1 hour ago, Jeff Nielsen said:

Unless they are willing to say something about it, we'll never know.  That's kind of the whole point we've been talking about here...lol.  

IF they have the capability do it, you'd think that would be the smart play.  It would probably sell like hot cakes.  The Concorde is still probably one of the most requested aircraft in a sim.

I'd certainly buy it. Perhaps FSL have taken the view from the earliest - after seeing the FBW Team take the reigns of the A320 - and knowing the Boeings belong to PMDG - that they should go with the Concorde. Anyone else trying to model the systems depth of that bird is never going to achieve what FSL already have and can bring in to MSFS.

If I was in charge at FSL - that is what I would do. And I'd stay quiet about it - to prevent copycats punting out some inferior version earlier (probably using the default 747 avionics suite!) making a whole load of moolah and detracting away from a more credible and more lucrative future version.

If we take a look at how things tend to swarm with MSFS - it's not the old arena we used to know pre August 2020 - when our hobby had become pretty much niche.

Now we have many - and they dive to their wallets on hype and screenshots and soshall meja without bothering to explore the intricacies of systems-depth, etc, to work out value for money.

Not that I'm criticising - but just look at how the Bredok 737M and the CS T7 "flew off the shelves"

for all the wrong reasons. Like others here; I have no intention to fly either of those airframes.

Edited July 13, 20214 yr by Will Fly For Cheese

23 minutes ago, Jeff Nielsen said:

I think it was long before the FENIX announcement.  They barley acknowledged the sim's existence from day one.  A year or so ago they could have easily said they were 'looking at it to see if it was viable for us'.  They didn't even say that.  They had the market for the Bus sealed up.  They were the reason I started flying it.  They were the reason I got hooked on it.

Only one comment: https://forums.flightsimlabs.com/index.php?/topic/27106-a319-x-a320-x-a321-x-update-v501114-now-available/

 

Quote

Last but not least, I wanted to touch a bit on our plans for Microsoft Flight Simulator, as well. As we've mentioned before, we have been enjoying a very close collaboration with the good folks at Asobo and Microsoft. They have been requesting, and we have been providing information on all the technical aspects that are required to make our product compatible with this new platform. As many of you are aware however, the complexity of migrating products with such a high level of fidelity as ours requires that the underlying platform, and particularly the development kit for aircraft add-ons needs to grow and mature before it can sufficiently host them at the level required. We are confident that the Asobo team has the talent to make that a reality. Until that time, we are going to keep our focus very strongly on getting our upcoming product line for Prepar3D released as previously announced.

Now reading his comment again. Pretty sure they have nothing for MSFS and their only focus is P3D. Well, I just wish him all the best then in P3D 🙂

Just because there is another quality A320 doesn't have to mean that FSL will vanish from the MSFS market completely. They could still develope a "study-level" A330/A340/A350/A380 or something totally different.

@Steve Dra, we’ve both been around long enough to know that all that glistens isn’t gold. When this Airbus project is more advanced and some videos are available that’s the time to examine its credentials.

The estimated price seems very low when you consider the cut Microsoft take. Maybe the developers are doing it as a hobby whilst keeping a full-time job. Given FSL staff are full-time and they have taken years to develop their Airbus it seems odd that such an sophisticated aircraft could be built so quickly.

I’m sure FSL will say something soon. They’re very astute despite the lack of news on progress.

4 minutes ago, Ray Proudfoot said:

The estimated price seems very low when you consider the cut Microsoft take.

The cut only if third party developers sell in the Marketplace, if they sell in their own shop or another reseller, Microsoft has nothing to do with it. Therefore at the end of the day, it is the developer's decision.

17 minutes ago, 737_800 said:

Just because there is another quality A320 doesn't have to mean that FSL will vanish from the MSFS market completely. They could still develope a "study-level" A330/A340/A350/A380 or something totally different.

