Flight simulator 2002

[bertoro]

My ten year old son has asked if he can have flight sim 2002 for xmas. How difficult is it to use? Is it suitable for him?Can anyone recommend an alternative?

apprieciate any help .

THANKS

[Fuze]

It is a flight simulator... it's not run and gun action all the time. To tell you the truth, knowing when I was 10.... I would have gotten bored with it quick/not have had the patience. However, I don't know your son. Another alternative to that game is "Strike Fighters" similar. I think it has more action than flight sim, but still not to amazing at your heels levels.

[Amspete]

Whether your 10 year old can use it or not kind of depends on him. If he's the type of guy who sincerely loves aviation, then he will stick with it and spend time learning it. If it's just a passing phase, then he'll probably get frustrated early on and end up using the box for a paper weight. FS2002 is a very detailed Simulation, it's really not a game in the sense of PC or console gaming. It can be "dumbed down" so you can jump right in a Cessna and take off, but in my opinion, the true enjoyment comes from exploring and learning proper procedures and techniques of aviation. Mind you, I'm also 42 and have done some actual flying. So, to summarize, if he has a real love for aviation, then that desire will cause him to stick with it and learn it. Otherwise, it will probably get frustrating and boring rather quickly. This is one piece of software that just isn't really a toy. Just my humble opinion, hope it helps.

[Alienware_Dude]

It also is a video-card hog, and runs bad and looks worse on my system(see sig). Make sure you have the system to run it.....

[Fastfly]

Why you scaring him Alienware dude.



I ran it on a 900mhz 256meg ram and 16meg TNT2. Ran great

ON my computer sig. max out at 16000x1200x32 I get 30-40FPS.


It is a great simulater.


With its built in learn to flylessons. Anyone can fly.

IF your son is like me at that age. He will love X-plane. x-plane.com

It doesnt have the graphics that FS2002 has but it sure is realistic.


I wish you son continues with his aviation phase. Its great!

I mean I am only 15 and my sights have been set on aviation since I was 10.

[RJ]

Depends. The smaller planes are good to use, but the larger ones, well:
Boeing 737: The cockpit is done well, but the thrust levers are in an extra window, which is very unpractical. It was better in Win98.
Boeing 747: Very poor realized. Instruments look ugly and the "refresh rate" of the instruments is way to low. Also the thrust lever is extra.
Boeing 777: Better than the 747, but also unpractical when it comes to the thrust levers.
That was better in FS98, they changed it in FS2000.

The smaller airplanes have their throttle in the main window, that makes it easier and more realistic to control.
But for VFR flights there is not enough detail unless you purchase extra sceneries. Depends on the location, though. For IFR it is very good to use, the radio beacons are very complete.
The weather effects are also nice.

And is isn't a real video card hog. FS2000 was. FS2000 ran very slow on my system, it was very boring coz FS2000 needed much time to load etc. FS2002 is way better in terms of performance.

RJ

[bertoro]

Thanks for your help folks. I have down loaded demo from x-plane.

My son loves it.Hes now more determined to have a flight simulator.I dont suppose there is a demo for FS2002 or other flight sims?We need to try before we buy.Some of them are quite expensive.

Thanks again for your help.