There must be reluctance among reviewers to use words like "poor", "substandard", etc. Instead we get phrases like "could use some improvement" but in order not to sound too harsh there is immediately "very close to the current cycle of technology". Anyway, anybody with a pair of eyes and good vision can look at the shots and draw his/her own conclusions. So no one should be surprised what he/she is getting.Michael J.http://www.precisionmanuals.com/images/forum/pmdg_744F.jpghttp://www.hifisim.com/images/asv_beta_member.jpg

I think there are 3 main types of flight-simmers (of course, with many shades and types inbetween):1) The casual "gamer" who is perfectly happy with the default offerings of the flight sim and who does not even think about getting any add-ons. Those simmers are not even aware of sites like this and simply "play out of the box", start at the runway and fly around2) The more interested flightsimmer and aviation enthousiast who wants to take the default offerings to a new level with improved visuals and systems, like a Carendo Cessna or a more simple, but high quality add-on like the PMDG B1900 series or the PSS Dash3) The hardcore simmer demanding realism and complex systems from planes from PMDG, LevelD or FeelThereThe Abacus series falls into neither category, because the quality is worse then ANY of the default airplanes and clearly a step backwards. If someone wants to take this hobby to the next level from the default offerings then he/she should not be mislead by an editorial recommendation, especially from a site like Avsim, about the quality of this product, but made aware that this package is of a much lower quality than the of the out-of-the-box planes. This is not the case here.This review is wrong, misleading, makes incorrect statements and displays horrendous visuals.I think I have said enough now about this topic. No more lenghty rants from my side, but I just needed to get this off my chest. ;-)Happy flying,Pat

We must not forget that Avsim has every right to publish reviews using individuals they choose and state we should form our own opinion.This is why I believe Avsim should create two types of reviews and reviewers. We have many talented real world pilots for most every aircraft in FS who are a part of Avsim forum community, why not use them for indepth reviews? We I read something like this -Though I have had the privilege of flying in many of these Airbus aircraft, I have never done so from the cockpit. Therefore, it would be very difficult to judge the accuracy of the airfile(s). I will say, however, that each of the aircraft perform very close to my expectations,andSince I have never flown a 707, I will dispense with the theoretical hyperbole and simply FLY the aircraft. No testing it around the pattern, no looking for anomalies, no verification of flight models. Instead, I will do exactly what pilots do and simply fly the aircraft. I have to stratch my head and wonder why someone who has no knowledge of how a particular aircraft "flys" would make any comment on how it flys? Why not use someone who does know? Say perhaps a review with more than ONE person contributing to the artical? Why not use people who are known in the community and respected for their opinions and for the fact that they fly the aircraft under review? Would you like a butcher giving a review on engineering? What if the butcher really likes engineering but has not actually has done anything related to engineering? When Tom's Hardware or Sharky Extreme talk about computer components we have an innate trust in what they say (well to an extent ;P) and I bet most of you have heard of them but who is Brian Fletcher? I don't mean this in a disrectful manner either it's just I have no clue who this person is and this makes my point. Why should I trust someone I don't know whatsoever? [h4]Randy J. Smith[/h4]AMD 64 4000+|ASUS K8V DELUXE|SAPPHIRE ATI X800XT PE|MUNCHKIN 3200|80 gig SATA|DELL 1905FP 19" LCD|TRACKir PRO|PFC JEPPESEN MOONEY YOKE|CH PRO PEDALS|

>I bet most of you have heard of them but who>is Brian Fletcher? I don't mean this in a disrectful manner>either it's just I have no clue who this person is and this>makes my point.Randy,Brian F. is just a volunteer who sat down, took the product and wrote a review. Regardless whether we think he did a good job or not he performed a work for which he was not compensated. He did an 'OK' job. I don't think it is so easy to find people who can put together a few correct English sentences and are willing to actually roll up their sleeves and do it. Even if someone threw in a pair of tickets to SF opera it would not be enough to make me write an Abacus review. So lets have some minimal respect for this guy. It is also entirely possible he could not find any Airbus 'pro' who was willing to install this product and give him a helpful hand.Michael J.http://www.precisionmanuals.com/images/forum/pmdg_744F.jpghttp://www.hifisim.com/images/asv_beta_member.jpg

>This is why I believe Avsim should create two types of reviews>and reviewers. We have many talented real world pilots for>most every aircraft in FS who are a part of Avsim forum>community, why not use them for indepth reviews?Because they don't come forward and offer. Simple as that.

