"......So I'm happy, in fact, I would have been willing to pay a max of $150 for the project, considering all the time and effort that PMDG has invested in the project, including the cost of consulting with real world pilots and engineers at Boeing......."

Just noting ... it is rare to see a consumer decide how much they willing to spend based on the amount the producer/manufacturer has spent. If it worked that way in the "real world", sony could tell us that they spent 10 billion dollars to produce a TV and we would be happy to spend $5k on the TV based on that fact.

I miss the point here? The basepack is very well chosen, since I do believe the majority of NG's delivered are -800's. Besides that, their reference aircraft (the one they used to build their model on) is in fact a -800. I believe that it's a Sun Country aircraft, but that's not confirmed (or disclosed) by PMDG.It seems quite logical PMDG started with the -800. Adding the -900 is a bonus to me. The price is actually lower than I expected. And yes with iFly you get all variants in a single package. But I'm not sure that iFly's models are not more than just visual models, rather than precisely modeled versions of their real-world counterparts. I mean with all the exact flight variables. A -700 definitely flies different than a -800 or -900 (I happen to work for an airline which flies all three of them and I talked about this with our pilots which cross-fly them (together with classic -300 and -400 aircraft). The 25 dollars for the package is not only for adding an extra visual model, but also for getting a model that's true-to-life.If you don't need that, go iFly. If you do (like me :( ), accept that quality costs and go PMDG.

Southwest is the main airline I fly. :( I did forget about Alaska Airlies though (one of my other favorite airline liveries). They operate the -800. On a side note, I have seen a few gas references. I drive a truck, so filling up the tank is about $130. lol

FFS, stick a South West livery on an 800 then and be done with it. I really dont get all this complaining...."I only fly airline x" I dont own a Cessna 172 either but I have one painted with my own registration on Flight Sim. Isnt that the point? Either buy the 600/700 exapnsion or dont, the choice is yours. Knowing PMDG there will be some added functionality when they do release the 600/700 expansion anyway.

With "you get what you pay for" being the mantra expressed by so many around here, Ariane Design must have a very astute business plan.Regards, Mike Mann

Base Products and Future Variant Packs: When I first read PMDG was using this method, I rolled my eyes and said, "Aww jees! Another Captain Sim!". I was hoping that after the 747 experience, I wouldn't have to live through a fragmented release again... alas, it was apparently successful for PMDG, so we go down that rabbit hole again. Upon further reflection, I'm still disappointed that they have opted to use this method for development, but to compare this scenario to Captain Sim is not an apples-to-apples situation:

• The Base Package appears to be a 100% functional, high-fidelity simulation of a 737. CS's base packages were often times the most basic of addons with technology to follow.
• PMDG expansions appear to be different airplane variants, with minor systems changes interspersed. CS's expansions were often done (or famously NOT done) to expand the capabilities. PMDG is building most of the functionality right into the base package. PMDG won't be under the gun to develop sophisticated systems for their addons.. it's already in the base. CS seemed to put themselves behind the eight-ball time and time again with promised technology expansions which often seemed delayed, buggy, or both.
• Reputation speaks for itself. :)

Interesting comparison - considering a full tank of gas for my car will run me ~$60, and this airplane will run me $75. I'll need to spring that one on my wife if and when I decide to make the purchase. -Greg

Interesting comparison - considering a full tank of gas for my car will run me ~$60, and this airplane will run me $75. I'll need to spring that one on my wife if and when I decide to make the purchase. -Greg

Just buy her some flowers... That's my plan!!! :(

From my perspective, I own the iFly and am quite happy with it. Not saying that the PMDG version won't be great as all signs are pointing to it being very well done, but my reality is that the only way I'm going to spend $95 to get another version of an aircraft I just recently bought (600/700/800/900, without even considering the BBJ's) is if the PMDG version is drastically, leaps and bounds better than the iFly. I can appreciate the attention to detail, but things like dust on the cockpit instruments and subtle details in the FMC or modelling that it has been reported most of us will never notice is not enough for me...obviously there should be more than that so I'll be very curious to see just what the differences are once the hype calms down. Had the PMDG version been out first (or the two around the same time), I'd be looking at a different decision, but what happened happened. Most here probably won't agree with me, but that's my perspective as an FSX addon consumer. Only time will tell I guess as to what the value proposition is for me.

FFS, stick a South West livery on an 800 then and be done with it. I really dont get all this complaining...."I only fly airline x" I dont own a Cessna 172 either but I have one painted with my own registration on Flight Sim. Isnt that the point? Either buy the 600/700 exapnsion or dont, the choice is yours. Knowing PMDG there will be some added functionality when they do release the 600/700 expansion anyway.

FFS, I really don't get why people can't read an entire thread before responding. Maybe next time.... (I keep telling myself that.) P.S. I never said I "only fly airline X". You even quoted me.

