Yes, I understand that SOME will cry if they have to pay 'extra' to migrate their existing plane model to a later X-Plane version (e.g. XPlane 9 goes to Xplane 10). You will never be able to satisfy everyone. On the other hand, if a product is COMPELLING enough - people will buy it, no matter what - because the customer feels it adds more value to the immersion than it 'costs' in money out of pocket.

 

I also 'get' the fact that there may not be enough data points available within the XPlane code to support the level of detail present in the FSX version of the PMDG 737NGX. I must say that so far, the add-on planes I've obtained for X-Plane are nowhere near the detail and quality level of the NGX - sad to say it. So I would "dream" of an XP version of NGX. That may simply not be possible. Even if PMDG had to build a 'lesser version' of a different aircraft for xPlane to begin with, I would STILL buy it, because I trust them to deliver compelling value and quality. If they can come in at the 64-bit level from jump- that's a total 'must buy' in my book. If they can include a better FMC than the default version in X-Plane, even more so. I'm betting at minimum the ILS landings will work properly right out of the box in any PMDG X-Plane airplane which is more than I'm seeing in some competitors.

You manage an evolving code base by providing a versioned API that hides the implementation from the add-on and you tend to give that API version a life cycle. We do this at my company for Internet facing API's as you cannot control when the clients get updated i.e. iOS devices.

 

Upgrading to a new API version takes time and money and as a consumer I'd rather have a constantly evolving product and incentivise the producer to keep me happy by giving them a constant revenue stream than the old model of develop, sell, abandon.

I agree with you. If you build something really great- people will flock to buy it. If it's mediocre - you can expect mediocre sales. PMDG products have "legs" in the marketplace because the quality is there everywhere you look. From the documentation to the gauges responding to control surface inputs, the immersion is several degrees beyond most of the competition.

 

I concur that an ongoing revenue stream benefits all, including the user! I don't mind paying Navigraph for AIRAC updates every year, and I wouldn't be upset if I had to upgrade my NGX for XPlane 11 when it releases!

 

Develop Sell Abandon truly is bad. Just look at FSX itself. As good as we can make it look with all of the add-ons, look at the pain that we all suffer trying to make a silk purse (something that runs like it was 64-bits) out of a sow's ear (a 32-bit program as the basis for our simulation).

 

X-Plane went to the next level. I'm sure it was challenging for Laminar, as well as all the developers who make 32-bit stuff for it and now must react to the 64-bit world.

 

Innovation deserves to be rewarded. Otherwise people will stop inventing.

I agree with you. If you build something really great- people will flock to buy it. If it's mediocre - you can expect mediocre sales. PMDG products have "legs" in the marketplace because the quality is there everywhere you look. From the documentation to the gauges responding to control surface inputs, the immersion is several degrees beyond most of the competition.

 

I concur that an ongoing revenue stream benefits all, including the user! I don't mind paying Navigraph for AIRAC updates every year, and I wouldn't be upset if I had to upgrade my NGX for XPlane 11 when it releases!

 

Develop Sell Abandon truly is bad. Just look at FSX itself. As good as we can make it look with all of the add-ons, look at the pain that we all suffer trying to make a silk purse (something that runs like it was 64-bits) out of a sow's ear (a 32-bit program as the basis for our simulation).

 

X-Plane went to the next level. I'm sure it was challenging for Laminar, as well as all the developers who make 32-bit stuff for it and now must react to the 64-bit world.

 

Innovation deserves to be rewarded. Otherwise people will stop inventing.

 

Rob, the scale is tipping to XPs side. With Goran's helo today, we were able to easily delete the inside cockpit of the C172 in 3D mode and just leave the wings and propeller. This will look perfect on my setup. And I also have been reading up on multiple PC setups for visuals and it looks like XP was made for just that! XP allows you to do all corrections via the GUI making it easier to do than in FSX where you need to mess around with .flt and panel files by hand.

 

One big wow factor tonight was during a quick night test, with HDR ON, the effect of the wingtip strobes as they reflect off the runway, man, really felt like the real deal. Then how the landing lights light up trees and powerline towers as you take off/land, it's just a sight to be seen.

 

XP is a whole different animal and one really needs to "detox" from FSX in order to grasp how things are done in XP.

 

Can't wait to start building the othee two PCs and finally setup the wraparound visuals. :-)

 

Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Tapatalk 2

 

 

One big wow factor tonight was during a quick night test, with HDR ON, the effect of the wingtip strobes as they reflect off the runway, man, really felt like the real deal. Then how the landing lights light up trees and powerline towers as you take off/land, it's just a sight to be seen.

 

Cool stuff, Efrain. Keep us updated.

