I think I got it - it can be undocked and put on a seperate monitor.Michael J.

Here's my 2 cents worth.I've always admired the PMDG approach to making panels so to me, there's no doubt that that the upcoming 737NG panel will raise the bar once again for panel design in MSFS. However, aesthetics play a huge part in a panel. A panel can be fully functional, realistic, etc but if it is aesthetically weak, it won't get the full marks and this is the area where I believe PMDG is falling short.From the previews you guys posted up on your website, I have made 2 observtions. 1. The panel looks very cartoonish. 2. The panel perspectives could be improved.You've already said in the post above that you are sticking to 3D generated images for your panel art as opposed to using photo-realistic elements, so I'm not going to try to convince you guys otherwise.Regarding my second observation about panel perspectives, I think that the current panel perspectives do not do your panel justice. When I looked at your preview shots, they reminded me of the panels done by a certain developer who released an A320 earlier this year. I think you guys should be striving for something better: i.e., a main panel with a true pilot's perspective with the PFD directly in front of the pilot in the middle of the screen. The user should be able to feel like he/she is actually sitting in the pilot's seat as opposed to sitting in the jumpseat. This is going to be hard to do considering the constraints of a tiny PC monitor, but developers like Dreamfleet has already proved that it can be done. If anyone of you has been in a cockpit of a jetliner, you will immediate realise how small the cockpit really is and the 737NG cockpit is no exception. Very few panels out there have been able to portray this feeling of being cramped inside a cockpit, sitting in the pilot's seat, staring directly at the PFD in front of you with all the proper perspectives. If you can achieve this, you will have set a new standard.TK

How's this:There's going to be a "Professional" version, that will come as standalone. Something like Project Magenta.Cheers,

I think that your "work in progress" is fantastic. This applies to the Panel and gauge work. As to the panel itself, there are some really photo quality looking panels that I think you guys should look into and maybe think about modeling towards. The main panel that comes to mind that I am blown away from is Capt Sims 727 panel. It is a work of art beyond ANY I have ever seen hands down. What I mean is the TEXTURES look real. Now I don't know where gooper got his idea that PIC's panel was from digital photos from but I have my own landing panel for it and have worked with that panel and can tell you it is not that real looking texture wise compared to a real 767/757 not that its not nice but times have changed since it was made. With 3dmax 5 and the like i'm sure it could be done much better. Keep up the great work guys, I will be looking forward to flying your great aircraft! Best Wishes, Randy J. Smith

Randy-thanks for the kind words, and the words of advice.We have made a conscious decision away from photorealistic panels. You are correct that, in older aircraft, the feeling of the analogue gauge is much better given by the photorealistic approach. However, in our case, we're modelling a glass cockpit that has 3/4s of its panel drawn, even in real life. As such, we elected to go the other way.Just a reminder: You haven't seen what Marc can do, just yet... You saw just a small glimpse of his talents, hidden behind what I wanted to showcase in the Primary Flight Display... Wait until he offers teaser shots, and then you be the judge ;-).

>modeling towards. The main panel that comes to mind that I >am blown away from is Capt Sims 727 panel. Interesting that you feel this way. I thought Capt Sims should invest in a better camera - there is still a lot of "fuziness" in his work. Some of the gauges are so-so. If one talks about photorealistic panels then I challenge anyone to show me a better work then the upcoming Meridian panel from Flight1.Michael J.

>How's this: >>There's going to be a "Professional" version, that will come >as standalone. Something like Project Magenta. >>Cheers, What do you mean by this? A more complex version for use on 1 monitor or one for use on multi-monitors?

