I am curious if the release of MSFS2020 with detailed scenery with some accuracy to the real world has affected sales of the Orbx products. Orbx's business model seemed to operate on the replacement of FSX and P3D default scenery, which are poor, with Orbx Global and Regional products. It seems that MSFS2020 comes "out of the box" with scenery of more detail and accuracy than the Orbx products. Prior to MSFS2020 I had been a P3D user since its launch, and I had nearly all of the Orbx Global and Regions along with several of their airports installed. I think the only Orbx product I have now on MSFS2020 is London.

Edited August 3, 20214 yr by AviatorMan
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you will need to ask ORBX about their sales, anything else here is pure guesstimation. I just know that I bought some ORBX scenery on top of my MSFS premium version and don't regret it

AviatorMan,

I raised the same-ish question way back when MSFS was first released.  I figured ORBX's days of "landclass" or "True Earth" were numbered because of the same things you mentioned.  I basically got told where to go in the ORBX forum.  But it sure seems like ORBX products for MSFS are mostly "lets upgrade the buildings and photogrammetry stuff" nowadays.  And still airports.  But that would be understandable now.

Edited August 3, 20214 yr by FalconAF

They are doing just fine , they recently released Great Britain Central for MSFS . 

 

40 minutes ago, AviatorMan said:

I am curious if the release of MSFS2020 with detailed scenery with some accuracy to the real world has affected sales of the Orbx products.

Like any good business, it appears they are adapting to the changing market quite well and are even partnering with other developers now via their Orbx Central downloader to help keep the coffers healthy. 

46 minutes ago, AviatorMan said:

 It seems that MSFS2020 comes "out of the box" with scenery of more detail and accuracy than the Orbx products.

I am not finding this.

Orbx Brisbane and Sydney cityscapes for example are substantial improvements. Note that neither of those cities are photogrammetry.

I also find the Orbx NZ mesh substantially better than stock especially with regard to terrain and obstructions near some of the airports and personally find it makes a huge difference (though this is controversial with some people claiming the mesh makes no difference, though I very much doubt any of them actually own the mesh).  Brisbane airport is another controversial one.

Edited August 3, 20214 yr by Glenn Fitzpatrick

I do understand your point as I've not yet bought anything there since MFS came along. And their forums have become rather bleak but it predates MFS. It is certainly a challenge for them. Only the Orbx accountant can answer the question 😄 !

Orbx has now two other activities though :

- From what I've read, MS subcontracts them part of the scenery design (airports) 

- they have become a distributor for several other companies thanks to their nifty proprietary download tool.

Sim-wise, they clearly have chosen to cater first the MFS segment and, beyond the cityscape,  I wouldn't be surprised to see them come up with regional products in the future, limited in scope like they had for the Samoas or PNG.

Edited August 3, 20214 yr by Dominique_K

26 minutes ago, Dominique_K said:

- From what I've read, MS subcontracts them part of the scenery design (airports) 

They used to make airport logic improvements, but not anymore. According to the Q&A in early June, this is handled by an internal Asobo team now (Gaya continue to make most of the hand-crafted World Update airports and landmarks though).

Just now, ChaoticBeauty said:

They used to make airport logic improvements, but not anymore. According to the Q&A in early June, this is handled by an internal Asobo team now (Gaya continue to make most of the hand-crafted World Update airports and landmarks though).

Is Gaya an independent studio ? I thought they were absorbed by Orbx

3 minutes ago, Dominique_K said:

Is Gaya an independent studio ? I thought they were absorbed by Orbx

According to their website they are partnered with Orbx so they can sell their products via Orbx Central. I think that they used to make airports under the Orbx brand as well for the older simulators (although they were credited as Gaya in the descriptions).

They made two airports, EGPH and EGNX for Orbx and moved on.

I bought all the Orbx regions for P3D which were OK. Would never do anything like that for MSFS, doesn't need it, saving a ton of money. 

I bought Orbx GB Central yesterday, and I'm very very happy with it.   The additional landmark models and VFR objects added to my own nearest 'big' city; Newcastle (EGNT) are absolutely fantastic.  It's a shift up from Orbx TrueEarth GB in VFR realism, IMHO.

...and Newcastle is not the main focus point of this pack... looking forward to checking out Manchester, Liverpool, Teesside, etc, next.

But for the comparatively low cost, I rate this new product 5/5, personally.

7 hours ago, Dominique_K said:

Is Gaya an independent studio ? I thought they were absorbed by Orbx

We are fully independat studio :) whom doing the world updates POIs, almost all airprots of it in addition to our prodcuts selling via Orbx Central (LOWW, LIRQ, ENCN, EDDT, LGKO, KBID, LOWZ, LOIJ) . Moreover, we did massive parts of many other addons users using.