Reading all of the posts in this forum pleading with LM to develop a 64 bit version of P3D, I really think we need to get a grip and look at the business reality of this.  A project in a major defense company like LM is very dependent upon the VP for  finance, not just Wes Bard and the project team.  The project team has just delivered  V2 of P3D with advances that have finally persuaded simmers like me and many others apparently  to abandon FSX for P3D.  Wes Bard and his team no doubt had to convince the Finance VP to provide precious R&D money to get to V2.  The P3D project wasn't the only project at the LM company competing for these R&D funds.  The P3D project team needs to realize a return for these corporate investments for V2.   Keep in mind that we flight sim hobbyist, while we may be an important part of LM's marketplace, are not the primary market: that appears to be DoD training.  P3D in the 32 bit version may be quite suitable for the time being in this marketplace, where the price of a very fast processor is insignificant in the overall scheme of a major government contract.

 

Yes, LM is probably planning an upgrade to 64 bit for P3D, but I expect this could be two or three years down the road.  When you read Wes Bard's answers to the constant emails nagging him about a 64 bit version, if you read between the lines, he seems to be saying, yes it's coming, but not right away.  Look at how long it took LM to get to version 2 after they purchased the software from Microsoft. In the meantime, I intend to enjoy the benefits of P3D2, and to buy the Orbx, Aerosoft, Milviz, A2A and other developers addons for P3D2 for the next few years, and if a 64 bit version comes to the market, I will consider it and make my decision then.

I agree with all your points. I for one am planning to make the jump from FS 9 to P3D. I will also need to make sizable investment in hardware and addons.

 

I feel that 64 bit is inevitable. It might take a few years as you indicated. My problem now is do I jump in at 32 bit, invest in addons, then forced to repurchase those same addons because some developers are charging for essentially the same product for FSX and P3D? Or do I hold off, wait for 64 bit, and just purchase the addons once. Quite a predicament.

I kinda just look at V2 as a stepping stone in a step to a much larger scheme. Ive decided to skip the investment in V2 and focus on the release of the 64bit app and the investment it will require.

What is the purpose of the thread? Seriously? Does some super enlightened individual feel that they should share some of their wisdom with the lesser class, in the hopes that we might see that a 64 bit version won't appear overnight or what?

 

The OP is not in response to a posting here in another thread, is it? Was there a thread at the L M forum that was the basis for this intellectual self-pleasurement?

 

Call me... clueless inside my cave! :wacko:

Actually, being involved with the industry (with experience on both the government and the contractor side), I think it's likely that P3D development is being directly funded by support contracts with one or more primary customers (government agencies, airlines, flight schools, etc.) and so P3D development will continue and be funded throughout the period of performance for those contracts, regardless of what personal opinions might be found in upper LM management.

 

We, as "secondary customers" are just along for the ride.  We are being subsidized, more or less, by those (hypothetical) contracts.  In return, we are offering LM a lot of information they are using to improve their product (and hopefully result in further primary contracts).

 

If and when those contracts are not renewed, or are awarded to a competitor instead, that's when the opinions of LM's management will come into play, on whether or not to continue to fund P3D development with LM's own money.

What you say makes sense and it would be a good scenario. But what may seem like a free ride I think rather is a necessary part of a symbiotic relationship.

 

Government contract or not the sim is not much to shoot at without the civilian world. And such a prospect is hard and expensive to do via project team. Since all of that comes with the package now, it's a win for them and for us.

it's likely that P3D development is being directly funded by support contracts with one or more primary customers (government agencies, airlines, flight schools, etc.)

 

 

Good point.

 

It could very well be a mix of government contract funding and R&D.  Depends on the T&C of the contract if LM would be able to resell software they develop under the contract. 

Should  Lockheed Martin fail to achieve commercial  viability (by its own standards) then Prepar3D will go the way as FSX.  A "symbiotic relationship"  won't affect that.

