PMDG's XPlane 10 Development Fact Thread [Updated 25NOV13]

[howie87 1]

I would like some news before the end of the month but with SP1 patch and fixes going through for the FSX 777 I think they probably have their hands quite full at the moment. They said they would have the 777 on Prepar3d by Q1-Q2 of 2014 and as far as I know, there has been no more news regarding that. Being a flight sim enthusiast, you quickly learn to be extremely patient.

[Superdelphinus 718]

Whether the aircraft is complete or not we will know something in the coming weeks.

Really sticking your neck out with that one

[sizziano 172]

Really sticking your neck out with that one

 "Whether the aircraft is complete or not, *hopefully* we will know something in the coming weeks.

 

Fixed hahaha

[howie87 1]

I know it's extremely unlikely, but if it's the 737NGX or 777 I will be unbelievably happy. I've been waiting to see a modern Boeing for X-Plane for far too long. Fingers crossed it's not some antiquated piece of junk with piston engines. I'm tired of flying vintage aircraft. I want some PMDG style modern avionics!

[CapnSplat 36]

I know it's extremely unlikely, but if it's the 737NGX or 777 I will be unbelievably happy. I've been waiting to see a modern Boeing for X-Plane for far too long. Fingers crossed it's not some antiquated piece of junk with piston engines. I'm tired of flying vintage aircraft. I want some PMDG style modern avionics!

Here's what's already been said on the matter:

 

PMDG are using this first project as a "sandbox" from which to try out new and varied techniques in order to deliver the type of quality simulation experience that is desired by PMDG customers currently using our products in FSX.

 

Upon completion of this project, we will evaluate the market demand and the Xplane platform's viability as a platform for future growth of our PMDG BAe JS4100, PMDG 737NGX, PMDG 777 and PMDG 747-400v2.0 product lines with an eye toward making these products available to Xplane users.

 

PMDG does not intend to release any of our legacy products such as the PMDG MD-11 or PMDG 747-400X into the Xplane platform.

 

Products that enter development following the PMDG 747-400 v2.0 will be considered on a case-by-case basis depending upon their marketability on the Xplane platform.

As I understand the wording, PMDG will not be releasing any of their current products as their initial offering for X-Plane. (The B1900 is the only product-line that wasn't mentioned by name, but this presumably falls under the "legacy products" exclusion.) The 737NGX and 777 may come in the future (fingers crossed!), but their first simulation for X-Plane sounds like it will be something totally new. As for it not being an "antiquated piece of junk," well, to each their own.

[Superdelphinus 718]

I know it's extremely unlikely, but if it's the 737NGX or 777 I will be unbelievably happy. I've been waiting to see a modern Boeing for X-Plane for far too long. Fingers crossed it's not some antiquated piece of junk with piston engines. I'm tired of flying vintage aircraft. I want some PMDG style modern avionics!

You can already buy a very good 777, and a 747-8i

[rototom 198]

I'm at least hoping that it will be somewhat complex, maybe similar to the JS41. I think they are testing the market, but I also thing they'll want to test it with somewhat of a real effort. And it doesn't hurt to get some experience and knowledge about what's involved in building for X-plane.

[Franz007 502]

I would not understand if they would test the market with an old aircraft or a turboprop like the JS41 (identical to the excellent Saab340 we already have). I think that i would even not purchase it. So i don't think this would be a good idea for testing the market, since a lot of FSX-pilots will only change if there is a PMDG 738.

[ohsirus 241]

I would not understand if they would test the market with an old aircraft or a turboprop like the JS41 (identical to the excellent Saab340 we already have). I think that i would even not purchase it. So i don't think this would be a good idea for testing the market, since a lot of FSX-pilots will only change if there is a PMDG 738.

 

Alot of the FSX pilots will only be interested if it's PMDG. Like you said the LES Saab is excellent, but since it doesn't have the PMDG label, FSX'rs will be leary on going out on a limb. I don't think it really matters what PMDG brings as long as it' something because their fan base can be loyal to a fault. 

[rototom 198]

I would not understand if they would test the market with an old aircraft or a turboprop like the JS41 (identical to the excellent Saab340 we already have). I think that i would even not purchase it. So i don't think this would be a good idea for testing the market, since a lot of FSX-pilots will only change if there is a PMDG 738.

