I can see the DLC model working with Flight and it actually including 3rd party developers. I have Steam--I was hesitant at first because of the whole "I have the disk so it's mine mine mine!" thing but then I tried it with a couple of games. Then I had some disk based software fail (because CD Rom's last forever) so I got those games as well--then I got some seriously discounted software--and finally the worst happened--a computer crash--I installed steam and IT reinstalled all my games and updates on its own. No digging up keys or applying patches in the right order, or security issues. I went to bed with the computer on and woke up ready to play......Now I only buy Games via Steam. They are always updated and ready to go---and I don't have to worry about disks and keys and installing and patch hunting. You can even uninstall a game--and reinstall it later without issue (and with all patches applied).I could see this model working with MS Flight. Old curmudgeon's not-withstanding--I believe that this model is in the cards-----it's a money maker and once you (the user) find it palatable, it is a completely acceptable distro model for other software. Remember, Steam was originally Valve's proprietary distro model but now many companies use it for distribution. Like Steam's online store, I would think you would be able to buy download-able content and pick and choose your addon's in the same manner we do now with the six or seven separate online stores.If the software is bug free and "loved" by MS, I could see this being pretty do able and at the same time maintain a revenue stream for MS to keep them interested which would in the long run benefit the community.

Let's face it. If MS release another sim but on a subscription basis we all know that it is going to be as crapy and bug ridden as all the others they have released. The only thing that makes the current sims useable are the legions of skilled people able to create fantastic add-ons free or not(that is our choice)e.g. FSUIPC, CIVA, TCAS just to name a few (let alone all the a/c add-ons and repaints).In order for MS to make a subscription sim that equals FS9 and FSX they would have to pay all of those people lots of money!!!! (making the subscription rather high!!)It won't happen. If it did then I'm afraid to say that very few people would actually take it up. I won't be one of them.vololiberista

Let's face it. If MS release another sim but on a subscription basis we all know that it is going to be as crapy and bug ridden as all the others they have released. The only thing that makes the current sims useable are the legions of skilled people able to create fantastic add-ons free or not(that is our choice)e.g. FSUIPC, CIVA, TCAS just to name a few (let alone all the a/c add-ons and repaints).In order for MS to make a subscription sim that equals FS9 and FSX they would have to pay all of those people lots of money!!!! (making the subscription rather high!!)It won't happen. If it did then I'm afraid to say that very few people would actually take it up. I won't be one of them.vololiberista

So angry with MS, aren't you!! :(

...........What if... Microsoft would release MS Flight or something else in the future that is subscription based?................Would you pay for that and how much per month?........

Politely put - Hell No!They do that and I'm never buying it - no matter what propaganda about how good it may be, is spewed out. Fact is (as proven by the poll here) that if it happens, the majority of consumers will simply refuse to buy and will probably use other alternatives (i.e. FS9, FSX, X-plane, etc...).

I WILL NOT pay a subscription for any flight simulator. It is nothing but a ploy to make someone else richer than he already is!! Taking my money for the benefit of someone elses idea of how I should run my sim. I'm sorry I want to run my sim the way I want to. I choose when to pay for something or not. And, not have someone else choose for me how much I have to pay just to run the sim the way they want not the way I want.vololiberista

:( :( :( :Applause:EDIT:

I can see the DLC model working with Flight and it actually including 3rd party developers. I have Steam--I was hesitant at first because of the whole "I have the disk so it's mine mine mine!" thing but then I tried it with a couple of games...........Now I only buy Games via Steam.................

Well to me, Steam is rubbish. You would not believe the problems I've had with it. It also ruined a perfectly good game - Half Life 2, and I will not buy anything more from any Steam type of service. Many other people are of the same opinion. I don't understand why it and other similar but even more restrictive and annoying services have to be rammed down our throats all the time. Why do the people who created, use and like these have to continually and aggressively point out and argue about how great it all is and to try to force it on everyone else? I have seen some real nasty insults out there towards people who refuse this situation and who have boycotted anything from Steam and similar type of services.

So angry with MS, aren't you!! :(

You will NEVER see any MS software in a real aeroplane!!!! It's to buggy for words.vololiberista

. Fact is (as proven by the poll here) that if it happens, the majority of consumers will simply refuse to buy and will probably use other alternatives (i.e. FS9, FSX, X-plane, etc...).

Only 183 people in total bothered to respond to this poll. Of those, 130 voted no. That's not a majority of consumers - it's not even a majority of AVSIM members. I don't think Microsoft will really be concerned that 130 AVSIM members won't sign up to a subscription service - that number certainly won't affect its plans.

