FSX - what is the difference between all the versions?

[Martin S.]

I have a free partition of 85 GBs on my FS PC just begging to have FSX
installed on it. I'd like to have FSX without giving up my FS9
installation. I gather that the two install into the same instance of
XP with no clashes or other problems?

But can someone kindly explain what you get in each pack? As far as I
can see (Amazon.co.uk) there is:

Microsoft Flight Simulator X
Flight Simulator X - Professional Edition
Flight Simulator X: Deluxe Edition
Flight Simulator X - Gold Edition

As well as:

Flight Simulator X - Acceleration Expansion Pack

What do you get/not get in all these differnt versions? And I would
need Service Pack 2 with all these I assume??

Thanks!

Martin S.
(Hampshire, U.K.)

[Brett I. Holcomb]

Pro is the lower end - missing some aircraft, doesn't have the SDK,
other features missing. I wouldn't consider it.

Deluxe - full version, adventures, SDK, more planes.

Gold - combines Deluxe and the Accelleration pack. The Acell pack
included SP2, additional aircraft (carrier jets), missions, and
additional functions available on the aircraft. I'd get this one as
the price between Deluxe and Gold isn't that much in the places I've
seen it.

Post by Martin S.
I have a free partition of 85 GBs on my FS PC just begging to have FSX
installed on it. I'd like to have FSX without giving up my FS9
installation. I gather that the two install into the same instance of
XP with no clashes or other problems?
But can someone kindly explain what you get in each pack? As far as I
Microsoft Flight Simulator X
Flight Simulator X - Professional Edition
Flight Simulator X: Deluxe Edition
Flight Simulator X - Gold Edition
Flight Simulator X - Acceleration Expansion Pack
What do you get/not get in all these differnt versions? And I would
need Service Pack 2 with all these I assume??
Thanks!
Martin S.
(Hampshire, U.K.)

[Martin S.]

Thanks!

Martin S.
(Hampshire, U.K.)

[Brett I. Holcomb]

You're welcome.

Post by Martin S.
Thanks!
Martin S.
(Hampshire, U.K.)

[Danny]

You should have no problems or conflicts with both Sims installed, Martin. I
have them both
on my laptop with Vista home premium. Each is on a separate partition, just
as you are planning.
It is quite easy to copy and paste planes and gauges, effect, etc from FS9
to FS10 if you have a favorite
FS9 plane(s).

SP2 is included on the Acceleration disk if you choose to purchase that
Addon. Or it is available
from MS website if you do not purchase Acceleration right away.
Danny

Post by Martin S.
I have a free partition of 85 GBs on my FS PC just begging to have FSX
installed on it. I'd like to have FSX without giving up my FS9
installation. I gather that the two install into the same instance of
XP with no clashes or other problems?
But can someone kindly explain what you get in each pack? As far as I
Microsoft Flight Simulator X
Flight Simulator X - Professional Edition
Flight Simulator X: Deluxe Edition
Flight Simulator X - Gold Edition
Flight Simulator X - Acceleration Expansion Pack
What do you get/not get in all these differnt versions? And I would
need Service Pack 2 with all these I assume??
Thanks!
Martin S.
(Hampshire, U.K.)

[Martin S.]

Hi Danny,

It seems if I get the Gold version I get all I need, right?

Do FS9 planes work in FSX then? All? Or just some? Maybe the default
FS9 planes work in FSX (?) but surely not my FS9 Level-D, PMDG etc.?!

Martin S.
(Hampshire, U.K.)

[Moke Gibboni]

I would recommend also 'ActiveSky', which is a wondeful piece of software
that recreates very closely the actual weather/clouds that are in the area
that you are flying in at the time. Makes a huge difference to the realism
of the flight sim.

Also, once you've experienced FSX, I think you'll soon move away from FS9
very quickly.


Moke G.


'the best person to run a country is the person who doesn't want the job.'

Post by Martin S.
Hi Danny,
It seems if I get the Gold version I get all I need, right?
Do FS9 planes work in FSX then? All? Or just some? Maybe the default
FS9 planes work in FSX (?) but surely not my FS9 Level-D, PMDG etc.?!
Martin S.
(Hampshire, U.K.)

[Brett I. Holcomb]

Yes. Get Gold.

You can have FS9 and FSX installed at the same time - I do.

As for aircraft that depends. Just try it and see. I recommend
checking for an FSX version as that will have enhancements and
updates. If not try the FS9 version. Generally works. Where you get
into trouble is an aircraft that was 2002, updated miminually to 2004
and then to FSX. You start to see issues with them.

Check with the vendor for the Level-D, PMDG, etc. They will let you
know and may have updates.

Post by Martin S.
Hi Danny,
It seems if I get the Gold version I get all I need, right?
Do FS9 planes work in FSX then? All? Or just some? Maybe the default
FS9 planes work in FSX (?) but surely not my FS9 Level-D, PMDG etc.?!
Martin S.
(Hampshire, U.K.)

[Ian D]

Post by Martin S.
Hi Danny,
It seems if I get the Gold version I get all I need, right?
Do FS9 planes work in FSX then? All? Or just some? Maybe the default
FS9 planes work in FSX (?) but surely not my FS9 Level-D, PMDG etc.?!
Martin S.
(Hampshire, U.K.)

One good thing about FSX Gold is that it's two separate products,
Deluxe, and Acceleration, in one package, so you can hold off on
installing Accel, if you wish. You can install FSX SP1 before
installing Accel, but if you install SP2, you will have to remove it
before installing Accel. Acceleration includes SP2, but the SP2
code in Accel is different from the stand alone SP2 update, as
the two versions of SP2 were developed by different teams.

