You must take three things into consideration:1) Piracy2) Financial development (inflation, even small one)3) ComplexityWhat $10 10 years ago were, are not really what they today are.Piracy is I believe one of the main factors why addons are so expensive. 10 years ago there was much less piracy, thus more people actually bought software.

I remember buying other add-ons 10 years ago that were $25 to $30 as well, and for that time they were very complex.Piracy, with all due respect, is more of an excuse for them -- I am not saying that piracy is not a problem in any form. The owner/founder of a famous add-on developer e-mailed me over 3 years ago and stated that he was seriously considering closing their doors due to rampant piracy. Guess what?...That developer is still in business.However, if MS decides that FSX is the last sim -- Than every add-on developer should jump for joy. The term "Absolute Advantage" transforms into a whole new meaning.My comment at this point is: What other product has inflated so much within a short time to present (i.e., $90+ for 1 item), and what products are out there in the market (outside of flight sim add-ons, etc.) that have not changed in their pricing for approximately 5 years? I can't think of one. So here is a huge hypothetical: What are the chances of me going to buy a 737-700 made in let's say 2004, whereby the seller of that plane is trying to get me to buy that plane at the same cost of a 737-700 made in 2009?brando

I remember buying other add-ons 10 years ago that were $25 to $30 as well, and for that time they were very complex.Piracy, with all due respect, is more of an excuse for them -- I am not saying that piracy is not a problem in any form. The owner/founder of a famous add-on developer e-mailed me over 3 years ago and stated that he was seriously considering closing their doors due to rampant piracy. Guess what?...That developer is still in business.However, if MS decides that FSX is the last sim -- Than every add-on developer should jump for joy. The term "Absolute Advantage" transforms into a whole new meaning.My comment at this point is: What other product has inflated so much within a short time to present (i.e., $90+ for 1 item), and what products are out there in the market (outside of flight sim add-ons, etc.) that have not changed in their pricing for approximately 5 years? I can't think of one. So here is a huge hypothetical: What are the chances of me going to buy a 737-700 made in let's say 2004, whereby the seller of that plane is trying to get me to buy that plane at the same cost of a 737-700 made in 2009?brando

They were complex, but I don't remember things being in development for years. If someone works on some addon for 3 years, then there must be a price behind it to cover that.Piracy is not an excuse, its a fact, and it destroys sales. Internet 10years ago - speeds were >>standard<<, at what, 10kbps throughout Europe, a bit more possibly in USA? Most of people still had dialup, with some lucky ones using cable. 1999 - I remember binaries starting first off. Torrent? Nono... We had Napster, MP3s were mainstream in those days. Sharing and obtaining pirated software was much harder than it is today. Typing "Adobe Photoshop Torrent" into Google will give you pirated Photoshop or basically anything else inside of hours. I don't say it wasn't there, but not in such size like today.About inflation, I didn't even mean that any other product inflated that much. Every product is for itself and has its market. I believe here in Austria, sqm for flats went up a lot. What you were able to get for 400€ 10 years ago, isn't nearly possible today. Back then 40m2 flat was normally possible. Today the price of 400€ you have to pay for 30m2 already. It might be not lot in percentage, and not nearly in relation of €10 - €90, but its here.Products keep their prices, always has been so. If a developer decides to charge more later, that is their decision, they know why. I don't believe its being greedy or anything, rather covering their costs. I am working in a tech shop, as a shop-director, I see our numbers. People steal stuff in the shop too. It's a reality. It's not easy to pump up the prices to keep us at 0. I see these things coming from year to year.Btw. AA batteries package, 8pcs, costed 2004 5,99, costs today 8,99.

Which doesn't change the fact that it would be nice if an addon (no names here) manufactured between two and five years ago (for the platform which according to this addon's makers is becoming outdated today) was well discounted for good. In the long term that would, I believe, bring many more customers (also fewer pirates) and profits for the developer. Many addons ARE expensive (I know what I'm saying: I could buy a car for all the money I've spent on MFS addons and hardware to use them for years). My two cents.

One of my biggest disappointments about FSX was that I expected a lot of FS9 products to be heavily discounted after about 12 months - I was assuming that most people would move over to the new sim. Never really happened, did it? I recently purchased my most expensive FS9 product, the PMDG MD-11 - which I absolutely love. Hopefully there'll be a decent A320 for Fs9 soon - fingers crossed that Airsimmer do a good job. That'll keep FS9 going for a bit :(

One of my biggest disappointments about FSX was that I expected a lot of FS9 products to be heavily discounted after about 12 months - I was assuming that most people would move over to the new sim. Never really happened, did it?

