Just a heads up. Ariane's new Boeing C-40:http://www.arianedesign.com/Content.do?state=ThreeColumn&content=news/737-C40Al

They do have nice planes. I bought one last year. They lost me though until navigraph updates are offered.

Yup, I agree, they make some nice stuff, but as you know, their prices and activation system don't help to endear them to most people. Nevertheless, I might check that C-40 out, and you'd have to suspect that they'll be considering making a P-8 Poseidon if they've made a C-40, although there's obviously a bit more to making a decent P-8 than putting some pointy wings on an NG.Al

They have also released their "GSP" global service pack for all the X2 aircraft within the last week or so. You can find it on their forum.However it causes a crash to desktop when exiting FSX, I've also had CTD when programming the FMC, and it hangs FSX for me when you click end flight. They are supposedly looking to fix it, however who knows how long it will take (their Nav data manager was within days of release, last year). What annoys me about them is that on their forum, they make it sound like we should be grateful that they have released this service pack for free! Some parts of it do feel improved, eg the way the autopilot flies the plane.VNAV is supposed to be fixed, however on the one flight I did with the service pack installed, it missed my target altitude, I was at 9000 feet when I was supposed to be at 3000 feet on the descent.Still not impressed at all with my Ariane purchase back in 2009.I feel it has been rushed in an effort to compete with the iFLY and with the upcoming 737 which we are all waiting for.Uninstalled it completely and am eagerly awaiting for the other 737.

The remarkable thing about Ariane is that upgrade policy.Yes, it's impressive to read about 'a completely new developed' and "greatly improved" product, but, when looking at some screenshots and descriptions, just seeing some features added on the already existing model you've just bought for a relatively high price.Also, the nav data "soon" is close to that "soon" from another company with a 737 planned, infinite it seems.So, even if they now do offer some nice (new) addition, you can clearly see that the model "tuned" there is that thing which came some years ago (from the VC appearance for example). That was a good one, no doubt, but if you have to pay full (so not talking about some upgrade price) when going from existing models to slightly enhanced ones (like on that last update), you don't have to wonder why people buy once and then think twice.So it's interesting that they are on a new model and also nice to see that it has a different approach than other 737 offers, but in regard to that unfriendly price model, it may not be worth a recommendation in my eyes.But, who knows, maybe the pressure from the other devs lead Ariane to a more friendly upgrade offer for existing customers instead of that well known "full price" policy of theirs.Now I don't know if Alan had that thing in mind, but The Empire Strikes Back would speak of that Empire being lead by the not so friendly Emperor, right? Not the best basis for a customer friendly business. ^_^Anyway, thanks for the HU.

I received an email from them about that C-40. Normally I would have thought: "Nice to see a new model!". This time I only thought: "Meh, so what". To be honest, with the iFly 737 being as superb as it is, and the PMDG 737NGX touching down within a few weeks, I couldn't really care less abotu what Ariane does. I personally think their race is run, at least when it comes to the civilian versions of the 737.

Yup, I agree, they make some nice stuff, but as you know, their prices and activation system don't help to endear them to most people. Nevertheless, I might check that C-40 out, and you'd have to suspect that they'll be considering making a P-8 Poseidon if they've made a C-40, although there's obviously a bit more to making a decent P-8 than putting some pointy wings on an NG.Al

Hey, be nice. I like my P-8A Poseiden. Only one in town.Ray

For those that have access to their tech forum, take a look at the "Global Service Pack Brief" thread, if you want a good laugh!!! (That's all I'm going to say!! )

If I had a penny for each complaint about Ariane, I would buy Microsoft. Obviously they cantt be THAT good. They dont even have a forum here!

Hey, be nice. I like my P-8A Poseiden. Only one in town.Ray

I bet these guys could build a 'knock your socks off' P-8A Poseiden. Only problem might be you would need the Navy budget to be able to afford it and the additional livery pack. Let's see now, do we want Litton to build a new guided missle cruiser or buy the new Adraine P-8A for FSX? Ponder .... Ponder.Ray

If I had a penny for each complaint about Ariane, I would buy Microsoft. Obviously they cantt be THAT good. They dont even have a forum here!

That's because they have a forum elsewhere, which on the whole is okay, if a little draconian very occasionally. They turned down the offer of a forum on Avsim for what should be fairly obvious reasons given the past history between the two organisation in spite of several Avsim members - me included - offering olive branches, and this after some lengthy discussions with Avsim's Reviews Editor. As much as I think Avsim is the best flight sim website (because it is), having a forum on it is no ultimate indication of quality, there are plenty of other flight sim developers that don't have one here either, for example Supronov, and they make the best FS9 aircraft you can get.There a lot of reasons to think hard about an Ariane purchase, that I will certainly agree with and they hardly go out of their way to be transparently lovable either, not least of which is activation and cost, but the basic product is very solid and it does get blistering FPS, even if I do think it is pricey. Nevertheless, if I had a penny for every parroted complaint from people who haven't actually ever bought something from them but still make complaints about them in spite of no first hand knowledge about them, I could buy Microsoft and Apple as well.That should not be regarded as a green light recommendation to blindly buy their product by the way, since this thread was a heads up and nothing more; I would say the same about any developer who got flak from people that had not actually bought something from them.Al

Well said, Alan.The Ariane was my first detailed 737 in FSX. She was a good thing for that, pricey and somehow unique on activation and forum-ability maybe, but she worked from day one on. A lot of personal preference involved, no doubt.And Jack, shouldn't you be testing something? :( :(

Nevertheless, if I had a penny for every parroted complaint from people who haven't actually ever bought something from them but still make complaints about them in spite of no first hand knowledge about them, I could buy Microsoft and Apple as well.

Quote of the day, I think. Thumbs up!

Well said, Alan.The Ariane was my first detailed 737 in FSX. She was a good thing for that, pricey and somehow unique on activation and forum-ability maybe, but she worked from day one on. A lot of personal preference involved, no doubt.And Jack, shouldn't you be testing something? :( :(

Lol, yeah yeah I'll get around to it. Hey Alan. What have always hoped for was a non-biased review website. Products would be tested by type rated pilots on the product being tested. After all, many purchases are made due to reviews by customers only to find out the person giving the review isnew to flight simming. So much money is wasted on bogus reviews. I take reviews will a grain of salt. Its like Ryan at PMDG said one of his favorite magazines gave the DCS A10 a not so great review because it was too complicted (I think thats what Ryan was gettinf at). You gotta be kidding me! Its an A10 sim! How can a SIMULATOR get a poor review because it is overly complicated. Flipping ridiculous.

Products would be tested by type rated pilots on the product being tested.

I doubt that would improve matters much, there would still be differences of opinion as to what is important and what isn't. Flightsim reviews are no different from literary or film reviews in that regard - a good review by someone with a degree in the subject matter does not necessarily mean that I will like the book or film.Another problem with flightsim reviews is that they are usually not written by someone who is being paid to review - the reviewer may even have bought the product with his only money. Since they are not likely to spend money on flightsim material they expect to dislike, the whole thing is skewed from the outset.That doesn't mean that there are no good reviewers, but as you point out reviews should be taken for what they are - someone else's opinion.