50 minutes ago, Christopher Low said:

This makes me wonder whether the "not for entertainment" policy with respect to P3D will be more strictly enforced when DTG FlightSim World is released. After all, Dovetail Games really don't want Lockheed Martin to be "stealing" customers who are only pretending to be using P3D for "training" purposes.

Uh oh... I think I may hear a key turning.

21 hours ago, Paraffin said:

If they decide to drop P3D at some point, it won't be due to financial pressure. It will be because it's no longer serving a need internally for a general purpose consumer-level PC sim (compared to dedicated pro sims).

That is not entirely correct. L-M's focus is on developing a universal platform for "Serious Sims", for commercial and military clients. With the requisite hardware, certified simulation packages are being developed and sold. See "Redbird" for an example.

Prepar3D is most definitely not a "general purpose consumer-level PC sim..."

12 minutes ago, n4gix said:

That is not entirely correct. L-M's focus is on developing a universal platform for "Serious Sims", for commercial and military clients. With the requisite hardware, certified simulation packages are being developed and sold. See "Redbird" for an example.

Prepar3D is most definitely not a "general purpose consumer-level PC sim..."

I meant that particular product, which is sold in that format for other than commercial and military use. But okay, I take your point about other uses.

Everyone is (rightfully) thanking DTG for giving away FSW for free to those who previously purchased Flight School, but my first thought was that it instantly gets copies of the program into an awful lot of hands, which will nicely artificially inflate FSW's "sales" numbers when DTG are telling developers how many potential customers there are for third party items........

40 minutes ago, HiFlyer said:

Everyone is (rightfully) thanking DTG for giving away FSW for free to those who previously purchased Flight School, but my first thought was that it instantly gets copies of the program into an awful lot of hands, which will nicely artificially inflate FSW's "sales" numbers when DTG are telling developers how many potential customers there are for third party items........

Maybe, but it also puts the sim in the hands of a lot of people who will express their opinions pro and con, who might not have bought into the Early Access otherwise. I'd call it a calculated risk. 

I think it's a very good idea, because it gets more people into the EA phase who can provide feedback before an official launch. Third party developers will be looking at a lot more than just the initial sales to decide whether to get on board.

41 minutes ago, HiFlyer said:

Everyone is (rightfully) thanking DTG for giving away FSW for free to those who previously purchased Flight School, but my first thought was that it instantly gets copies of the program into an awful lot of hands, which will nicely artificially inflate FSW's "sales" numbers when DTG are telling developers how many potential customers there are for third party items........

Oh, you old cynic you.

Mass beta testing is what it is and I have no problem with that. Mass beta testing by people who've paid for the 'finished article' is another matter.

17 minutes ago, Paraffin said:

Maybe, but it also puts the sim in the hands of a lot of people who will express their opinions pro and con, who might not have bought into the Early Access otherwise. I'd call it a calculated risk.

True. but I think many (even most) people will be a lot more forgiving to a product they received "free" than one they had to pay for. Unless it's just egregiously bad, in which case all bets are off. People might also be a bit more patient.

It also earns a lot of good will and avoids a headache from Flight School purchasers.

If I were DTG, I could see myself making that decision with those (as well as other things) in mind.

I for one, will be happy to test this new sim..

FSX = good base

Orbx Global = good base

a2a Accusim = good base

DX11= new possibilities

64 bit = new possibilities

.. not a bad place to start from  

Question:

Will it look better?  Will it feel better?  Will it behave better?

17 minutes ago, HiFlyer said:

True. but I think many (even most) people will be a lot more forgiving to a product they received "free" than one they had to pay for. Unless it's just egregiously bad, in which case all bets are off. People might also be a bit more patient.

It also earns a lot of good will and avoids a headache from Flight School purchasers.

If I were DTG, I could see myself making that decision with those (as well as other things) in mind.

Okay, I agree this may have been part of the calculation, buying them some goodwill in forums that might be harboring some negative vibes from Flight School.

It doesn't matter though. The new sim will stand or fall on its own merits. No amount of free access to the base simulator will matter, if it isn't good enough that people are still flying it in the months and years ahead, instead of the other options out there. We'll just have to wait and see.

Actually, I'm skeptical that folks who receive FSW for free will be more kindly disposed towards it...after all, we're talking about flightsimmers here . I'm confident there will be robust discussions about the sim and its features, pro and con, regardless of how one got it.

I have to say despite all the pazzazz I am skeptical, their flight school received all the broo haha and although the voiced intentions were good the product was pretty grim.

My main concern is that DTG have a quite successful train Simulation why are they still insisting in calling this new release a game and not a simulation. th proof will be in the pudding.

On 06/05/2017 at 2:29 AM, HiFlyer said:

Everyone is (rightfully) thanking DTG for giving away FSW for free to those who previously purchased Flight School, but my first thought was that it instantly gets copies of the program into an awful lot of hands, which will nicely artificially inflate FSW's "sales" numbers when DTG are telling developers how many potential customers there are for third party items........

After the flop of TSW this was expected. TSW initially seemed great, but was very quickly played out and put aside. There was a very high level of refunds too. DTG need to rethink their strategy for third party developers too as there is much consternation in that camp (don't expect any offerings from PMDG). If they don't get them and other developers on board then FSW is doomed and will go the same way as Flight and TSW. P3D seems to be the more assured future.

This situation might also leave a wider opening for Aerofly FS 2 than might otherwise have been the case. Honestly, I was fully expecting inertia and long familiarity to almost automatically lock many developers into the DTG camp, but instead, P3D64 will likely be the great hope and some who might not have previously given Aerofly a fair chance might now take a second look.

54 minutes ago, vololiberista said:

DTG need to rethink their strategy for third party developers too as there is much consternation in that camp (don't expect any offerings from PMDG).

Yep. I remember asking them early in the process about their thinking towards steam/devs/third-party-retail channels and they didn't answer (because it was too early). Apart from vague statements, they haven't really said anything specific in the meantime and the recent PMDG statement hints at that not being a good sign. (Essentially, PMDG seem to think DTG want to become the Uber of Flightsimming.)

But: With FSX:SE, steam distribution is already in place and it seems that companies like Aerosoft, Rex, Hifi, etc., have elected to sell their products via that channel. I am pretty sure they wouldn't do it if they felt they didn't earn money via that channel.

Indeed HiFlyer,

it looks like DTGs is following the wrong course, again...