So I'm cruising down the game isle at the local Best Buy when I see the boxed A380 add-on by Abacus sitting on the shelf above FS2004 and wonder @*&? this hobby is going backwards. So why is it that the top developers (IMO) that have boxed versions of their software not have this exposure. I know Abacus has been around for quite some time; so do they have some inside connection or just the dollars to get their products on the shelves? Wow, how disturbing; hopefully more simmers become aware of great web sites like Avsim that keep people informed. Whats the chances of seeing the best boxed add-ons for FS2004 at a Best Buy in the near future?Matt

You obviously dont understand how retail works in the gaming business.Mass merchant retailers contract with marketing companies who floor plan the shelves for the retailers, putting product on the shelves. They have to pay for ads in the sales circulars, take back any damaged (and sometimes unsold products), and if they want an end cap on the aisle, have to often pay up to 10,000.00 in fees. Walmart works like this for sure.Abacus and others dont have best buy as a customer. The Game marketing company does... and the game developer has to sell at a low price to cover the margins and volumes involved. Internet sales have very little of that overhead. Usually that comes down to server traffic costs and the costs for credit card processing etc. Flight1 provides the wrappers etc and Im sure has similar publishing arrangements with its developers clients.

It's a great holiday "junk" gift. You don't know what to get your little nephew or your uncle george and you see this on the shelf and remember that he mentioned that he has flight simulator so another worthless christmas gift that will get opened to oooohs and ahhhhs and never touched again. It's either that or a dog calender or socks or a tie. That will likely be the majority of sales, plus the odd simmer himself who dosn't browse the boards or has no knowledge of the other addons available. billg

Just wanted to point out that I bought the original 767PIC at a Software Etc in a mall here... it's not all crap!

I have seen MegaScenery on the shelves at Fry's.

Honestly, I'd like to see more FS Add On's at retailer shops. As a dial up user (can't get DSL in my area still!) I do not buy many products that are d/l only just because of their sheer size. But if I seen those products at a local retailer on CD, I would surely pick them up. An example would be ASV. This is a program I would likely get if seen at a BB but don't dare try to D/L it at nearly 100M, my connection wouldn't hold up (likely) & the frustration makes it not worth my while.BTW, funny you brought up the A380, I seen it at a Best Buy here in PA just this morning.Jim

I would personally love to see more FS addons in the shops. I don't own and don't WANT to own a credit card, and that makes it practically impossible for me to buy addons from the major internet based companies. I know I could also use Paypal, but I don't trust them, as too many people have had problems with payments not going through.Aaron

To Jim and Aaron:1. SimMarket will sell you ASV on a CD.2. SimMarket also has some alternative payment methods that you may be able to use.Sorry all, the little guys are not going to walk into a corporation such as Best Buy and say "please sell our software". The costs are just too much.Hope this helps,JimActiveSky Sales and Supporthttp://www.hifisim.com/images/asv_dev_team.jpg http://www.hifisim.com/images/asv_proud_supporter.jpg

Best Buy doesn

JimI hope you didn't take it that I felt all devs should go the retail market way. I understand that is not possible for most FS Devs. I just used AS as an example & didn't mean to single Active Sky out. Sorry if it came across that way.Jim

Hi,No way!! We know that everyone cannot download huge files. That is one reason for selling through SimMarket. I read that you were interested in ASV and I didn't know if you knew about that option!Hope this helps,JimActiveSky Sales and Supporthttp://www.hifisim.com/images/asv_dev_team.jpg http://www.hifisim.com/images/asv_proud_supporter.jpg

Abucus' boxed products have been in Software Etc. and Babagges (now called GameStop) for years.----------------------------------------------------------------John MorganReal World: KGEG, UND Aerospace Spokane Satillite, Private ASEL 141.2 hrs, 314 landings, 46 inst. apprs.Virtual: MSFS 2004"There is a feeling about an airport that no other piece of ground can have. No matter what the name of the country on whose land it lies, an airport is a place you can see and touch that leads to a reality that can only be thought and felt." - The Bridge Across Forever: A Love Story by Richard Bach

Well I like the shop 'Game'.Here in leeds I found the ATR72 on sale at

The thing that makes CD ones appeal to me more these days, despite costing more, is that I don't feel to ransom when using them.Products like Aerosoft give me in the area of 3 online activations and then it gets tricky. I have the CD version of Eurowings and the Canary Islands for FS2002 and if I need to reinstall, them, I just pop in the disc. No internet required, no having to ask permission or a new key because my hard-drive got fried, no time delays.Ofcourse we'll probably find ourselves in a position before too long where even CD will require us to register online before it will install, and if we insert the disc more than 3 times it will self-destruct, but the longer that takes the better imo. :(I completely understand the need for security, but it doesn't mean I have to like it.

I never would have though that Abacus has more dollars in sales these days that Flight1. Maybee the FS Design Studio's sales put them in a good position. Well I think I'm going to find out were the nearest Fry's is. Thanks, Matt