Flight Sims good for a beginner?

[duritz]

So a few years ago when I was hardcore into BF2142, I purchased a Saitek X52. When I got bored of that game, the stick went into the shed and sat there for several years.

I was playing around with planetside and decided to bring it back to my desk and was very disappointed when I found that I couldn't even use this joystick in that game (it's incompatible with planetside... the fire button stays down all the time and you can't customize any controls)

I got bored with planetside anyway and was hoping to pickup a few flight games I could use with this thing

I did some research and found a LOT of people loved DCS Black Shark so I purchased it and started playing.... This game is NOT for beginners o.o The training missions seem to be in a foreign language and there's about 100 things to do just to start the engines and get off the ground. I think it would be a fun game once I get a better understanding of flight sims but for now I think it's a bit beyond me.

So I was wondering if anyone could give me another game I could try that is more geared towards a beginner or has a slightly less steep learning curve? It doesn't exactly have to be a flight sim where it's almost like you're truly flying the plane... It could be something a bit more basic that just makes use of the X52. I mean I had a load of fun in BF2142 flying that one fighter ship around and got very good at maneuvering it but it was very basic and didn't even use half the buttons of the X52.

Any suggestions welcome. I really don't want to throw away 50 more bucks on something I don't understand how to play

 

[schneiderguy]

Buy IL2:1946 off of Steam for $10. It's a WW2 flight sim but it is fairly easy for beginners, because theres not any complicated start up procedure. You just hit the start engine button, lower your flaps, lock the tail wheel, and go. It takes some practice to actually start shooting down enemy planes, and you'll probably stall/spin a lot the first few times you play but it's an excellent game once you start to get the hang of it.

 

[angry hampster]

Flight Simulator X is VERY good at teaching you how to use it. The missions go really seamlessly from beginner to expert.

 

[Schadenfroh]

How realistic is FSX?

 

[Harmattan]

I coincidentally was just about to dust off my X52 as well. Gonna give IL2: 1946 a try.

Damn, I wish they were still making space sims -- I would pay good money for Freespace 3.

 

[Psynaut]

H.A.W.X. It is a brand new fighter pilot game (not a simulator like FSX). It is kinda short with 19 missions but very fun. Very challenging at first, if you don't play these games, but after a day or two you get the hang of it and start dominating. Even the Escapist gave it a good review.

 

[Flammable]

Originally posted by: angry hampster
Flight Simulator X is VERY good at teaching you how to use it. The missions go really seamlessly from beginner to expert.

Acceleration is a good add-on if you're into the military jets etc..