Fellow AVSIM Readers,Since FSX was released, we in the community have asked and begged for a simulation who's developers listen to its users and is actively developed with input from the community. We now have that, in the form of Prepar3D.For a modest $49.95, you can obtain an educational license that is usable for "educational efforts at or below the undergraduate level", which applies to not only university or college students, but those educating themselves about flying aircraft, whether that be someone who already has a private pilot's license or someone who may or may not be pursuing that goal.I read posts from folks on this forum that seem to want to dissuade people and developers from adopting P3D, but why? The Prepar3d development team at Lockheed Martin has already proven that they listen to us in the community. The list below is just a small fraction of the positive responses we've seen from Lockheed since Prepar3d was announced.

• $49 license for home use
• Addition of menu options like a LOD slider that surpasses 4.5
• Addition of Wide Screen Aspect option
• Addition of Max Resolution slider that goes up to HD resolution of 4096x4096
• Menu option to keep sound from being muted with P3D losing focus to another window or program
• Bugfixes
• Continued performance and FS Code enhancements, v2.0 will support DX11!
• Continual announcements such as patch/upgrade contents and honest estimates for timelines for new releases

A great example of the P3D developers listening to the community is when the company I beta test for received an advance copy of P3D v1.3, one of company members experienced a loss in performance. Instead of LH denying the performance loss and shutting down any feedback, they actively engaged with the member, asking for copies of his configuration files and trying to help him regain what he lost and see if there was anything they might have done that could have caused it! Imagine what FSX could be today if this was the case with MS years ago!With this golden opportunity of a new life for the FS engine, why all the negativity? Lockheed Martin has given us what we have been asking for for over 10 years, a constantly updated and upgraded FS that is developed by a group of people that care and listen to us. We know from interviews with the lead developer of MS Flight that Flight will never be a replacement for FSX and XP is not an option for those of us with loads of FSX Addons. With the SDK, FSX Addon Developers can easily make their products compatible without having to start from the ground up, and in some cases like Aerosoft, they are developing FSX and P3D versions side-by-side with no extra cost for us. Other developers are asking a small fee for a P3D license.I see an opportunity that we in the FS community cannot miss with P3D. LH has given us everything we have asked for, and have promised to listen and give us more. The last thing we need to do as a community is swat away the gift that we have been given by LH, and lose out on what could be considered the next iteration of Flight Simulator.Thanks for your time,PhilipDisclaimer: I am not affiliated nor have any connection to Lockheed Martin or Prepar3d.

Good feedback. I think when P3D is capable to handle today's GPU's and utilize multi-core technology ( version 2.0? oh please-oh please-oh please!), is when I believe you will start seeing a mass exidus from FSX to P3D. I'll pay whatever $9.95, 49.95 or $500. It will be worth it. The options you noted are great but the game-changer will be those two issues above mentioned I believe (that DX11 is awesome though). Then it will truely be the sim we have been waiting for.Clutch

It isn't a licence for home use. It's for academic use.It doen't allow development. Only a Developer's Licence permits that.http://www.prepar3d.com/prepar3d-license-comparison/

Good feedback. I think when P3D is capable to handle today's GPU's and utilize multi-core technology ( version 2.0? oh please-oh please-oh please!), is when I believe you will start seeing a mass exidus from FSX to P3D. I'll pay whatever $9.95, 49.95 or $500. It will be worth it. The options you noted are great but the game-changer will be those two issues above mentioned I believe (that DX11 is awesome though). Then it will truely be the sim we have been waiting for.Clutch

I think we will see it sooner then that, the exodus has already begun. :biggrin:I've had it since September 2011 now and very happy with it. I currently go back and forth between the two. This new licence just means I don't have to pay that $9.95 every month anymore.When FSX first came out I was back and forth between FSX and FS2004 for the first 2 to 3 years so I am kind of doing that all over again between FSX and Prepar3D.Cheers

"The academic version of Prepar3D has an unobtrusive watermark in the top right concern of the simulation." :(

It isn't a licence for home use. It's for academic use.It doen't allow development. Only a Developer's Licence permits that.http://www.prepar3d....nse-comparison/

Gerry, unless you are a lawyer, kindly quit with the legal advice.

It isn't necessary to be a lawyer to understand that "academic" and "home" have different meanings nor to understand what Lockheed Martin actual states in the link I gave - any more than one needs to be a qualified aerodynamicist to comment on flight dynamics.Why do developers want to suppress discussion this subject?.

It isn't necessary to be a lawyer to understand that "academic" and "home" have different meanings nor to understand what Lockheed Martin actual states in the link I gave - any more than one needs to be a qualified aerodynamicist to comment on flight dynamics.Why do developers want to suppress discussion this subject?.

Direct from the P3D academic license page:Uses

• Classroom
• Home
• Educational programs, such as summer camps and after school programs

http://www.prepar3d.com/prepar3d-academic/

Home

I am in a home therefore I can use it. :Big Grin:Therefore, ANYONE in a home can use it! :(

Well I jumped on the P3D bandwagon :Nail Biting:On a serious note I'm quite excited. Its going to take almost 2 hours to get the necessary files downloaded but I'm sure I won't be disappointed. I look forward to getting add-ons moved over. I've been away from FSX for about 4 months and I'm ready to get back into it.

"The academic version of Prepar3D has an unobtrusive watermark in the top right concern of the simulation." :(

It's on the right hand corner of the menu, hold ALT and make the menu disappear and it's all gone, who flies with a menu anyways :)

Direct from the P3D academic license page:Uses

• Classroom
• Home
• Educational programs, such as summer camps and after school programs

http://www.prepar3d....par3d-academic/

That page also states:

EligibilityAcademic licensing can be purchased for educational efforts at or below the undergraduate level.

In plain English:Uses: Answers the question where you can use itEligibility: Answers the question who can use it

I am wondering why this discussion about who can use it and where can it be used exist. I'm sure that Lockheed Martin does not print a comma without it having been vetted by their legal dept, which I'm also sure must be at least the same size of Microsoft's.This was answered by a LM representative: Anybody can purchase Prepar3D and use it for whatever non-criminal purpose.If MS has a problem with it, I'm certain that LM can defend itself.Changing the subject, I'm glad that LM has shifted its strategy regatding Prepar3D with the new pricing levels. I'm not purchasing the Academic version, because I have the developer's suscription and in my case I am developing simulation solutions for customers, so I need the access to LM's developer network.

I am wondering why this discussion about who can use it and where can it be used exist. I'm sure that Lockheed Martin does not print a comma without it having been vetted by their legal dept, which I'm also sure must be at least the same size of Microsoft's.This was answered by a LM representative: Anybody can purchase Prepar3D and use it for whatever non-criminal purpose.If MS has a problem with it, I'm certain that LM can defend itself.Changing the subject, I'm glad that LM has shifted its strategy regatding Prepar3D with the new pricing levels. I'm not purchasing the Academic version, because I have the developer's suscription and in my case I am developing simulation solutions for customers, so I need the access to LM's developer network.

Exactly. You will have to battle the armchair lawyers on here though that think their pc will self combust should they install P3D