Customer Reviews

Microsoft Flight Simulator X: Master the Experience! (Prima Official Fame Guide)

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Based on the title and the way it is marketed by Prima, I purchased this book thinking that it would give me an overall knowledge of MS FSX, some more details on VOR flying, glide slopes, runway landing lights explanations, etc. I'm not a pilot and was expecting much more information that I actually got.

What I got was a book that has well over half of it dedicated to conquering the missions rather than learning to "Master the Experience," as the title touts. Another third of the book gives a background and specifications of the different kinds of aircraft in the simulation, which, although interesting, doesn't really help you figure out how to find an airport and make an ILS landing, for example. The information that the book actually DOES provide are things you can figure out yourself just by looking at menus and clicking!

Perhaps the most disappointing aspect of this publication is the sheer number of times that it directs you to the flight simulator's built-in Learning Center. Obviously, I know what that is and can read it on screen without a book prompting me to do so every third page. What I was looking for was a book that has more detailed information that the Learning Center doesn't provide, or at least a book that could repeat the information in a printed form for easy reference.

Let me provide an example: Do you know what IFR is? If you don't, the books spends a whopping two PARAGRAPHS on explaining what it is, and really, that's it. Afterwards, it reads, "If you are interested in learning how to become an instrument-rated pilot who can fly in IFR conditions, then take Rod Machado's Lessons in the Learning Center and the eight flight lessions (plus read the Instrument Rating Lessons Overview). Learning this content gives you a much greater command of your aircraft and the instrumentation in the cockpit."

Really? No kidding! I never would have thought of doing that! I paid $20 for Prima Games and Bart G. Farkas to tell me that?

The most redeeming portion is the quick reference card, but I would hardly say it's worth the $20 price of the book. The book seems to have been written by people that play games on XBox and Wii all the time (hence the focus on completing missions rather than flight basics). I was surprised to not find a bunch of cheat codes for unlimited energy and lives in the back!

Originally I was going to give this book two stars, but after re-reading my review, I had to drop it further. Sorry if this review sounds a little nasty, but this book is awful. I guess it all depends on what you're looking for, but in my opinion, save your money on this one; personally, I feel like I was robbed.