Flight Simulator Reviews

So you thinking you want to fly Sparky, but you’re a little timid about what kind of flight simulator you want to start with. The sheer number of choices when it comes to flight sims can be overwhelming. While flight simulator reviews in magazines and on the web may be of help, only through a little investigative work can you really find a flight sim that is right for you.

Don’t get me wrong, flight simulator reviews are a good place to start. But, there is an inherent flaw in them. It is that reviewers typically do not spend extended periods of time with a piece of software. They are on a tight time frame and have to get a review done quickly to move on to the next project. This means that they can sometimes miss major flaws that only seasoned pilots will catch. Flight simulator reviews are but one tool, one point of view to consider. There are other things to look at.

Flight Simulator Reviews Give a Full Picture?

So, if flight simulator reviews do not give you the full picture, what will? As I said before, the pilots that use the software generally have good knowledge of the strengths and weaknesses of a particular program. Starting there is generally a good idea.

Looking online for enthusiast sites based on the flight sim you are considering is a good place to find seasoned pilots for that flight sim.  Talking to one of these pilots one-on-one is best, then you can ask many questions without cluttering the forums.

Ask Questions About Flight Simulators

Ask good questions that pertain to what your interest in the flight sim is based on. A couple of examples could be as follows:  If it is a combat fight sim, ask how many missions does this fight sim have? How does your favorite aircraft handle? Only you can really determine what is important enough for you to ask about.

So, you have everything you need, right? Not a chance Junior. I’m sure you feel after talking to a couple pilots that you know everything you need. What you have now is a couple short sited general views from the flight simulator reviews and someone that loves the flight sim enough to patronize a fan site for it, a fan boy if you will.

Look in Flight Simulator Online Communities

Time to look in one more area before getting down and dirty with what information you  have collected. Look at the community as a whole. How active are the various sites that you visited when looking for pilots to talk to? Are the forums being posted on daily? Weekly? Have they had a post this millennium? Looking at a few fan sites can give a general feel for the activity of the community as a whole.

Alright, now that we have a good set of data it is time to figure out if the flight sim is worth your time and money. Compare what the pilots said and the reviewer said in your flight simulator reviews. Do they share like views? If they both agree in praise on certain key areas that are important to you, it is a good sign for your prospect. But, where do they differ? Did the pilot say he didn’t like something that the reviewer did?

Take a moment to consider why a long time user hates something that the reviewer loved. Does it provide an annoyance after awhile or is it just a difference in opinion? Do you think you would find it annoying after awhile?

Also, when considering opinions do not give the flight sim reviews higher credibility over the pilot, but at the same time do not do the opposite. Both arguments are valid and should be considered equally.

Look at Flight Simulator Review Activity

Finally, consider the recent community activity. If the highest ranked fan sites on your search engine of choice appear to be ghost towns, with only a few hold outs keeping them alive, you may want to find out what happened.

• Did a patch break the sim for awhile?

• Did something better come out?

• Do you mind a flight sim that may be yesterday’s news?

• Are Upgrades to the flight sim program you choose available?

• Are the upgrades Free?

• Are Free upgrades available to you for a Lifetime? Or is there a time limit?

When it comes to checking things out on your own. flight simulators reviews can only take you so far. It is up to each pilot to find what fits their style best.

It takes a strong community to keep a flight sim alive for a long time. Without this support, the lifespan of the flight sim may be greatly decreased leaving you yearning to fly the skies with others far sooner. But, with a little detective work, you will be able to find the right flight simulator for you before spending your hard earned money on sims that don’t fit the bill.

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