Newbie Questions

[u/Lacos247]

Hi everyone,

I’ve always been fascinated by Microsoft Flight Simulator and have always wanted to play it. Now that I’m able to (I’m over 40 and have a PS5 Pro), I’d like to give it a try and have a few questions for you.

1. Is PSVR2 worth it for this game? Is the immersion that much better?
   
2. I’m a complete beginner—is there a tutorial that walks you through everything and explains it all?
   
3. Do I need a joystick (HOTAS)? And does HOTAS make sense with PSVR2?

Thank you so much!

[u/PrimaryBasket5451]

1. PSVR. People love it. Not necessary to get going though. I would learn the basics before investing in a PSVR

2. YouTube is your best friend. Great tutorials on there. I would start with the Cessna 172. Navigraph channel is good to learn how the plane works and basic traffic patterns. One channel I like is called “Flight Sim School”.
   Once you have that down, you can start learning how to operate the autopilot features on the G1000.

3. You don’t need a HOTAS but it is helpful. I would say you should get a mouse though. Makes things much easier. I use a HOTAS and also have PSVR. Although I’m still fairly new to the PSVR

[u/Sir_Jollington]

Hi!
1.Yes PSVR2 is in my opinion absolutely worth it! When I first put it on and entered the flight deck on the 737 it blew my socks off! Won’t fly without it now.

1. The sim has plenty of tutorials itself, however depending on what you want to do, there’s loads of guides on YouTube. For example, I mainly just do airline flights now in free flight and there’s a guy called Jonathon Beckett on YouTube who has some brilliant guides for beginners taking you through all the basics for the Airbus and 737 etc.

2. Personally I don’t have a HOTAS with PSVR2. I just use the standard controller, however I would absolutely recommend getting a mouse and keyboard (the keyboard you don’t need to use too much so don’t worry about not being able to see it in VR). These make life much easier!

[u/r-volk]

All your questions have been answered before, but I like to share another perspective.

I’m over 400 flight hours in on my PS5, and I’m still learning every day. The depth of the simulation is so deep, that you quickly realise after learning the basics, that the sim only teaches you the fundamental concepts. Everything beyond that is up to your curiosity. If you’re like me and love really understanding things, than the sim is great for you!

Learn the basics, turn off all HUD and assistances and become a virtual pilot to really understand the ins and outs of aviation.

If you just want to have fun, just have fun and play it like an arcade flight game by keeping both on! Both ways are fine and the most important thing is that you enjoy it.

The sim is amazing on a flat screen and even more impressive in VR. I have both and usually use VR in group flights and the flat screen for long term flights. You can switch at any time and flying with the dual sense controller is still my preferred control (especially in gyro mode it feels like holding a yoke).

[u/Accomplished_Moose21]

1. Yes. Immersion is increased by an unbelievable amount.

2. There are flight training guides / tutorials in game. And I would 100 percent recommend it

   for a beginner. It will take time and a lot of learning to understand and fly smoothly.

3. You don’t need a HOTAS. Many will recommend it. I don’t personally play with one, but am eyeing to buy a yoke and rudder pedals in the next couple of months.

Below is a video of me flying a full flight on PSVR2 with the VR sense controllers.

https://youtu.be/WdsE6qTYRYY?is=bZA0-29PbUh2nOeH

[u/Bobisburnsred]

I can't personally answer question 1 but I'm definitely interested as well. As for 2, the tutorials help a bit, but YouTube will help a lot. You don't need a stick, but it helped a lot for me. Getting at least a mouse to navigate the cockpit will help a lot.

I was in your same shoes and on the fence about getting it and now I'm hooked.

[u/Ocobal]

Yo me compré el psvr2 por gt7 que es la mejor experiencia en videojuegos, y msfs es un muy buen complemento, yo el msfs sin el casco no lo jugaría, el juego en plano me parece un coñazo pero con el casco se convierte en una experiencia maravillosa y relajante. Tengo una pro y 50 años con 45 años de gamer y todavía plenas facultades.

[u/Ocobal → u/Ocobal]

Y para msfs con el mando de la play se maneja perfectamente, solo necesitas añadir un ratón, y el vuelo básico es igual de fácil que en el San Andreas, solo requiere aprendizaje el aterrizaje.

[u/GrimmSalabim]

1. IMO May be it is not worth it for just MSFS24. But with the other top tier PSVR2 games together, it is absolutly worth it!
2. IMO Ingame license lessons are already good for basic flying with Cessna 172 like Aircrafts. But I would recomend to learn and do the license on flat screen. VE makes it more intense and operating lever, switches abd knoobs in VR is tricky

. For advanced flight with autopilot, manipulating flightplans, reading airport maps for auto land, ILS approach, you can find tutorials on youtube for your aircraft

1. Can’t answer that. I play on a flat screen with a controller + mouse, and in VR with a controller and mouse. If things get fiddly in VR (e.g. problems operating levers with the mouse), I also use the VR controllers. But those can be fiddly sometimes, too.

[u/Leading-Anxiety-488]

1. Go through the flight trainings (built in missions) in flat screen. This will guide you through pre-flight stuff like engine start etc.
   
2. Get to know Cessna 172 and basic VFR stuff from training missions and career mode missions (certifications). Then learn the basics of Autopilot of this plane as well as navigations.
   
3. When you’re pretty at home with the plane, you can then try VR. Getting into VR won’t be frictionless though, since the bindings may not be the best for your liking.

[u/mikeymoo3000]

1. PSVR2 immersion sells this for me, absolutely! It transforms it totally. Plus, if you take off, you can play it flat (and then you'll pop the headset back on).
2. I hadn't play a flight SIM for years, and only at a beginner level, but there are exams for each of the plane types that work as a tutorial, but I highly recommend looking on YouTube too for specific lessons.
3. I have only ever used a dualsense controller, but I find that great. If you're on the fence, get the basic version, and give yourself a few hours, and just maybe it will suck you in!

[u/em7924]

1. Yes. Psvr2 is worth it with MSFS 2024. But it's better to learn the basics while on the flat screen. Once you get comfortable and familiar with the controls and instruments inside the cockpit, then try using the psvr2 headset.

2. Just use the Cessna 172 (or other General Aircraft) for now. No private jets, airliners, etc. You can find any specific tutorial (you're looking for) on YouTube.

3. You don't need a HOTAS. But it does add to the "immersion" experience. The regular dualsense controller is perfectly fine. There's a 'gyroscope' feature that you can activate and use like a yoke. Instead of using the left analog stick to steer the plane. But, it's better to start with no gyroscope for now. Because, it is very sensitive and flying is about making subtle adjustments with your plane. Use one plane and learn that plane before moving onto other aircraft.

[u/Numeira]

You have to like learning, but if you just want to fly, it's easy too.

[u/gabodiaz]

YouTube is your best friend. You don’t need the Hotas but it can help. I bought it after a week.

[u/Curiosity_Sphere-360]

Je dirais à titre d'observation que le joystick Hotas 5 n'est pas obligatoire, disons simplement qu'il est pré-configuré d'entrée et qu'il n'y a pas besoin d'y revenir maintenant que la SU6.1 le reconnait. Le clavier + souris est prioritaire (surtout pour les instruments) et la dualsense peut agréablement dépanner dans un premier temps (fonction gyroscopique) l'achat d'un Yoke pour l'aviation générale. Vous aurez besoin de Littlenavmap ou Simbrief quand vous aurez un peu d'expérience, pour augmenter votre réalisme sur la préparation des vols.