Would like to put out for discussion the pricing of 3rd party add-ons for P3Dv2.  It seems that P3D2 is not fully backwards compatible for all aircraft and scenery products.  I don't think that's anything to complain to LM about, as we do not want LM to tie their hands trying to achieve full FSX compatibility, as this would preclude some of the enhancements that they are seeking.  But this means that the 3rd party developers are now having to make some modifications to their products to make them compatible with P3D2. Some developers are offering their products as either FSX or P3D2 compatible, for one price,say $40 or as compatible with both, at say $50 or $60. It seems that Razbam and Milviz fall in this category (though not necessarily with the example prices I have listed.)  This seems entirely reasonable to me. When I purchased most of my FSX add-ons, I didn't believe that I was buying compatibility with future simulations, just FSX. However some developers, and I am thinking of ORBX, seem to be offering to modify all of their previously released FSX products for P3D2 at no additional price to the consumer, even though there is an obvious cost to them. They are certainly the business experts on this, but I am concerned that offering their FSX products upgraded to P3D2, at no additional price, may not give sufficient incentive to achieve these upgrades in the time frames that many simmers are wanting. And when you think about it, I expect that most of the customers for P3D2 are already FSX simmers, and many will already have their ORBX sceneries. Therefore the upgrades may be generating very little in new sales. I would prefer to pay for the upgrades to P3D2 and support a healthy market and the incentive that goes with it. 

I tend to disagree with this. It should be up to the developer to descide if they want additional money for their updates.

Next, we can't know if there may be some kind of internal agreement between developers. Who knows, maybe ORBX gets money from LM for their updates because more compatible sceneries will also make P3Dv2 sell better. You can't know what the reason is, but I would for sure not want to pay for all my addons again.

In fact, if I would have to pay for everything again (even though maybe just an update price), I wouldn't have switched to P3Dv2.

 

Of cause you can always ask the developers for a bank account to donate to if you feel should own them some money for the updates.

There was a thread in the ORBX forums where some people (including me) suggested to take an upgrade fee, but ORBX obviously does not want this. From what I read on their relations, I cannot at all imagine ORBX to get money from LM. However, there are more plausible reasons for ORBX supporting Prepar3d in the way they do:

 

- They certainly get a business advantage being the first in the game. "Who comes too late will be punished by life" (often, but maybe improperly, ascribed to Mr. Gorbachev).

 

- Quite a number of users who did not own the old sceneries so far, are encouraged to get them now for Prepar3d2, even more as there is still shortage of Prepar3d2 ready sceneries. I bought quite a number of older Australian airports I did not own before (and really enjoy them). Just bought Melbourbe today after being made compatible.

 

Kind regards, Michael

I have posted on prior occasions that for me I would accept paying an additional fee if say like PMDG 747 were to be made compatible with P3D, then later if they wanted to revamp and come out with a much stronger product then sure I would not mind paying for the next evolution.  But what I have a problem with is situations like Ifly-737.  I think, I paid $49.95 for the FSX version, I now see they was $79.95 for the P3D version.  Did they revamp it, NO is it better on P3D and again NO!  From what I am getting from others who did pay the $79.95 the frame rates are in the 20's or lower.  Now would I have paid $25 for a ######ized version to fly on P3D, probably.  So here is a chance for the 3rd party guys to make some coin as long as they don't get greedy to the point we the customers, tell them to go away.

So here is a chance for the 3rd party guys to make some coin as long as they don't get greedy to the point we the customers, tell them to go away.

That's how the market works.

 

 

They are certainly the business experts on this, but I am concerned that offering their FSX products upgraded to P3D2, at no additional price, may not give sufficient incentive to achieve these upgrades in the time frames that many simmers are wanting.

Then you have the opposite end of the spectrum such as Ifly's B737 which offers full P3d2.2 support now for full retail price!

 

I'm not baggin on F1. they offered  an upgrade discount to P3d for over a year and arguably have one of the fairest return options available but P3d wasn't nearly as mature back then and as it is now.  I like the Ifly B737 and would be willing to pay a price for the conversion even a bit extra so F1 could profit and continue to bring us top notch add-ons in the future but when I see full retail pricing I'll have to pass. I think $160.00 is too much to ask even for an ardent supporter.

Devs who continue to improve their products should charge what they think is reasonable.... If we agree, we will pay.

 

What I would be watchful for are devs who simply repackage the same product with a new installer and then charge for it. That would be a sham.

I have posted on prior occasions that for me I would accept paying an additional fee if say like PMDG 747 were to be made compatible with P3D, then later if they wanted to revamp and come out with a much stronger product then sure I would not mind paying for the next evolution.  But what I have a problem with is situations like Ifly-737.  I think, I paid $49.95 for the FSX version, I now see they was $79.95 for the P3D version.  Did they revamp it, NO is it better on P3D and again NO!  From what I am getting from others who did pay the $79.95 the frame rates are in the 20's or lower.  Now would I have paid $25 for a ######ized version to fly on P3D, probably.  So here is a chance for the 3rd party guys to make some coin as long as they don't get greedy to the point we the customers, tell them to go away.

 

Developers who just slap a new installer on while doing nothing to optimize their P3D products and then double the price compared to the same FSX version won't last long with that strategy. 

Exactly how much work is involved for the Developers to make a aircraft compatible/optimized  with P3dv2.2?,I have a Stearman from Fs9 and many Freeware Fsx aircraft flying just great inP3dv2.2,from what I gather from these and other forums it is simply correcting/tiding up their error,s,and lets face it fight1 simply does not want to support P3d for us simple simmers,the developers seem to be putting one toe in the water with all the enthusiasm of some one about to undergo root canal work at the dentist,Orbx and Aerosoft have got it right ,they look at the bigger picture and do not waste their time arguing over nothing with Customer,s,I have it right idea as well no dedicated P3dv2.2 installer no purchase

From what I have gathered, one of the biggest issues with making previous flight software compatible is the fact that the coding was not exactly stellar, having said that, I cannot believe that their is not someone who could take generic FS9 and 2000 aircraft and convert them to work with P3D.  It almost makes me want to learn just so I could take advantage of it.  But as wizzards stated ORBX and Aerosoft they got it right and I will purchase from and always consider them first before looking elsewhere!

 

That is called customer loyalty until they do not deserve it!