MSFS, P3D, X-Plane: We are going to pay...either way.

[hrhett01 12]

There's a lot of excitement with the imminent release of MSFS2020. As simmers, most of us will eagerly part ways with our hard earned dollars in search of the perfect weather app, scenery, aircraft add-on or hardware combination that will make our experience as real as possible without ever leaving the ground. Truth is, if you're anything like me, you've probably spent thousands over the years on this hobby. And for the most part, its been worthwhile. 

I would guess the key things we look for in a sim are realism for 1) scenery, 2) weather and 3) aircraft. The out of the box promise, expectation and excitement about MSFS2020 comes from the perception that Microsoft has nailed the first two and has an apparent foothold on the third all wrapped up in a single box with a bow tie on it. No more having to buy scenery for cities, regions, places of interest, airports, etc.

So up to now its been a two horse race: P3D & X-Plane. The rest have come and gone. As Bob Randazzo said, Microsoft isn't making MSFS2020 out of 'altruism'. It wouldn't surprise me to see them (Microsoft) expand their library of aircraft, cutting out third party developers and forcing the hand of the consumer (collectively known as "us") and then either charging a premium for their 'upgrades' or a subscription service model. 

So what to do? Pay hundreds in global scenery, cities and airports for P3D & X-Plane or just pay one overlord (Microsoft)? Will it be cheaper for the consumer, the same or less in the namesake of dominating the market?

Either way, we're going to pay.

Howard Rhett - Simming since FS2000

[rickgo 64]

I dont plan on spending as much as I have on p3d. However Ill wait until all shakes out, couple of years.

Still waiting to see what p3dv5 brings forward.

[IanHarrison 528]

I am staying with P3Dv4.5 and enjoying what I have spent my hard-earned bucks on.

[George Cooke 7]

I have only recently rediscovered Flight Sim (about 4-5 months ago as a way to cope with Covid Lockdown) and have spent way too much on scenery and planes and other add ons -- happily and with great satisfaction I might say! I am willing to wait and see which way the cookie crumbles for the next year or more and stick with P3D v4.5 and all my ORBX goodies til then.

[lzamm 151]

1 hour ago, hrhett01 said:

As Bob Randazzo said, Microsoft isn't making MSFS2020 out of 'altruism'.

I don't believe Microsoft, Lockheed-Martin and Laminar made FSX, P3D and X-plane out of "altruism", yet Bob hadn't done too badly off the first two at least 🙂.  

There's a world of difference in the skill-set required to produce top-quality aircraft and those required to produce the base "game" and default-level planes.  The best aircraft come from specialist developers (PMDG-Boeing, FSLabs-Airbus, etc) and those that go for a wide range are ... well, think Carenado.  Having said that you have to realise that "serious simmers" are in the minority and a giant like Microsoft will be more interested in the large numbers of casual simmers, particularly if they're pushing FS2020 for X-box.

So while I think the scenery makers will suffer and have to look for their niche, the best aircraft developers actually have a golden opportunity.  And there doesn't seem to be any sign of Microsoft cutting out TPD's.  Certainly Aerosoft's Mathijs Kok is very upbeat about it.

 

 

 

[DChockey08 299]

I'm about half-way on the hype train for MSFS. Do I think it will be the next generation of flight sims? Yep. And I plan to buy it day-one.

However, I don't think I will fully move-over from P3Dv4.5 for a while. Activesky, PMDG, etc all need to catch up. 

[pgde 571]

Well, if you believe the hype, you won't need ActiveSky because one of the talking points of the 2020 fans is built in weather!!!!!! It will be interesting to see a released comparison of AS vs 2020 Weather.

Regards.

[LHookins 3,117]

29 minutes ago, pgde said:

It will be interesting to see a released comparison of AS vs 2020 Weather.

Without trying to do a direct comparison, Active Sky weather is based on METARs while MSFS is based on info from MeteoBlue.  Active Sky does a good job of interpolating between stations, including creating weather conditions where needed.  Each has some advantages and disadvantages.

Hook

[Mace 1,969]

8 hours ago, hrhett01 said:

Howard Rhett - Simming since FS2000

That's so interesting.  Your last name is my first name.

Speaking of interesting things, the way the add-on market will evolve in the next 2-3-4 years will be.

[MDFlier 2,031]

I guess it's a matter of perspective. My other hobby is boating. The super-duper version of MSFS costs less than the fuel I'd burn on a nice weekend. One rainy weekend, and I get a free copy of MSFS.

It's not that I am rich, I'm single! 🤣

[vin747 317]

12 hours ago, MDFlier said:

It's not that I am rich, I'm single! 🤣

you lucky !@#$%^ !! 😄

I wish i were single, especially with the onset of  MSFS era.. so jealous of you.. 

[G-RFRY 1,744]

Please enlighten me on the point of this thread has the OP posted on Xplane forums as well or is this another lets bait the forums post.

[MDFlier 2,031]

3 hours ago, vin747 said:

you lucky !@#$%^ !! 😄

I wish i were single, especially with the onset of  MSFS era.. so jealous of you.. 

And no kids! lol...

[vin747 317]

20 minutes ago, MDFlier said:

And no kids! lol...

ahhhh.. that hurts sooo bad!! 😆

[C2615 325]

I spent 2 more years on FS2002 after FS9 came out and then 12 years before finally (still partially) move to P4D...

I didn't see the reason I won't stick on P4D another decade... especially considering I'm stick with Win7 anyway....