FSLabs better get a move on it then.  Because I suspect Fenix will do the A319 and A321, assuming those systems are similar enough to the A320, that Fenix could get an A319 or A321 out the door faster in MSFS because they already have the base code for the A320.  Now what if Fenix makes some nice money from their initial sales and expands their team and company?  Then Fenix could eye the other Airbus line in MSFS, the A330/A340/A350/A380, etc.

Time is ticking for FSLabs in MSFS.  And the P3D market is shrinking by the day for them.  

Edited July 13, 20214 yr by abrams_tank

22 minutes ago, Steve Dra said:

Yeah Ray....but their platform (should they not move to MSFS) is becoming an ever smaller lake pond backyard pool glass of water teaspoon to fish from

Haha, I love this analogy!  The P3D consumer home market is shrinking, and shrinking fast.  It will be interesting to see FSLab's next move.

22 minutes ago, Ray Proudfoot said:

@Steve Dra, we’ve both been around long enough to know that all that glistens isn’t gold. When this Airbus project is more advanced and some videos are available that’s the time to examine its credentials.

The estimated price seems very low when you consider the cut Microsoft take. Maybe the developers are doing it as a hobby whilst keeping a full-time job. Given FSL staff are full-time and they have taken years to develop their Airbus it seems odd that such an sophisticated aircraft could be built so quickly.

I’m sure FSL will say something soon. They’re very astute despite the lack of news on progress.

My only concern about FSL is that a complete lack of communication, while their ultimate choice, is never a good business strategy, especially when consumers are itching for news, and its handed to them by what will become a direct competitor to FSL.

Again, I know all that glitters is not gold, but even pyrite looks good to a gold miner when they've been digging for years with nary a nugget to show. 😉

If the gold mine you've been digging at for years only gives you occasional pyrite, you may eventually move to a new site if you never hit gold.  For all we know...FSL has the motherload just a few shovels down, but someone over at Johnson's claim says they found a 12oz nugget...you think that miner is going to stick around in his old mine that never produced or get over to Johnson's area and start digging there?  The golden point is that FSL just may be on the verge of exposing the motherload (like Fenix apparently did), but if they don't communicate that soon...all the miners will abandon the FSL mine. 

It is silly for them not to comment for whatever reason...and I know it's only be less than a day with the Fenix announcement, but hey...Johnson claimed its a 12oz nugget so its no surprise the mining community dropped their FSL picks and shovels and headed there to take a look. 🙂 

 

Edited July 13, 20214 yr by Steve Dra
spelling

1 hour ago, abrams_tank said:

 

Was there a "study level" Airbus in P3D when FSL decided to make one for P3D?  Just curious because I was away from flight simming for the last 10 years. 

Because I can see how FSL would succeed with P3D if there wasn't a "study level" Airbus in P3D when they came out with theirs.  The market was theirs for the taking if they didn't have any other competition.  

This time, the market isn't FSL's for the taking, assuming Fenix delivers on the A320 for MSFS.  The problem is, if Fenix comes out with an A320 that FSL can't beat in MSFS, and then Fenix comes out with A319, A321, etc, for MSFS because they have already done the base code for an Airbus and it's easy for them to make an A319, A321, and so on, Fenix will have cornered that market for themselves and then FSL is kind of scr*wed, especially if P3D sales have dropped off a cliff for 3rd party developers.

No, the only other A320 (including the other members of the family), AFAIK, was the one from Aerosoft, which is way less complex.

The thing is, they are (or were, who knows...) the guys behind the best A320 add-on (some will say FF A320 is on par, I don't agree). They should have followed PMDG's approach and make an announcement back in 2020. But, after that announcement, I think it was for the best (thinking as a costumer). I believe the Fenix guys would be more cautious to develop this plane if they were to compete with an well established developer.

54 minutes ago, Ray Proudfoot said:

Extremely doubtful. Both Lefteris and Andrew are a long way from retirement age. FSL work is their full-time occupation.