ID

[Danny]

In my opinion, Acceleration added very little to the sim experience. A P51,
F18, and a few others. If you don't fly those types of planes, there is very
little added. And as Ian stated, just add SP2 off of the Acceleration disk
or d/l from M$.
Many of the true FS9 planes work. Little benefit of moving FS9 default
planes to FS10. I rarely fly the big irons you mentioned, so cannot comment
on them. But the Alphasim and Carenado payware stuff goes over pretty well.
Some prop texture problems and opaque windscreen problems in the VC. These
can be corrected if you know how to use paintshop or photoshop. I don't know
how to do it, but I have a friend in my flying club that is most
knowledgeable about that so he solves my texture problems.
Danny

Post by Ian D

Post by Martin S.
Hi Danny,
It seems if I get the Gold version I get all I need, right?
Do FS9 planes work in FSX then? All? Or just some? Maybe the default
FS9 planes work in FSX (?) but surely not my FS9 Level-D, PMDG etc.?!
Martin S.
(Hampshire, U.K.)

One good thing about FSX Gold is that it's two separate products,
Deluxe, and Acceleration, in one package, so you can hold off on
installing Accel, if you wish. You can install FSX SP1 before
installing Accel, but if you install SP2, you will have to remove it
before installing Accel. Acceleration includes SP2, but the SP2
code in Accel is different from the stand alone SP2 update, as
the two versions of SP2 were developed by different teams.
ID

[Martin S.]

Thanks for the various bits of information. Lucky really that
Christmas is coming up, with family asking for gift ideas!

I'll probably try FSX 'out-of-the-box' for a while: I am expecting to
fly FS9 (which I have 'tweaked' to a very high degree one way or
another: I can't imagine, with all my beloved addons - inc. Active Sky
- and alterations that anything is going to get any better than the
setup I already have) far more than FSX in the future. But who knows?!

Martin S.
(Hampshire, U.K.)

[Danny]

You reflect my thoughts exactly, Martin. I use FS10 occasionally, but I can
not think of anything that FS10 adds that is not available to me in FS9,
except moving traffic and boats and the missions. Traffic is a 'cute'
addition but not necessary to enjoy the sim. Nor are elephants, etc. I
have done a couple of helicopter missions and they are okay but if you just
want to simulate flying, FS9 will certainly do it. As you say about your
'beloved add-ons, my GEpro, UT, Active Sky6.5, among others, really enhances
FS9 so well. That is why I like to spend most of my flying time below 8
thousand feet. If you have AS6.5, it will work with FS10. I actually prefer
that version over the ASX which I have as well.
I do a good bit of online flying, GA and Bush flying. Several of my online
friends still have FS9, and some have both installed. You get that FS10
installed and then you can make a more informed decision as to which sim you
prefer.

Danny

Post by Martin S.
Thanks for the various bits of information. Lucky really that
Christmas is coming up, with family asking for gift ideas!
I'll probably try FSX 'out-of-the-box' for a while: I am expecting to
fly FS9 (which I have 'tweaked' to a very high degree one way or
another: I can't imagine, with all my beloved addons - inc. Active Sky
- and alterations that anything is going to get any better than the
setup I already have) far more than FSX in the future. But who knows?!
Martin S.
(Hampshire, U.K.)

[scott s.]

Post by Martin S.
Thanks for the various bits of information. Lucky really that
Christmas is coming up, with family asking for gift ideas!
I'll probably try FSX 'out-of-the-box' for a while: I am expecting to
fly FS9 (which I have 'tweaked' to a very high degree one way or
another: I can't imagine, with all my beloved addons - inc. Active Sky
- and alterations that anything is going to get any better than the
setup I already have) far more than FSX in the future. But who knows?!

If you are planning to make heavy use of FS9 aircraft ported over,
you might want to install deluxe and then download sp1 from ms and
install that. Accel and sp2 do some things to break fs9 aircraft.
OTOH, if you want to try the DX10 "preview", you must install sp2
or accel, tho only in Vista of course.

Some recent releases advertise themselves as requiring sp2, but
I haven't had any problems running in sp1 so far.

scott s.
.

[Martin S.]

Thanks for that Scott, I'll bear it in mind when I install (assuming
people take the hint re. Christmas presents and I get FSX at all!!).

What does SP2 do then, to FSX's advantage?

Martin S.
(Hampshire, U.K.)

[Martin S.]

(I have Windows XP Pro, not Vista, so no DX10)

Post by Martin S.
Thanks for that Scott, I'll bear it in mind when I install (assuming
people take the hint re. Christmas presents and I get FSX at all!!).
What does SP2 do then, to FSX's advantage?
Martin S.
(Hampshire, U.K.)

Martin S.
(Hampshire, U.K.)

[scott s.]

Post by Martin S.
Thanks for that Scott, I'll bear it in mind when I install (assuming
people take the hint re. Christmas presents and I get FSX at all!!).
What does SP2 do then, to FSX's advantage?

I think there are some more performance fixes, and also some tweaks
on aircraft texturing. There's a list somewhere but so far I have
not felt a need to install it.

scott s.
.

[Brett I. Holcomb]

It fixes a lot of issues and helps it run better. If you've purchased
the Gold install both Deluxe, then the gold and you'll get Accell.
Whether you use it or not right away it's there.

Post by Martin S.
Thanks for that Scott, I'll bear it in mind when I install (assuming
people take the hint re. Christmas presents and I get FSX at all!!).
What does SP2 do then, to FSX's advantage?
Martin S.
(Hampshire, U.K.)