Low Vision Computing

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Gaming

Everyone Can Use A Hobby - So Why Not Flying?

(The image on the right side is a photo of Flight Simulator 2020 running on the 4 x 50" 4k screens on the 100 Inch Video Wall)

Unlike the arcade-like games and "dungeon crawlers" where you try to rack up points killing everyone and blowing up everything in sight that require fast reactions and keen vision, there are games more suited to people with low vision that can be played by two people at the same computer.

Microsoft Flight Simulator 2020 is one such game. Don't let the "2020" fool you - it's under active development and expansion, and uses satellite images, airplane photo and lidar data, etc., to give a very realitic view of your neighborhood.

There's a large selection of General Aviation (think single and double engine aircraft), seaplanes, commercial and fighter jets, helicopters, gliders, and historical aircraft such as the "Spruce Goose".

You can start from pre-loaded scenarios such as Paris, Bora Bora, Vancouver, Montreal, Australia's Gold Coast, the Grand Canyon, London, the Egyptian Pyramids, San Francisco, New York City, Mount Everest, already flying, just go sight-seeing ...

... or you can plot a flight with start and end points from most of the airports, add way-points, and pick your aircraft ...

Aircraft controls can be as simple as your keyboard and mouse or a gamepad, to as complicated as various flight yokes, flight quadrants, rudder pedals, and tablets (the last requires 3rd-party software, free on the web).

If you're not satisfied with the free aircraft, scenery, etc., there's an online marketplace to buy a large variety of aircraft, airports, etc. One stand-out is the An-225 cargo jet, a 6-engine Ukranian beast that was the heaviest aircraft ever built, largest wingspan in operation, which was destroyed during the 2022 Russion invasion of Ukraine. All the money paid for the first year of sales goes to the folks preserving the wreck, with a possible attempt to rebuild it.

And Then There's Flying With Others - Either Using The Same Computer Or Via The Internet

Adding a second set of controls to the base PC, whether its another keyboard and mouse, gamepad, or flight controls, allows 2 people seated together in front of the same screen(s) to share piloting duties.

The graphics at 4k on a big screen are truly something that people should share together.

And on the Internet, there's friendly get-togethers or air races or dogfights ...

The Best Hardware Setup Varies With The User's Needs, Space, And Budget.

For many, that used to be an XBox - guaranteed to run MSFS , but not any more since mid-2023. May users are reporting that MSFS has problems with XBox (both XBox S and XBox X) due to insufficient RAM.

So, while building a decent gaming-specific computer will cost you much more than an XBox. Sure, you'll get more opportunities for expansion and customization. AND you get a computer for regular use as well. Or even a laptop is better going forward.

Plus, unlike the XBox, computer users can add free and paid 3rd-party aircraft, scenery, and utilities that XBox users just don't have access to, being limited to Microsoft's marketplace.

However, if you do decide to go the "build your own" route, don't waste your money on a $2500 - $4399 NVidia 4090 graphics card - Intel's Arc A770LE runs flight simulator just fine at 4k at less than 1/5 the price, while also requiring far less CPU.

For inspiration, here's Flight Simulator running on a pair of 65" screens, giving a 10' x 2-2/3' main window. Click on the image to the right. Resolution is 8192 x 2300.

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Email: barbra@lowvisioncomputing.com

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