 

Yes, the Saab looks nice, but I would never compare it to anything that PMDG makes. If I didn't already own it for FSX, I would buy a ported JS41 over the Saab any day. But, what I'd like to emphasize is that they need something relatively complex with an FMC as well. That's what PMDG does best and that would allow them to assess what kind of effort is required to develop on the platform and also attract a market because they would have actually released something that people are interested in. Not that they wouldn't be interested in a model that doesn't have an FMC, but this is PMDG, and again, that's what they do (new high tech airplanes) 

 

I also don't think porting FSX models over to X-plane is a good strategy for them. I fly both X-plane and FSX and I doubt that I would be wiling to re-purchase all of their existing airplanes for X-plane. I would just fly them on FSX. If they really want to sell X-plane products to an FSX market, then start a new product line for X-plane with aircraft that aren't available for FSX. Nobody should be thinking that everyone must stick to one sim.

 

Also, another point, and maybe this applies more to me, but I think probably not; I was never interested in buying a JS41 or an MD11, but when peer pressure got the best of me and I bought them, I was pleasantly surprised by how much I came to love those models. And that is simply because they are high quality.

[Franz007 502]

Ok, yes, perhaps you are right, i can understand your thoughts ^_^

 

When you talk about a new product-line for X-Planbe: do you think that PMDG would also make Airbus-planes? Otherwise there is almost nothing left they can do, except perhaps the Dreamliner. But in my opinion a very good A340/330 would be fantastic!

[roroma 2]

Ok, yes, perhaps you are right, i can understand your thoughts ^_^

 

When you talk about a new product-line for X-Planbe: do you think that PMDG would also make Airbus-planes? Otherwise there is almost nothing left they can do, except perhaps the Dreamliner. But in my opinion a very good A340/330 would be fantastic!

 

JarDesign and Jetsim are making A330 aircraft for XP10 already. I don't know much about the JarDesign, but based on their previous a320 it'll be great. The Jetsim A330 looks amazing and there's a ton of pictures of it on the Jetsim page on the XP forums. Looks mind-blowingly amazing. But an a340 would be great!!

 

For XP10, PMDG could really hit it out of the park with a 767 and a 757. I have the FF 757 and it's great, but I would buy a PMDG 757 for XP10 any day. There are no good 767s for XP10 either. PMDG wouldn't have to worry about LDS loyalty either since LDS isn't committed to X-plane at all. Obviously PMDG won't do these two aircraft yet as the team is doing aircraft that they've already produced, but I'm speaking for the future. 

[joandreas 3]

flightfactor might release 767 later this year. And it is too late to switch aircraft now.

[Franz007 502]

It really makes no sense for PMDG to make a 757! I would never purchase it and so i guess a lot of other users who already have the FF 757 wouldn't purchase it either.

Talking about JarDesing: their A320 is really not bad and has a mind blowing cockpit. And i guess it belongs for sure to the best 3-4 aircrafts available at the moment for XP. But there is a lot of FMC-functions missing for example and the flight model has a strange beheaviour. We know almost nothing about their A330 except the nice images but if it is comparable to their A320 so i think i would be of course great but PMDG would make a much better job i guess.

 

So in my opinion it would be much easier to make a better A320 than Jar but more difficult to be a a lot better than the FF 757. The B767 would be a bad idea as well, since FF will make it (and FF is almost comparable to PMDG i guess, about what i've heard).

 

So to summarize:

 

B727 there is a beautiful one from FlyJSIM but since it is old-fashioned i have no big interest in a better version, this one is very nice if i want from time to time fly it

B737NG missing (except the x737 who will be soon with 3D cockpit but it's freeware)

B732 like the B727 (FlyJSIM), but old fashioned as well, so not interesting for me

B733 willd soon come out and will be i guess the most advanced made for XP (but pretty old-fashioned as well)

B747 missing (the default one is a big mess)

B757 already 99% perfect (FF)

B767 will be at least 99% perfect (FF)

B777 A PMDG version would be a bit better than the FF-777 but the would not be a big jump

B787 (i personnaly am not interested in this kind of super-modern aircrafts)

 

A320: Jar is very good but i think PMDG would be a big jump forward

A330: ? but could be potentially an idea for PMDG

A340: except a 2D one there is a big potential for PMDG

 

MD11: would be very nice but they wont do it

 

....

[roroma 2]

 

 

The B767 would be a bad idea as well, since FF will make it (and FF is almost comparable to PMDG i guess, about what i've heard).

 

 

flightfactor might release 767 later this year. And it is too late to switch aircraft now.

 

?!?!? A FF 767 would be awesome! Where did you guys hear of this? 

 

Yes, the FF 757 is awesome and it's among my favorites, but just because one aircraft is out for the market might not stop PMDG from making their version. Example: NGX (iFly came out first), 777 (CS came first). Just to be clear I have nothing against the FF 757 at all. As I said it's one of my favorites. 

 

But a FF 767?! I'd LOVE that! Let me know where you heard about that.