LMAO - Satan has you in his grasp now...Congrats on your excellent 'official' 757 review by the way. Given the recent threads, your timing is akin to arriving at Hickam Field as the Japanese Zeroes heave into sight LOLAl

We'll see how the Zeros do at 40,000 feet. The review is my opinion after an inquisitoral process and (now) 28:36 flying time with 10 trips, including one transatlantic one. Everybody's entitled to their own.Besides, I am only allowed to fly Ariane 737s anyway, at risk of disembowelment and various other ritual tortures threatened in the secret Ariane initiation ceremony. (Four hours and no activation reply!!!?) I am going to be in Chicago for the next couple of days and all next week going through -- of all things -- an advanced police interrogation course! (No, I am not a policeman.)

Yup. But try as I might, I have been unable to get a LCOS gunsight pipper or a lock up box on that Ariane HUD.Try emailing them at [email protected] (I think that's the email address, but can't be sure since I'm currently not at my home computer. Maybe someone can correct me if that's the wrong email address.Al

As I'm heading out of town anyway, there's no hurry. If its not here when I get back I'll rattle someone's chain. My banner can easily be changed <evil grin>. I was pleased with the way it looked and handled -- which is about all I can say until it gets activated and I get instruments lol

Just to start extracting some entertainment value from my considerable investment, I'll post the number of hours between activation request and response. The clock is ticking. Will Ariane meet it's promised 48 hour maximum? What will happen if it doesn't? Well, I won't complain. What's the fun in that? Anyone can complain. I am sure I'll think of something entertaining, though ;-)

Just to start extracting some entertainment value from my considerable investment, I'll post the number of hours between activation request and response. The clock is ticking. Will Ariane meet it's promised 48 hour maximum? What will happen if it doesn't? Well, I won't complain. What's the fun in that? Anyone can complain. I am sure I'll think of something entertaining, though ;-)

For the record 41 hours. As I was out of town anyway, it was a pleasant little gift to find upon my return. Case closed.

Just on a more general note regarding the original post: Why do some developers insist on making things as complex as possible? In the past I've avoided buying Captain Sim products because of their block system. What the hell do all these blocks mean? There are other developers who don't even describe what their product is (especially important for scenery addons, is it photoreal, landclass, terrain mesh etc). I've actually seen posts in some commercial forums where people have had to ask what it is that they sell! There is one developer I can point to who hides software updates on some obscure thread on their forum. How about an "UPDATES" link on your main page?It's one thing to produce a flight sim addon but it is quite another to market it. Producing a complex array of addons and even addons for the addons can just end up confusing the consumer.My 2 cents? Reduce the number of choices and options. If I want to buy a plane then I just want to buy a plane. I don't want to spend hours trying to figure out if I need the optional liveries or FMC addon or freighter option or the "Pro pack".And lastly. Spend some time simplifing your website. Have a look at how other companies make their websites (not flight sim related) and copy the best ideas. Whenever I visit a payware website the first thing I am looking for is PRODUCTS (a simple listing of what you sell) and DOWNLOADS (so I know where to get any updates for something I may have purchased previously).

One reason for the block system is that it gets revenue flowing in as the product is finished. While that might be a quick cash fix (even a necessary one, for all I know) in the long term it runs the risk of alienating people. At least now, Captain Sim makes it easy since the whole product is available in a single upgraded package (with options for the 300 and freighter, which seems reasonable to me).As for Ariane's impenetrable website, it looks like a combination of non-native-English-speaker-clumsiness, an overly-exuberant prose style and some, frankly, amateurish marketing. Perhaps they are genuinely eager to turn over new public relations leaf and are just going about it with too heavy a hand. Flight simmers are pretty sophisticated, expecially ones with a hundred bucks to drop on one airplane. They don't need something crammed down their throat and are likely to choke if someone tries. They have to know they are selling a product thethat is quite a bit more expensive than we're used to paying for, and perhaps feel the need to over-justify it.Even the activation email attributed the delay to being simply overwhelmed by the number of people who are saturating their servers with demand for their wonderful, quality airplane. Maybe, but I don't think many people are impressed with that sort of thing.Now, as for the airplane itself, I'm not going to steal any of Al's thunder :-)Honestly, I haven't had time to mess with it, having just gotten back from Chicago, and discovered an inexplicably urgent matter that required my attention in the office until 3 a.m. That was along with the email saying that since the state doesn't have a budget approved I might not get paid the 15th. Oh, and my interrogation course being taken away for the same reason. So my evening is sucking pretty bad.First impression was it flies real nice, gets good frame rates and has a functional, if not particularly inspired vc. (That seems to be the pattern: skyrocketing FPS=visible polygons in the vc... not a complaint, just seems to be the reality of the trade-off. It isn't particularly bad looking.) Complicated enough that my Wilco 737PIC experience isn't helping me out much and I'm going to have to dig into the manuals.I will say that "green stuff" (non)paint job is ridiculously intriguing for some reason, though.

