fsx steam..do we dont we

[sulky_uk]

well i dont know due to the lack of press release and their non talking even to fsx "experts". this is a post i grabbed from froogle, he writes for PC pilot and he loved my Q and A with dovetail.and did his own this week and as i said posted this

OK. So Dovetail have released FSX Steam edition. The entry price for the time being is $4.00. Among the new features are multiplayer support that works (the old one uses Gamespy), and naturally a store and ads for you to spend more money on downloads. The page also contains quotes from the press that relate to the original FSX, not the "new" steam version. Here's the FAQ from Dovetail for existing FSX users. And no, I'm not getting it.Existing FSX Owners, check here first
If I already own FSX should I buy FSX: Steam Edition?
That decision is up to you. Your existing boxed version of FSX will continue to work after the release of FSX: Steam Edition, however future updates will only support the Steam Edition of the simulator. We have made some functional changes to FSX in the development of FSX: Steam Edition, but in terms of content nothing new has been added at this time.
What changes have you made in FSX: Steam Edition from the Microsoft-supplied boxed version of FSX?
This is a re-release of FSX Gold Edition so you should not expect dramatic differences. However, we have updated it to include all standard Steam functionality, we’ve removed CD checking and combined the components of Gold Edition into a single installation. The major change we've made is in replacing the now-defunct GameSpy multiplayer systems with Steam features, enabling multiplayer to work seamlessly once again. Our aim in this first instance has been to ensure that the software will run for as many people as possible rather than radically improving or updating it.
Will there be new content with the initial release?
No, the initial release will only contain the content that was provided with the original FSX GOLD pack which includes Flight Simulator X Deluxe and Acceleration pack, both official Service Packs, with the addition of Steamworks multiplayer
What advantage, if any, is there for existing customers to purchasing FSX: Steam Edition?


First of all, although we know that some people are resistant to digitally distributed software we see many benefits of it, not least of all ease of reinstallation and not having to find keys etc. Secondly we have restored the multiplayer features using Steam capabilities and we have sorted out a number of software problems. However, we do appreciate the current benefits for existing users are modest.

so i will buy it just not install it yet

jessica bannister -pearce (writes for pc pilot also)  also added

It's a trap (insert admiral Akbar meme here). According to a beta testing friend, there's no Fsuipc support!

that means a lot of addons wont work


for the full spiel see here (if you have deathbook)

https://www.facebook.com/Frooglesim?fref=nf


full change log

Microsoft Flight Simulator X: Steam Edition Change Log
The below change log represents the key changes made to FSX: Gold Edition to create FSX: Steam Edition.

General
* FSX: Steam Edition is now built using the VS2013 compiler for better optimisation and performance. (Still makes use of VS2005 libraries for backwards compatibility.)
* Updated splash, launcher and mission preview images for FSX:SE versions.

Multiplayer, networking and communications
* Gamespy networking now replaced by new Steam networking.
* Game chat now integrated with Steam chat
* Friends/Banned lists now integrated with Steam.
* Game invites now use Steam.
* Host networking defaults to a single port 6112.
* Host networking uses 27016 for Steam Master Server Browser.
* Host timeout (loss of connection to host) now 35 seconds by default (was 55).
* "Disconnected" message dialog now retained on screen for 4 mins before automatic dismissal (was 30 secs).

Steam Support
* Top Down Camera (camera view select 4) was previously bound to F12 by default which is normally used for Steam's screenshot feature. Camera View Select 4 now uses Shift+F12 by default to avoid potential clash.

Compatibility with FSX boxed
* FSX and FSX: Steam Edition co-Existence feature allows both versions to be installed on the same machine.

judging by sparkos comment tonight the above is not implemented

Default System-Setting Alterations
* Increased TEXTURE_MAX_LOAD to 4096 up from 1024
* Changed HIGHMEMFIX=1
* Increased Vertex and Index Buffers and the number of buffers.

