3rd Party Developer News

**Bomber_12th** · August 5th, 2020, 10:44

The NDA was partially lifted to 3rd party developers so that they can begin to promote the content they are currently working on developing for Microsoft Flight Simulator.

These are some of the addons previewed by developers I've seen thus-far, being developed for MSFS:

Indiafoxtecho (Dino Cattaneo) Rutan Long-EZ: https://www.facebook.com/59447619723...86452388034862

Big Tire Productions Kitfox: https://forums.x-plane.org/index.php...august-18th%2F

(Developer Steven Pearce is also working on a Phenom 300E for MSFS.)

PMDG 737 NG3: https://www.thresholdx.net/news/pmdg73

Gaya Simulations "Zell am See" Airport, Austria: https://www.facebook.com/GayaSimulat...09832762520708

DC Designs F-14: https://www.facebook.com/21562954280...9292234058425/

FlyTampa has put out a tease of just the control towers at the airports they're currently working on for MSFS: https://www.facebook.com/Flytampaair...84684058226878

IRIS Simulations three aircraft in development - PC-21, Grob G103, and J-170 Jabiru: https://www.facebook.com/irissimulations

Milviz three aircraft - T-50 Bobcat, 737-200, and Cessna 310R (though looking like straight port-overs right now): https://fselite.net/previews/militar...ght-simulator/

FSDreamteam O'Hare and Basel Airports: https://www.facebook.com/virtualisagl

Drzewiecki Design: https://www.facebook.com/1439500179596522/posts/2760740740805786/

Flightbeam Studios Denver International Airport: https://www.facebook.com/35681170771...6072052786397/

**Bomber_12th** · August 7th, 2020, 10:18

FLYT Simulations C16 Frasca Field: https://www.facebook.com/flytsimulations

This is the same airport where the Frasca family bases/flies their warbirds from.

**Dave43H** · August 7th, 2020, 11:00

is that Kitfox based on,or meant to be Trent Palmers?...looks like it in the shot of it.hes a great guy,i enjoy his videos on youtube alot.id love to see Mike Pateys new "Scrappy" added to flight simulator(s)..i even sent him a message asking him if he would be willing to have one made for it.havent heard back from him though.he and his brother are very into encouraging new pilots,so i had asked if he would be willing to have it done as of the fact he and mark are so encouraging to new pilots.

id love to see if the Flying Cowboys as a group would allow all of their planes to be included,would be fun for multi-player mode to have a STOL drag competition.

**Bomber_12th** · August 7th, 2020, 13:18

It would be fun to have some planned multiplayer events for STOL challenges. There are already three aircraft included in the full package that are fantastic for short landings/takeoffs, and then the addon Kitfox besides.

It's neat seeing X-Plane developers crossing over into the new MSFS, and quite easily it seems. It was posted somewhere recently that you can export directly from Blender for this new MSFS.

**TuFun** · August 7th, 2020, 15:17

Great to see MS supporting Blender!

Microsoft is now a Corporate Gold Member of the Blender Foundation's Development Fund.
Blender is an open source creation suite used for modeling, animation, rendering, and more.
Microsoft's membership began on July 1, 2020.

https://www.windowscentral.com/micro...ftware-blender

***Sundog*** · August 7th, 2020, 18:27

Well, I was going to start learning to use Blender, it looks like it's a given now. Has anyone seen any good tutorials for lofting in Blender?

**TuFun** · August 7th, 2020, 19:12

Originally Posted by Sundog

Well, I was going to start learning to use Blender, it looks like it's a given now. Has anyone seen any good tutorials for lofting in Blender?

Something like this?

***Sundog*** · August 7th, 2020, 19:31

Thanks, that's exactly what I was looking for. Just learning all of those shortcuts is going to take me some time. Maybe I should just do my modeling in Solidworks (My work software) and export it.

I'm sure Blender will be fine once I use it enough.

**Javis** · August 7th, 2020, 19:48

Does this mean Hello Blender, Bye Bye 3dsMax ??...

**gastonj** · August 8th, 2020, 01:35

Originally Posted by TuFun

Great to see MS supporting Blender!

Microsoft is now a Corporate Gold Member of the Blender Foundation's Development Fund.
Blender is an open source creation suite used for modeling, animation, rendering, and more.
Microsoft's membership began on July 1, 2020.

https://www.windowscentral.com/micro...ftware-blender

I'm not sure this is of any immediate interest to hobbyist developers. The SDK can only be used with 3DSmax. I don't imagine them creating this kind of blender tool, the world of professional simulation has been on 3DSmax for a long time.

JMC

**robcap** · August 8th, 2020, 07:25

Originally Posted by Javis

Does this mean Hello Blender, Bye Bye 3dsMax ??...

And can we export Gmax 3D files to blender?

**Dave43H** · August 8th, 2020, 08:32

Originally Posted by Bomber_12th

It would be fun to have some planned multiplayer events for STOL challenges. There are already three aircraft included in the full package that are fantastic for short landings/takeoffs, and then the addon Kitfox besides.

It's neat seeing X-Plane developers crossing over into the new MSFS, and quite easily it seems. It was posted somewhere recently that you can export directly from Blender for this new MSFS.