 

 

Yes, LM is probably planning an upgrade to 64 bit for P3D, but I expect this could be two or three years down the road.  When you read Wes Bard's answers to the constant emails nagging him about a 64 bit version, if you read between the lines, he seems to be saying, yes it's coming, but not right away.

 

I don't think you have to even read between the lines I think he's said it's coming, to the extent he can say for sure LM will continue supporting P3D's development which to me seems about as certain as MS continuing FSX' development way back when.  He just hasn't said when.   Plus, in LM's business plan for P3D I'm not sure really how much is in it directly for various non-civilian contracts.  I mean, how much is there in terms of revenue?  When you look at a superb civilian flight simulator, and I think there is potential for P3D becoming that, I think there is likely more market between civilian flight schools & home simulator 'learners' than they could hope to get directly out of government/miliatry contracts per se.  I say 'directly' to emphasis they may use it to demonstrate some training/features in their own aircraft, i.e. to help sell & support their own aircraft etc.

 

V2 is really quite amazing as it is and if they continue to work on it as they have been we all have a lot to look forward to.  Right now no matter how hard I try I just don't use FSX anymore despite really really liking the PMDG T7.   There's no longer a comparison for me and I am getting close to losing FSX outright, which I swore I wouldn't do a month or two ago when V2 first came out w/ the absence of PMDG & FSPax.  My sense is LM will be quietly working on 64-bit w/ a few vague hints along the way.  If they announced today they will be releasing a 64-bit version in one year w/o backward compatibility for all of those FSX add ons that currently basically work already I think this would essentially spell the end of the P3D V2 work for all but a few folks who will sit on the sidelines until 64-bit debuts.  With how they are handling this now they will have time to focus on optimizing several aspects of P3D that still need some work, for example better AA, refining how to optimize the next gen 64-bit add ons for not only 64-bit but also to work efficiently w/ the new rendering engine.   I think it's all going as it should and I see no rush to jump to 64-bit really at this time.  Then again, I have yet to have an OOM ;o)

P3d is not going away even if it loses money. LM needs computer simulation staff for various other projects. Income from P3d is gravy, albeit a small serving in the grand scheme of things that LM is involved in.

 

As to 64 bit it is not the great panacea that some think it is. It is a boon to programmers for sure. My guess is that V 3.0 will be 64 bit and will appear some time between late 2015 and early 2016. It will also be DX12 and be designed to run under Win 9.

Given the amount of money that Lockheed turns over - for example the F-35 programme alone is the most expensive weapons programme ever - I would expect the amount of money that P3D draws from Lockheed's coffers would be rather insignificant, especially seeing as the major leg work was done by Aces/Microsoft.

Everyone has an opinion, yet very few really know the true situation. It will be what it will be and for reasons that us mere minions will never understand.

 

Regardless, the future is so much brighter for us Minions in P3D than it is in MSFS.

 

Sent from my GT-N7100 using Tapatalk

 

Wes has already confirmed a 64bit version is coming.
 

J van E asked on their forums the other day and his answer was "Yes." 

In fact Wes Bard never used the  word "yes"  in his answer.

 

Until 64-bit is confirmed in the same as DirectX 11 was confirmed, then it's still an aspiration. 

In fact Wes Bard never used the  word "yes"  in his answer.

 

Until 64-bit is confirmed in the same as DirectX 11 was confirmed, then it's still an aspiration. 

Umm, yes he in fact did say Yes.  http://www.prepar3d.com/forum-5/?mingleforumaction=viewtopic&t=5094

 

"Yes.

It's not as simple as pressing the compile in 64-bit button, or else it would have been done already The baseline has multiple languages, and while you all have mentioned most of the benefits of 64-bit, there are drawbacks, one of the biggest is certain things like BGL (most of the addon scenery you likely use use BGL) won't be 64-bit compatible. So developers will really have to redevelop a lot of their content for a 64-bit P3D.

Wes Bard

Software Manager - Prepar3D® Team"

 

Lyn