XPlane Development Status Thread [Updated 12SEP14]

[FS20 3]

I have no idea... what are you talking about?

 

Franky Slipcoe

[mwilk 1,106]

Does anyone have any popcorn?

[MarioDonick 752]

 

 

PMDG release for X-plane you'll see a massive switch. No more CTD's!! The HD freeware scenery is incredible currently so god only knows what these guys can do!

 

We'll see. Such a switch also depends on other factors, such as X-Plane's bad AI, bad ATC, not-so-good weather system, the small number of available high quality airports etc etc.

[fogboundturtle 2,708]

As an X-plane user, there is already a pretty decent 777 and 757 available. Its not like PMDG will have the landscape all to itself.  X-plane does run very smooth on modern hardware but bad ai, bad atc and weather system is definitely where LR needs to improve or a 3rd party developer needs to step up

[joandreas 3]

Well more chance of ixeg making one. 

Pmdg it will depend  what aircraft it is.

As dash 8 and dc 6 got different user base.

 

Would add that seasonmaxx will have nearly same effect when it gets released.

[fabiopittol 0]

We'll see. Such a switch also depends on other factors, such as X-Plane's bad AI, bad ATC, not-so-good weather system, the small number of available high quality airports etc etc.

 

It's funny to always read things like that.

 

Do you guys realise that almost (if not all) those things are pretty darn simple on default FSX too? One day FSX had nothing, it takes time (and users) for it to grow.

[MarioDonick 752]

It's funny to always read things like that.

 

Do you guys realise that almost (if not all) those things are pretty darn simple on default FSX too? One day FSX had nothing, it takes time (and users) for it to grow.

 

Yes, you're right -- but if you want a significant number of FSX users to switch to XP, you need much more high quality 3rd party content for XP than currently available.

 

I love X-Plane -- it's my only simulator since several years, but there are really lots of things missing, and in contrast to FSX, users don't have many options to add the missing things via 3rd party tools. (The weather, for example. We have EFASS and FSrealWX as external weather injectors, but only for the Windows users. These tools also have to rely on X-Plane's simplistic weather engine and can't do much more).

[scandinavian13 5,192]

Signatures, please, gents.

 

There is a function in the forum to do this automatically. Please set this up so that you don't have to worry about it and I don't have to remove posts. Thanks!

[rototom 198]

Yes, you're right -- but if you want a significant number of FSX users to switch to XP, you need much more high quality 3rd party content for XP than currently available.

 

I love X-Plane -- it's my only simulator since several years, but there are really lots of things missing, and in contrast to FSX, users don't have many options to add the missing things via 3rd party tools. (The weather, for example. We have EFASS and FSrealWX as external weather injectors, but only for the Windows users. These tools also have to rely on X-Plane's simplistic weather engine and can't do much more).

 

Agreed. My strategy has been to keep what I have in FSX and continue to use it because I still enjoy it very much. But I also added X-plane to the mix. I'll buy some airplanes and airports and even download from the huge library of free scenery for it. I can do the odd flight and even though I don't have everything yet, it's still enjoyable and I have also noticed many incredible things that FSX doesn't have and never will. So by purchasing the occasional X-plane product I support the continued development and watch it grow. If we all took that approach, I think we would be pleasantly surprised at how fast things would improve far beyond anything we've seen in FSX.

[FS Hub 132]

We'll see. Such a switch also depends on other factors, such as X-Plane's bad AI, bad ATC, not-so-good weather system, the small number of available high quality airports etc etc.

 

No.. FSX was that perfect out of the box you wanted to say?

 

 

- In X-Plane World we already welcome PMDG by the statement: 'PMDG announced an announcement' 

[MarioDonick 752]

Signatures, please, gents.

 

There is a function in the forum to do this automatically. Please set this up so that you don't have to worry about it and I don't have to remove posts. Thanks!

My user name is my real name, so I thought this would serve as sig.

 

Anyway: Mario Donick

[scandinavian13 5,192]

 

 

My user name is my real name, so I thought this would serve as sig.

 

That makes sense, but it's a lot easier to scan for enforcement when everyone's signature is actually in their post. I appreciate you making the adjustment!

[fabiopittol 0]

Yes, you're right -- but if you want a significant number of FSX users to switch to XP, you need much more high quality 3rd party content for XP than currently available.

 

I love X-Plane -- it's my only simulator since several years, but there are really lots of things missing, and in contrast to FSX, users don't have many options to add the missing things via 3rd party tools. (The weather, for example. We have EFASS and FSrealWX as external weather injectors, but only for the Windows users. These tools also have to rely on X-Plane's simplistic weather engine and can't do much more).

 

But it needs to start somewhere, doesn't it?

 

Your vision is ok (who am I to judge? lol). I actually replied thinking of a lot of people I see, especially on YouTube, always using these arguments, but with a FS-###### mindset, which is no good either way.

 

In my honest opinion, the major drawback for XP right now are the aircrafts. I mean, in the top level simulation ballpark. Great addons usually orbit around great aircraft. I own the PMDG 777 and some XP aircraft, and non of the later gets even close to the same quality level.

 

With a PMDG-like aircraft, more serious simming starts to happen and the market becomes more clear to complement this experience.

[jusku 0]

You have to keep one thing in mind though, PMDG is around for how many years now? I don't know, a lot I guess. And in xplane we have developer which have barely release one, two or three aircraft, think of PMDG's first aircraft. And most of them do it as a hobby and not a full time job. What I want to make clear is that you can't compare xplane developer (FlightFactor, JARDesign, IXEG) with FSX devs (aerosoft, PMDG). This will hopefully change in the near furture, but it is something to keep in mind. FSX definitely has a head start, but we're catching up. Think of the A350, once I posted some pics on facebook, quite a few fs people started asking whether there was one in development for FSX. Or think of the B757, it's better than both available for FSX. This summer we'll probably have a high quality A332, noting even close in FSX. No to mention the IXEG B733...
Of course there are addons in FSX, which we don't have in xplane, or at least not at the some level. To be honest, I haven't bough the B777, because if PMDG ever does one for xplane, it'll be much better.
And I think, one can do quite serious simming already! The B757 is close to PMDG level!

[60North 120]

And in xplane we have developer which have barely release one, two or three aircraft, think of PMDG's first aircraft. And most of them do it as a hobby and not a full time job.

 

Actually, most X-Plane designers with a name started out as freeware developers.  Only the last few years payware really got a boost in XP, and that is probably due to the large increase in the user base.  On our team all of us have been developing in XP for

10-15 years, and mostly freeware - as a hobby.  We are all in our 40's, settled and have other jobs.  So the main motivation 

for many XP "old" designers like us is not the $, but the technical challenge, the social aspect and a genuine interest in aviation.  At the time we got into this a copy of XP costed about 250$, so the community was small and mostly "adult" users that could afford it.

This probably also explains the "culture" in XP of having a "less professional" and open relations with the users, which give us

so much motivation with their feedback.  Thats what keeps freeware projects going.  This open culture also leads to

to new designers relations, sharing of skills and knowhow and the making of friendships for life.

 

PMDG being an employer and a professional company with big serious customers for many years off course needs to operate

in a much more professional manor in public, and I guess we (might) have to learn from them when our project gets released. 

 

Anyhow, on behalf of XPs old time designers, we are extremely happy to see PMDG - such a great team with their history and merits - entering the XP world.

It will surely attract (well deserved) attention to XP.  It will raise the bar, it will be a catalyst, it will be a win-win for everyone.  So in the old XP spirit - lets welcome them by motivating them to stay regardless of what project is first and what the release date will be, it will be awesome - as usual!

 

Cheers

 

Morten Melhuus