How many individual payware addons have been sold for FSX? Two million? If MS could get $1 royalty for every add-on sold it would help make it worthwhile to them, and cost me maybe only an extra $10 if I bought ten packages lifetime each release. I bought every release FS3 to FS9 and price was chump change.Look how ROF combat sim sells again each new plane, RailWorks sells each new engine and route. MS never sold many add-ons for MSTS and MSFS's. I hope Gates figures out how to generate some more $ on this stuff. Will keep me happy :).

I hope Gates figures out how to generate some more $ on this stuff. Will keep me happy :).

Um, Bill Gates left the building several years ago, and has nothing to do with decision making at MS...Steve Balmer steers the USS MS these days... :(

If Microsoft thinks that I am going to hand over my hard earned cash for another half assed effort such as the RTM Fsx was then they can think again.....Bryan.

This may come as a surprise to you and other MS bashers but MS is not thinking of you at all. MS is all about business and they will surely make up for their lost sale to you by serving those who do like their products.

This may come as a surprise to you and other MS bashers but MS is not thinking of you at all. MS is all about business and they will surely make up for their lost sale to you by serving those who do like their products.

A welcome breath of realism!

It would be a respectfull thing to do if MS would release another service pack for FSX.And they have PLENTY of budget, and they are still selling FSX.If only the multiplay would be fixed...MS releases updates ALL the time, for many products.Maybe they win my respect back.

I don't understand the "respectful" comment.   Doesnt seem right to refer to a "for profit entity" as respectful.  Perhaps you meant,  "good for business"   ... And if you accept good for business .. then, I would have to disagree.  IF MS is still selling FSX  and its working for the great majority of folks...where is the business sense in releasing an update?, when all  of MS's focus should be on the next release.

It would be a respectfull thing to do if MS would release another service pack for FSX.And they have PLENTY of budget, and they are still selling FSX.If only the multiplay would be fixed...MS releases updates ALL the time, for many products.Maybe they win my respect back.

Not very likely since MS fired all the FSX workers a long time ago- then apparently rehired some to work on a new sim. It would appear that, from the perspective of Microsoft Senior Mgmt., FSX joined the history books some time ago.While we all are tempted to bash MS occasionally, they also deserve a lot of credit for much software development and popularization that we now take for granted. Imagine the world today if Bill Gates had decided to become a trumpet player.(Not that trumpet players aren't important- but they don't typically create things that truly CHANGE THE WORLD!)Alex Reid

----------------------------------It's important to recieve this MSF with critisism.rovpilot.

By all means, criticize Flight- after you have tried it.I learned long ago to not criticize the cook BEFORE dinner, but rather to express my anticipation.Alex Reid

Why is it in Microsoft's interests to spend money without any return for it?

You mean no immediate financial return. However, what they could gain is customer satisfaction and loyalty which will lead to future sales. Business isn't always about making money right now. Sometimes you need to look at the long-term.And it's worth noting that I seem to recall that the FSX team was set enter the testing phase for a third service pack around the time that Microsoft closed up shop, which was really unfortunate. It would be nice if they could revisit it and finish that last bit of testing.

You mean no immediate financial return.  However, what they could gain is customer satisfaction and loyalty which will lead to future sales.  Business isn't always about making money right now.  Sometimes you need to look at the long-term.And it's worth noting that I seem to recall that the FSX team was set enter the testing phase for a third service pack around the time that Microsoft closed up shop, which was really unfortunate.  It would be nice if they could revisit it and finish that last bit of testing.

feels like you guys are trying to use psychology to convince MS to release SP3 ... hope you are successful.   With or without SP3, all of us enthusiasts will likely purchase "Flight", and MS knows this.  I believe that SP3 would negatively impact Flight sales.  

You mean no immediate financial return. However, what they could gain is customer satisfaction and loyalty which will lead to future sales. Business isn't always about making money right now. Sometimes you need to look at the long-term.

How many extra units of Flight will be sold in the long-term as a result of releasing SP3 for FSX? I suggest very few and not enough to make it all worthwhile.Remember what Keynes said - "in the long run we are all dead."

feels like you guys are trying to use psychology to convince MS to release SP3

I'm not trying to convince anybody to do anything as I strongly doubt that anything I say here will convince Microsoft to release SP3 (in fact, I doubt that those controlling the purse strings at Microsoft even visit these forums). I was simply responding to the claim that Microsoft had nothing to gain by releasing another patch for FSX.

I believe that SP3 would negatively impact Flight sales.

If it did then it would only be because Flight didn't offer any substantial improvement over a patched up FSX, in which case it would be hardly better than FSX in its current state. I hope for Microsoft's and especially the flight sim community's sake that this isn't the case.

How many extra units of Flight will be sold in the long-term as a result of releasing SP3 for FSX?

More than would be sold otherwise? Who really know. The point is that long-term support does make people more loyal to a brand or company which makes it more likely they'll buy that company's products in the future.That said, you probably have a better chance of winning the lottery than seeing SP3 released.

The question that begs to be asked is, why do you think that "Flight" will not be the "next" simulator?So far, there has only been a name change and it may well turn out to be nothing more than for marketing purposes.IMO, what MS needs to do is to be a bit more clearer about exactly what "flight" will be/contain.

So true. If MS would just open up and treat us like adults, and share their vision with us,if the vision is good they have nothing to lose. If they are not confident well....it is just wait and see.

Why would microsoft want to make a simulator for people who only want to pay microsoft $60, once, for the base engine. Then spend $1000 on a nice MOBO, Ram,cooler, 2700K, and GTX580 just so they can run it?Then spend another couple hundred on different planes and scenery?What possible motivation could they have to support this? How many copies of FSX have each of you bought? and how much did it cost at the time?

Hey OP,Interesting idea about releasing a new service pack now for FSX.I plugged the variables into my computer...Spend $$$ on service pack for an old program whose staff have been (mainly) fired$$$ spent will result in neglible increase in sales for old program, but will canibalise sales of forthcoming programDo this in the week leading up to release of your new program.Look, as I said I thought it was a novel idea...but my computer wants to let you know that you have come up with what is known, in technical terms, as an 'epic business fail'.Just thought I should let you know.