Check out the orange glow, dudes :-boomhttp://forums.avsim.net/user_files/137969.jpg:-lolWhy is the underside of the fuselage GLOWING? http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v615/Dar...plewithears.gif

I don't know about review as I never seen this package in person, but I'd like to give a hint and politely ask reviewers to do not use this (payware!) addon which completely destroys lighting in FS and make planes look like cardboard cutouts or overexposed photos. I have seen it in more than 3 reviews recently. Correct me if I am wrong.As for "how plane flies" I am very happy about how avsim revievers descirbe it, as most of us (including me) never flew anything like Airbus or Boeing as a pilot and I kinda don't care how close to reality is it (I assume it is not even close to 1%, no matter what any developer claim). What do I care about is if it is flyable and does not behave like baloon or suddenly crash in mid-air.Generally I enjoy avsim reviews no matter what, they give me enough information to agree of disagree with the reviewer and help in purchase. Frankly I'd rather not see "real life pilots" reviewing anything, as FS is a game and best reviews are by gamers like us - one (and only) real life airline pilot I know was just politely smilling while looking behind my shoulder when I was playing with some "very realistic" boeing simulation then yawned and walked away to take some sleep before his next day flight ;).

How those appalling screenshots "with the orange glow" got past the sub editor I don't know. How does one recreate that FS5 effect? Come on reviewers and screenshotters get your act together. Reviewers in other walks of life are known for their ability to critiscise at will. No-one expects otherwise so why not on Avsim when it's plainly called for. I'm not critiscising the product. I'm critiscising the review.

>Check out the orange glow, dudes :-boom>>http://forums.avsim.net/user_files/137969.jpg>>:-lol>>Why is the underside of the fuselage GLOWING?>http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v615/Dar...plewithears.gifIt's, uh, dynamic shine off the pavement. New feature in FSX. :)Lewis "Moose" GregoryRichmond, Virginia

If I remember my stars I think one of the lower ratings was 'behind the current state of the art' or some such thing, but them screenshots have managed to even regress the sim! :-eekYet once again the reviewer has produced a review that is informative in spite of itself - details and shots enough to see for oneself how bad the product really is. I cannot fathom even the most casual of simmers with internet access whipping out a credit card for this :-erks when any number of freely available Airbus products are around. You don't even have to get the best - Marciano's panel/ifdg, any number of lesser free ones plus Evolve AI or Fspainter beats this hands down. You know - I think this Fletcher guy does this deliberately - yanking our chains with reverse review psychology :-lolregards,Markhttp://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a319/markrey/lsd2.jpghttp://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a319/mar.../sup_banner.jpgXPHomeSP2/FS9.1/3.2HT/1GIG/X700pro256

I have to agree with Pat here. I couldn't believe my eyes when I saw the review and images of the product. And I think it IS our duty to make independent judgements and express our opinions in here. In fact, this is the first place I look when I'm seeking feedback on a product I might purchase.In this instance, the product looks so poor you don't even have to own it to past comment. And it is Abacus .... I rest my case.I am also disspointed with the original review. This product simply doesn't justify being part of an Avsim review, what is the point in illustrating a truly poor product which is bad publicity for FS? I think it is a reviewers duty to be honest and truthful, in this particular case I think the author is too humbling. This is a shame, because there are a select few who will waste their mony on the back of that article!Del.

Surely if the review was bad, wouldn't Abacus get a bit miffed with Avsim and maybe that's not what is wanted, so keep it semi to fully positive and no fear of upsetting anyone...Graham

That's the whole point Graham. If you can't do an accurate review of a particlular product for whatever reason, pick a product that you can do one. Abacus dosn't deserve to be mentioned, let alone be given a positive review for something like that. It was a flat out mistake, it's been pounced on by most of us, and I bet it is unlikely it will happen again. Avsim is pretty good about learning from its mistakes. billg

Hello,I'm relatively new to flightsimming compared to others, startting with late FS2002. As a newbie I based all aircraft purchases on reviews here and over at flightsim.com. It worked like a charm, my first addon airliner was the PSS bus. That, and their Dash 8 actually kept me in the hobby instead of just "rounding" the game and buy another game a month after I started. The PSS panels and model looked beautiful at the time (still does), the manual and tutorials teached me a lot about load/fuel management autopilots and FMC programming, i was hooked. And the Avsim review was a great help.And it all started with that Avsim review. After that I have continued to use Avsim reviews as an important guide before a purchase, it has also prevented me from buying some addons. THAT IS NO LONGER POSSIBLE! If the Abacus bus was my first addon, and that was my impression of what this hobby was about, I'd be off this hobby a long time ago.Brian Fletcher, sorry, but I have to wonder if you have been living under a rock the last five years? Take a look at what another developer is working on right now:http://forums.avsim.net/user_files/138011.jpgAnd I don't think I have to mention other serious developer and their hard work and stunning results lately.No, removing the stars didn't help, as it is now you might as well remove the entire reviews, they're nothing but misleading.PS: I am normally not an angry and grumpy forum member, so please don't ban me right away :).Eagle