Only 183 people in total bothered to respond to this poll. Of those, 130 voted no. That's not a majority of consumers - it's not even a majority of AVSIM members. I don't think Microsoft will really be concerned that 130 AVSIM members won't sign up to a subscription service - that number certainly won't affect its plans.

Still those 130 people didn't vote 'yes' - Even if its a small sample, it's still some indication of what would happen.Also considering that only 23 have actually voted a concrete 'yes' so far. With the rest choosing 'Depends' instead.

Still those 130 people didn't vote 'yes' - Even if its a small sample, it's still some indication of what would happen.Also considering that only 23 have actually voted a concrete 'yes' so far. With the rest choosing 'Depends' instead.

Polls like this tend to be meanless because: a) they are not representative - AVSIM members an not representative of potential consumers globally :( they are self-selecting - only those with strong views either way bother votingc) the sample size is too small - only 183 members voted out of AVSIM's total membership of some 55,000. That's about 0.3%d) it's not known what would be offered on subscription so how can any one make a sensible judgement now?

Polls like this tend to be meanless because: a) they are not representative - AVSIM members an not representative of potential consumers globally :( they are self-selecting - only those with strong views either way bother votingc) the sample size is too small - only 183 members voted out of AVSIM's total membership of some 55,000. That's about 0.3%d) it's not known what would be offered on subscription so how can any one make a sensible judgement now?

So then, this thread should be closed if as you say it is meaningless!vololiberista

So then, this thread should be closed if as you say it is meaningless!vololiberista

You cant make that leap in logic . .poll could be flawed, but the meat of the thread is the discussion.. so, no it shouldnt be closed.

Still those 130 people didn't vote 'yes' - Even if its a small sample, it's still some indication of what would happen.Also considering that only 23 have actually voted a concrete 'yes' so far. With the rest choosing 'Depends' instead.

Its only a indication of the position the flight enthusiasts have taken .. not might be the same position, the average "flight" buyer would take.

I personally would not want a compulsorily subscription based system.There are two viewpoints here. The first being that it will work out cheaper in the long run to pay a monthly fee and receive third party add-ons at a reduced price to what we are paying now. The other view is that it will cost more for the base program with an ongoing subscription fee. One thinks a subscription based system would be cheaper and the other sees it as more expensive, both views are correct.There are a lot of variables though; What would happen if I stopped paying for the subscription? Would I no longer have access to multiplayer, service packs, or the weather servers? Would the game still function? or would I simply not have access to cheaper add-ons? A lot more negatives than positives come to mind.The main thing that bothers me is that I would never feel as if I truly own the game even after paying for it outright, it would be like buying a house outright and then continuing to pay rent. It's for this reason that I am against DRM that requires internet connection to play, I enjoyed the Rise of Flight Demo for example but the idea that without an internet connection the game becomes useless turns me away. Another point to make is that asking for a subscription fee to receive critical updates to the game core is pure extortion, I think everyone would agree with this.Now if it was an optional system I think it could work out quite well; Say you purchase Flight, receive updates and service packs just as it is with FSX, the game would be fully supported and complete. Then there would be an optional system where one could pay a monthly fee to receive access to an integrated store to buy third party add-ons cheaply and yet purchasing add-ons outside of the store would still be available at higher prices closer to what we pay now. I believe something like this would keep (almost) everyone happy.So the original question to this thread is a little broad in terms of what it means to different people. "Would you accept an optional subscription based system for cheaper add-ons?" Yes. "Would you be willing to pay a subscription to receive multiplayer, real world weather and everything else that you have come to expect from previous flight simulation titles?" No.

If and this is a big if, Microsoft brought out a sim that had high quality aircraft (or made them available), high quality graphics, weather, ATC, systems etc... all at a reasonable price via monthly subscription, I would be crazy not to subscribe in order to enjoy their product.I really find it difficult to understand why this almost pathological hatred or even fear of the subscription model especially if it ends up being cheaper than me buying all of the individual products and not having to manually maintain version control etc. I remember folks who would not use microwave ovens because "of all dem rays commin out and fryin' me man" and the same people who wouldn't ever stick their credit card "in dem machines ya know those ATM machines that'll steal yer money". Thanks goodness the world moves on, I guess for some at a slightly different pace to others...

One thought has crossed my mind about a subscription-based system. Prices migrate across the pond to the UK often with the dollar sign changed to a pound one but with no change to the price. Based on the current exchange rate of $1.50 to one UK Pound we Brits would end up paying significantly more than our US cousins.That would be a major minus point as far as I'm concerned. :(

Wow I'm surprised how many people answered "no."I would pay a monthly fee (not too much though, maybe 10$ or less) for something like this.Just look at how popular World of Warcraft has become...

Yeah but Blizzard makes multiplayers games.... not flight sims.