Classic British Flight Sim

Still distorted in windowed mode and no anti alia when it's in that mode

I don't see real life through a long box...

Garry

No AA problems in FSX in Windowed mode

I have a widescreen laptop and hate it to I just cannot stand stretched dials etc. however somewhere in the vid card settings somewhere i can set it so that programmes such as FS will stay at its set resolution. it leaves me with black edges down either side of the screen but at least it doesn't get stretched.

Richard

A couple of points about widescreen. That screenshot was taken from my old laptop which isn't quite so extreme, but my new one has a resolution of 1366 x 768 and the distortion of the dials would drive some of you apoplectic!

BUT ... the field of vision of the average human is 180-200 degrees horizontally and 90 degrees vertically which gives a ratio similar to that of my screen dimensions. The widescreen format was introduced and has become popular because it gives a viewing angle closer to that seen in real life. So in situations where it's intended that the viewer is immersed in a real-life situation (movies, first person gaming) the 16:9 aspect ratio is more natural than the 4:3.

As far as FS9 is concerned, the impression that I get when seated on the virtual flight deck is much more realistic and panoramic with a wide screen. It is a more believable, natural, panoramic view. The problem here, of course, is not the wide screen view, it is the fact that FS9 was written for the squarer screen and when stretched across a wide view is distorted. So the problem lies in the fact that FS9 is an old program that is showing it's age against newer technology. So the compromise causes a slightly unrealistic result.

On the other hand, I consider the 4:3 aspect ratio equally unrealistic because it doesn't represent the natural human field of forward view. It only shows about 90 degrees (half) of forward vision. So the impression is of sitting on a flight deck wearing blinkers which cut out your peripheral vision. You don't get distorted dials but you also don't get the spatial effect of sitting on a flight deck. I find it as unacceptable as some of you find the distortion of dials.

Neither is ideal and there is no solution as FS9 can't be adapted to wide screen. I imagine FSX users don't suffer so much from this effect and if my preferred aircraft worked as well in FSX as they do in FS9, I'd change immediately.

Meanwhile, I'll just try to remember not to post any screenshots of 2D cockpit views to avoid the usual derogatory comments. The choice of two unrealistic views is caused, not by me, but by the limitations of FS9. I prefer my own choice to the other but I don't consider it superior because neither are ideal.

Ian

Hi,

Ref the 2D widescreen 'stretch' its not the fault of the monitor it's the fact that developers aren't keeping up with the times. I would hazard a guess that there are probably more flight simmers using widescreens than conventional 4:3 sized screens. Developers need to take this onboard and consider creating an alternative bitmap/panel.cfg to cater for them.

Regards

John

Well as I now own a 22" monitor I must admit to being hooked on widescreen in FS9 (I don't use FSX its gone off my system and gone from my house)
The 2D panels are slightly stretched but to be homest not bad at all, the extra view is stunning much better and heaven forbid its great in VC mode...Oh no....what am I saying
Once I get my 8800GFX card I will really be rocking on jet A1

When my old CRT monitor packed up, I went looking for a square screen monitor to replace it. I found only one and purchased it - some brand I had never heard of. I quickly returned it because it all sorts of problems switching resolutions and it refused to recognize the digital input cable. I purchased a wide screen Samsung and for a long time ran FS in the old resolution with the black borders. Then I decided to try the widescreen native resolution and barely noticed the distortion on gauges so I left it that way. Now I don't notice the slight distortion of round gauges but the effect of a more panoramic display is something I love.

Nigel²

I have the Samsung one T220 its superb and much better than the ACer 22" I tried out. I agree re resolution, I run FS9 at the monitors native resolution and its great. I will have to up the video card though as the 8600GTS is great at 1280x1020 or similar ! but struggles on the higher res.

DaveB wrote: In FS9, the VC is part of the model...

speedbird591 wrote: The developers have stated categorically that there will be no FSX version and no VC. Quite right, too

Hi Dave, hi Ian,

sorry - but I'm pretty confused now...

I'll ask right away:
Is there an 737-200 with a good virtual cockpit around somewhere?
Is it part of the Tinmouse model?

I'd be the 1st downloading it...

Thanks in advance for a quick note...

Best wishes,

Nick

I note that the Dreamfleet Piper Dakota comes with Panel.cfg files for 1024, 1280 and 1680, but I've only used the 1024 4:3 panel. Anyway, I rather think that Dreamfleet is dead