Please don't ban me, I'm just quoting from The Steam site: PLEASE go there & read..

(the following is NOT my peronal opinion or comments. The comments are from Dovetail!)

 

http://steamcommunity.com/app/314160/discussions/1/611696927917689040/

 

"I have now heard back for you regarding the missing SDKs. Microsoft remains the developer of FSX and is solely responsible for implementation of any features or content. Meanwhile, Dovetail Games is acting as a publisher for Microsoft and is only licenced to modify the simulator in order to make it Steam compatible. Although we have optimised FSX: Steam Edition for use on Steam, in accordance with our licencing agreement with Microsoft we are not at liberty to make significant functionality changes to the simulator.

We know that the SDK is highly important to the FSX developer community and that the current situation regarding its use with FSX: Steam Edition has not been made clear. Implementation of the SDK currently falls outside of our agreement with Microsoft and therefore we have brought your enquiry to their attention so that we can best provide you with the information that you require. This has meant that we have been unable to address your enquiry as quickly as we would like. We are sorry for any frustration this may have caused.

Microsoft has now issued us with clarification on this matter. FSX: Steam Edition does not include a developer SDK and the focus for this release is to provide players with a stable standalone simulator which utilises the advantages of the Steam platform. If you wish to use the SDK it remains available in the boxed edition of FSX and all functionality will continue to work as it did prior to the release of FSX: Steam Edition. There are no plans to introduce a SDK to the Steam edition at this time."

 

From Simviation:..

http://forums.simviation.com/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?f=21&t=171753

 

This is quite a serious development (no pun intended) and it seems we have been mis-sold the product. Basically, those wishing to partake in the developer community (or even tweak a few items for our own requirements) will be unable to do so unless they already own the original boxed version.----------------------------------

 

The only place you can find the compilers for Airport Design Editor is on Disk 1 of the FSX GOLD EDITION and you can install the SDK with out having to installing FSX.
I think a lot of people misunderstood Dove Tail Games No where did they claim that they had complete control of the game all they were going to do was to make it where it would run on there platform. The biggest advantage of this is you no longer have to have any Disks for FSX so even if your computer blows up and you have to buy a new one you just reinstall Steam and it will restore any games that you have purchased from STEAM. And you no longer have to worry about re registering it and you no longer need any KEYS.

 

Another comment from the same Dovetail forum..

This is taken from the Pinned post for existing FSX users:

===================================

What changes have you made in FSX: Steam Edition from the Microsoft-supplied boxed version of FSX?
This is a re-release of FSX Gold Edition so you should not expect dramatic differences. However, we have updated it to include all standard Steam functionality, we’ve removed CD checking and combined the components of Gold Edition into a single installation.

===================================

FSX Gold ships with a working SDK. As far as I can tell a re-release of FSX Gold Edition means a re-release of the entire product and not just some of it.

This is a matter of some importance because one of the tenets of FSX was that it was open to anyone who wished to enhance and modify it. The lack of a working SDK does matter in that those folks who only have that edition are not able to modify or enhance it but will have to rely on others who do have the tools. This effectively closes the product to those new users who do not have access to the boxed edition

by Jon
ScruffyDuck Software
Microsoft MVP

 

See more at the above mentioned Dovetail forum.

 

Interesting stuff,  although as far as I am  concerned, it's really not much of a problem.

 

Even if I could have any interest in the SDK, I could get it ( still can, I believe ) from the last source I bought FSX Gold from - GFWL Platform.

 

Anyway, I believe that FSX-SE is primarily meant to be an alternative FSX distribution, should allow any FSX-native add-ons to work with it, and any developers certainly have the SDK, so... no big deal right ?

Why would you get banned for posting this? odd..

 

As jcomm says you can legally use your SDK from your boxed version if you really need it. I believe those that just got into flight simming may get there money back although a complete newb probably would have zero interest in the SDK anyway

Steam in a teacup?

 

 

...we have been mis-sold the product.

 

Where did DTG/Steam state that FSX-SE included the SDK?

Wobbie, you forgot to mention that FSX is 8 years old.

Where did DTG/Steam state that FSX-SE included the SDK?

 

Did you read the OP's post ?

 

They didn't state that it "includes the SDK", but they did quote that it was a "re-release of FSX Gold" and included all features of FSX Gold.       

 

FSX Gold comes with the SDK, hence the whole point of the original post.

Wobbie, you forgot to mention that FSX is 8 years old.

And that you have 2 copies of FS9 installed and you are a P3D owner.

 

This whole thing is really a big to do over nothing. A FSX developer already has the SDKs and as do most FSX owners.

 

 

They didn't state that it "includes the SDK", but they did quote that it was a "re-release of FSX Gold" and included all features of FSX Gold.

 

It's apperant that's a fail on Dovetail for not fulling understanding what exactly FSX - Gold entailed when they made the statement

 

However, my bet is that not having the SDK affects a very small portion of the Steam user base.  I've been flying for years and haven't never needed it.

Jim & Glynn, thanks,with you guys around, I don't need to.

No need to troll, but, all I'm doing is opening up some sort of dialogue about something of interest to the community. Jim,it may be a big to do about nothing, but transparency is a good thing irrespective of who uses or who will not use the SD.

 

Jim, I have to say it now, seeing that you brought it up..

It's 8 years old!!

Happy?

They didn't state that it "includes the SDK", but they did quote that it was a "re-release of FSX Gold" and included all features of FSX Gold.

 

Where does it say "included all features of FSX Gold."?

The SDK as shipped on the Gold Disk is of little use, Developers have needed to install SP1 & SP2 from Acceleration for years , currently fsx exports are made with the P3D V1.4 SDK by most of the developers so as to allow use of current versions of 3DS Max.

 

The Lack of the contents found previously in the SDK folders changes little as one needs to get the full set of service packs from various sources , installing them will fill the empty folders, curiously the installer looks for these folders and not their contents when run, there are a number of sources for the SP1 & SP2 service packs.

 

The Prepar3D® SDK is available as a free download to anyone looking to get into developing add-ons or content for Prepar3D.

 

 

all I'm doing is opening up some sort of dialogue about something of interest to the community

 

It's absolutely of no interest to the community. If it was, it would have been an issue many weeks ago, not when you decided to dig up some dirt!

 

 

 

Jim, I have to say it now, seeing that you brought it up..
It's 8 years old!!

 

No that was Glynn. I want you to tell everyone that you don't even use FSX, just 2 copies of FS9 and P3D!!

 

 

The SDK as shipped on the Gold Disk is of little use, Developers have needed to install SP1 & SP2 from Acceleration for years ,

 

The FSX Gold edition consists of two DeLuxe disks and an Acceleration disk. They are enough to install the SDK.

 

AutoDesk discontinued support to GMax in 2005. I'm sure I've read in these forums that AutoDesk would no longer authorise GamePacks after FSX?. Possibly Autodesk won't authorise DTG to use GMax/GamePack in FSX-SE?

 

 

It's absolutely of no interest to the community.

 

I keep forgetting that AVSIM is not for developer's or for those interested in becoming a developer. At FSDeveloper on the other hand, this topic rated a "Sticky".