Microsoft releases their second service pack for FSX. I includes graphical and performance enhancements.
IMPORTANT: If you have already installed Flight Simulator X: Acceleration expansion pack, do not install Service Pack 2.
IMPORTANT: You must install Service Pack 1 before installing Service Pack 2.
Service Pack 2 does not include the code updates required to use the new Flight Simulator X: Acceleration aircraft. You must purchase and install Flight Simulator X: Acceleration to use those aircraft.
After you have installed Service Pack 2, you will be able to play multiplayer games only with users who have installed either Service Pack 2 or Flight SimulatorX: Acceleration.
DirectX
Flight Simulator X Service Pack 2 previews the new technology of DirectX 10 to enhance environmental effects such as bloom, realistic water, and virtual cockpit shadowing. You must have a DirectX 10 graphics adapter to enable the DirectX 10 features (the check box for DirectX 10 is not visible if you don't have compatible hardware).
Features and improvements include virtual cockpit shadowing, HDR bloom, water enhancements, and efficiency improvements to increase performance in some areas.
Other issues
Sound Settings
We modified the Sound Settings dialog box so you can select separate audio adapters directly in the Sound Settings dialog box. We removed the Configure button and provided two list boxes to select audio adapters to separate voice and other sounds.
Multiplayer and Service Pack 2
Service Pack 2 brings computers running Flight Simulator X or Flight Simulator X Service Pack 1 into multiplayer compatibility with Flight Simulator X: Acceleration. Computers that have only the original retail version of Flight Simulator X or Flight Simulator X Service Pack 1 cannot connect in multiplayer with computers running Acceleration or SP2.
If you install SP2 but do not install Acceleration, you can connect to Acceleration multiplayer sessions but you cannot participate in Acceleration-only activities such as racing.
