3 hours ago, abrams_tank said:

Does anybody know the backstory of why PMDG gave up on X-Plane?  In the MSFS forums, somebody posted this:

https://forums.flightsimulator.com/t/the-pmdg-dc-6-for-msfs-is-in-flight-test-heres-a-peek/409199/133

Another person posted this:

https://forums.flightsimulator.com/t/the-pmdg-dc-6-for-msfs-is-in-flight-test-heres-a-peek/409199/132

Now I am super curious as to why PMDG dropped X-Plane.  I don't want to start an MSFS vs X-Plane debate.  I just want the facts on why PMDG gave up on X-Plane. I can only assume it's related to their sales on X-Plane.

Edit: Okay, I saw this article which appears to be dated 2018, where Randazzo of PMDG says there may be future development on X-Plane. But on the PMDG website, people are reporting that they just removed the X-Plane section. What?  That's a complete 180 degree turnaround from what Randazzo said in 2018.  Ok, now I am even more curious.  This is kind of confusing.

x-plane has a free 737NG and 747 mods that leaves little to be desired.

Also FF are working on their 777V2 and 787. A rotatesim MD11 is also pending.

Makes more sense for pmdg to pioneer MSFS market wise, instead of have direct competetion over every possible product they got.

"No market for x-plane" is pure very old BS that was debunked during the last couple of years, x-plane is getting great aircrafts, even more than p3d.

Edited June 16, 20214 yr by mtaxp

6 hours ago, abrams_tank said:

Now I am super curious as to why PMDG dropped X-Plane.

I am not in the know, but here is what I think contributed:

• PMDG is primarily about making money. They will strictly focus on the simulator with the most users (FSX, P3D... and now MSFS). They were worried about X-Plane overtaking P3D for a while and started experimenting in X-Plane for that reason - now they are convinced that MSFS will be the number one (in user numbers 😉 ) and therefore focus there.
• X-Plane users were and are not desperate enough to shelve out top dollar for a vintage propeller aircraft. There are thousands of freeware aircraft available, some with astonishing quality. A PMDG 747 might have sold a lot better.

Edited June 16, 20214 yr by Janov

1 minute ago, Janov said:

I am not in the know, but here is what I think contributed:

• PMDG is primarily about making money. They will strictly focus on the simulator with the most users (FSX, P3D... and now MSFS). They were worried about X-Plane overtaking P3D for a while and started experimenting in X-Plane for that reason - now they are convinced that MSFS will be the number one (in user numbers 😉 ) and therefore focus there.
• X-Plane users were and are not desperate enough to shelve out top dollar for a vintage propeller aircraft. There are thousands of freeware aircraft available, some with astonishing quality. A PMDG 747 might have sold a lot better.

I think PMDG abandoned Xplane because of a disagreement on where Austin Meyers was heading with Xplane.  They just didn't agree and It would fit what they wanted to do. There is plenty of appetite for vintage aircraft on Xplane.

3 hours ago, mtaxp said:

Now I am super curious as to why PMDG dropped X-Plane.  I don't want to start an MSFS vs X-Plane debate.  I just want the facts on why PMDG gave up on X-Plane. I can only assume it's related to their sales on X-Plane.

abrams_tank

That is always an easy assumption anyone can come up with without thinking of what they are dealing with at the time.

I don't know what happen behind the scene but I will give my observation. 

First they chose a DC-6 for X-plane 10 that was not as popular as many of the Boeing variants that was sold well. At that time the Zibo mod was not even develop or fully developed which would not have prohibit them from making a 737 which would have been much more desirable based on many who wanted to the see it at that time. That could explain the poor sell's, (poor choice) not the desires of the market place.

Second is that X Plane is radically different in its design from that of FSX/PD3 has its challenges they were not use to much of what they have face with in MSFS. 

To me that was most obvious reason why you can see the DC-6 roll out first because it was the only one they was able to produce for X-plane simply because I would assume it was built from scratch.   

So I think it was technical and had  nothing to do with the market.

If they had roll out a 777 in X Plane it with would have sold very well, even now. For now, its a missed opportunity. 

 

3 minutes ago, BobFS88 said:

abrams_tank

That is always an easy assumption anyone can come up with without thinking of what they are dealing with at the time.

I don't know what happen behind the scene but I will give my observation. 

