Graphics question

[ConLog]

General question but how is it that the graphics in HAWX look so much better and run so much faster than Flight Simulator X?

The cities look amazing in HAWX.

Do Microsoft programmers not know what they are doing?

[David M]

Its a different game engine. A game engine is the computer code used to create the images. Ubisoft Entertainment uses a different engine than Microsoft. One game engine is not necessarily better than any other. It largely depends on the application, the hardware and OS used to run that application.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Game_engine

I have a question for you. Can HAWX be used with a mouse, or is a joystick a must? I understand joysticks are much better but can it still be mouse driven?

I plan on getting the game after they drop the price.

Edit: Hey I just noticed Steam has a free demo of this game. I will try that with a mouse.

[ConLog]

Yes I was about to say to you to try the demo - that's what I'm doing.

As for my original question - thanks for the information but why do Microsoft use an engine that needs an extremely powerful PC to work properly?

You'll see from the city scapes in HAWX that UBISOFTs game graphics engine is excellent.

[liambl]

FSX is quite an old game, so the comparison isn't really fair.

[David M]

Originally Posted by ConLog As for my original question - thanks for the information but why do Microsoft use an engine that needs an extremely powerful PC to work properly?

Its like anything else, things get better with time as new technologies are developed. As liambl says, the Microsoft game engine for Flight Simulator is older technology.