Bugs Fixed
* Fix to particle emitter controllers which were not being updated properly.
* Fix to flush all levels of detail in terrain cache.
* Fix to Texture Composition preventing fail and crash.
* Fixed issue where player is able to reserve more slots for friends than maximum players allowed in the game.
* Fixed issue where invalid Briefing Room was presented to player when cancelling session creation.
* Fixed issue where weather text in the multiplayer briefing room is partially cut off.
* Fixed issue where no error message appears when attempting to host a session with the network adapter disabled.
* Fixed issue where there is no error message when attempting to host a session with the network cable unplugged.
* Fixed issue where host player is frozen after a collision occurs in multiplayer.
* Fixed issue where client gets dropped from a multiplayer game after they crash into the host.
* Fixed issue where the Host Options in multiplayer/ Free Flight allow a user to have a maximum of 99 player slots.
* UIAutomationCore.dll work-a-round is now supplied by default with FSX:SE. This fixes a number of crashes relating to UI interaction on 64-bit versions of Windows.
* Fixed issue where the application’s taskbar preview window displays no content on Windows 8 and above
* Prevent default colour mode for Windows 7 and above (enable automatic display composition).
* sserife.fon file now automatically supplied and loaded.

[Sparko]

Compatibility with FSX boxed
* FSX and FSX: Steam Edition co-Existence feature allows both versions to be installed on the same machine.

judging by sparkos comment tonight the above is not implemented

It's probably implemented but I received a warning stating that if I continued with the Steam Edition install (as it detected I had the boxed version installed) that it could conflict with any addons I currently have, so for now I hit cancel. I think I will wait and see how the steam version goes in the next month or so.

[OldBloke]

What do they mean when they say 'multiplayer'?

If we all has FSX:Steam would FSHost be redundant?

[sulky_uk]

i think that  is the general theme oldie, looks like it would be a sort of steam host like cs or l4d...i dont know, as people on the facebook forums have said..buy it now as its so cheap, dont install and give it a couple of months..then see what the score is

[albert]

Multiplayer comes in 2 fashions : server based and host join based. I can only see this being the case that we all join the machine of one player which will be a major drain on one guys resources (I can hardly run the game far less host for 5 people). It also means it's not a replacement for GameSpy but a new module entirely.
I would say we still need FS Host but maybe a peer join patch will be released for DVD players so Dovetail don't lose a major part of the community.

Worth buying for the current deal for sure.

[albert]

I decide after that post above to buy the steam version and completely reinstall everything today. Will check the network method and report on addin compatibility.
My frame rate was so bad last night a new install won't hurt!

[vobler]

Just for info.

I got it too. For the price of two dMw LAN pints it was a steal....
I have it on CD's somewhere, but lately I have been doing Xplane as a flight sim.  (Global free scenerys. hint hint)

Will try to get my fav plane, a Carenado Bonanza F33/V35 for it during Christmas.

[jarlev]

Just for info.

I got it too. For the price of two dMw LAN pints it was a steal....
I have it on CD's somewhere, but lately I have been doing Xplane as a flight sim.  (Global free scenerys. hint hint)

Will try to get my fav plane, a Carenado Bonanza F33/V35 for it during Christmas.

So did I  !!!

[vobler]

So did I  !!!

Bra Jarle! Well done!

This is a guy I asked to come one here. We have done some Xplane flying together.

[TeaLeaf]

So did I  !!!

Welcome to the forums Jarlev!   See you online sometime, if my FSX ever stops crashing on me.

[Sparko]

So did I  !!!

Welcome to the forums jarlev.  hope to see you online some time.  if you have any questions or anything don't hesitate to ask

[smilodon]

I grabbed it on Steam as well.

[albert]

FSX Steam re install completed. All Orbx and Aircraft mods installed, they all went into the right folders except a few aircraft patches that wanted to go into the default C drive location so watch out for patch location settings. I must say 10x faster than my previous install. I am getting as high a frame rate as last night with 100% everything graphics and effects wise, drop it to a sensible level I get 100fps now.

FSHost worked fine and I connected to Steam and could see 20 or so servers running, so well worth the upgrade for me.

[Sparko]

That's great news, cheers Albert think I'll do a fresh install this weekend at some point :thumb:

[TeaLeaf]

Had another FSX crash just now so I'm installing the Steam version.   I'd done a 90 minute flight and was on final approach and just started to flair for touchdown when........crash goes the program at about 20ft off the deck :angry:

Do I need to uninstall the main FSX version or do they co-exist happily?