First they chose a DC-6 for X-plane 10 that was not as popular as many of the Boeing variants that was sold well. At that time the Zibo mod was not even develop or fully developed which would not have prohibit them from making a 737 which would have been much more desirable based on many who wanted to the see it at that time. That could explain the poor sell's, (poor choice) not the desires of the market place.

Second is that X Plane is radically different in its design from that of FSX/PD3 has its challenges they were not use to much of what they have face with in MSFS. 

To me that was most obvious reason why you can see the DC-6 roll out first because it was the only one they was able to produce for X-plane simply because I would assume it was built from scratch.   

So I think it was technical and had  nothing to do with the market.

If they had roll out a 777 in X Plane it with would have sold very well, even now. For now, its a missed opportunity. 

 

I also read that when they made the DC-6 for X-Plane, they did it at the tail end of X-Plane 10 and PMDG was blindsided when X-Plane 11 came out.  Maybe there was some communication problems between Laminar Research and PMDG.  

In any case, it will be interesting to see if the sales of DC-6 for MSFS will be very good for PMDG.  I suspect it will be really good for PMDG, the way the sales of CRJ was very good for Aerosoft.  I guess we will see.

Please do tell me how did we end up discussing XP here again? Really who cares about XP? We now in live MSFS world. That is except some individuals here who don't even own MSFS copy but like come and share opinion here LOL

5 minutes ago, sd_flyer said:

Please do tell me how did we end up discussing XP here again? Really who cares about XP? We now in live MSFS world. That is except some individuals here who don't even own MSFS copy but like come and share opinion here LOL

Exactly. I'm following this thread to learn about the DC-6, but I have zero interest in a new XP vs MSFS war. If someone feels a need for it, make a separate thread for it.

Kind regards, Michael

8 minutes ago, sd_flyer said:

who don't even own MSFS copy but like come and share opinion here LOL

LOL I was just answering a question LOL

16 minutes ago, Janov said:

LOL I was just answering a question LOL

To be fair, I asked the question and Janov answered it.  I specifically didn't want to start an MSFS vs X-Plane debate (and I mentioned this specifically in my question).  I just wanted to find out the history of PMDG and the DC-6 on X-Plane and I think I got some good answers.  Anyways, I got my answers so the thread can move on to the DC-6 in MSFS.  Thanks to those who answered my question.

1 hour ago, sd_flyer said:

Please do tell me how did we end up discussing XP here again? Really who cares about XP? We now in live MSFS world. That is except some individuals here who don't even own MSFS copy but like come and share opinion here LOL

Yeah, sometimes Avsim is like a wonder, you start a thread about some topic , give it several pages and then suddenly you find yourself in a different planet 😆

I don't think I will go for this aircraft. Lately, we seen coming oldies after oldies and I become to wondering if MSFS will be the sim for old aircrafts. I'm not against these aircrafts but when it begins to be "all about", I begin to be a bit worry. We don't see many modern aircrafts, and when one came it was a miserable fake 777. PMDG have all my respect but I was expecting a 787, for example.

52 minutes ago, White Panther said:

We don't see many modern aircrafts, and when one came it was a miserable fake 777. PMDG have all my respect but I was expecting a 787, for example.

The modern aircraft take more time so only natural you might see some less complex ones arrive first as they get to grips with the new way to make things work on MSFS. PDMG will be releasing the 737 later this year though and a remote chance of a 777 too (though I'd expect this to run into next year). Then there'll also be the 747 some time in 2022. So the modern stuff is coming but it'll take a while if it's going to be high quality. 

2 hours ago, Janov said:

LOL I was just answering a question LOL

Time to get on the "dark side" 😉 I mean, just think about, it you could get MSFS become legit upset user who want to go back to XP! LOL

I just flew alongside TheFlyingFabio and his 2nd day of streaming the DC6. Was pretty awesome! 

1 hour ago, sd_flyer said:

Time to get on the "dark side" 😉 I mean, just think about, it you could get MSFS become legit upset user who want to go back to XP! LOL

Why not just enjoy both.  I enjoy xplane for the tbm and sometime this year the bizjet by the same creator.  I enjoy p3d for my airliners and MSFS just for sightseeing. Why people here want other sims to die is beyond me.  

If you only enjoy msfs well enjoy.  

Avsim was made for the love of flight simming in all forms not just for one sim.