No kidding. I was just over at the Flight1 website and some of the prices for FS9 stuff are insane. $30. $40. $50. $60! What are these guys smoking? Some stuff was fair. The Captain Sim F-104, my favorite plane on any sim, is $15. Their C-130 is $20. The Portland FZ02 scenery, for example, still costs $35. It's great scenery, but IMHO, $35 is way too high. I know; it's a free market and if the price is too high then you just don't buy it. But we are allowed (I think) to voice our opinions and this one is mine.

No kidding. I was just over at the Flight1 website and some of the prices for FS9 stuff are insane. $30. $40. $50. $60! What are these guys smoking? Some stuff was fair. The Captain Sim F-104, my favorite plane on any sim, is $15. Their C-130 is $20. The Portland FZ02 scenery, for example, still costs $35. It's great scenery, but IMHO, $35 is way too high. I know; it's a free market and if the price is too high then you just don't buy it. But we are allowed (I think) to voice our opinions and this one is mine.

well,as I said,I'd fork out $90 for the 737NGX by a well known developer,but only if it is for FS9.I haven't bothered buying the 737NG they're selling now asI do own the Feelthere 737 already and I like the INS aligning andthe fact it starts up cold an dark.I don't want to fiddle with default flights and all that so the current NG isn't somethingI would buy,also because you don't have to align it first.stupid I know but it's a dealbreaker for me,even though most planes will be using GPS by now I suppose.It's not so much the prices holding me back,if I want it,I'll pay up,no problem with that.But I am picky because of those prices.If it were 25$ you could go ouyt and buy something andthen bin it if you don't like it,but if I have to shell out 90$ I sure as h*** want something I can use and use well,and with a moneyback guarantee if I cannot use it.simple as that,really.JP.

Which doesn't change the fact that it would be nice if an addon (no names here) manufactured between two and five years ago (for the platform which according to this addon's makers is becoming outdated today) was well discounted for good. In the long term that would, I believe, bring many more customers (also fewer pirates) and profits for the developer. Many addons ARE expensive (I know what I'm saying: I could buy a car for all the money I've spent on MFS addons and hardware to use them for years). My two cents.

Rafal,You hit the nail on the head.For example: Why is it that PMDG is selling their 737NG products at the same price they were when they released it five years ago? I can go to a local retailer down the road from my home and buy FS9 for $20.BTW -- Word Not Allowed misunderstood me. Show me a product made in 2005 whereby its' retailer is trying to sell me that same 2005 product at the same price as the same unchanged product made in 2009. In situations like this...Why aren't prices lowered? As Rafal said: If developers reduced their prices on stuff they made 5 plus years ago, I could see an environment where piracy would be reduced.As for piracy: If developers share music or movies that they have bought amoungst themselves and others (via e-mail or ripped CD's/DVD's), I do not want to hear them cry one foul word about file-sharing/piracy.brando

For example: Why is it that PMDG is selling their 737NG products at the same price they were when they released it five years ago? I can go to a local retailer down the road from my home and buy FS9 for $20.brando

The answer is the free market. As long as people are still willing to pay that price why should PMDG (or any other developer) reduce prices? Prices will hold up until someone comes along with a better product at the same price.

Rafal,You hit the nail on the head.For example: Why is it that PMDG is selling their 737NG products at the same price they were when they released it five years ago? I can go to a local retailer down the road from my home and buy FS9 for $20.BTW -- Word Not Allowed misunderstood me. Show me a product made in 2005 whereby its' retailer is trying to sell me that same 2005 product at the same price as the same unchanged product made in 2009. In situations like this...Why aren't prices lowered? As Rafal said: If developers reduced their prices on stuff they made 5 plus years ago, I could see an environment where piracy would be reduced.As for piracy: If developers share music or movies that they have bought amoungst themselves and others (via e-mail or ripped CD's/DVD's), I do not want to hear them cry one foul word about file-sharing/piracy.brando[/quote--------------------------brando- if you were fortunate enough to own a brand new, never driven, 90 year old Model T Ford car, I suspect that you would not sell it for anything like its "when new" price of about $800- let alone a lower price simply because it is old. Supply and demand would create a market price probably closer to $100,000. And theft is theft- whether it is music, movies, or your antique Model T.Alex Reid

Rafal,You hit the nail on the head.For example: Why is it that PMDG is selling their 737NG products at the same price they were when they released it five years ago? I can go to a local retailer down the road from my home and buy FS9 for $20.BTW -- Word Not Allowed misunderstood me. Show me a product made in 2005 whereby its' retailer is trying to sell me that same 2005 product at the same price as the same unchanged product made in 2009. In situations like this...Why aren't prices lowered? As Rafal said: If developers reduced their prices on stuff they made 5 plus years ago, I could see an environment where piracy would be reduced.As for piracy: If developers share music or movies that they have bought amoungst themselves and others (via e-mail or ripped CD's/DVD's), I do not want to hear them cry one foul word about file-sharing/piracy.brando

1. Has the value of FS9 actually diminished since it's release? Of course not. The $20 price has nothing to do with product value as much as it has to do with clearing shelves. It's a store mentality that doesn't apply to online one bit.2. Piracy of movies/music has far less impact than the RIAA would lead one to believe. I seriously don't recall seeing a single RIAA exec driving a 15+yr old beat up pile of junk because they can't afford something better.3. Piracy of FS addons has a far greater impact... there are no FS addons that have ever come close to a typical CD/DVD sales count.While I think piracy is bad... please don't try to tell us how horrible it is for the RIAA... last I checked, they were still making a rather healthy profit.

why should PMDG (or any other developer) reduce prices?

