17JUN14 - Scheduling and General Updates

[luscombeguy]

Health first Rob, the update will come when it is ready. Good news on the moderators, welcome change

[xender]

There is something that i dont get (and im NOT criticising... i just want to know):

 

Why is that some dev teams can set their products at the same price as FSX on P3D, while others say they will need to step their price a lot more? PMDG and FlightSimLabs say their licenses will cost a lot more on P3D, while Majestic says their price for de PD3 version of the Q400 will be the same as FSX.

 

I know (and fully agree) that is their product and they set the price they want for it... but i just don't know why is this happening with some teams and not with others

[A320FAN]

Great News!

[scandinavian13]

Why is that some dev teams can set their products at the same price as FSX on P3D, while others say they will need to step their price a lot more? PMDG and FlightSimLabs say their licenses will cost a lot more on P3D, while Majestic says their price for de PD3 version of the Q400 will be the same as FSX.

 

Forgive the self-quote, but I've typed this basic story to too many people in too many forums (and texts to friends):

 

(Substitute "Majestic" for my references to iFly in the below excerpt)

Boeing data doesn't come cheap, and the only reason it's as cheap as it is for FSX is that FSX is "entertainment only."  Remove that caveat and the price soars.  That's a fact.  I know a lot of P3D diehards don't want to hear that, but it's true.

 

I'm not sure how Boeing would address the training segment versus commercial (for profit) issue (regarding pricing), but I'd imagine that there's still a heavy cost to both because of the nature of the beast.  I'm also not sure what iFly's agreement is with Boeing.  If they weren't supplied with Boeing data, then they can kinda do what they want, within the agreement they have with Boeing regarding everything else.

 

Remember that the manufacturer has final say.  Gulfstream won't let people do a single thing regarding their aircraft in Flight Sim.  At all.  It's their brand and their product.

 

Anyone could create a Gulf and put it in FSX or P3D, honestly, but doing so opens them up to the risk that Gulf will come after them.  Similarly, PMDG could absolutely port their aircraft over to P3D pretty easily, but doing so opens them up to the risk that Boeing will come after them for doing so outside of the current agreement.  Different agreement - different costs (and those will likely be a lot higher for anything other than "entertainment only").  My guess would be that $100-$125 is going to be a lot lower than what's actually going to be seen.

 

 

 

Again, I don't think many people here truly understand the issues that surround licensing things for programs like P3D.  People seem to think that it's some natural evolution of FSX and are treating it like FSX.  It's not.  It's the natural evolution of ESP, which was an entirely different market sector from FSX.  Up until FSX died, most simmers hadn't even heard of it.  They had no business hearing of it because it didn't apply to them.  P3D is essentially the same thing.  It really doesn't apply to (most of) them, though some are finding ways to shoehorn themselves into valid and not so valid uses of the software.  If FSX hadn't died, I'd argue that people would still be looking at P3D from a faraway Flight Sim perch thinking "oh, that's nice..."  Alas, with Flight Sim being dead, people were panicking and foaming at the mouth to find an actively-supported sim to replace it with.  Of course, since ESP -> P3D being so similar meant that they didn't have to look too far, or give up a lot of what they were used to.

 

Except most didn't look before they jumped.  They ended up out of their realm, in a foreign land that just looked familiar.  That land is ruled by different laws and agreements, with different costs of living.  Some developers and some users may attempt to live there in denial, but sooner or later, they're going to have to wake up.

[xender]

Thanks Kyle, that makes a lot of sense. You bring to light some points that i will have to consider in the near future. Im building a new beast pc, and i still don't know if i should jump ship to P3D or stay with FSX :\

 

Thanks a lot for your post.

[pinlifter]

Here's to a speedy recovery Rob! On the topic of additional moderators here I sure hope Kyle is one of them. I'd be hard pressed to think of anyone more deserving with his wealth of knowledge.

 

The last half of 2014 looks like another home run from PMDG!

[scandinavian13]

 

 

Thanks a lot for your post.

 

You're welcome.  Thanks to you as well for approaching it rationally.  I usually get a lot of emotional responses to those points.  I totally get it - I'd love a new, better sim, too, but unless you know for absolute sure that P3D is for you, I'd stick to FSX for now.  If nothing else, because of the costs associated with getting the add-ons we all love in there.  If the developer is trying to stay clean with the company they're working with (the real aircraft manufacturer), then it'll likely mean there's going to be a higher cost for commercial use of that company's data.  It might not be the case in all situations, but I'd wait and see how it pans out (plus, apparently someone bought FSX from MS, so there's some hope there).

[twiggys]

Robert, May the grace of God carry you through your surgery and the healing process.

[masneoquil]

Robert,

Good luck with the surgery and good recovery!! 

 

Thanks for the update.

[Loc App]

I wish you a speedy recovery，I hope SP1 can publish as soon as possible！！！

[biokemisten]

Thank you!

[pilottj]

Speedy recovery Robert.  Health and time with family should always come before flight sim.

 

I hope the release schedule goes smoothly.  I am sure there will be the usual 'shock' of P3D prices, just like with the A2A P3D bit.  I agree with Kyle, when you deal with 'professional' training software, liability costs go through the roof for everyone involved.  PMDG and A2A aren't out to 'gouge' us with their P3D releases, they have very legitimate reasons for their pricing structures.  

 

I am very glad the DC-6 will get back on track, really looking forward to this beauty.

 

Cheers

TJ

[ZKOKQ]

 

 

On the topic of additional moderators here I sure hope Kyle is one of them. I'd be hard pressed to think of anyone more deserving with his wealth of knowledge.

I second that Chris

[Taipan]

Great to see some progress on the P3D licensing.

 

Can't wait to get the 777 when it's ready. I've been without FSX for a long time now so it will be great to have a Pmdg aircraft again even if it costs a little bit more.

 

I guess I'm lucky in a way having not purchased the FSX version holding out for the P3D version.

[ActiveSky]

Thanks for the News

" Robert, I wish you all the best for the surgery and a speedy recovery ! "