 

Hook

Efrain!

I totally agree with you! It is almost eerie how spectacular things look at certain times in x-Plane. They are getting closer to the RW with the scenery - when it first released, it was nothing at all like the RW. I flew into KSFO in XPlane last night- and flying across the San Mateo bridge and down the peninsula towards the airport never looked so good in FSX.

 

The airport itself is not quite up to FlightBeam Studios' KSFO payware, and I dearly miss the moving jetways and Ground Services X (By FS Dreamteam), but overall the frames rate (particularly in 64-bit) with the x737 is stellar!

 

I cannot get over the freeway traffic, heavy and dense just like the 'real' SF Bay area! You can see the opposing sets of headlights & tailights (white in one direction, red in the other) snaking to the horizon... simply incredible.

 

When I practice short finals in XP10, it's a simple deal, you can choose it when you select the runway, and fly either a 10 mile or a 3 mile final, and do it over and over to your heart's content, which is a GREAT way to really improve your landing skills in a short time.

 

I cranked my GTX690 card into 'SLI" rendering mode and have each GPU render alternate frames. Looks great and very smooth. Frames are holding steady at 30 or better, even in complex scenery with heavy road traffic, when I switch to external views the frames go to 55-60. I can definitely live with those numbers.

 

Even though I have a stunning amount of hardware sitting idle when I fly in XP (think VRinsight stuff) and though I cannot (yet) use FSInn or AivlaSoft's Electronic Flight bag - I STILL can't take my eyes off the new girl.

 

Coming in to RWY 27 at night VFR at KSAN (San Diego) you are amazed as the taller cityscape structures materialize from the darkness as the landing lights strike them.

 

I tossed in a few of the California airports for buildings (free download) so my key airports (KOAK, KSFO, KSMF, KLAX and KSAN) are well-represented. I got an upgraded KLAX free (along with LaGuardia in NY) when I bought a payware airplane from (I think) x-Plane.org or one of the other online retailers.

Cool stuff, Efrain. Keep us updated.

 

 

I think it looks cool too. I really do appreciate "eye candy", as some will call it.

Coming in to RWY 27 at night VFR at KSAN (San Diego) you are amazed as the taller cityscape structures materialize from the darkness as the landing lights strike them.

 

LOL That is what happened to me tonight... I was doing a quick landing, just for s&g and on final approach, pitch black, only seeing runway lights and highway traffic (btw, vehicle headlights light up the road in real time!) below me, next thing you know, this powerline tower pops into view out of the darkness!!!! Made me jump in my seat in one of those "oh sh*t!" moments! Hahahaha Total immersion, bro!

 

Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Tapatalk 2

 

 

 

 

Cool stuff, Efrain. Keep us updated.

 

Hook

 

Wilco... I'm thinking of doing a blog to show my progress and be able to show each facet of the build (visuals, software, hardware, etc),but I'm busy tackling like 12 tasks at once. I really need to sit down and create a to-do list and try to go doing and completing each one, one by one.

 

Seems like I'm trying to take on too many things and never finish anything.

 

Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Tapatalk 2

 

 

 

Wilco... I'm thinking of doing a blog to show my progress and be able to show each facet of the build (visuals, software, hardware, etc),but I'm busy tackling like 12 tasks at once. I really need to sit down and create a to-do list and try to go doing and completing each one, one by one.

 

 

That sounds like a great idea - it might help make the transition for others easier if they can read about your experience and find out about any tricks or pitfalls that might slow the move. It'll also be great to help those people determine when it's right for them to try it.

 

On another note, I find it perfectly acceptable for devs to charge for an XPlane version of their product even if the customer already has the FSX version. They will essentially be having to build a new product from the ground up which will require time and training - it would not be a sustainable business model to not charge for this. I can see some publishers such as Aerosoft maybe offering a discount for existing FSX users (their philosophy is to never charge people for the same code twice) but that again would probably depend on how easily they can get their work ported.

 

Wilco... I'm thinking of doing a blog to show my progress and be able to show each facet of the build (visuals, software, hardware, etc),but I'm busy tackling like 12 tasks at once. I really need to sit down and create a to-do list and try to go doing and completing each one, one by one.

 

Seems like I'm trying to take on too many things and never finish anything.

 

Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Tapatalk 2

 

Skickat från min GT-I9300 via Tapatalk 2

 

I think a blog would be a terrific idea! Go for it, I say. I would definitely follow it. I have plans to build one my self at some point in time.

Efrain!