Dont bother even talking about it, people here have clearly made up there minds this is the new best addon aircraft, FSL are burying their heads in the sand or even end of life, ffs its beyond a joke. Some here that I know have never even owen the FSL but love griding them axe's. Becasue Leftiers has always been behind the curve. MD-10, Concord and a End of life A320 that was said could never be done in the FSX platform.

Just a wild guess but Blackbox as he said felt the FSL it could not get any better. He probably wanted a new chanlange and came on board to develope this, a lot more intresting than just slowly polishing something to dead. It's great it realy is that they have him. 

This Airbus hopefully will be fantastic and I will probably buy it. I very much look forward to following its progress but not in this topic.

Am out of here.

Edited July 13, 20214 yr by Nyxx

1 hour ago, Steve Dra said:

I've thought the same thing.  They may have realized they completely missed the MSFS boat with the Fenix announcement, and are too tired to to get into the game.  It does wear you down after a while, and Lefteris may just be ready to hang it up.   They'll keep the doors open as long as it's economically viable, then fade away like LDS did (That was a sad departure, spent many years flying and painting that aircraft).

It's funny he did actually reply in that post, but only to remind people not to advertise other dev's work in the thread...not to actually (finally) make a statement about MSFS, even though he was directly asked (many times).   I hope he doesn't get a double ear infection from all the sand in his ears. 😂 

It was a sad departure to see Level-D fade away but wasn't it due to the passing of Eric Ernst? He was the heart and soul of Level-D. I wonder what he would have come up with if he was still around. I imagine a Level-D 767 for 2020 would have been in the cards for sure. I really do miss that plane. 

Edited July 13, 20214 yr by Wise87

2 minutes ago, ca_metal said:

No, the only other A320 (including the other members of the family), AFAIK, was the one from Aerosoft, which is way less complex.

The thing is, they are (or were, who knows...) the guys behind the best A320 add-on (some will say FF A320 is on par, I don't agree). They should have followed PMDG's approach and make an announcement back in 2020. But, after that announcement, I think it was for the best (thinking as a costumer). I believe the Fenix guys would be more cautious to develop this plane if they were to compete with an well established developer.

Okay.  So based on your information, it appears that part of FSLab's success in the past was because there wasn't a competing A320 that was "study level."  So FSLabs was able to take the market share for a "study level" A320 in P3D.

Well, if that's true, then it explains why FSLabs could take their sweet time on P3D.  Unfortunately, with the Fenix announcement, FSLabs may not have the same luxury of taking their sweet time with MSFS.

22 minutes ago, omarsmak30 said:

The cut only if third party developers sell in the Marketplace, if they sell in their own shop or another reseller, Microsoft has nothing to do with it. Therefore at the end of the day, it is the developer's decision.

Yes, I realise that. The Marketplace will be attractive simply for the potential number of customers that will see the aircraft. Then again, if it’s complicated it will put some off so selling independently makes sense and the developer gets more cash.

Just now, Wise87 said:

It was a sad departure to see Level-D fade away but wasn't it due to the passing of Eric Ernst? He was the heart and soul of Level-D. I wonder what he would have come up with if he was still around. I imagine a Level-D 767 for 2020 would have been in the cards for sure.  

No not at all....he passed way after LDS was all but just a sad forum (still active BTW) for Darryl to post snarky replies when asked about the 757 (which is gone off the forum now).

I started my painting career with their planes for the most part, and had a good relationship with their painter who helped me on several things that I got stuck on.  To this date I have never had a more popular paint than the LDS 767 in American livery that I converted @edetroit's photo-textures, over 17k downloads just on this site alone.  I loved the aircraft (still my favorite tubelliner), and the dev team, they were top notch.  Sad to see them fade into oblivion. 😞

 

13 minutes ago, Steve Dra said:

It is silly for them not to comment for whatever reason...and I know it's only be less than a day with the Fenix announcement...

Well yes, give them a chance. 😉 I imagine they’ll have a zoom conference call to discuss their options. Better to wait a while and make a well thought out decision rather than rush in making decisions based on an unfinished product that may not be a match for theirs.