To put the thread back sorta on track... Regarding piracy... Apple Store apps are hacked and pirated all the time. In fact, I wouldn't be surprised if my new FS2Crew iPhone app has already been hacked and pirated. Give it time, and I can almost guarantee everything in the Microsoft Store will get hacked and pirated, too.

If (because some still think that nobody know nothing including the devs.) the major devs. are in bed with MS from the beginning don't you think add-ons are been ironed out as we speak to make sure everything will work at the release of Flight?

Who are these "major devs" you speak of? Not HiFi, not PMDG, not Aerosoft. Who exactly?

Just an FYI... you don't get Microsoft 'certification' for free. It has to be paid for, up front, each time you submit for it... until you get it.

The test suite could be packaged as software to be run by the developers themselves (similar to the Windows Logo program) and could thus be free (or close to free). Remember, the central idea Microsoft has (I presume) is to grow the Flight ecosystem as much as possible because that's the way Microsoft will sell the most copies of Flight and thus maximize revenue. While certain missteps will likely be made (nobody's perfect!), I doubt Microsoft is scheming to stiff developpers by purposely overcharging for add-on certification or by charging more for Marketplace add-on sales than developpers already pay to third-party vendors (or equivalent to inhouse costs for those who sell independently.) Microsoft doesn't nickel-and-dime in their other product lines, why should they nickel-and-dime Flight add-on developpers? Or has Microsoft turned into SkyNet without anyone noticing? Cheers, - jahman.

Just an FYI... you don't get Microsoft 'certification' for free. It has to be paid for, up front, each time you submit for it... until you get it.

Can you show us where this is said by the team or Microsoft? If not, then it's just a guess.

Standard practice for Microsoft.

Will I ever respond to a mgh post after adding him to my ignore list, as my first ever, here and at Flight Sim? My ANSWER is still nicht.

What an honour. I'm the very first person to be added to JSkorna's ignore list, and on two forums as well! And all I had to do was to ask "What was the question?"

There already is a Self-Certification process for Games for Windows. It probably gives a good flavour of what a similar process for add-ons might look like. The steps are: 1: Request Non- Disclosure Agreement2: Submit Games for Windows Title Branding Application3: Trademark Licensing Agreement Provided3: Trademark Licensing Agreement Provided4: Access granted to Games for Windows Art Guidelines5: Submit Packaging and Marketing Materials for Approval6: Download self-certification tool and test title7: Submit test results and get title approval8: Notification of title release9: Provide copies of title to Microsoft It links to Games for Windows Technical Requirements: Best Practices for Games on Windows XP, Windows Vista, and Windows 7 this has sections dealing with: Games for WindowsSecurity and CompatibilityInstallationReliabilityXbox 360 Common Controller for Windows TerminologyGuidelines for Game Middleware ProductsResources EDIT: I can;t find any reference to charges on these pages.

Who are these "major devs" you speak of? Not HiFi, not PMDG, not Aerosoft. Who exactly?

LOL.....seriously?? About shooting myself in the foot instead

Who are these "major devs" you speak of? Not HiFi, not PMDG, not Aerosoft. Who exactly?

I for one would like to learn who these mythical creatures are myself!

I for one would like to learn who these mythical creatures are myself!

That piece of stone is coding as much software for the Flight Store as real developers are!

FlightGear flight simulator project is an open-source, multi-platform, cooperative flight simulator development project. Just what many people say we need but no one wants to use it or support it! Myself, I have never even tried it (or X-Plane for that matter), and I am guessing that most of us haven't! Regards, Mike Mann

FlightGear flight simulator project is an open-source, multi-platform, cooperative flight simulator development project. Just what many people say we need but no one wants to use it or support it! Myself, I have never even tried it (or X-Plane for that matter), and I am guessing that most of us haven't! Regards, Mike Mann

I have tried FlightGear. It's a great effort by its developers but It stayed less than a week on my PC because it just didn't compare with FS.

There already is a Self-Certification process for Games for Windows. It probably gives a good flavour of what a similar process for add-ons might look like....

+1.