Love it love it, love it. It'sd going to be a loooooong wait... Pedro

TK->If anyone of you has been in a cockpit of a jetliner,Comments like this always make me squirm. I think I've been in a cockpit or two. I get to do that as an airline captain. I'd disagree with the "cramped" viewpoint. Especially in something the size of a 737....I'm always amazed at how varied users opinions are of cockpit perspectives. I've always been an advocate of having the PFD centered on the screen, as this allows the user to fly the airplane from the same eyeball perspective that I have when I'm "in the office."This was one of the major aspects of our FLY!II product line that I liked the most....I've been beaten viscously about the head and shoulders for having this opinion in the public forums, however- as most users much prefer to be able to view the entire cockpit panel to the left of the gear lever....One of the things that all of us at PMDG often have to remember is that no product is going to meet the personal preference of every user- and there will always be individuals who can explain how you can do things better. Some folks actually have good ideas- and you have to filter through the reams of posts to find an occasional new idea.The key is not to get frustrated by "experts."Anyway- TK, I'm with you on the eyeball perspective.... If I get my way- there will be a few different aspects that you can choose from- but don't hold your breath...I'm only one vote on the team! I'll be sure to think about that more tomorrow when I'm visiting my cockpit tomorrow morning! ;-)Robert S. RandazzoPrecision Manuals Development Group http://www.precisionmanuals.com/images/coolcap.gifwww.precisionmanuals.com

>...I'm only one vote on the team! Rob,Maybe there are some more votes like yours around ...There are quite a few folks in the FS world who also appreciate correct panel perspective. And like some vendors showed - it can be done even though it is not FLY!. ;-) Michael J.

Gooper->Thanks for your explanation Mark and I totally respect your >reasons for doing it that way- it will no doubt be an >outstanding product and i absolutely will be purchasing it >as soon as it is ready- do u have a rough idea of when that >will be by the way?? Glad to hear it- and thanks for the compliments, too...we always like those! ;-)One of the things that Marc neglected to mention is that by modeling the ENTIRE cockpit we have some unique opportunities when it comes to cockpit perspectives and animation. For example- I had marc render various panels from multiple "eyeball positions" to see which onces work best within the sim from the standpoint of readability, immersion factor and realism....Additionally, we can animate switches so that they have a greater sense of depth and perspective than you can when using a digital photograph... This is true because with a photograph you spend a tremendous amount of time cutting/pasting/layering images so that they can be used. In our rendering process- we have unrestricted access to render/import/change/edit/re-render/import the cockpit animations until we find a perfectly seemless visual image.One of the things that I think is missed by most folks is the really horrible restrictions you run into when putting artwork into MSFS. The cockpit artwork within MSFS loses quite a bit of image quality when it gets reduced to 8bit textures. Obviously we'd like to use 24bit or 32bit textures- but MSFS wont... Thus- even if we textured our panel with photographic textures- we wouldn't get great image quality that you'd expect, as MSFS would diffuse the image quality during the display routine...So- all of that lengthy explanation to help provide continued education into the complexities of modern MSFS design work! ;-)Any good addon comes as the result of plenty of studied decisions that balance quality with visual impact....Robert S. RandazzoPrecision Manuals Development Group http://www.precisionmanuals.com/images/coolcap.gifwww.precisionmanuals.com

Very interesting! Nice headings for the pull down menus Lefteris... care to show us what's under each one? ;-) Looking forward to the product.George

LOL...that was just a general comment, not aimed at anyone in particular and certainly not meant to belittle or stoop anyone of you guys at PMDG. I am, of course, aware that you are a captain for a major US airline and the name Randazzo is no stranger to me- having followed your add-ons since the FS5 days. I still remember the pretty United 757 that you did for FS5.1. Ahh...those good old days of BAO's flightshop. ;)I'm surprised that you disagree. Perhaps because you fly these planes on a regular basis, you get accustomed to it. But the general impression that most first time visitors to a flight deck get is, "Wow, i never knew the cockpit was so small..etc"Anyhow, its nice to know that panel perspectives are still on your "consider to do" list because this is something that most panel designers overlook. That too was one of the things I liked about FLY!. The main panel was more scattered out and instruments didn't have to get crammed into one small space like in MSFS.TK

TK-Oh, quite funny..... Yes then- I have been at this for some time. That 757 was quite some time ago! I suppose you may be right about first impressions... After all- when you start out flying C-150s, the cockpit of a J41 seems like excess realestate... :-lol>Anyhow, its nice to know that panel perspectives are still >on your "consider to do" list because this is something that >most panel designers overlook.We are working on it.... Might take more convincing for the team, tho....Robert S. RandazzoPrecision Manuals Development Group http://www.precisionmanuals.com/images/coolcap.gifwww.precisionmanuals.com

>Anyone can guess what the big deal about this is? ;-) Yep...you should not be flying so damn fast under Fight Level 100! ;-)Jerome