selected an Intel Core Duo with a 512mb NVIDIA graphics card.
Running on this machine, FSX is very much improved, but I did have to do some tinkering with the sliders. A lot of people don't like messing with the sliders, but in reality they are a good feature becuase, if you find something is taxing your system (for example AUTOGEN), you can dial that down, and turn something you like, (say, aircraft detail) higher. An important tip: once you do find settings that work, SAVE them. You can save and load profiles now-so if you for example do a lot of bush flying you can turn everything high (the sim seems much smoother where there isn't dense scenery like big cities), and for flying in L.A. or whatever you can make a "BIG CITY" profile and load that.
WHen I first loaded FSX, I was very shocked it set everyhing at lowest again! I got hold of myself and said "no way; with a Core Duo 2gb RAM 512mb Video...better results than this HAVE to be possible--so i set everything all the way to the right, and....it worked...it looks gorgeous now. The only things that give me a performance hit (for some reason) is turning the other traffic on max--so I leave the other air traffic at 50%, and all the ground, sea, etc at 10%. Everything else is maxed out--scenery, aircraft detail, autogen, weather, etc.
For those of you that don't know me I DO NOT COUNT FRAME RATES. I don't know what my frame rate is and I dont care. What I look at is, does it look smooth--does it give the sensation of smooth flight, moving along at the rate it would when, say, you're in an aircraft and look out the window? IF it does so, I'm satisfied, because then I can take off and fly, and land, and it will look right. This is what you should do, turn your frame counter OFF, and "let your eyes decide." It's way less stressful anyway--the point here is to ENJOY the sim :)
I like the new interface a lot-the learning center has been expanded, and working with the options and setting up "free flights" is very easy. The flight planner works as it did in FS2004. The only thing I don't like is the log book is strictly automatic, at least I haven't figured out how to add entries manually. But it does keep track of all your activities, for example if you take a Cessna 172 for a spin, stay in the pattern, and land at the same airport, it will show KTOA to KTOA, with 1 landing, .6 hours (day/night/inst) etc. If you try to take the helicopter lesson and crash 9 times it will show 9 landings, lol. (I still can't fly the copters, but Hawaii looks BEAUTIFUL now). I can get smooth flight with my settings in all areas-even big cities and airports, EXCEPT, for some reason, Las Vegas (Don't know why that is). I live in Southern California, so I can say that the location, and look of the airports-LAX, Torrance, Hawthorne, Santa Monica, Van Nuys, Long Beach, etc, are all right where they should be and look great.
If you have a reasonalby powerful computer, this is a great upgrade to Flight Simulator. If you have an older machine, and it runs FS2004 well, I would recommend staying with that for now till you get new hardware. Many people have invested a lot in add on aircraft and scenery, and not everything works seamelssly with FSX yet, partly because the folders have changed; if you have a big library I would also wait a bit so things can be updated, maybe 6 months or so.
In my opinion (since these are my system specs and it runs fairly well) this is what would probably be the "real life" minimum requirements:
Intel Core Duo 2.3Ghz 1.67GHZ FSB
2GB DDR RAM (667MHZ)
500GB SATA II HDD
NVIDIA 7900GTX 512MB
DELL ULTRA SHARP 20IN DIGITAL MONITOR 1600X1200
I would just like to advise everyone, this is a wonderful program, if only you have the hardware, and /or patience to experiment with it. If you decide to try it, hang in there, try some different settings, and most of all ENJOY the sim--that's what it's there for :)
 Disappointed! October 22, 2006
19 out of 21 found this review helpful
Learn from my $70 "Deluxe" mistake. I have owned all previous microsoft flight simulators and was very eager for this release. I have a new semi-powerful computer (dual-core, high end graphics card, extra memory etc)in which I invested as I anticipated this release. What a waste. Forever to load, extremely low frame rates unless you strip of everything which then makes it look like the first flight similator years ago.
Learn from my mistake, save your money!
 Don't buy unless you own a supercomputer October 22, 2006
14 out of 16 found this review helpful
Enticed by the dazzling new graphics and advertisments, I upgraded to this Flight Simulator X from Flight Simulator 2004. What a mistake. Although the scenary and cockpits look better, the program is jerky and slow. The program takes 10 minutes to boot up and at least 6 minutes to load a flight.
In order to have smooth flight, you have to have the graphic settings on low. And the scenary looks crappy that way. So I'm playing a newer game that looks and feels like an older version. And, yes, I did update my graphix card driver. And this is with a computer that's only a year old!
So, you know all that beautiful new detailed content - all those highly detailed cities and beautiful new lush scenery? Well, you won't be able to see it. Unless you own a supercomputer.
Microsoft should indicate that a new gaming computer is required with this purchase!!
 Requires Very High End Gaming PC October 21, 2006
23 out of 26 found this review helpful
If you have a computer similar to mine you will be satisfied with this new version of FS. Graphics are very good and the virtual cockpit feature is nice. Took about 10 minutes to load both dvd's with no glitches. Nice selection of background music and if you have used ofther FS editions most of the features will be familiar.
With all settings to maximum including filtering and a resolution of 1680 x 1050 I get slow frame rates. I found that turning off the flare and bloom gave me frame rates in excess of 24 fps. Dropping res down to 1440 x 900 yeilded excellent results with frame rates in the 40's. Antiaisling and Tri-linear filtering is the minimum you can run to get decent graphics - anisotrphic setting is preferred.
Geographic accuracy is good, I flew over my neighborhood and some of the key landmarks were visable, such as the little league field and the cell tower up the road. I live in a town tof 100,000.
Flying around Vegas isimilar to what I have seen with FS 2004 with several big add on's. Will be interesting to see what some of the aftermarket software compaines produce for X Deluxe.
Do not purchase this game unless you have a high end gaming computer with dual video cards running sli or crossfire, minimum 2 gig of memory and one of the latest dual core cpu's.
I run AMD 4600+ Dual Core CPU Overclocked to 2.8ghz, 2x Nvidia 7900GTO in SLI mode, 1 Terabyte Striped DASD Sata Drives 3.0 gps, 2Gig Cosair DDR 800mhz. Bus overclocked 5%. 3DMark05 Score 14,000.
its ok but not worth 60.00 October 21, 2006
i have to be honest . first of you needa new computer with massive memory to load this game . i have a dell dimension 3000 bought l;ast year with mssive memory and had to delete seveal files to load this game . also it took about 45 minutes to do the install. the reason i bought the delux version was for the extra planes. it clearly says on the back of the box fly the maute m7-260c super rocket with skis. but i can not find the additional planes in the game. also i called microssoft for the last few days and the wait time they tell me is 1 hour and 45 minutes to pick up the phone. so 2 points wait until this comes down to 20.00 and ALSO MAKE SURE YOU HAVE A NEW COMPUTER WITH MASSIVE MEMORY and save your money the delux version is no bargin. i am addind this to my review i just spoke to microsoft first they have to return my call and the wait is 72 hours , but i did find out that a major issue with the deluxe version is the additional planes that are suppose to be on this version are not here . that totally baffels me as how could microsoft box and market this version if even they say the additional planes are not in the software . now i feel like an idiot paying the additional money for something thats not even here. so wait . dont beleive the ads and hype and wait until both versions come down to 20.00 .
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