"S3": freeware Space Shuttle Simulator

Still don't see why people can't be happy with orbiter, a few mods and you can do some awesome stuff in it and not be limited to the shuttle.

[NeonSamurai]

or go with shuttle fleet for orbiter if the space shuttle is your bag

[Blacklight]

This goes WAY beyond what Orbiter is capable of. They modelled pretty much EVERY button, switch, readout, etc on that shuttle flight deck. It was YEARS in the making. Also, the aerodynamic model is FAR more accurate than the one in Orbiter. Scenery is also better and looks a lot more realistic than in orbiter (but that's a minor point).
As far as a true space shuttle simulation, Space Shuttle Mission is far beyond Orbiter in modelling the shuttle. I've flown both sims (Orbiter is still responsible for my blowing hours of my time . It's a great sim) and for the shuttle simulation, it just doesn't get more accurate than Space Shuttle Mission.

Try the demo. You won't be dissapointed (Just make sure to read the manual first.)

[Spike88]

I have this game. Its quite fun. Although It takes a while to get used too. Took me several tries to land the shuttle on STS-1 in daylight. Now I'm trying STS-8 where you have to land at night. Also the RMS arm has a steep learning curve.

[PeriscopeDepth]

This eventually matured into SSM2007.

http://space-shuttle-mission.com

http://www.subsim.com/radioroom/showthread.php?t=143861

edit: Ah...I see blacklight already noted that.

PD

[goldorak]

Originally Posted by Blacklight

This goes WAY beyond what Orbiter is capable of. They modelled pretty much EVERY button, switch, readout, etc on that shuttle flight deck. It was YEARS in the making. Also, the aerodynamic model is FAR more accurate than the one in Orbiter. Scenery is also better and looks a lot more realistic than in orbiter (but that's a minor point).
As far as a true space shuttle simulation, Space Shuttle Mission is far beyond Orbiter in modelling the shuttle. I've flown both sims (Orbiter is still responsible for my blowing hours of my time . It's a great sim) and for the shuttle simulation, it just doesn't get more accurate than Space Shuttle Mission.

Try the demo. You won't be dissapointed (Just make sure to read the manual first.)

The Virgin Space Shuttle was also a first rate shuttle simulation (even with its primitive graphics). Every single button was modelled and usable. And the game was pretty damn hard. This new simulation is just a remake of the old one, with all its pitfalls. If all you want to do is button pushing then yes this simulation is for you, but piloting a shuttle (or the default shuttle), rendez-vous with the iss or the mir, build the iss module by module (even the space shuttle ultra) in orbiter is a much more satisfying experience.
Graphics in orbit are much better in orbiter, near earth I agree that the commercial simulation takes the lead.

[goldorak]

Originally Posted by Rilder

Still don't see why people can't be happy with orbiter, a few mods and you can do some awesome stuff in it and not be limited to the shuttle.

Yes sir and even more with the space shuttle ultra project coming to a first release. Really the commercial version of the S3 simulator has such a restrictive license, no modding allowed why would you even choose it over orbiter ?

[Skybird]

Originally Posted by goldorak

Yes sir and even more with the space shuttle ultra project coming to a first release. Really the commercial version of the S3 simulator has such a restrictive license, no modding allowed why would you even choose it over orbiter ?

Maybe because it is more potent for the special field of interest it claims to be competent in - simulating a special shuttle, a space shuttle and nothing else but right this?

Eventually, restricted policies on modding can be a blessing, espoecially with ultra-complex sims. I know this kind of behavior from "Condor", where the yonly allow cosmetic modding (skins) for the gliders the sim models, but do not allow modelling and scripting of flight models - it would spoil the online tournaments because of home-made gliders with unrealistic flight parameters and not adequately fine-tuned behavior. for the same reaon they only allow skinning and graphical mods for SBP, but no mod-developement of new vehicles and weapons that get published without the developer carefully checking and finetuning them.

Modding such specifics may be okay for games. But sims that come with a certain claim on realism and complexity can only compromise their quality is allowing unregulated modding. For the sake of sims like Condor, SBP and probably SSS as well, I am thankful they do not allow it.

[goldorak]

The license is restrictive not because you can't mod the game (even if its pretty drastic according to me) but because you have to buy a new license (full price) if you ever have to reinstall the simulator on THE SAME PC !!!! Thats something that not even microsoft does, or EA who's not exactly consumer friendly.
This absurd restriction is what has made me stay away from ssm2007.
I don't know if the developer has changed his stance on this issue, but when the game was released it was 50 € for every reinstallation on the same pc.
Thanks but no thanks.

[Skybird]

Originally Posted by goldorak

The license is restrictive not because you can't mod the game (even if its pretty drastic according to me) but because you have to buy a new license (full price) if you ever have to reinstall the simulator on THE SAME PC !!!! Thats something that not even microsoft does, or EA who's not exactly consumer friendly.
This absurd restriction is what has made me stay away from ssm2007.
I don't know if the developer has changed his stance on this issue, but when the game was released it was 50 € for every reinstallation on the same pc.
Thanks but no thanks.

That is something different. When I first reported on SSS some months ago, i also had to witness their very hostile customer service, not answering my questions on what kind of registration exactly they were using, and whether o rnot it would be bound to a specific hardware constellation or not - I never got a reply, and their forums at that time could not accessed without buiyng first.

But I have a hard time to believe that you have to pay the originaly price each time you clean your system and reinstall it, and are not given at least let's say three tries. Are you sure about your claim? If it is like yun bsay, this would be the worst example of restrictive registration license I have ever heared of - and there have been quite a bit of black sheep in the flightsim scene over the past 4, 5 years.

Anyhow, their behaviour was what killed the sim for me back then.

[PeriscopeDepth]

I just reinstalled on a different (PC). It did require an email to them though.

You can definitely reinstall it on the same PC.

PD

[Falkirion]

Originally Posted by goldorak

The license is restrictive not because you can't mod the game (even if its pretty drastic according to me) but because you have to buy a new license (full price) if you ever have to reinstall the simulator on THE SAME PC !!!! Thats something that not even microsoft does, or EA who's not exactly consumer friendly.
This absurd restriction is what has made me stay away from ssm2007.
I don't know if the developer has changed his stance on this issue, but when the game was released it was 50 € for every reinstallation on the same pc.
Thanks but no thanks.

Not quite true. If you buy the SSM license you should get 5 free activations. I upgraded my comp and it cost me one of mine so I'm down to 4. Really have to get back into SSM, haven't flown a mission since the new patch changed all the controls around.

[goldorak]

[QUOTE=Falkirion]

Originally Posted by goldorak

Not quite true. If you buy the SSM license you should get 5 free activations. I upgraded my comp and it cost me one of mine so I'm down to 4. Really have to get back into SSM, haven't flown a mission since the new patch changed all the controls around.

Excuse me but how is this better ?
You have still bought a game with limited life. Once your 5 activations are up you have to pay more money. If you're okay with that more power to you, as for me I will never ever buy a software that has a kill switch in it.
I guess that's the reason I haven't bought games in over 2 years. I'm a simple minded man , born in the 20th century where buying something means owning it, pure and simple.
I bought Falcon 4 in late 1998 since then I have upgrade my computer much more than 5 times. You know what, it doesn't matter since Falcon 4 still works ok, it doesn't have a kill switch in it. I just wonder when the software industry went down the hell path.

[FIREWALL]

A person has to be on Pot or Downers to play that slow moveing sim.

[dundun92]

hello, i have a simulator named orbiter 2010. ihave a link for it:http://http://orbit.medphys.ucl.ac.uk/