It might very well be that MS/Steam/DTG will work out a way to convert existing FSX Gold product codes into Steam keys so everyone is an equal. 

 

It's not looking too good. X-Plane just got put on Steam and existing DVD people can't activate their keys.

It's not looking too good. X-Plane just got put on Steam and existing DVD people can't activate their keys.

 

Yes but X-Plane DVD users will be able to get the same product updates via the X-Plane site as the Steam users get through Steam.. Game feature and patch wise they will still be equals.

 

I don't (just guessing) see DTG or MS putting up website to distribute manual patches for non-Steam FSX Gold users..   

 

 

X-Plane just got put on Steam and existing DVD people can't activate their keys.

 

Why don't they just re-install using their DVDs and use their DVD keys? If they think they are going to download the Steam version and then attempt to use their DVD key, they will be sadly mistaken.

Yes but X-Plane DVD users will be able to get the same product updates via the X-Plane site as the Steam users get through Steam.. Game feature and patch wise they will still be equals.

 

Exactly. It's just a different distribution channel for the same thing you can get elsewhere, including updates and access to current Betas. It doesn't split the community.

 

That would only happen if X-Plane enables the "Steam Workshop" feature for free user-made, non-payware content, because that would only install into the Steam version, unless the same thing was available elsewhere (something like certain Skyrim mods being available both on Steam Workshop and Nexus).

 

I haven't heard any word so far, that Laminar is planning on enabling Steam Workshop. If they do, it's at that point that I'd expect to see a process for converting your DVD/USB key version to a free Steam key. Otherwise, expect howls of protest because it would split the community. I don't think that will happen soon, because (among other things) it would complicated the relationship with the current major payware storefront and free file hosting database at the ".org" site. That has to be getting a bit touchy already, with opening another sales channel and forum. 

PLEASE no enforced Steam online servers.

Enforced in what way? I'm sure you could still fly offline if you prefer to do that. I'd be absolutely shocked if that wasn't the case

Why don't they just re-install using their DVDs and use their DVD keys? If they think they are going to download the Steam version and then attempt to use their DVD key, they will be sadly mistaken.

 

Some games allow you to convert or register your pre-existing CD/DVD keys with Steam. This then adds the game to your Steam account and gets you all the benefits it offers. One such benefit is being able to download and reinstall the game without need for the physical discs in cases where they are lost or damaged.

 

At the moment it doesn't appear that X-Plane allows this.

 

 

At the moment it doesn't appear that X-Plane allows this.

 

Exactly!!

 

Not sure if everyone saw this from Gamestop. Seems to all but confirm our suspicions about SteveFX and his DX10 fixer. Looks like Dovetail will just use his fixer to "patch" the game and release it for DX10 compatibility. What a joke for a developer to call this a "fully patched" game. 

 

There is absolutely no information or evidence to support your theory, and your subsequent posts regarding DTG and the DX10 Fixer are based 100% on a gut feeling. The only circumstantial evidence pointing in that direction is that Steve pulled the fixer from the store right before DTG announced their involvement with FSX. However, I trust the comments provided by Steve on his blog - he pulled the fixer due to his inability to provided sufficient support.

 

I'm all for discussing theories and hypotheticals, but the term "all but confirm" is used much too loose in this case.

 

Of course, anything is possible. You could be right.  ^_^

I admit I'll be pretty startled if DTG does much of anything with FSX. To me, it doesn't really make any sense for this to be about anything other then the MS Flight technology, if not Flight itself.

 

A lot of the FSX speculation feels suspiciously like missing the forest for the trees.

Wow!! I never realized that X-Plane looked so good.

Are you kidding? Check this out: http://world2xplane.com/. This is freeware!

Are you kidding? Check this out: http://world2xplane.com/. This is freeware!

Wow, almost real !!!

Wow, almost real !!!

Check this out: http://simheaven.com/ There are lots of free sceneries made with the world2xplane app for download, also some photosceneries.

 

 

 

 

Let's entertain that then..  We'll just say it was included as an example here... We're at that point (even more so) starting to very much tread into "it's not the same game, but labeled as such" territory. Existing DVD Gold users would then have a game vastly inferior to the same game on Steam.   It might very well be that MS/Steam/DTG will work out a way to convert existing FSX Gold product codes into Steam keys so everyone is an equal. 

 

 

Don't count on it. DCS tried to do this for existing customers, but steam stopped doing it for them after a few rounds of key transfers. 

Don't count on it. DCS tried to do this for existing customers, but steam stopped doing it for them after a few rounds of key transfers. 

 

I've seen it go different ways with different companies, depending on the deal they cut with Steam. Rise of Flight doesn't offer a Steam key transfer, but Kerbal Space Program does offer a transfer. It's an irrevocable one-way process, and only available if you bought through their storefront before it was available on Steam. So there is at least one example of a flight-sim related (sort of) company offering a transfer.

In other news in MS-land: http://www.develop-online.net/news/microsoft-jobs-cuts-imminent/0195269