Now JV has banned any announcements of new flight sim products from other companies. I don't understand this decision at all. Surely it would be in Orbx's interests to promote interest in their website? More traffic must mean more sales. I don't see how discussion of a new weather engine, for example, can harm Orbx's interests. It is now quite pointless to visit the website at all unless for support for Orbx products. Perhaps that was JV's intention?Cheers,Noel.

I am so tempted to anounce this http://forum.avsim.net/forum/471-the-unofficial-orbx-forum/ Just for kicks.

Now JV has banned any announcements of new flight sim products from other companies. I don't understand this decision at all. Surely it would be in Orbx's interests to promote interest in their website? More traffic must mean more sales. I don't see how discussion of a new weather engine, for example, can harm Orbx's interests. It is now quite pointless to visit the website at all unless for support for Orbx products. Perhaps that was JV's intention?Cheers,Noel.

Is John okay? I mean this is all getting a little weird, like Howard Hughes weird...

JV's back on form.

Hello everyone,Just a gentle and polite reminder that these are the Orbx company support forums, and not a general flight simulation community forum (although it often feels that way due to the great people that frequent here). (not for much longer!)To that end, please do NOT post release announcements for *any* other company or developer's FS products. There are many other places where those developers can release their news and make those announcements, but these forums are not the appropriate place for them.Please note that any post which announces another developer's product will be deleted immediately without explanation. We will be updating the forum terms of use to reflect this policy update.

JV's back on form.

I reckon it won't be long before the ORBX "pilots lounge" goes as well.Bryan.

And when questioned -

It is very simple and clear, so please don't make it a complex issue:- Post only screenshots containing Orbx or OZx scenery- Do not post any product release announcements about non-Orbx productsThe screenshots forum here is to celebrate customers' use of Orbx terrain regions and airports, and that is what we expect to see. Of course, you may use whatever aircraft you wish in those type of screenshots as long as it does not appear to be a promotional post for a new aircraft.This policy is no different to the sort of moderation you would expect at other company forums if you attempted to post lots of product announcement topics or screenshots showing products from other companies. Please remember that these are Orbx company forums, and they are not to be used as a free advertising vehicle for other addons.

How old does an aircraft add-on have to be before including it in a screenshot can no longer be interpreted as promotional? Six months? A year? And you can't even mention in passing that something non-Orbx has been released? :(

Edited February 1, 201214 yr by St Mawgan

I own a lot of Orbx scenery and often have a look at what's going on in the forums - have quietly enjoyed the intelligent and beyond polite contributions of many of you now on here. Decided long ago to keep my mouth shut over there, because my nature is to get into debates and express opinions and I formed the view that to do so on that forum would potentially deprive me of important support and other aspects that I like to dip into, like the screenies and Pilots Lounge and tips and techniques, or whatever it's called.The only reason Orbx has gotten away with it, up to now, is the superb basic product. Apart from the already well documented forum bans, multiple PR gaffs and plain rudeness and arrogance, even to some/all of their very best customers, I think there are a range of other areas where the cracks are beginning to show: -1. They have also been releasing airports and scenery at a prodigious rate, given the individual prices. As much as their airport designs are, of themselves, impressive, there is a certain "cookie cutter" style, a sameness, that has begun to emerge, not least because of their refusal to tackle major airports, a genre, it must be said, where their very cpu/gpu intensive approach tends to hit the buffers. Keeping up with it all is not only very expensive, given the cost per airport, but there is also the growing feeling that one is purchasing the same, impressive, item over and over again, but with a few items shuffled around and in a different location. Am I alone in thinking this way?2. Their ambition seems to exceed their logistical capabilities. As indicated above, PNW and Australia are now pretty well served with a good range of add-on airports, but the other areas are spartan. Central Rockies being a particular case in point. What is going to happen as even more regions are rolled out? And even if they do manage to fill the regions with add-on fields, they will need to address their pricing policy - I hope they consider a subscription model, because that is probably the only way most of their customers can keep pace.3. I think they are heading for a defining moment when they launch the UK scenery. To date the accuracy of their work has played second fiddle to its aesthetics,because they have focused on regions where most of their customers don't live, so we have little by way of reference - all we know for certain is that it looks great. The UK, awash with photoscenery, will be a very different prospect and, given the dense population in a relatively small area, is going to make for some interesting minimum specs, unless, of course, they can innovate to overcome this.I imagine Orbx execs read this forum, so if I could give them one very friendly piece of advice, it would be neatly summed up thus: -Please chill out!At the end of the day, this is a nice, friendly niche hobby. Let's try to keep it that way.

Edited February 2, 201214 yr by Parping Couplet

"item over and over again, but with a few items shuffled around and in a different location. Am I alone in thinking this way" I was thinking this for some time now, it does look very cookie cutter, thought I was the only one thinking this with all the hooplah over it I never brought it up, just a thought not bashing.

