PMDG should stop making airplanes

[KevMac 0]

Like that attention getter??  :smile:   Okay, let me explain the title.  I am challenging PMDG to develop their own Flight Simulator.   In my opinion the available simulators on the market today just haven't kept up with what most of us would have expected had FSX continued it's development cycle.  Just imagine the time it would eventually save PMDG, not having to adapt and change code for several new platforms and adapt to their release schedules (i.e. P3D, X-Plane, FSX).  Plus, imagine PMDG's quality on a fully developed flight sim!  I hope they will consider this in the near future as they look to grow their business and expand in slightly new directions.

 

Anyway, there's my sales pitch.

 

Thanks,

Kevin McCarthy

[ivo09 23]

While this may sound perfect on paper, it would be very hard to accomplish. The amount of resources needed for a project like this is staggering. Microsoft had a large team and it still took them 2-3 years for every release. PMDG have a small team, it would take them ages.

 

Now imagine if many PMDG, HiFi, ORBX, etc all chipped in and made certain parts of a simulator platform...now that would be awesome!

[z06z33 763]

The issue is this money. While funding the production of an addon maybe feasible the production of a whole new sim that cover the entire globe in detail that is beyond what is currently available would likely cost at least 100 million dollars. GTAV covers only a small area and cost around $300 million to develop. Sadly the market for a flight simulator isn't big enough to support that kind of development costs. Unless some flightsim loving billionaire decided to donate the money to do it I doubt a fully new up to date flight sim will ever happen.

[dgraham1284 92]

Who has Richard Branson's contact info?

[phoenixphire 50]

It would not surprise me in the least if they are considering it. I thought Robert stated that they had looked into buying FSX with other partners? I could be very wrong about this. 

[CPT747 1]

Instead of Mars-adventures,we should invest into real simulation (earth and flight simulation ,people and original cities ,streets,railways,rivers,seas and but not least airports of our world included).

[dgraham1284 92]

It would not surprise me in the least if they are considering it. I thought Robert stated that they had looked into buying FSX with other partners? I could be very wrong about this. 

 

He did say that. 

[Guest JustanotherPilot]

The issue is this money. While funding the production of an addon maybe feasible the production of a whole new sim that cover the entire globe in detail that is beyond what is currently available would likely cost at least 100 million dollars. GTAV covers only a small area and cost around $300 million to develop. Sadly the market for a flight simulator isn't big enough to support that kind of development costs. Unless some flightsim loving billionaire decided to donate the money to do it I doubt a fully new up to date flight sim will ever happen.

 

 

There was one once but he stopped further development.......thank you Mr Gates.

[CB183183183 9]

It takes PMDG 2-3 years just to develop one of their airplanes.  I couldn't imagine the wait time on their own sim!

[mgh 89]

It would not surprise me in the least if they are considering it. I thought Robert stated that they had looked into buying FSX with other partners? I could be very wrong about this. 

 

I understood PMDG said it lost out to DTG.

[liketofly1 11]

A new simulator - with PMDG as the lead devs... Count me in!

Maybe have a look at NGFS forum, with some crowd funding PMDG could definately pull this off... especially if the lead addon developers in the community would support them, however It would still be a huge effort!

[mcbellette 145]

I'd like PMDG's next product to be... Superman! Seriously - how cool would it be? The point of view being looking out from Superman's eyes and seeing his arms outstretched in front of him, with the pushing forward of the throttles being shown by his arms being thrust out with force in front and being able to fly at Mach 6 and up into space! How cool (and simple) would that be? The external model could be based on Henry Cavill's Superman. Who wants one?

[Flying Penguin 44]

I'd like PMDG's next product to be... Superman! Seriously - how cool would it be? The point of view being looking out from Superman's eyes and seeing his arms outstretched in front of him, with the pushing forward of the throttles being shown by his arms being thrust out with force in front and being able to fly at Mach 6 and up into space! How cool (and simple) would that be? The external model could be based on Henry Cavill's Superman. Who wants one?

Wonder Woman would be cooler.... Think, her invisible plane with full FMC, invisible of course...

[Simicro 247]

The amount of resources needed for a project like this is staggering. Microsoft had a large team and it still took them 2-3 years for every release. PMDG have a small team, it would take them ages.

 

It is quite possible for a small team to make a high quality simulator, provided some compromises on the scenery.

 

See the examples of Condor The Competition Soaring Simulator (2 guys) or Aerowinx (1 guy).

[WotanUK 289]

I do believe that Robert already commented that developing a new sim from the ground-up would be too big a risk for the company.  Even if they "Kickstarted" a campaign it's a massive undertaking.

 

From a pure technical perspective i think that X-Plane has the best future.  I have just been watching some night landing videos on Youtube, they are absolutely stunning.  I would really like to see X-Plane developers start to listen to the community and fix the many problems that have been poured over ad nauseum on here and other places.  

 

I imagine that PMDG have a role in that, given the pull they have in the community i assume if they ask Austin for more AI aircraft, seasonal textures or a comprehensive ATC we might actually get those things.