PC Flight Simulators

[Justin]

So, Dad mentions to Mum that he'd really like a flight sim like such and such used to have years and years ago.

Mum says to me, where can I get one for Dad for Xmas?

Eeek! I said! Things have moved on a bit since ZX days I know his PC is excellent (I built it!) but it isn't intended for games especially the latest flight sim!!!

A blokey at work is into MS flight sim, built himself a cockpit and runs more cpus/gpus and memory than NASA and Justin Biebers fan club member database combined.

So, my question is this......is there a more basic flight sim that may quench the old mans thirst to fly? Or should we start to save for a new PC Or......buy him something completely different and forget the idea! Even if his PC ran the flight sim at its lowest level, I know he'd want to do more and more with it so I might be on a hiding to nothing!

PS This guy at work flew to Mexico last week.....real time! We reckon his missus serves him tea on a little tray as well

[bigj2552]

how old and what spec is the pc ?

i used to run ms fight sim 2002 on an athlon SINGLE CORE ..machine, but not with everything up to max- say about 3/4 up.....and that was online MP to.

[Justin]

Only about a year back but I put it together fairly cheap, prob. dual core. I'm sure it would run stripped down but you know how it is....you just keep wanting more

[bigj2552]

word of warning about this game - IT HIGHLY ADDICTIVE ..... especially if you want to learn it properly - controls and real time flights......jeez i use to spend 6/7 hrs on multi player with other guys flying abroad from Glasgow airport.....auto pilot to make the tea lol

you can get a resonable set up for about £500....yolk, throttle controls, pedals ect....

you can also get the instruments if you fancy building him a simple small cockpit....

it is a money pit justin - but depends on how far you want the realism .....but bloody great if your into that kind of thing.
only wished i had another spare room...

[WorthDoingRight]

These days most PCs you build feature at least some kind of dual core processor or better and 4GB of ram. The only item that is often below par is the graphics card and the PSU to run it. I would find out what the specification is for running FSX (Microsoft Flight Simulator 10) and see if you can get your dad's PC up to this level.

[Justin]

Cheers guys. Yeah, I can upgrade it easily enough....but like you say, very addictive and where will it end? lol

Will check out the required specs.

[Justin]

Minimum specs are very low, I guess this would be without bells and whistles. Might download the trial and have a play....oh dear here we go.

[GoldRapt]

Have a look at the Helecopter training sim for RC Helicopters, might suit your pc and would scratch an itch maybe.

[bigj2552]

and get a force feedback joystick bud to start with....way better

[Craig]

I second what bigj says force feedback is the way to go I have 1 with my racing setup which is prob a bit excessive seat and all lol but it does make the game alot better