Avsim's review 'stars' are not to be strictly used as a comparison between products.It fits their 'rating system' well, Unfortunately I can't say the same about most reviews avsim has to offer ;).

>>I think its time Avsim got rid of the 5 star system and went>to a report card system where they rate 10 key features based>on a set of criteria....a crude example might be:I think it would be a good idea, I second that.Marco

You can compare all the reviews and stars and probably find quite a few that should have been rated higher (or lower for that matter).I go by the review itself, not the star rating. It is more important to read a detailed review from a user who has actually flown the plane and gives me a more in-depth look what to expect to affect by buying decision.I have bought many other products, based on editorial reviews with high ratings, which turned out to be utter crap. On the other side, if have seem abysmal ratings and found the product quite pleasant.Pat

"I have bought many other products, based on editorial reviews with high ratings, which turned out to be utter crap. On the other side, if have seem abysmal ratings and found the product quite pleasant."So perhaps its a good idea to abolish the score or rating altogether as it reflects nothing and is not based on common objective criteria(which, as I understand, was the original posters point)Still, I believe the reader will be interested is some bottom line or "verdict" of some sort. For this, one should set a comprehensive list of such criteria and mark the addon according to the way it meets them.

Dillon,I believe you are being a little difficult on the PSS 777 AVSIM review.The reviewer did hit the low and the high points of the aircraft very accurately. The FDE is a bit suspect as is the decent using VNAV or FLCH. I find using my own decents with vertical speed control is much better.Not withstanding that, and I have flown this a/c since the first day of release, it is a very good piece of work. Does it need a patch? Probably for a few things. Would I buy it again? Yes, without hesitation.I also own and fly PMDG products, LDS 763 and that wonderful DF 727.The PSS does not rate 5 stars at this point in its life and I am sure the developers are aware of this. Maybe after the patch, but not yet.

Not necessarily, but I think that you cannot just compare every review to product XYZ and judge "what is better". The bottom line for me is the last section with the reviewers opinion of the Pros and Cons.5 Stars for me would be the revolutionary excellence and neither the Concorde nor the PSS777 would qualify for this (in my humble opinion).Pat

Take the star rating with a pinch of salt. Read the text of the review and the much more useful user comments and feedback. I do agree that the blunt instrument that is the star rating , should now be replaced by a more precise point rating system similar to the one proposed above. What about it AVSIM?

Why don't you learn how to fly the SSTSIM Concorde before you slam it.The PSS777 Is Expensive Freeware, IMO. But that's just it, My Opinion, and your entitled to yours, even if it's misguided.The Avsim ratings are a guideline only. I'd give PMDGs support a 1 Star, which would have lowered the overall score of the 747.And comparing the Concorde to the 777, is like comparing a Ferrari to a Neon, they are both totally different.

The SSTSIM Concorde originally came out as the Altitude/Koch Media Concorde, this was out before PSS Concorde so was therefore the first, and IMHO deserves a 5 star rating based on the fact that it was the first SST for FS9 that had all the bells and whistles, even down to a virtual FE who handled the fuel Xfer for you.It flew beautifully then and still does now as the SSTSIM update.

Actually I heard that the Original Koch Media Concorde did not have a Virtual FE. PSS was the first in that area.

>>O.K. well help me understand what's so special about the>PSS>>Concord versus the SSTsim offering???>>>>First supersonic aircraft rendered in FS9?? Some reviewer>might thought the first attempt at dynamics of the supersonic>flight deserved the top score.>The Altitude Concorde was released way before the PSS offering so that point isn't valid. Neither is it vaguely the first attempt at supersonic FDE in FS.Cheers,JohnBoeing 727/737 & Lockheed C-130/L-100 Mechanichttp://www.sstsim.com/images/team/JR.jpg

I have read the review very carefully.For me, there is nothing wrong in John Binner judgement.He emphasizes the good points (2D panel, external model...) and speaks also about the weaknesses of this product, the few things that should have been fixed before the product release and the small ones that will be patched soon.I can't understand the comparision with the PMDG 747-400 at its release when he received the 5 stars.Before the upgrade the 747 was already perfectly flyable, the product was "finished" ans above all we speak here about a much more sophisticated aircraft, where the systems are so well simulated, the 3D panel a real masterpiece and the overall product (fantastic external model, customization menus, loading manager, documentation, service) deserving IMHO easily its 5 stars.I don't forget the very attractive price of the PSS and the nice features of this product. But I agree that its release should have been postponed after further tests, a good load manager and some more attention to details.I perfectly agree with the 3.5 stars and I hope PSS will soon release the patch that will raise this nice aircraft level.best regards,David

Dillon:You can't be serious. I'm surprised the score's even this high. It's extremely buggy, doesn't look too great, and the support is very questionable.Whatever bugs it has don

All:I submit to you that the response to the review means that the review was an absolute success! Reviews are not the be all and end all final word. Speaking as a reviewer who has been around since the late 90s, it is the SUBJECTIVE opinion of the reviewer. It is written through his eyes and computed through his brain. At the end of the day, beauty is in the eye of the beholder.Those of you who think that the 777 is the best thing since sliced bread obviously would have scored it higher, while, those of you who are not happy with the 777 would have been less eager to pin stars on its chest. At the end of the day, the reviews are meant to get YOU thinking. YOU the valued AVSIM readers are the ones who make the final decision.Feel FREE to criticize and debate our reviews (just keep it civil guys and DON'T ATTACK THE REVIEWER), because your thoughts and opinions are valuable. Anyway, keep in mind...don't attack the reviewer, as I hope to complete my Captain Sim 707 review sometime this week! :-lol

Daniel for the record, do you think the PSS Concord was worth 5 stars???