Is there a Flight Sim for the Mac?

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Posted:
in Mac Software edited January 2014
I just ordered an iMac for my son and i would like to get the Microsoft Flight sim for him. Any other suggestions are welcomed.



Thanks

Comments

  • Reply 1 of 12
    kishankishan Posts: 732member
    I hear Xplane is pretty good!
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  • Reply 2 of 12
    X-Plane

    http://www.x-plane.com/



    It's better than MSFS.
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  • Reply 3 of 12
    frank777frank777 Posts: 5,839member
    I've heard good things about Xplane (but never played it myself.)

    Considered purchasing it at the Apple Store several times, but wondered about input devices.



    I would never play a 'realistic' flight sim by keyboard. That's counter-intuitive.



    Does anyone know the best steering device available for Xplane on a Mac?
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  • Reply 4 of 12
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by Frank777 View Post


    Does anyone know the best steering device available for Xplane on a Mac?



    Best?... that'd be pretty subjective...

    X-Plane can be used to power a full-imersion flight simulator... multiple screens, real instruments and controls, etc... but you're looking at tens of thousands of dollars there



    The program should work with just about any USB flightstick/throttle/pedal combination, as it has extensive options for configuring and calibrating such input devices.



    x-plane.com lists some "recommended" input devices, but I've found the Logitek ATK3 to work just fine for my taste. (If I want uber-realistic I can just go to work )
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  • Reply 5 of 12
    frank777frank777 Posts: 5,839member
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by KingOfSomewhereHot View Post


    Best?... that'd be pretty subjective...)



    Yeah, I was just thinking that there must be something better than a joystick.



    Although, if Riker can fly the Enterprise with a joystick...
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  • Reply 6 of 12
    MSFS is pretty much dead.



    http://www.gamasutra.com/php-bin/new...hp?story=21981



    Quote:

    Microsoft has confirmed the closure of ACES Studio, with a spokesperson commenting to IGN that the decision was made within Microsoft's Internal Entertainment Business "to align our people against our highest priorities."



    In addition, the company noted: "You should expect us to continue to invest in enabling great LIVE experiences on Windows, including flying games, but we have nothing specific to announce at this time."



    Elsewhere, former ACES developer Phil Taylor, who moved away from the company before these layoffs, has been further detailing the shutdown in a blog post.



    According to his reports, the studio has indeed been largely closed, with six employees retained to fulfill contractual duties -- though he comments on the hope that Flight Simulator may continue to exist as a franchise in some other form



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  • Reply 7 of 12
    This is possibly what you're looking for...



    http://www.amazon.com/Logitech-96329.../dp/B0000ALFC5
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  • Reply 8 of 12
    vineavinea Posts: 5,585member
  • Reply 9 of 12
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by vinea View Post


    No.



    These:



    OK... so you're in a whole different $-range than I was thinking ...



    But those will work. I can't find them on x-planes new site, but I THINK those are the same products they used to "recommend" for it.
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  • Reply 10 of 12
    vineavinea Posts: 5,585member
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by KingOfSomewhereHot View Post


    OK... so you're in a whole different $-range than I was thinking ...



    True, but Frank was asking for the best and those are probably pretty close to being the best.



    Well, out of the box anyway. Better than thrustmaster's hotas rigs (like cougar) which look great but have crappy internals that break or just plain suck. So I guess you could buy thrustmaster and then all the aftermarket kits to replace the pots and other sucky components but it'll cost even more $$$ and be marginally better than CH (call it 5%).



    If he wants to go that route this seems to be a popular option:



    http://www.realsimulator.com/html/fssb.html



    450 euro on top of the cost of the cougar to begin with. Woof. Too rich for my blood but I guess that would be another tier of the "best" option.
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  • Reply 11 of 12
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by vinea View Post


    ...450 euro on top of the cost of the cougar to begin with. Woof. Too rich for my blood but I guess that would be another tier of the "best" option.



    For that kinda money, you could go out and spend a few hours flying a REAL airplane and have more fun than you'd ever have with a PC based Flight Simulator!!
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  • Reply 12 of 12
    s.metcalfs.metcalf Posts: 1,014member
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by Frank777 View Post


    Does anyone know the best steering device available for Xplane on a Mac?



    There is an iPhone/iTouch app that can uses the motion sensor to control X-Plane!



    It's pretty cool, and it lets you modify all the cockpit controls, so you can load up X-Plane on your big screen iMac, sit back on the couch or bed and control it. My brother showed me this and it looks pretty cool!
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