To attract more customers and to be seen in much better light. Such decisions are highly appreciated in business everywhere. You could ask this question in any possible case but still many developers do discount their products, including Microsoft themselves. Addons are not wines, are they?And, all in all, I believe lower (more attractive) prices would be nice to ALL of us, simmers.Does anyone really mind?

To attract more customers and to be seen in much better light. Such decisions are highly appreciated in business everywhere. You could ask this question in any possible case but still many developers do discount their products, including Microsoft themselves. Addons are not wines, are they?And, all in all, I believe lower (more attractive) prices would be nice to ALL of us, simmers.Does anyone really mind?

There is no point in reducing price to attract more customers unless the revenue increases to make the price reduction worthwhile. If the revenue doesn't increase then there's no point in reducing the price. There is no law that says sales will double is price is halved. If sales only increase by 50% when the price is halved then the developer loses revenue.Developers, like any other business, will aim to maximise their revenue. Concepts ofattracting more customers, being seen in a better light, highly appreciated, or nice don't matter - what does matter is revenue. The bottom line is that the optimum selling price is that which maximises revenue and the developer's foolish if it doesn't aim to achieve that.

...highly appreciated, or nice don't matter - what does matter is revenue

I guess I see your point clearly but, in my view, you're being unilateral. Aiming at maximum revenue at any cost is short-sighted and may lead the wrong way. Happens in business quite often.How you see the developer and their attitude towards you, including the price policy, highly contributes to the final results. Of course there are a bunch of wealthy simmers around who will buy everything at any, even cosmic, price. But I believe most of us have limited budgets. There are some addon makers on this market (no names again) whose prices are way too high. And even though I'd be interested in their products, I pass by. Some other simmers will use p2p instead. Many other manufacturers do reduce their prices and offer regular occasional discounts (Aerosoft, FSDreamTeam, CaptainSim). I'm sure their sales increase, otherwise they would play against themselves.And by the way, I think it must be nice indeed to sell 250 copies at 60 euro. But I guess it could be even nicer to sell 1000 copies at 30 euro. Some developers will follow this policy, others won't indeed. I'll usually be the later's customer. And I must say that is an interesting discussion. :(

There are a couple of interesting quotes below. My comments are in italics. Quote from Alex Reid:

I guess I see your point clearly but, in my view, you're being unilateral. Aiming at maximum revenue at any cost is short-sighted and may lead the wrong way. Happens in business quite often.How you see the developer and their attitude towards you, including the price policy, highly contributes to the final results.Of course there are a bunch of wealthy simmers around who will buy everything at any, even cosmic, price. But I believe most of us have limited budgets. There are some addon makers on this market (no names again) whose prices are way too high. And even though I'd be interested in their products, I pass by. Some other simmers will use p2p instead. Many other manufacturers do reduce their prices and offer regular occasional discounts (Aerosoft, FSDreamTeam, CaptainSim). I'm sure their sales increase, otherwise they would play against themselves.And by the way, I think it must be nice indeed to sell 250 copies at 60 euro. But I guess it could be even nicer to sell 1000 copies at 30 euro. Some developers will follow this policy, others won't indeed. I'll usually be the later's customer. And I must say that is an interesting discussion. :(

I'm afraid you've missed the point completely. Selling 250 copies at 60 euro gives a revenue of 15,000 euro. Selling 1000 copies at 30 euro gives a revenue of 30,000 euro. In that case, a developer who sells at 30 euro is maximising its revenue. On the other hand if reducing price to 30 euro only increases sales to 500 copies then the revenue remains at 15,000 euro. So, why should the developer bother? I repeat, number of sales by itself is not relevant - what matters is revenue. Pricing is a two way process. The developer sets the price and consumers decide whether to buy or not at that price. That's why there are higher-priced detailed add-ons for those who are prepared to pay for that, and lower-priced, less detailed ones for those who aren't. All too often these threads become a plea for high-quality add-ons at the price of low-quality ones. I'd like to run a Ferrari but I have to make do with an Alfa because I have "a limited budget". I don't expect Ferrari to offer a car at the same price as an Alfa.