Now, as for the airplane itself, I'm not going to steal any of Al's thunder :-)

Steal away Tim. It's always interesting to hear what people's impressions are; which aircraft did you get anyway, the 800? Certainly with regard to the Ariane's FSX stuff, it is not the kind of price people are likely to just 'take a punt on'; for that kind of money, people generally want to know exactly what they are getting, so opinions are useful. I think that's especially the case with Ariane's FSX 737s too, given that an alternative is breathing down its virtual neck.It's no secret that a PMDG 737NG is on the way, but with at least a six month wait for it (and possibly longer), the Ariane is an option many will consider. Unfortunately, as far as a decision making process for potential buyers is concerned, I think a lot of the plus points of the Ariane centre on things that are either not seen in other FS add-ons (unless you buy an FS2 Crew add-on for them), such as the Fly-Tunes cabin crew module, or intangible stuff more related to personal preference, such as an attempt to keep the frame rates high with one or two compromises in other areas.What that boils down to, is that the Ariane FSX NGs might not be everybody's cup of tea. Personally I think the compromises they have made are acceptable, and the thing you gain (if not in monetary terms then in FPS) is worth it. I prefer pragmatic design choices with FSX add-ons if they give me a smooth ride on finals into a busy add-on airport. But given that you are particularly au fait with the CS 757, which makes no compromises in that department, I'd be interested to hear your own take on such a design decision.PMDG will likely take a different road and probably have every single switch modeled on their FSX NG, and I think that means there will be room for both of them in my hangar, depending on what mood I am in and whether I want all the scenery cranked up.Al

Since I treat my bosses to the same opaque sense of humor evidenced here, I may not even be employed after the emails that went out after last night's (this morning's?) fiasco. Illinois has decided it has too many employees as it is and may not be paying the ones it keeps anyway. You can imagine how popular the guy who defends baby murderers is, and I am relying soley on my position's obscurity to keep me and Buster in our swinging metro east bachelor pad, which looks something like this:It's nice to have airplanes you don't have to worry about frame rates on at all, so you can crank up some of the other stuff. I'm pretty forgiving of any compromise when I can see what I'm getting in the bargain.I'm beginning to wonder if your review might not come later than PMDG's 737!You know, as for that, I find that companies have recognizable styles (no great revelation). I enjoy a variety, and it is not necessarily "the best" airplane that I will like the most. I've had a PMDG 737NG, and, as great as it was, I don't recall it with particular fondness. Respect, yes. This is really just personal. It doesn't have the same tug as my Dreamfleet 737, for instance, or even my Iron Knuckles DC9. My MD-11 undoubtedly represents the most accomplished all-around development of any airplane I've ever had, but I haven't fallen in love with it. Some people like Mary Ann, some people like Ginger. (Actually, I think everyone likes Mary Ann, but there are probably some that like Ginger, or Mrs. Howell for that matter.)

Don't look at me, I just write em and send em in :( That must have been a hell of a landing to go through that house so neatly, still, any landing you can climb down a ladder and walk away from...It is very true what you say about some FS add-ons becoming particular favourites regardless of their qualities in comparison to others; I know the PMDG 747-400 blows the CLS 747-200/300 out of the water as a technical achievement, but for some reason I prefer the CLS one. Where Ariane are concerned, I think it might be the fact that it's the underdog for so many people that makes me inclined to want to bat for it.Al

I know the PMDG 747-400 blows the CLS 747-200/300 out of the water as a technical achievement, but for some reason I prefer the CLS one. Where Ariane are concerned, I think it might be the fact that it's the underdog for so many people that makes me inclined to want to bat for it.Al

I like the CLS 747 because it has a tape, which reminds me of my beloved RFP, as well as an INS that you can actually import a flight plan into. Not realistic, but keying in coordinates for NATs was never my favorite thing anyway. I pretend my first officer does all that stuff. I also like the service vehicles because it is like having a little toy set like you'd get as a kid. I have more than enough FMCs to last me the rest of my life.Speaking of which, I got the Ariane 800. I'm going to exert some management effort after lunch and call it an early day so I can spend some time getting to know it.

Hello All, I think the web site could be best described as 'majority of smoke and mirrors'. but that's just my opinion.Clay