Consideration matters for a change to MSFS2024.

[JG]

The trouble with MSFS and why a transition to 2024 for some of us is not an easy choice are outlined below.
My perception, right or wrong, is that MSFS in its current form is a toy simulator designed to appeal to a large audience of users wanting an entry level experience for the basics of flight and uses gimmicks and striking visuals to make it even more appealing. It is also designed heavily around Xbox consoles which is why it will never be more than a toy while adhering to that model and will never have proper cockpit point of view or multi-monitor  capability. You can read a detailed summary of all the MSFS failings with multi-monitor visuals at the Fly Elise website in the introduction to the step by step setup of MSFS/new in the Immersive LCD Pro product line.
The striking visuals is what makes MSFS so attractive as a scenery generator for PSX users. How to connect a toy simulator to a professional one? There are some clever soles who have already cracked this, and we mortals are very kindly allowed to ride on the back of this innovation gratis (again I say Thanks), but which innovation you choose requires consideration of many variables. One certainty is that if you use MSFS scenery for more than a single screen and want peripheral views and proper pilot POV's, you will need Fly Elise of some other image manipulation platform.
So with an unlimited budget and the space you put in front of your cockpit 3-5 projectors, the same number of PC running their own instance of MSFS and presumably requiring another purchase of the product for each PC; as well as your image software to merge and warp your individual pictures as required. This may require multiple licences of that software for each machine used. Fly Elise is a machine specific licence or a USB key that is needed in each machine used. I guess if you were buying lots of them a deal might be struck?
If you have some money but limited space the projectors immediately become flat screens along the windscreen line. This causes the annoyance of bezels cutting through the images while still requiring the image merging and warping. The logical solution to the bezel problem is to use the virtual cockpit window frames to cover them up to some degree. Trouble is interfacing with a setup designed for projection screens logically removes the virtual cockpit content because you don't want to see it 6 feet in front of the where the windscreen is. Using Wide PSX and MSFS 2020 allows for the window frames to be displayed as well as the rather immersive inclusion of weather effects and windscreen wipers. This is also a considerable enhancement in single screen use and great for multiple monitors as long as your monitors are where the windscreen would be. The virtual cockpit window frames also helps with another major short coming of MSFS, and that is when you move the camera position between Capt and FO sides it will not move the centre line of the scenery like in PSX, it only moves the virtual cockpit! So with no virtual cockpit window frames you have no POV reference. This is another reason Fly Elise or similar is a must. It isn't correct imaging to move the window frames but at least it gives the illusion of which side you're sitting on. Unfortunately, Wide PSX may not, and probably, will not work with MSFS 2024 and has limitations because it is no longer updated and many additional options and add ons have since become available that don't always play with Wide PSX.
So for multi-monitor MSFS scenery applied to a cockpit mockup with full crew seating, be ready to also buy Fly Elise or similar to counter the litany of problems associated with MSFS. Unfortunately, electing the use of a different scenery generator can cause some problems with add on integration as many addons are now only designed to connect to MSFS and this is another consideration to be aware of!
Why is all this becoming a decision required shortly? Well in true Microsoft style one can expect the 2020 platform to become unsupported quite quickly. I'm still trying to decide the best way to go because PSX.NET.WASM is not supporting virtual cockpit components at this time and unfortunately they make a big immersion difference to a multi-flatscreen scenery display for a multi-crew cockpit setup as described above. However, WASM + 2024 seems to quickly be becoming the only game in town and I may have to settle for an alternative look for my sim that isn't as appealing as the one I have now, but it would solve a lot of integration problems I currently have with weather injection etc.
If anyone has any suggestions about some of these considerations, I would truly be delighted to hear and entertain them. Many thanks.
Cheers J.G.

[Gary Oliver]

JG,

What aircraft do you use with WidePSX that has the virtual cockpit?

Send me a link - I might be able to make a very quick bodge to make WASM work with it....and I have a few hours spare this evening to take a look.

Cheers
G

[JG]

Garry,
I'm so sorry, it isn't my intention to pressure you into doing anything about this.....my post is aimed at making our community aware of some of the implications as they progressively add scenery expansion and interactive addons to their setups. As stated before my timeline for transitioning is unimportant.....but hopefully before 2020 is no more.
That said I only ever use the default 748 and its Boeing livery that is standard in the MSFS 2020 aircraft lineup and any help you can provide will be greatly appreciated.
When I'm next in the UK I'm going to look you up and buy you a pint or two!
Cheers, J.G.

[JG]

Garry email link is jg(dot)galbak(at)gmail(dot)com
Have a dropbox too but it's so long since using it I may have to resurrect it.
J.G.

[Gary Oliver]

I did a thing!

https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/4ix9ek61mfyrq9tb7yegr/PSX.NET.MSFS.WASM_V20-OverrideB748.zip?rlkey=ikajyr6hgtyqjvay96iuuhdoq&dl=1

Will override the default Asobo 747-8i with the WASM module.  The passenger version has the full VC cockpit enabled, and the Freighter has everything but the MCP disabled for increased performance.

Not had much chance to test the exterior model in detail but hopefully this helps out JG, Carl and others who want the Virtual Cockpit effects.  Maybe we need to do some work on the lights too but this is all doable now we know how to override default models.

Development time for the evening has run out I am afraid.

Cheers
G

[JG]

Gary, what can we say. You are a star! Can I confirm which flavour of MSFS this should run with, 2020 or 2024. It may be some time before I test this because the plan is to put another MSFS on an entirely new PC and get it all working on the bench before installing in the sim.
Many, many thanks Gary, J.G.
 

[Gary Oliver]

I've tested on 2024, not sure about 2020, however I doubt much has changed between the two, and even if it has we can try the same approach

[JG]

All of this is planned as an upgrade to 2024 and that is the platform I will use on the new PC build with WASM and Fly Elise. Thanks Gary your efforts will have also paved the way to use many of your other spectacular additions to PSX and turn armature hour into something really good.
My armature hour......not PSX!
Cheers, J.G.

[samer747]

Hello,

Is there any other softwares besides Fly-Elise to fix the MSFS2024 scenery geometry on three screens setup. I downloaded Fly-Elise immersive LCD to try it but unfortunately its very complicated and the provided instruction documents are not helpful for a first time user.

Any ideas please on how to correct the scenery ?

Regards,
Sam

[JG]

Hi Sam,
I think fly Elise is the only thing available to use with LCD screens. Most of the software solutions to image warping and merging are designed for projector use in training level sims and have a price tag to match. SimVis TruView is another example of this type of solution.
Unfortunately, by necessity this type of image manipulation is complex and has a resulting degree of difficulty and adjustment in setup.
I have yet to begin this journey, but with Garry's kind assistance for virtual cockpit appearance with WASM, I have a clear path now for trying this out. I am at the hardware building stage at this time....it's pathetic how long you have to wait in this country for a 14th gen i9 CPU and an RTX 5070ti!
I will no doubt post more calls for info and help as I build my new scenery platform with occasional progress reports outlining successes and failures. As I learn more I will post it for the community.
Cheers, J.G.