Edited February 2, 201214 yr by Richard Sennett

The Orbx forums were a one stop shop for me.I mainly concentrated on the screenshot forum, where new Orbx scenery is shown in its full majesty and only enhanced with the addition of a new Carenado or Aerosoft aircraft. Furthermore, relying on the pilots lounge or general discussion forums to alert its members of upcoming new aircraft, weather engines or similar, can only amplify our simming experience, as Julian has noted above. Thus, the change in the forum rules will water down the entries within the screenshot forums to a consistent level of repetition (no new aircraft, compatible scenery nor weather engines) and reduce the excitement of the pilots lounge and general discussion (no new aircraft, compatible scenery, flight simulators, nor weather engines).Hopefully this decision is reviewed in future.Best regards,Rick

For some peoples (and I'm not pointing fingers here) it's "My way or the highway." regardless of them been right or wrong, you can't do or say nothing that will make them change their mind.When some of these peoples have the table turned on them they don't like it and they will throw a fit, they will make it look like the other party is at fault and they have done nothing but been nice,.... hey! guess what....the other side of the table can also say "It's my way or the highway.", MS just did that by saying how their business (Flight) will work, you don't like it....tough, and they don't have to give any explainations at all......about that.There is plenty of clues about Flight one can find by reading some post on Avsim forum.....here is one.....Quote" They even used screenshots of our 1S2 Darrington in their mission dialog boxes, so they must have installed our scenery into Flight at some point," end of quote....as far as I know 1S2 Darrington is not in Hawaii so where did MS installed it...?

I have read every post on this thread with great interest, not because I have some personal grudge against the said developer, but because I am so devoted to my hobby, and seeing my fellow flight simmers treated like second class citizens turns my stomach so to speak.I would not normally as a rule, speak of personal issues on a public forum,as it is not really ethical and can be embarrising. But on this occasion (hope nobody minds) but about 2 years ago, I had a stroke, and had to re learn lots of things, spelling, reading, and flight simulator. All those things I had learnt over the years I had to start from scratch. So it has taken me that long to get to a level where I am comfortable.I have been a flight simmer since the days when Bruce Artwick was a household name in our community. And I had a lot of knowledge stored over the time leading up to my ilness. So basicly, what I am trying to say, is that it is people like yourselves who have helped me get back up to speed to where I am now, just by reading your posts, wether it would be configuring hardware or issues related to FS in general. Could not have done that without the forums, including the Orbx. I suppose one of the reasons I am a bit peeved about what has happened is they have underesimated the contribution that all of you have made, especially to people like myself.Furthermore, I have avoided posting on that forum as one of the things that happens to me sometimes ( side effect ) is I can sound grumpy in my posts, or because I know the answer to a problem that someone might be having, but not able to put into words what I really mean.or a sudden outburst of anger ( frustrated due to bad memory) which I have under control, but at the time it was wise for me to keep my posts on Orbx to a mimimum, only commenting on a screenshot etc.But as you all have re-grouped here, thanks to Tom, it is good outcome at the end of the day.Stephen,if you find my post inappropriate, please delete, no offence, really.

Edited February 2, 201214 yr by ZK-SUH

But as you all have re-grouped here, thanks to Tom, it is good outcome at the end of the day.Stephen,if you find my post inappropriate, please delete, no offence, really.

Julian,Stephen won't. If he does, he will have his pay docked by 90%... :LMAO:And.. you are most certainly welcome. It is posts like yours that reaffirm why I, and the volunteers of AVSIM do what we do. Thank you for sharing that.

ORBXism (McCarthyism) = Guilty by Association. I don't want to offend anyone but this is getting to be so ridiculous.This is how I see it. What's happening down there?

Edited February 2, 201214 yr by BAW435

Thank you for your kind words Tom, I don't feel so embarresed now. LOL.

I have read every post on this thread with great interest, not because I have some personal grudge against the said developer, but because I am so devoted to my hobby, and seeing my fellow flight simmers treated like second class citizens turns my stomach so to speak.I would not normally as a rule, speak of personal issues on a public forum,as it is not really ethical and can be embarrising. But on this occasion (hope nobody minds) but about 2 years ago, I had a stroke, and had to re learn lots of things, spelling, reading, and flight simulator. All those things I had learnt over the years I had to start from scratch. So it has taken me that long to get to a level where I am comfortable.I have been a flight simmer since the days when Bruce Artwick was a household name in our community. And I had a lot of knowledge stored over the time leading up to my ilness. So basicly, what I am trying to say, is that it is people like yourselves who have helped me get back up to speed to where I am now, just by reading your posts, wether it would be configuring hardware or issues related to FS in general. Could not have done that without the forums, including the Orbx. I suppose one of the reasons I am a bit peeved about what has happened is they have underesimated the contribution that all of you have made, especially to people like myself.Furthermore, I have avoided posting on that forum as one of the things that happens to me sometimes ( side effect ) is I can sound grumpy in my posts, or because I know the answer to a problem that someone might be having, but not able to put into words what I really mean.or a sudden outburst of anger ( frustrated due to bad memory) which I have under control, but at the time it was wise for me to keep my posts on Orbx to a mimimum, only commenting on a screenshot etc.But as you all have re-grouped here, thanks to Tom, it is good outcome at the end of the day.Stephen,if you find my post inappropriate, please delete, no offence, really.

Julian,I will be going to bed tonight feeling like I am floating on air. The fact that you feel comfortable telling us what has happened to you, and how challenging the climb back from the stroke has been, is such an honour to bestow upon us. I would like to think, and to pray, that I would be made of that same kind of stern stuff as you are, but only time will tell some day, if I am lucky. I am very proud to know you Sir and am your new devoted best friend in these forums, although I may have to arm wrestle Tom for the title. Thank you, thank you so much for being here and sharing from your heart. We already have more going for us in this forum of the makings of a strong supportive community than many of us had ever hoped to be part of again.Kindest regards,

Stephen,Cannot thank you enough for your kind words. This is a great comminty, and one of the reasons I enjoy being a part of it. You and Tom have taken away any doubts I had about posting what I did. But it was the right time to say thank you to everybody for helping me, even though nobody new that they were helping me.I owe a lot to the Avsim comminity, that's for sure, and proud to be part of it.All the best