Why do these base packs always force you to take worst looking birds in a given models lineup. CS- you have to buy the stubby 727-100 and then are forced to pay extra to be able to upgrade to the graceful -200. CS- you have to buy the stretchliner 767-300 and then are forced to pay extra just to get an AA 767-200. I'm sure when the pinnacle of the A319/320/321 is someday offered to the FS community one will be forced to buy the sawed off 319 base pack to be able to get the others. Now PMDG with the ungainly looking 737-800/900 base pack and then are forced to pay extra to get the gorgeous and beautifully proportioned -700? I wish these developers would just make base packs for either model so one is not forced to buy a bird they'll never fly to able to upgrade at extra cost to get the model they want.I'm sure they've done the actuarials on this and from a business standpoint I do understand what their reasoning might be for doing this.From a customer standpoint though, not a popular policy.

FFS, I really don't get why people can't read an entire thread before responding. Maybe next time.... (I keep telling myself that.) P.S. I never said I "only fly airline X". You even quoted me.

What are you on about....you and a fair few number in here have criticised the choice of an 800 in the PMDG base pack purely based on which paint job you prefer to fly. Other than the fact you threw in that you also like to fly Alaska paints, what did I miss? In that case fly the 800 with an Alaska paint and be happy until 700 is available, assuming you want to spend the money. My point is there is nothing stopping anyone who prefers flying 'airlines' that operate the 600/700 with the 800 model. Just get a repaint and be done with it. Big deal if SWA dont actually fly 800's............. Other than the slightly stretched fuselage, what massive difference are you going to notice anyway? I had the misfortune of flying SWA once....I dont understand why anyone would want to 'simulate' them in any shape or form anyway!!

Now PMDG with the ungainly looking 737-800/900 base pack and then are forced to pay extra to get the gorgeous and beautifully proportioned -700?

I dissagree, I believe the 800 looks the most "right", however that might be because I see 800's 95% of the time. I do agree the 900 does look odd though.

Why do these base packs always force you to take worst looking birds in a given models lineup. CS- you have to buy the stubby 727-100 and then are forced to pay extra to be able to upgrade to the graceful -200. CS- you have to buy the stretchliner 767-300 and then are forced to pay extra just to get an AA 767-200. I'm sure when the pinnacle of the A319/320/321 is someday offered to the FS community one will be forced to buy the sawed off 319 base pack to be able to get the others. Now PMDG with the ungainly looking 737-800/900 base pack and then are forced to pay extra to get the gorgeous and beautifully proportioned -700? I wish these developers would just make base packs for either model so one is not forced to buy a bird they'll never fly to able to upgrade at extra cost to get the model they want.I'm sure they've done the actuarials on this and from a business standpoint I do understand what their reasoning might be for doing this.From a customer standpoint though, not a popular policy.

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, personally I like the 800 better then the 700, although that's my second preference. The length of the 900 though does look a little funny for a 737, and the 600 looks stubby. IMHO In addition the 800 is the most widely used variant worldwide.

So now we are complaining about the base pack based off of what an aircraft looks like? Wow....wow...this is ridiculous

Hi, guys! I have been waiting for 737NGX and iFly 737NG for a half a year. Now it seems my long waiting is almost over. It's time of choosing... IFly's product is nice and cheap while PMDG's plane seems to be more expensive but much realistically modeled - "to the extent" as many say. So I would chose PMDG 737NGX but there is a small problem with Captain Sim's market philosophy included. I don't understand why PMDG wants to sell...five packs for...160 bucks combined? Additionally I don't know if the following packs are only external models as 747-8 one? Maybe somebody could explain it to me. I think I would be pretty satisfied with base package (738+739) because 738 is now considered as flagship 737NG model worldwide. So it is necessary for me to buy another packs at all except eye candy?

the ngx coming out in a week is not the point. The point is that everyone in april was like OMGZ the ifly is releaswd for fsx!!!! I would bet that a lot of the people who bought it was because they felt they had to have a 737 and couldnt wait for the pmdg offering. Now they realize......man the pmdg one is gonna blow my ifly one away. So they justify it by price point alone. Its obvious with some users. Others genuinly didnt want the pmdg and im not including them in this post. Its just seriously amusing seeing people post saying that the ifly is better when its obviously not. All around the pmdg blows the ifly away. Vjdeos and screenshots prove it. Pmdg did things with their sim that no one has ever done before......like implementing a sound set just for wing views.The ifly 737 was not meant to be as hardcore as the pmdg offerjng. Thats totally ok. However i laugh everytime someone was under the impression that it was going to be just as good as the pmdg ngx and then try to say it is and its obvious it isnt and they rushed to buy it. One cant even argue performance because videos of inflight stuff over add on orbx scenery while recordig in hd has shown that it rhns mkre than smooth.....all this with an early beta build with extra code that wasnt optimkzed at the time.

++1. Well said.