Round 2: Interface

The average computer user looks for a game that is easy to navigate through. This is done using an interface better known as the GUI (Graphic User Interface). I tend to think of the GUI as the most important part of any game. If I can't figure out how to navigate through the main screen in less than one minute, it's an uphill battle. When you consider the 20% focus rule (the average human only focuses on 20% of the computer screen at any given time) and you must have a GUI that transitions smoothly from one section to the next. I do not want to be flipping through three or four menus to change the time in a simulator.

Fly!

Fly! had the least number of GUI options, but the interface was very easy to understand and navigate. In the main screen you are offered the flight planner, quick-start fly, support, and multiplayer. The Flight Planner is a simple GUI that steps you through planning a trip in its entirety. Everything from fuel settings, weight/passenger load-out, weather settings, and flight navigation is all there. While the options are simple, you really need to know what you are doing when using these options.

If you are not a Private Pilot, or extremely experienced in cross country navigation, weight balance, and fuel consumption, then these features may seem a little overwhelming. Aside from the obvious complex options, it is very easy to navigate throughout the application. Each section has a defined purpose and I had no problem grasping the function of each button and option. With my limited knowledge I could successfully plot a flight from an airport in Chicago to one in New York, add passengers, fuel, automatically generate all navigation aids, and set up the weather (or import a METAR weather file) for a cross-country trip. Not bad for the five minutes it took me from game launch.

Flight Unlimited 3

Flight Unlimited III's main screen contains all the program's features. It is the best design of all three simulators, and navigation throughout all screens is fluid. In the main menu you will find quick flight, challenges, airport settings, flight training, options (setup), and help features. I found that in this menu, much like Fly!'s, you can navigate through the application as if you were cutting butter with a hot knife. These types of navigation systems are a refreshing departure from Microsoft's typical pull-down options-galore panels. It was easy to simply click on a few choices and jump into a ready to fly aircraft. If I wanted to change the location of where I started, that was also just a click away.

Weather settings and aircraft choice were all one-click options. It's all very similar to Fly!. Both weather and choice of aircraft options were easy to change, as opposed to the options MSFS, which can be somewhat difficult at times. FUIII has the best Interface of all three, not because it has a lot of interesting features, but because it is very simple. Those of you hardcore fans may find it too simple and arcadish, but the popular crowd will enjoy this interface.

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Flight Simulator 2000

When I first purchased Flight Simulator for my Commodore Amiga back in 1987, the simulator started up by taking off from Meigs airfield in a Cessna 172. Over 15 years has passed since Sublogic released Flight Simulator, yet little has changed in the GUI. It still has the same pull down style menu bar, but this time it has many more powerful and embedded options. FS2K does have a basic interface screen that pop's up prior to entering the simulation that gives you a couple of options, mainly training and to start flying.

Fig. 3. Flight Unlimited 3's Piper

Now that I have seen the interface for Fly! and FUIII, I feel this style is as outdated as my Amiga. For those who are familiar to this historic application, configuration is a snap. It's the same ole-same ole that one would expect since Microsoft has been updating this product for over 15 years. You would think that someone with at least a spark of intelligence would make a nice simple GUI for all the options. I will note however that under the menu bar, nice GUI style interfaces are used. It would be very nice if all the options were co-located under a single screen. The verdict on Microsoft is that users familiar with the MSFS layout will be pleased with the additional options and interfaces. For new users, I can only state that you may spend many hours struggling to simply find out how to configure your HOTAS or change the resolution. Microsoft should have attempted to make FS2000 easier to navigate with a simple options screen.


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