The popularity of freeware seems to be nothing like it was with FS9. Is it just me and my imagination?

It certainly seems to have taken a big hit. Those that continue to develop seem to have all moved to charging for their work, and those that used to charge, charge even more now. This hobby has certainly not gotten any easier on the wallet.

Yeah but we expect more too... Developing takes time. I don't mind paying for quality.

 

There's still good freeware.

 

Dino's F14,f35,t45c

Tim Conrad

Ants tiger moth etc

Mario's P180

Craig Richardson early models

 

And many more I can't think of

This chart from our demographic survey might provide some insight to that question:

 

Thanks Tom. I thought about the demographic when I seen the thread. I fall in that 0 to 10%. About the only freeware I use anymore is some airport afcads to correct updated ILS freq. or additional runways.

That is about the only freeware I use also, for airport updates.

Not knocking developers of freeware or saying they do it for nothing, but I just have a set I use, REX, ORBX, and then my aircraft, which lately has been reduced to 5 total payware.

 

 

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Yes this is pretty obvious.  There is so much superb payware, computer systems have improved to a point where folks can actually use it.  I mostly download scenery that will enhance my experience.  In fact the freeware I offer is all scenery addons so that people can upgrade their experience when flying.  Of course there are folks who like repaints for their flying experience that calls for a a livery that is not available from the original payware plane. 

Ahh, I forgot about repaints counting. Lol. Might want to bump me up a notch then. I don't even really want to know how many paints I have installed for some of my planes. Lol.

 

 

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In fantasy this concept sounds good, But in reality (and the market) there should be no such thing.  Case in point: SunSkyJet KPHL, Philadelphia International.  This is the best add-on airport  that I have.  Bar none.  Freeware!  But based on the quality of the effort I made a donation that was deliberately $5 greater than the price of any other payware scenery I have acquired,

 

Why?

 

Quality!  And desire for additional offerings of the same quality.

 

If you find quality add-on products with no required price, but the promise of more..... then please patronize accordingly, Fund the effort.

 

Certainly better than political contributions, even if not tax deductible!  

 

Arguments????

One thing to consider, and has always been true with FSX. It is easier to develop for FS2004 than FSX, So that would discourage some freeware designers away. Add to that many freeware addons for FS2004 is compatible with FSX (Especially aircraft) they may not see the need for separate development efforts.

In line with Ryan pointing out Dino's F14, F35, & T45, I'd say that freeware isn't dead at all, it just depends on the perspective of the pilot and what (and where!) you like to fly.  Military flight in FSX I would say almost completely depends on some of the utterly brilliant freeware out there.

 

I also know that I have quite a bit of hard drive space taken up by the offerings from Blue Sky Scenery.

 

You also have some pretty amazing freeware efforts to thank if you care to fly many places outside of North America or Europe. ^_^

I blame PMDG....

 

I believe it was the original FS9 737 with it's systems modeling that moved people from just good looking models (POSKY) to full, balls to the wall (excuse my terminology), in depth simulation.

 

If someone took away my FMC, I'd be clueless... I'd get kicked off of VATSIM because I'd do back to my very first days on FS2002 where I flew from Point A DCT Point B. 

 

"SIDs and STARs? We don't need no SIDs or STARs! Hold my beer and watch this!"

I agree with Ryan, Dino Cattaneo's planes are awesome, and I also use some others like Milton Shupe's Dash 7 or some POSKY planes as well as loads of freeware liveries (I think people tend not to think of them as freeware, but they definitely are!), but when it comes to scenery, well, I have to say I have mainly payware. I think there's a simple explanation for that, as Bryan said, we have excellent payware sceneries, such as ORBX (though they offer some freeware, too, which I have, of course) or recently 29Palms, and they reach a level of detail and immersion that is hardly achievable on a freeware basis, simply because the development is too expensive and/or takes too much time.

But I have to say that there are some really high quality freeware scenery projects, such as Bluesky Scenery or the stuff over at Aussiex, which I do enjoy.

The point is that we are probably simply spoiled by the fantastic payware -  be it planes or sceneries - so in fact we consider many freeware addons not worth installing, because it doesn't come close to what we want/expect to get.

Aircraft have become quite complex these days and it is actually difficult to take up a freeware after a flight with high quality payware aircraft. But in sceneries freeware is alive and kicking, easily a 4/5 of my 500 addon sceneries are freeware. And of course the repaints, without them I would buy payware aircraft only rarely.

 

Come to think of it, at the moment I have only Manfred Jahn's and Aussiex default enhanced C-47 and Goose installed at the freeware aircraft department. I think I have to mention few just show that I respect and appreciate the freeware designers. For example, within a year I have test flown and decided to keep them available; Noratlas, TU-154, Etendard, F-14, Jak-18 and Skyraider.

One thing to consider, and has always been true with FSX. It is easier to develop for FS2004 than FSX, So that would discourage some freeware designers away.

Not exactly true. The techniques used may be slightly different, but it's the same or even easier to make addons for FSX at the same quality level as for FS9.

But of course most people don't expect FS9 quality in FSX. We want more and devs also try to do more.