I paid for both their MD-11's (FS9 and FSX).

 

Not my fault, those sales figures!

The MD-11 while being a great product that we're very proud of nonetheless did nearly kill the company financially. If the NGX had sold poorly after it I wouldn't be here talking to you about any of this right now - no joke.

 

Wow... I was unaware of this. Makes you even more upset at the people who aren't willing to fork out the money to buy something a company puts their lives into and depends on to stay going. It sure makes me feel much better knowing my purchase on the MD-11 really did help your company. Good thing the NGX came along, now the 777 is really going to give you guys a boost! Keep going at it!  B)

Imagine all those companies that failed due to piracy, would still be there - continuing to produce the software, addons, whatever we've come to appreciate - unbelievable ...

I don't think so - the 747 that came before the MD-11 was a huge seller and still is. People just like that aircraft a lot more than they like the MD-11. Also - the MD-11 was heavily pirated in the first few days after release and that absolutely did play a factor. It used the same copy protection scheme that the 747 did and as a consequence the crackers knew how to break it right off the bat. We've fixed that aspect of the products with the newer system in use in the J41 and NGX but still - it's very hard to justify spending years developing something that we're not sure is going to sell well. People here have families and their livelihoods depend on these products selling well - just an unfortunate truth in business. The MD-11 while being a great product that we're very proud of nonetheless did nearly kill the company financially. If the NGX had sold poorly after it I wouldn't be here talking to you about any of this right now - no joke.

 

Thanks for pointing that out. But would it really take years to do another model only upgrade for the MD-11? I can understand the logic behind gambling with a 727 but I think at some point PMDG may have to come to terms with the fact that when you do all the popular planes first..all that's left are the ones that are not so common. As for the piracy issue, I am glad to hear that this has been resolved and I am sure this played a significant role in killing the MD-11 but I hope that the current market will be favorable to the MD-11 and the hard work you guys put into it. As for a 727, that could go either way. There are customers who would buy it because they love 727s, love any older generation aircraft or would simply buy anything once it comes from PMDG lol. But you are right, the honest fact is that you guys can spend 3 years developing the 727 and it flops.

 

So does this mean that older PMDG releases that didn't sell very well ( assuming the MD-11 isn't the only one ) won't be supported or issued Service Packs in the future?

 

 

...regardless of what anyone here playing armchair developer thinks.

 

Well now, you know we know better than you how to develop aircrafts for FSX and

also the best strategy of development. So PMDG, just copy and paste this list on your desktop:

 

-Stop development of, and delete all DC-6 files

-Make woodpigeon instead

-then make B737 classic

-then B757/767

-then give me a back massage

-then pay me 165,000,000 dollars for this advice (or just a free copy of the B777)

 

Sounds like the best development strategy ever, huh?

 

-

It kinda cracks me up that we released what's been widely regarded as one of the biggest advances in airliner sims in the history of MSFS less than 2 years ago (essentially 1 year of the intervening time was spent doing updates and additions to that product in fact) and people are already saying we never release anything new.

 

The 777 is very close to done and having a new major airliner product out within 2 years of the last one is a huge improvement for us regardless of what anyone here playing armchair developer thinks. We're not pumping out models with no systems fidelity here, what you're going to get with the 777 is every bit as good as the NGX (if not better) and you're getting it in record time for us. If you're expecting major new products every couple months or something like that then you're going to be disappointed - it's just not possible to do that.

 

We know and understand that is why I said it is worthy, I will love you to consider for your future major product include a 727 please!!!

Well now, you know we know better than you how to develop aircrafts for FSX and

also the best strategy of development. So PMDG, just copy and paste this list on your desktop:

 

-Stop development of, and delete all DC-6 files

-Make woodpigeon instead

-then make B737 classic

-then B757/767

-then give me a back massage

-then pay me 165,000,000 dollars for this advice (or just a free copy of the B777)

 

Sounds like the best development strategy ever, huh?

 

-

 

 

The whole community could develop way better aircraft than PMDG has been doing - we just don't want to embarrass anyone?!?

 

Now, that's what I call modesty ...

 

Quick question Ryan, you mentioned that previous sales were the deciding factor. But as I had posted under another topic (with limited knowledge of the facts) Couldn't it be that the MD-11 didn't do well due to marketting and loss of interest over the years of development? Coming closer to the release of the NGX there was alot of hype and anticipation not only because the NGX was soon to come but because the NGX provided a level of "realism" that has never been seen before. In addition to this it was one of the first 737 simulations entirely for FSX at a point were most users were migrating to FSX?

 

I firmly understand the reasoning for not wanting to journey down this road again due to past experiences but is there any data that shows people will feel the same way today? FSX has gain many users since then and some are seeing the MD-11 for the first time and inquiring about it. I am not sure if people are still buying it ( I guess you would have that info) but this raises an interesting topic. How do you survey a community on what they want when only a percentage post their views on forums? Some simply read reviews and then they buy, others ask alot more questions. I guess its a tricky situation for developers to gauge which product will do well and which wouldn't.

