I must say that freeware is definitely dead to me. At least as far as aircraft and sceneries are concerned. I was totally spoiled by the quality of A2A, PMDG, Carenado, RealAir, Aerosoft and Orbx so that all of the many shortcomings of freeware are all the more glaring to me. Because of that I can't enjoy freeware anymore. The last freeware I tried out was Dino's F-35, which is pretty damn good for freeware standards, but it lasted all but 15 minutes before I threw it out again. It lacked the polish, complexity and performance of professional work that I'm so used to by now.

In my case, the goal when I created (I use imperfect intentionally) freeware, it was to improve FS (ground textures, clouds, trees ...).

 

But I stopped, because in view of commercial achievements as REX, ORBX and others, I how do not see making better or of the same quality.

These new commercial products have create a new category of users of freeware: They so much became exigents that even when it is free, they are not still happy.

I am going to shock certain persons, but besides, I see no more interest to work during months on a freeware by knowing that many persons will use a commercial addon pirated on the place.

I think piracy is not only kills the trade: it also kills freeware.

 

Also let us speak about the salary of the creator of freeware: the magic little phrase 'thank you'.

I do not know the exact number of downloads, but the addon TreeX for FSX (very appreciated by simmers) is over 30,000 downloads (all download platforms combined and CD magazins).

I can count the 'tank you' I received by email on the fingers of only one hand, and usually it was for a troubleshooting question.

 

Without wanting criticize the platforms of downloading, it became (free) department stores which they enter without saying either good morning, or thank you, or good by.

A place or every creator loses the control of his creation, duplicated on other sites without asking for his opinion.

Without speaking about freewares piratic and sold by not very conscientious guys (I think of one of my textures of my addon Picnic found in a commercial product) using the know-how of the creators.

 

I know creators of freeware that will distribute their addons only to some friends without going through the download platforms, disgusted by the lack of recognition of their work and critical guys 'never happy'.

 

By way of conclusion, I shall say that the freeware is in danger.

<p>Fine I will leave it alone but I firmly believe that you all have it wrong. God forbid anyone disagress with you guy's. The fact the question was asked in the first place supports my argument.</p>

 

:rolleyes:  Apparently then you also missed the question that was asked.....in the first place:

 

 

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

Yeah VC is all I use since going to fsx and most freeware, don't have a quality enough vc. And while there are some freeware aircraft with good systems complexity the graphics arent there. A lot of the best fsx freeware stuff is classics, which is good but the VCs just aren't good enough for me anymore.

 

Lee

 

 

Lee

 

I don't know what sort of aircraft you fly, but if you fly airliners then you may be interested in british classics like the Trident, Comet and BAC 1-11.

If you ( or anyone else ) would like to fly these planes then they are FREEWare, and with the best fully functioning VCs of ANY planes i have seen, including payware.

 

They are magnificent . Starting the BAC 1-11 from cold with all overhead panel switches working etc etc.

 

Google in David Maltby planes and you will find the site. It may say first that they are FS9 planes, but look at the site and you will find there are FSX versions with full install instructions etc.

They are the only airliners i now fly- They are great!

Like freeware and create my own scenery from time to time, and do not mind making buildings for free, or add a static plane.  Think freeware fills areas that payware will no go because they cant make money out of it.   Still, having limited income and resources sometimes gotta make something yourself to get to use it in fsx or xplane.  Thankful for freeware because I can add odd and end things to small ga fields I fly too.  Good people willing to take time out of thier life to make freeware and sometimes it out does some payware out there.  Like both freeware and payware have the best of both worlds.  

I wish there were some better sites for distributing it...or that they added things like user ratings. 

With all this discussion regarding the merits and health of freeware, I do know what I'm flying tonight:

 

http://restauravia.fr/html/creations_fsx.html

 

The Mirage is newly (today?) released and looks absolutely superb.

 

I'm not exactly sure as to why, but I have quite a few freeware military jets in my stable whose VC is absolutely top notch.  Smaller cockpit I guess and therefore perhaps easier to model?  I don't really know, but the argument that freeware planes have poor VC's usually falls flat when it comes to mil jets.

 

A reread of this discussion does put a certain truth front and center:  Freeware shines when it is offering something that is not available from payware developers, whether it be planes, scenery, or simply a level of customization and extendability (AI).  And for that reason alone, we should always be thankful that there are people that love this hobby enough to give their time to it so generously.

 

 

Yeah VC is all I use since going to fsx and most freeware, don't have a quality enough vc. And while there are some freeware aircraft with good systems complexity the graphics arent there. A lot of the best fsx freeware stuff is classics, which is good but the VCs just aren't good enough for me anymore.