I totally agree with you! It is almost eerie how spectacular things look at certain times in x-Plane. They are getting closer to the RW with the scenery - when it first released, it was nothing at all like the RW. I flew into KSFO in XPlane last night- and flying across the San Mateo bridge and down the peninsula towards the airport never looked so good in FSX.

 

The airport itself is not quite up to FlightBeam Studios' KSFO payware, and I dearly miss the moving jetways and Ground Services X (By FS Dreamteam), but overall the frames rate (particularly in 64-bit) with the x737 is stellar!

 

I cannot get over the freeway traffic, heavy and dense just like the 'real' SF Bay area! You can see the opposing sets of headlights & tailights (white in one direction, red in the other) snaking to the horizon... simply incredible.

 

When I practice short finals in XP10, it's a simple deal, you can choose it when you select the runway, and fly either a 10 mile or a 3 mile final, and do it over and over to your heart's content, which is a GREAT way to really improve your landing skills in a short time.

 

I cranked my GTX690 card into 'SLI" rendering mode and have each GPU render alternate frames. Looks great and very smooth. Frames are holding steady at 30 or better, even in complex scenery with heavy road traffic, when I switch to external views the frames go to 55-60. I can definitely live with those numbers.

 

Even though I have a stunning amount of hardware sitting idle when I fly in XP (think VRinsight stuff) and though I cannot (yet) use FSInn or AivlaSoft's Electronic Flight bag - I STILL can't take my eyes off the new girl.

 

Coming in to RWY 27 at night VFR at KSAN (San Diego) you are amazed as the taller cityscape structures materialize from the darkness as the landing lights strike them.

 

I tossed in a few of the California airports for buildings (free download) so my key airports (KOAK, KSFO, KSMF, KLAX and KSAN) are well-represented. I got an upgraded KLAX free (along with LaGuardia in NY) when I bought a payware airplane from (I think) x-Plane.org or one of the other online retailers.

 

Have to say now that I live in San Diego the Chicago housing projects that are everywhere diminish the San Diego experience greatly and the area of San Diego I live in is a barren wasteland...

 

The freeware San Diego helps greatly though it takes me down to very low single digit fps.

Have to say now that I live in San Diego the Chicago housing projects that are everywhere diminish the San Diego experience greatly and the area of San Diego I live in is a barren wasteland...

 

The freeware San Diego helps greatly though it takes me down to very low single digit fps.

 

Geofa, what system specs do you have? Trust me because I'm guilty of it, the eye candy is addicting and one can really go overboard with settings and suffer greatly from FPS. After some trial and error (still work in progress) with my system, which is not the best in the world but it's not lacking either, I definitely am not able to max sliders like I used to do with FSX.

 

With the following settings, I am averaging a consistent 60 fps:

 

Resolutions Section

Compress textures to save VRAM = checked

run full screen at this resolution = checked

screen resolution = 1280 x 800 @ 32 bit

texture resolution = extreme res!

framerate lock to monitor = refresh rate of monitor

gamma = 2.2

 

Stuff To Draw Section

draw view indicator = unchecked

dim udner high g load = unchecked

draw hi-res planet from orbit = unchecked

runway follows terrain contour = checked

draw forest trees and balloons = unchecked

draw birds and deer = unchecked

draw aircraft carriers and frigates = unchecked

draw aurora borealis = unchecked

number of trees = sparse

number of objects = default

number of roads = default

number of cars = Kansas Residential

world detail distance = very high

airport detail = extreme

shadow detail = static

water reflection detail = low

 

Special Effects

3-D bump maps = checked

gritty detail textures = checked

draw volumetric fog = checked

draw per pixel lighting = checked

HDR rendering = checked

atmospheric scattering = checked

HDR antialiasing = 8X SSAA+FXAA (highest quality)

anisotropic filter level = 16x (extreme)

 

Cloud Detail

number of cloud puffs = 67%

 

The above settings like I said, yield me a steady 60fps and the visual quality is outstanding. You will be surprised how much autogen is displayed with such low settings. No need to go overboard. As for water reflections, anything higher than low gives me shimmering of the reflections.

 

As for NI settings, I have it ALL DEFAULT, letting XP handle everything. I tried with disabling AA and AF within XP and using NI for controlling it, but the IQ was horrible. With my current settings, I get great performance and no shimmering at all.

The freeware San Diego takes it to single digits. Without the freeware San Diego I can get 60 fps but it looks like Chicago.My town of 40,000 looks like Rawlins, wy.

A fellow cockpit builder switched over to 64 bit a little while ago. Scott is running three i5's with GTX560s driving the views.

 

This video is using a payware KORD, but its simply stunning

 

Fantastic video John. If you didn't know any different you would swear that first part panning around the cockpit and looking outside was real world, just beautiful.