Over the centuries, mankind has always tried to overcome its limitations, like being grounded to earth. Even in Antiquity, Icarus’ myth fantasized about a man flying and using it as a cautionary tale for those with ambition. Inventors have worked tirelessly to make humans fly, and it’s been a reality for the past century.
Despite being possible for so long, it’s still a dream for many people. Thanks to the gaming industry, people aspiring to become pilots can recreate flight conditions and soar through the skies; here’s how.
Choosing the Right Game to Fly
Before thinking about buying hardware, it’s essential to choose the right simulator. There are arcade games focused on fun before realism, like when one decides to play Aviator game or Ace Combat, and actual simulators. The most advanced simulators will be found on PC
Flight Simulator is one of the most demanding games on PC with high specs. However, it’s the most realistic civilian flight simulator ever created. It allows players to visit any part of the world with unprecedented detail, using a wide variety of planes. It offers controls similar to a real-life plane, but it also means that beginners will struggle with it. Thankfully, it also has plenty of tutorials to learn the basics and realism settings.
More than any other African country, Nigerians have a unique relationship with flying. The first African to fly around the world is Nigerian and for those who want to get the same experience as Ademilola Odujinrin, X-Plane 11 offers the most realistic plane controls. It’s not as good-looking as Flight Simulator, but it goes more in-depth. The entire cabin is modeled and functional. Furthermore, it benefits from a strong modding community, so it’s possible to customize the experience even more.
Flying isn’t only about planes, and there’s Digital Combat Simulator World for those who want to fly helicopters. It’s a simulator with other vehicles, but it shines with how detailed and realistic the helicopter controls are. It’s an excellent reminder that helicopters almost defy the laws of physics, and piloting one is incredibly challenging.
Investing in Flight Controllers
All of these games offer all the features an aspiring pilot would want to learn how to fly. However, no progress can be made using a basic gaming controller or a keyboard and a mouse. To truly master flight simulation, one needs to invest in specific controllers designed to emulate the interior of a flight cabin, and it can get pretty expensive. Here are some tips to get the best setup possible, depending on your budget.
Premium Choice for Big Budgets
For the Flight Simulator, the best choice would be the Thrustmaster TCA Captain Pack X Airbus Edition associated with the Thrustmaster Pendular Rudder WW. These two packs provide players with all the required controls to fly civilian airplanes with hand controllers (called HOTAS) and foot pedals. However, the overall price is around ₦1,890,725, which makes it a consequent investment.
- Thrustmaster TCA Captain Pack X Airbus Edition: Approximately ₦704,068
- Thrustmaster Pendular Rudder WW: Approximately ₦1,186,657
The Best Alternative for Low Budgets
If the budget is tight, which is understandable given the prices for these controllers, there are cheaper alternatives. The Thrustmaster T.Flight Hotas X offers one of the best values on the market at a reasonable price for the product’s quality. It’s a bit more stiff than high-end joysticks and less durable, but it’s enough to enjoy a simulator with realistic conditions.
Coupled with the Turtle Beach VelocityOne Universal Rudder Pedals, it’s possible to have a full flight simulator pack working with several games at an affordable price
- Thrustmaster T.Flight Hotas X: Approximately ₦240,351
- Turtle Beach VelocityOne Universal Rudder Pedals: Approximately ₦628,950
Flight Simulation Requires Dedication
Unlike playing an arcade game for a few hours, flight simulators require a lot from the player. They must have the required hardware to run the games (sometimes with insanely high specs), but also buy specific controllers to enjoy the game’s full potential. Some games also require modding because the base game lacks some features.
Overall, it’s an investment the player must be sure they’re ready to make. Plus, they must ensure they’ll play for thousands of hours. It also requires learning how to fly like a true pilot, and not everyone is up to the challenge.
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