John (Daveroo43(Dave) here) i spoke with Cory Robin from the flying cowboys yesterday,most of them fly the kitfox and carbon cubs.but he said if we can find someone willing,he would be "delighted" to assist in creating their planes.not sure if the carbon cub is in msfs 2020,but if so,along with the kitfox,he will be happy to assist in paints of the various planes in the group,he even said he would be willing to help create the scenarios ? for some of the places they fly..like in utah and idaho,not sure if youve seen their vids on youtube (im sure you have) of when they do the group flights,,they are pre planned,or most are anyway.even theyre trips to oshkosh are planned,dont know if there is anyone out there who would want to assist in making them.give the full run down on rules and procedures for the STOL drags and so on.

***Sundog*** · August 8th, 2020, 13:08

IndiaFoxtEcho Aermacchi MB-339

**Javis** · August 8th, 2020, 19:14

Originally Posted by robcap

And can we export Gmax 3D files to blender?

Particularly DC-2 Gmax files you mean ??...

Hé Rob, you simply cannot let this go, can you, i mean MSFS...

Would be great fun, huh, the Uiver in MSFS... Now she may well get stuck in the mud for real in Albury !

Anyway, good to see your here, maat.

proost,
Jan

**Javis** · August 8th, 2020, 19:28

Originally Posted by gastonj

I'm not sure this is of any immediate interest to hobbyist developers. The SDK can only be used with 3DSmax. I don't imagine them creating this kind of blender tool, the world of professional simulation has been on 3DSmax for a long time.

JMC

Wouldn't that contradict with Tufun's post here above ?...

Remember, once, Gmax came for free with FS ? (may have been FS2K possibly) I wouldn't be surprised if MS has the same plan for Blender/MSFS ?...

**TuFun** · August 8th, 2020, 20:23

You'all know DC Designs the P-61 guy!

His statement on Facebook.

Okay, so, the NDA on Microsoft Flight Simulator remains in place, but we learned recently that it had been lifted very slightly so that we developers could announce our plans in a little greater detail than before. With an improved Software Development Kit on the way and a new exporter for Blender, the modelling software that I use, I am now able to detail my plans for the new simulator.

Microsoft Flight Simulator ( from now on written as MSFS ) has many differences in its structure and formats, meaning that there are many changes that need to be made to aircraft and systems for them to function correctly. Fortunately, my aircraft have been built specifically to be “easy”, if that’s the word, to upgrade when new simulators are released, provided that the changes in code and structure are not too extreme. I am happy to report that as the vast majority of the code within my airplanes is stock, and that Microsoft Flight Simulator retains the animation and variables-language of the existing platforms, for the most part basic conversions will not be too difficult. That’s the good news.

The ( not really ) bad news is that the new simulator represents a tremendous leap in capability in terms of models and textures. The current standard of my models, and those of many other developers, has been surpassed, and so true native conversions into the new simulator will require significant re-modeling and re-texturing to bring the airplanes up to the new standard. This is something that all developers are facing, and we will have a long journey ahead to bring our best work in the new simulator at the detail levels customers will likely expect.

https://www.facebook.com/permalink.p...6295428024778&

***Sundog*** · August 8th, 2020, 20:41

Hi Mods, please move all of the modeling comments to a thread on FS2020 Modeling. I didn't mean to get this thread off track. Then delete this post when you're done.

Thanks,
Ken

**Ganter** · August 9th, 2020, 00:22

Originally Posted by Sundog

Hi Mods, please move all of the modeling comments to a thread on FS2020 Modeling. I didn't mean to get this thread off track. Then delete this post when you're done.

Thanks,
Ken

Ken, I don't think there is a thread of that title yet. It would be a great idea to create one.

**zswobbie1** · August 9th, 2020, 03:26

As Microsoft is now using MSFS, can we also do that, & drop 2020?

**stansdds** · August 9th, 2020, 04:01

There is a motion to change the name of this forum from "Flight Simulator 2020" to MicroSoft's title "MSFS". I second the motion.

**TuFun** · August 9th, 2020, 05:16

To support the new platform, we will be releasing several products available at, or shortly after, launch. During the launch window, new products will be available for purchase at competitive pricing levels, ranging from US$7.99 to US$19.99 through both OrbxDirect and the Microsoft FlightSim Marketplace.

We are also happy to confirm that current owners of Orbx products running on FSX, Prepar3D, X-Plane and Aerofly FS 2 that are launched for Microsoft Flight Simulator will receive a 40% discount. As ownership needs to be validated, this discount can only be applied via purchases from OrbxDirect.

Check out the screenshots...

https://orbxsystems.com/forum/topic/...omment-1697215

**Bomber_12th** · August 9th, 2020, 05:24

I'm glad ORBX has come down on their prices and it would be nice to see it remain that way. It has seemed that Microsoft left ORBX to fill-out default London (as one of the Youtube videos has shown), and the "Landmarks London City Pack" will be a nice addon to complete that city. I do hope that a company like ORBX will invest time in reproducing many more "points of interest" landmarks across the globe, like historic & cultural sites, lighthouses, unique architectural buildings, amusement parks, etc.

**kaigun** · August 9th, 2020, 07:00

That’s something why I am falling in doubts about completeness of MSFS2020 - if ORBX announces London landmarks does it mean that cities and places over the world will be so simplified or not real looking that we will have to buy additional scenery for them again for better accuracy / resembling real ones ? I really hoped that the only addons to be purchased would be only extra aircraft and airports if I want them to be super-detailed...

**gastonj** · August 9th, 2020, 08:56

Originally Posted by Javis

Wouldn't that contradict with Tufun's post here above ?...

Remember, once, Gmax came for free with FS ? (may have been FS2K possibly) I wouldn't be surprised if MS has the same plan for Blender/MSFS ?...

It would be really amazing and unexpected! Wait and see!
JMC