I love it (sarcasm), a setup for the classic race to the bottom for the sake of profit.  Would you pay $120+ for addons such as REX or ASN so those developers can stay in business?  But I got to admit it's DTG right to do as its pleases, though in the end we will all vote with our wallets.  Maybe DTG's foray into the FS market will lead to yet another train wreck. 

 

I would not be suprised if a few of the above posts vanish right before our eyes.

What are the future options?

1. DoveTail doesn't develop a new flight simulator - all developers are no worse off
2. DoveTail does develop a new flight simulator and some developers' adds-on are unaffordable - such developers are still no worse off
3. DoveTail does develop a new flight simulator and  other developers' adds-on are affordable - such developers are better off
4. DoveTail does develop a new flight simulator but then finds it's not viable - such developer's adds-on  which are affordable will still be better off for a period.

DoveTail would have  paid for Microsoft's rights and for developing a new flight simulator so it's DoveTail's prerogative as to what it does - unless developers contribute to them.

Did someone say DLC?

http://www.ign.com/articles/2015/01/26/new-dlc-announced-for-microsoft-flight-simulator-x-steam-edition

lol.. & is this to be paid for? A simple search in the sim add-on sites will find lots of free Difficult & Dangerous flights. However, all I find on Steam are the 2x DLC's, Around The World in 80 flights & Early Years.

lol.. & is this to be paid for? A simple search in the sim add-on sites will find lots of free Difficult & Dangerous flights. However, all I find on Steam are the 2x DLC's, Around The World in 80 flights & Early Years.

 

its not quite as simple as that. I have designed the Dangerous Approaches pack to appeal to a new generation of simmer, in addition to those of us who have been simming for a long time. Each flight has been very carefully researched with accurate real-world routings etc. Additionally, I have written a detailed manual which acts as a tutorial for flying aircraft in the sim (in some ways similar to my tutorials in PC Pilot Magazine), which will introduce new people to the nuances of flying an aircraft and an approach. It is as much tutorial as it is a flight pack. There is a lot going on for seasoned veterans and newbies alike to enjoy. My personal hope is that these packs on Steam (I have developed 4 for Dovetail thus far - with Dangerous Approaches being the first to be released), helps expand our community with new blood whilst giving equal enjoyment to the "old hands".

 

The sales page for Dangerous Approaches is not yet on Steam, but will be arriving shortly. However, first press went out last night / today.

 

I hope that clarifies a bit!

Jane

Did someone say DLC?

http://www.ign.com/articles/2015/01/26/new-dlc-announced-for-microsoft-flight-simulator-x-steam-edition

 

there is a little more detail here:-

 

https://fsxinsider.com/fly-into-a-world-of-adventure-with-dangerous-approaches/

 

all the best

Jane

Hi Jane, & thanks for clarifying.

It's a breath of fresh air when I see releases such as yours. I hope this will really  create & expand interest with the newbies that have discovered Flight Simming. Hopefully, there will be some new developers coming into this amazing hobby of ours.

 

I wish you the best with your developing work. Will they only be released on Dovetail, or elsewhere, where us 'old timers' can find your work?

 

I think we are in exciting times with simming. With FSX, FSX:SE & Dovetail's own release, & then P3D! The choices we have! The devs have their work cut out for them.

 

We were chatting about different add-on releases for different folk.. A Gold release for the 'technical' simmer, Silver for the hobby guys/gals, & Bronze for the new guys, with small costs involved when upgrading. Our thoughts were to ease the newbies into the hobby by offering a degree of difficulty choice. Too high a level could maybe bore the gamers & scare them off.

 

Another thought, although we realise was limied by license constraints, was for Dovetail, if they could at the time, take a page out of LM's P3D & release FSX:SE with a change in default aircraft & add in a few payware planes as freebees. This could really have differentiated FSX:SE from FSX.

 

Oh well, in an ideal world...

 

Best of luck, once again,

Robin

Hi Jane, & thanks for clarifying.

It's a breath of fresh air when I see releases such as yours. I hope this will really  create & expand interest with the newbies that have discovered Flight Simming. Hopefully, there will be some new developers coming into this amazing hobby of ours.

 

I wish you the best with your developing work. Will they only be released on Dovetail, or elsewhere, where us 'old timers' can find your work?

 

I think we are in exciting times with simming. With FSX, FSX:SE & Dovetail's own release, & then P3D! The choices we have! The devs have their work cut out for them.

 

We were chatting about different add-on releases for different folk.. A Gold release for the 'technical' simmer, Silver for the hobby guys/gals, & Bronze for the new guys, with small costs involved when upgrading. Our thoughts were to ease the newbies into the hobby by offering a degree of difficulty choice. Too high a level could maybe bore the gamers & scare them off.