 

 

I don't think so - the 747 that came before the MD-11 was a huge seller and still is. People just like that aircraft a lot more than they like the MD-11. Also - the MD-11 was heavily pirated in the first few days after release and that absolutely did play a factor. It used the same copy protection scheme that the 747 did and as a consequence the crackers knew how to break it right off the bat. We've fixed that aspect of the products with the newer system in use in the J41 and NGX but still - it's very hard to justify spending years developing something that we're not sure is going to sell well. People here have families and their livelihoods depend on these products selling well - just an unfortunate truth in business. The MD-11 while being a great product that we're very proud of nonetheless did nearly kill the company financially. If the NGX had sold poorly after it I wouldn't be here talking to you about any of this right now - no joke.

 

Do you know why you sold so many NGX? Because it is an actual very known plane and because you developed! Do you know why you will sell a lot of 777? Same reasons! It doesn't make sense to develop a plane no body knows, do you know why a 727 would sell a lot? Because it was a very famous plane used by most of airliners also more than MD-11 and 99% of actual simmers know it and at least older than 30 flight on it once, within the next 10 years you won't see it not even on cargo!! Or the flight simmers by that time will ask what is that plane? The point is you can't just tell because of a classic MD11 didn't sell what you expected the 727 won't either consider other factors and finally I would like to ask how many forums or request like this do you have for DC? Is it a larger PIECE of forum (market) or a result of your marketing research? I really love your products but be a little nice with us, you develop we buy and I will continue because for me you are the best but think about it and don't say we know nothing

Each of us has a very isolated view to those things. Furthermore PMDG won't change their policy to developing aircraft "on (individual) demand".

 

I couldn't afford one of those, anyway, LOL!!!

I overheard a conversation last weekend that, subject to getting a good 3d modeller onboard, sounded like an agreement was reached on the production of an all new 727 for FSX. Sadly, in terms of this thread, those involved have nothing to do with PMDG.................although fortunately, I can imagine a few people may still be pleased when more information about this is revealed.

 

Paul

_{Competition won't hurt the flightsimming community - even Captain RSR stated once that this competition helps the developers by increasing awareness, involvement and market demand.}

If they continue their current practices and quality, I will purchase everything PMDG produces. I already own all of their FSX releases so far.

 

Sent from my GT-N8013 using Tapatalk HD

I don't have all of them yet but there are 3 so far, in my PMDG Fleet (soon to be 4, if the impending 777 ever gets here). I would really love it if PMDG would work their magic on a Bizjet like one of the Learjet stable or one of the Cessna's. The 727 has had a fair bit of development by other add-on companies' and the idiosynchratic ap well modelled. It would be superb if a 727 was 'PMDG'd' but a modern bizjet fits my bill which is something fast that can fly high and land at smaller and even remote, airports.

 

Jon

I can remember how noisy they used to be. A few still operate privately out here however I think it is mandatory to have hush kits installed.

I also remember the black exhaust trails from the engines. Jet engine technology has come a long way since then. It wasn't until the mid '80's that we saw the 737 200 introduced into Australia with great fanfare. Until then TAA (Trans Australia Airways) and Ansett both flew fleets of 727's. They were a common sight in our skies.

 

Jon

I overheard a conversation last weekend that, subject to getting a good 3d modeller onboard, sounded like an agreement was reached on the production of an all new 727 for FSX. Sadly, in terms of this thread, those involved have nothing to do with PMDG.................although fortunately, I can imagine a few people may still be pleased when more information about this is revealed.

I'll be awaiting that news!!!

Jeff

PMDG certainly is the top developer in a/c simulations for FSX- no questions!  And it seems that with every a/c they seem to be getting better at what they do. There are so many a/c out there that we all wish it was developed at the quality of PMDG. I believe the 737 sold so well due to the amount of work PMDG placed on it. It simulates almost all systems and it was also developed with beauty in mind. The only thing missing to make it complete is that there be HD liveries of this a/c. Too bad and too sad an agreement was not reached with McPhat. (I believe there are only 4 liveries out there).

 

Airbus Comment:  PMDG has very well abide to everything that sounds, looks, and moves like a Boeing. (They have their reasons as to 'why'). However, I can assure you if they had kept on track- as they planned around 4 years ago-, to develop the Airbus series,I have no doubt in my mind it would have sold just as well as the 737. Today the sim world thirsts for a high fidelity Airbus series (not just the A-320)...Why? Well due to the fact that no one has managed to reach the highest standards. Should FSL manage to reach the beauty of Aerosoft and the systems modeling of PMDG on their A-320, I can confidently say it will become the highest quality of an a/c simulation world wide. (Keep in mind an Airbus is not a Boeing- it is by far more complex and difficult to simulate). In-any-case, we welcome quality from whosoever it comes from.