My opinion is that Lockheed Martin is developing P3D to support its training work and, as a by-product, is offering its licences via the internet. I don't believe it will pay much attention to the special needs of flight simulation enthusiasts, especially if that would incur additional costs. We shall get what we get!

 

Their actions have shown otherwise. They've been very receptive to the flight sim community and have been very open to taking and applying their ideas and fixing their complaints. Their forums are full of flight simmers asking questions, troubleshooting issues, and receiving answers as well, so even individual service has been a staple of the development so far.

 

Not to mention the 3PDs who are actively beta testing it now and who have in the past expressed how open the P3D development team is to their suggestions. The fact that these companies well within "the know," compared to us, are staking major portions of their business on the platform instead of XP10 speaks volumes about it's longterm viability. You are painting a cynical picture, one that's been oft-repeated and prophecied for the last three years but has yet to materialize.

Their actions have shown otherwise. They've been very receptive to the flight sim community and have been very open to taking and applying their ideas and fixing their complaints. Their forums are full of flight simmers asking questions, troubleshooting issues, and receiving answers as well, so even individual service has been a staple of the development so far.

But as far as I aware, Lockheed Martin hasn't provided a start-up screen despite this longstanding request. http://forum.avsim.net/topic/383608-make-lm-know-you-want-a-startup-screen-in-p3d/

 

What FS enthusiasts' requested features has it actually provided?

But as far as I aware, Lockheed Martin hasn't provided a start-up screen despite this longstanding request. http://forum.avsim.net/topic/383608-make-lm-know-you-want-a-startup-screen-in-p3d/

 

What FS enthusiasts' requested features has it actually provided?

They are working on a startup screen for v2. There's even a topic on their forums asking what users would like on it.

 

Straight from the developer's mouth on September 6th.

 

"So, to make life a little easier, what all do you want to see in a flight setup screen? The usual? New flight/load flight, choose your aircraft, weather, location, etc? Any other clever UI design ideas or things you all want to see in it? I know you all have some good ideas here, please feel free to share them with us!"

 

They have a full "requests" forum as well. Many of the "listed" features for v2 were on that forum first.

I think a good flying game would have a much better sales potential than P3D

 

 

Not anymore on Windows, but possibly in the future on either an Android desktop system or a new console. When the MS FS series first started, gaming was mostly on PC desktops and the apps were sold on disks over the counter in department and specialty stores. Those days are gone. There are still some good new games for the PC, but they have mostly been ported from consoles.

 

The "entertainment" gaming market is now fractionated between phones, consoles, tablets and desktops. Besides, XP10 is fine for entertainment purposes. If P3d captures the power user flight sim market, what's really left, except crumbs?

A lot of fsx developers are in the beta program. Users such as Virtuali,Jetline(Jetline Systems), Hifi,FSMP, and more that I've seen in the "last post" section of the forums. This is of course regarding the beta program forum that is hidden from normal users.

But as far as I aware, Lockheed Martin hasn't provided a start-up screen despite this longstanding request. http://forum.avsim.n...-screen-in-p3d/

 

But there is a perfectly fine freeware start-up screen app, SimLauncher, which is up to version 9.2, the last I checked.

 

That's the kind of change ( a start-up screen) that occurs with major revisions to an app.

They are working on a startup screen for v2. There's even a topic on their forums asking what users would like on it.

But Lockheed Martin haven 't provided it yet.

 

But there is a perfectly fine freeware start-up screen app, SimLauncher, which is up to version 9.2, the last I checked.

That's not provided by Lockheed Martin.

 

They have a full "requests" forum as well. Many of the "listed" features for v2 were on that forum first.

Can you relate "listed" features to the forum requests?

 

 

That's not provided by Lockheed Martin.

 

If someone is going to do me a favor and produce a free add-on, why I should I make major changes to my app? Now, if LM doesn't add a start up screen to V 2.0, then you have a point.

 

BTW, did MS ever have a specialized forum where they asked users of FSX to suggest improvements? Maybe I missed that. All I know is, people have been formally requesting MS to fix a bunch of issues with Windows 8 (not the least of which is the joystick issue that affects FSX) and I haven't even heard boo from MS in response.

I think the whole it is a training product and will it become an entertainment product question is of such concern, becuase some developers will only develop for the entertainment platform. If all developers were shipping for both P3D (training) / FSX (entertainment) no body would care.

 

I've got A2A and RealAir products (no PMDG). If P3D 2.0 provides a much better platform, I'll be moving to that. If A2A and RealAir follow, I'll be getting my favorite aircraft from them for the P3D platform, even if I have to buy them again. If they don't come over, I'll just have to find something that's similar and use that instead. I won't be sticking with FSX if P3D 2.0 is a better platform, just because my favorite aircraft isn't supported, that's for sure.

But Lockheed Martin haven 't provided it yet.

 

 

That's not provided by Lockheed Martin.

Can you relate "listed" features to the forum requests?

 

You bring up the start screen, clearly trying to prove that it means LM doesn't care about the sim community. Then I show you not only where they are developing one but asking the sim community for input on what to include in it and your response is "well, it's not out yet." Their efforts to not only develop a startup screen, but also include the sim community in it's creation lend credence to my overall point while running contrary to the one you were attempting to make.

 

As for the listed features, yes I could. Am I going to take the time to do it? No, I'm not. It's pointless to keep wasting time attempting to disprove cynicism towards LM when very little, perhaps even none of the evidence we have supports it in the first place. It's called being asked to prove a negative and it's a weak debate tactic.

 

If you have any real evidence that proves LMs actions and openness toward the sim community are really just a facade and that all the top 3PDs supporting it and pushing it as a viable future platform for simmers are really just leading us on, then I'm all ears. I acknowledge that as a possibility because anything is possible. I just see no evidence to support such a cynical viewpoint right now (perhaps that changes with future evidence) and I don't understand the insessant need to repeat and argue it at this point.

All I know is, people have been formally requesting MS to fix a bunch of issues with Windows 8 (not the least of which is the joystick issue that affects FSX) and I haven't even heard boo from MS in response.

 

That's because they have discontinued support for FSX.

That's because they have discontinued support for FSX.

MS never listened to the community for suggestions/feedback let alone us technicians for as long as Ive been dealing with MS. Since 1986. It was always only their way period.

I very much doubt that LM will ever sell Prepar3D to anyone for entertainment. The cost of support and distribution is just something that is well outside their business model. I have yet to hear of any firm or individual making serious money out of FS and I include Orbx, so LM are just not and never will be interested in the gaming market.

 

Having said that, and I have said it before, this does not preclude the possibility of LM licensing a third party to distribute and support Prepar3D as a game for entertainment. I am still convinced that this is the most likely scenario.

 

Mac

 

 

Having said that, and I have said it before, this does not preclude the possibility of LM licensing a third party to distribute and support Prepar3D as a game for entertainment. I am still convinced that this is the most likely scenario.

 

Only if MS releases LM from their agreement prohibiting them from marketing it for entertainment. Which I don't see happening.

Only if MS releases LM from their agreement prohibiting them from marketing it for entertainment. Which I don't see happening.

Sorry I have no knowledge of the wheeling and dealing of the American Corporate world, with lawyers thrown in for good/bad measure. I can only forecast what seems very sensible to me.