You're all seem to forget that an in-game store might increase the customerbase. I expect the flightsim will attract lots of people who don't even know what an Aerosoft Shop or a Simmarket is. They wouldn't possibly even know that there is a Brussels addon if there wasn't an in-game store.
I think it's perfectly reasonable for Aerosoft to have the same price for both these stores, even if they have to pay a percentage to Microsoft. The extra sales they get from it are more than making up for that percentage I expect.

For new developers its even simpler: No need to invest in setting up your own online store or pay a hefty fee at Simmarket. The in-game store takes a percentage but that might be cheaper then setting up your own shop, and it might even take care of advertising your product.

Edited August 15, 20205 yr by orchestra_nl

26 minutes ago, norman s said:

Ray,

What makes you think that either of them will lose out?

If that was the case they should have researched the whole after sales market before developing the product.

If the final price to the customer is the same via Microsoft or Aerosoft then that means either 1) Microsoft is not charging commission or 2) Aerosoft is making less profit per sale or 3) the developer is making less profit per sale.

I agree that exposure to a wider customer base could increase sales but the critical thing is that the developer doesn’t get squeezed. If he does there’s the possibility he might decide it’s just not worth the effort.

Another possibility is the developer does a deal with Microsoft. Why the need for two intermediaries when one would be simpler and probably more profitable?

@orchestra_nl, it depends on how much of a cut Microsoft insist on. SimMarket charge around 30% for hosting these addons. If Microsoft charges the same that would make everything prohibitively expensive. They need to be reasonable. Time will tell if that’s the case.

All this is conjecture of course. The only known fact is Aerosoft products will be available from both them and Microsoft.

1 hour ago, Ray Proudfoot said:

@orchestra_nl, it depends on how much of a cut Microsoft insist on. SimMarket charge around 30% for hosting these addons. If Microsoft charges the same that would make everything prohibitively expensive. They need to be reasonable. Time will tell if that’s the case.

All this is conjecture of course. The only known fact is Aerosoft products will be available from both them and Microsoft.

In the end it's important that both the customers and the developers/sellers are free to choose. The fact that Microsoft allows third parties to have their own method of delivery besides the in-game store gives me good hopes they are not going to demand unreasonable prices.
I wholeheartedly agree that squeezing developers would be very bad, since this is already a difficult market to make a living in. I hope that the combination of a larger customerbase and ease of purchase from within the sim makes the whole market somewhat more profitable. In the end it means lower prices for us and higher income for developers, but that's whishful thinking.

Since Aerosoft also sells through Simmarket I compared prices of a few random airports for P3D and found that the airports on Simmarket are actually a fair bit cheaper than through Aerosoft's own shop😕

8 hours ago, Ray Proudfoot said:

 SimMarket charge around 30% for hosting these addons....

On a side note, this is why Epic games are suing Apple and Google because Epic objected to them taking a 30% cut..

https://techcrunch.com/2020/08/13/epic-games-launches-a-campaign-and-lawsuit-against-apples-app-store/?guccounter=1&guce_referrer=aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuZ29vZ2xlLmNvbS8&guce_referrer_sig=AQAAAJJwRrO8fu0t-l6Qe4AfAQUWzNVe_tEnIgoZ_Iv757Brx5PRAub6VnJ1cK4-7f2g2NYajq96RuJNut4Y1VWtocm8zBD0kMbMo4yY96k-6BDCBZ9rYnO-kL4rC0WY_jpaQShYI6X2hOuWRY6dNTt7su7HLrnNQOg1ghbU4pQhCxrL

4 minutes ago, HighBypass said:

On a side note, this is why Epic games are suing Apple and Google because Epic objected to them taking a 30% cut..

Surely all in the T&Cs or maybe they’re guilty of not reading them either. 😉

Further posts have been made by Mathijs on this subject if anyone’s interested. Link on first page.

1 hour ago, orchestra_nl said:

Since Aerosoft also sells through Simmarket I compared prices of a few random airports for P3D and found that the airports on Simmarket are actually a fair bit cheaper than through Aerosoft's own shop😕

That probably explains why UK2000 airports are so reasonably priced. You buy direct from Gary with no intermediaries. Otherwise look at 30% higher.

1 minute ago, Ray Proudfoot said:

Surely all in the T&Cs or maybe they’re guilty of not reading them either. 😉

Further posts have been made by Mathijs on this subject if anyone’s interested. Link on first page.

I’m sure they read them and they’re just picking a fight hahaha

The idea is that people who dont (currently) know who aerosoft is will be able to buy aerosoft products. IE someone looking for a particular airport and aerosoft just happens to make it but that consumer could care less who made it , they just want the airport.   Even if you dont value the the platform you have to value that. But most people specifically for aerosoft products would buy it from them, or honestly  from the least expensive source whatever that was. Understanding hosting and merchant services are not free just because its your own products,  there is no guarantee it would be less, but probably. 

 

Again the beauty is that there IS the option to sell to consumers directly (which is why Epic is suing apple because the havent been given that option) ..  If someone feels its more convenient and/or safer to get a product through Microsoft , even if they pay a premium for it, then thats on them)