if you simply stick the dvd in and go `` click-click-click '' you be go to hate this game . I have a very high-end machine and be get frame rate as low as 1-2 fp ! I be shock ! my system : Geforce 8800 GTS 640mb graphic card e6600 cpu , 4gb mem win xp pro sp2 however , if you scour the web for `` FSX tweak '' and spend the time to carefully adjust the slider and plow through the fsx . cfg file , you will end up with the greatest flight simulator there be ! this be a game that need lot and lot of help to draw out its greatness . Whenever I think about all the work I have have to do to get it to this point , I get really angry at m for not do a better job of customize the software to you hardware -lrb- which they could easily do -rrb- automatically during installation instead of leave all that up to we as the sim community . still , when you finally get it right , the game be soooo sweet that it be pretty easy to get past the hassle . I have have all the msf version since 98 and this be the first one that I have not feel the need to go out and download all sort of third party stuff for . there be enough in the standard package -lrb- although I have buy Acceleration -rrb- to keep I enthused . the only exception to this be FSUIPC . as far as I be concerned , fsuipc4 , by Pete Dowson , be a must . I have always complain that the f flight model just do not feel right . there be a sluggishness to the control and the plane just do not fly stable somehow -lrb- at least that be be my experience -rrb- . fsuipc really improve the flight characteristic of the airplane . I finally decide to spring for purchase fsuipc4 and set up all my control to work through it rather than the game itself . in fact , I just go to the game setting panel and disabled all joystick input ! the result be wonderful ! I can now trim my aircraft precisely and the flight be rock solid . with the release of sp2 -lrb- you get sp2 if you install acceleration -rrb- , frame rate get better and the game behave better in general . sp2 be also a must . here be what I like about FSX : the graphic be fantastic . the terrain look almost photographic and the cockpit and general aircraft graphic be just wonderful . the virtual -lrb- 3-d -rrb- cockpit have arrive . I never use it in fs9 but now I very rarely pop up the 2-d pit as I can see so clearly and have no problem click the hotspot on the VC . atc be greatly improve over fs9 . atc would get so annoying in fs9 that I get to where I do not even want to fool with it . no so in FSX . you no longer get stupid command from controller and thing be much more realistic in that regard . I absolutely love the mission . now , you can fly through hoop , do rescue mission where stuff be blow up all around you , interact with you `` co-pilot '' and change the object of the mission in mid flight , etc. . I be still have a ball go through the mission and purchase the Acceleration pack be largely so I could get some more mission . the selection of aircraft be very adequate in FSX . the helicopter be actually flyable -lrb- for the first time -rrb- in FSX . I have really get hooked on the mission where you fly one of the chopper . I suppose FSUIPC have a lot to do with how much more reasonable it be to fly these thing now . the view system have be improve and be quite reasonable . if you use TrackIR , you will be very pleased with how natural it feel with this game . weather , much better autogen object , more accurate airport , etc. be all huge improvement over what be come before . this be really a great simulation . here be what I do not like about FSX : I have already gripe about FSX 's inability to sense you hardware and set reasonable default . that be just pathetic in my view . it be inexcusable that FSUIPC have to exist . no offense to Pete Dowson and he really great product . it be just that m should provide this as part of the game . I would be embarrass to know that there be a guy make a living `` fix '' the basic flight characteristic of my flight simulator ! this be fundamental . it be a flight simulator after all . I be not a big fan of Rod Machado and all he silliness . Ok , that be a personal thing I know but I just can not deal with try to go through these otherwise useful training mission because of all he ridiculous comment . Enough on that . hopefully you will like Rod and appreciate he `` humor '' more than I do . in fairness , I have go through all the training mission and they be actually quite good . so , in summary , this be really a great flight simulator but require extensive research and configuration to get it to where it be playable . if not for that , this would be a five star product .