 

 

Lee

 

 

 

Lee

 

I don't know what sort of aircraft you fly, but if you fly airliners then you may be interested in british classics like the Trident, Comet and BAC 1-11.

If you ( or anyone else ) would like to fly these planes then they are FREEWare, and with the best fully functioning VCs of ANY planes i have seen, including payware.

 

They are magnificent . Starting the BAC 1-11 from cold with all overhead panel switches working etc etc.

 

Google in David Maltby planes and you will find the site. It may say first that they are FS9 planes, but look at the site and you will find there are FSX versions with full install instructions etc.

They are the only airliners i now fly- They are great!

Your right! It about time I download the 1-11...it's going to be one sweet private jet

I must say that freeware is definitely dead to me. At least as far as aircraft and sceneries are concerned. I was totally spoiled by the quality of A2A, PMDG, Carenado, RealAir, Aerosoft and Orbx so that all of the many shortcomings of freeware are all the more glaring to me. Because of that I can't enjoy freeware anymore. The last freeware I tried out was Dino's F-35, which is pretty damn good for freeware standards, but it lasted all but 15 minutes before I threw it out again. It lacked the polish, complexity and performance of professional work that I'm so used to by now.

 

Which is why I only work on freeware enhancements that enhance something that is already enhanced (ie Payware).  Hope that makes sense.

 

Which is why RTMM, Return to Misty Moorings, is popular because it enhances something already enhanced (Orbx, FSAddon).

 

In my case, the goal when I created (I use imperfect intentionally) freeware, it was to improve FS (ground textures, clouds, trees ...).

 

But I stopped, because in view of commercial achievements as REX, ORBX and others, I how do not see making better or of the same quality.

These new commercial products have create a new category of users of freeware: They so much became exigents that even when it is free, they are not still happy.

I am going to shock certain persons, but besides, I see no more interest to work during months on a freeware by knowing that many persons will use a commercial addon pirated on the place.

I think piracy is not only kills the trade: it also kills freeware.

 

Also let us speak about the salary of the creator of freeware: the magic little phrase 'thank you'.

I do not know the exact number of downloads, but the addon TreeX for FSX (very appreciated by simmers) is over 30,000 downloads (all download platforms combined and CD magazins).

I can count the 'tank you' I received by email on the fingers of only one hand, and usually it was for a troubleshooting question.

 

Without wanting criticize the platforms of downloading, it became (free) department stores which they enter without saying either good morning, or thank you, or good by.

A place or every creator loses the control of his creation, duplicated on other sites without asking for his opinion.

Without speaking about freewares piratic and sold by not very conscientious guys (I think of one of my textures of my addon Picnic found in a commercial product) using the know-how of the creators.

 

I know creators of freeware that will distribute their addons only to some friends without going through the download platforms, disgusted by the lack of recognition of their work and critical guys 'never happy'.

 

By way of conclusion, I shall say that the freeware is in danger.

 

Ah so you have stopped working on your project.  What a shame Aime, your work is spectacular.  I have a complete set of your texture files that I use to replace default and they are spectacular.

 

Oh and I have TreeX and I am also one that never said thank you, so thank you.  I agree that it is very nice to get emails from folks who express their appreciation for the work that you do.

 

cheers.

 

 

Ah so you have stopped working on your project. What a shame Aime, your work is spectacular. I have a complete set of your texture files that I use to replace default and they are spectacular.



Oh and I have TreeX and I am also one that never said thank you, so thank you. I agree that it is very nice to get emails from folks who express their appreciation for the work that you do.



cheers.

 

Thanks, but yes is a shame.

To this I would add that some people have criticized me indirectly to made freeware "too good". as a kind of unfair competition.

Personally, I find the textures from Orbx much better and tend to become the norm: just look at the screenshots and videos that abound on the Net.

I've never seen a video made with my job. B)

Is TreeX something you use when you create sceneries or is that something to replace the default trees?  I was scratching my head.

With regard to whether or not freeware is dead check out the fsdeveloper site. Many people are posting their free works for everyone to look at. There are some payware ones, but most are free.

Is TreeX something you use when you create sceneries or is that something to replace the default trees?  I was scratching my head.

TreeX replace default trees for FSX.

 

https://sites.google.com/site/aimecreations/freeware-fsx/treex

holy crap that must have been a lot of work.

Gregg_Seipp, on 15 May 2013 - 5:24 PM, said:

 

holy crap that must have been a lot of work.

That would be quite a challenge, redoing every single tree in the whole wide world!