 

Another thought, although we realise was limied by license constraints, was for Dovetail, if they could at the time, take a page out of LM's P3D & release FSX:SE with a change in default aircraft & add in a few payware planes as freebees. This could really have differentiated FSX:SE from FSX.

 

Oh well, in an ideal world...

 

Best of luck, once again,

Robin

 

hey Robin,

 

Thank you very much for all the kind words. It means a lot!

 

I agree with you completely, I think after some time in the wilderness, the future has never looked brighter for our hobby on many fronts! You are so right about avoiding scaring people off too, we have to ease newcomers in to our hobby and show them just how fun and rewarding it can be. I don't just want us to bring new people in to the fold, but to retain them as that helps us all.

 

Jane

Are you sure you didn't switch the names DTG and Steam? Because i never ever heard of Steam taking such an high percentage.

That is indeed possible. Regardless however, it doesn't affect the end result of the dev only getting to keep a pitiful, paltry pittance of 5%, eh?

Did someone say DLC?

http://www.ign.com/articles/2015/01/26/new-dlc-announced-for-microsoft-flight-simulator-x-steam-edition

I find that article to be somewhat less than accurate, since they (IGN) used a promo video for "Flight" instead of something from FSX Steam Edition!

 

Apparently IGN couldn't be bothered to do their research properly...

IGN were just regurgitating the PR blurb on "fsxinsider" a.k/a Dovetail games.

I find that article to be somewhat less than accurate, since they (IGN) used a promo video for "Flight" instead of something from FSX Steam Edition!

 

Apparently IGN couldn't be bothered to do their research properly...

It was the first piece of FSX SE news I've seen outside of the sim community. Furthermore, I hadn't known about the info (presented in that article) so I decided to share.

 

I kept my opinions out of the post, but to state it mildly, I'm not sure DTG is going (DLC-wise) where I'd be willing to spend money with them.. I saw the post from the creator of the DLC pack and I agree with the person. I have to agree that most simmers on this board may not like their offerings so far, but new blood into the community and updates are priceless at this point.

 

Also do NOT read the comments on IGN, as there only seems to be one or two folks who know what they are talking about!

but new blood into the community and updates are priceless at this point.

 

 

I want to make it abundantly clear that I am not against FSX-SE at all, and I'm also not against anyone making new products for it, or rehashing old ones. My sole objection is that behind closed doors some middlemen, none of whom lifted a finger to produce some of the DLCs in question, decided to share the spoils between themselves and pay the actual producer peanuts. They did this purely because they could get away with it. Furthermore they've gone to great lengths to stop any discussion of the fact that they want nearly all the profits for themselves, something that they want to keep secret for obvious reasons.

 

Suggest researching Spotify, Google music publishing, Apple itunes and assorted corporate heavyweights to see an exact parallel in other fields.

Robert, & you know this because?

Also, are the devs, 2x so far, & potential others, being forced to go the DLC route, where there are other outlets available?

I would guess because he is a first hand witness to the character of these "middlemen" in some way or another since he is a 3rd party addon developer? If not, he still has enough experience and intellect in this market to be able to figure out just what these guys are up to.

I want to make it abundantly clear that I am not against FSX-SE at all, and I'm also not against anyone making new products for it, or rehashing old ones. My sole objection is that behind closed doors some middlemen, none of whom lifted a finger to produce some of the DLCs in question, decided to share the spoils between themselves and pay the actual producer peanuts. They did this purely because they could get away with it. Furthermore they've gone to great lengths to stop any discussion of the fact that they want nearly all the profits for themselves, something that they want to keep secret for obvious reasons.

 

Suggest researching Spotify, Google music publishing, Apple itunes and assorted corporate heavyweights to see an exact parallel in other fields.

It would be useful to know who these "middleman" are, how they actually operate, how the they prevent developers from selling to DoveTail/steeamhow they enforce secrecy on others, and any other actual information you about them.

 

Life to too short spend time researching  parallels in other fields - especially as you dont give any help.

Surley (shirley? Surly? Sorry, dunno how to spell), there are other outlets for the dev?

As the devs have always done! In any case, they way company XYZ does their business is according to their business plan & no-one forces anyone to do business with them The devs have choices!

 

It is of no practical purpose to rant about any particular company's business plan - to what point? Are we going to see yet another petition on how we want a company to change their ways to suit ...  mmmm, dunno who, actually.

 

So, if you want to be a dev or supplier to Dovetail, do so, otherwise use one of the many other channels to market/distribute your stuff. No-one is being 'forced'.

 

As to who the middlemen are... who cares, instead of worrying about stuff like that, maybe sit back, maybe do some flying, or even some dev work for the rest of us, or are Dovetail's fees not good enough?

Edited January 28, 201511 yr by n4gix
Removed duplicate paragraphs.