FS XI TP Edition

[Kabs 0]

Hello, What does everyone think about this idea. For the next installement of Flight simulator, the aces team should have an agreement with one or two reputable third party developers (PMDG, Level-D, and Dreamfleet for example) and bundle the software with a couple of high quality 3rd party aircraft. FS XI will then come out in three flavors, Standard - $49.50Deluxe - $59.50TPE - $79.50The agreement could have the 3rd parties either getting a fixed about of money from the deal or a percentage of earnings from the flight sim. Of course the 3rd party developers will reserve the right to sell their aircraft outside of the deal to people who buy the non TP edition.Such a system would have the following advantages to the status quo.1) The customer (hardcore simmers) will get some of their favorite addons for less ($20 instead of $50 a piece)2) I THINK that the 3rd party developers will also benefit because of sales volumes. It might not turn out to be the case if not enough people are willing to shell out the extra $20 for the TP edition. 3) I believe that in doing this the 3rd party developers will be more intimate with the inner workings of fsX since they will get it during the development process, and possible issues that could make coding 3rd party aircraft or scenery difficult will get ironed out.4) 3rd party addons will probably be better optimized for the flight simulator because of point 3.5) Also, I think that this deal will introduce detailed aircraft to a greater portion of the general public (especially those who are curious). As a result, the "average" simmer will be more likely to buy other 3rd party add-onsWell, I thought I would just through the idea out.what do ya thinkKabsP.s forgot to mention another advantageWe get some superb detail aircraft for the new sim on the day of release, instead of 3-6 months down the line.

[Guest firehawk44]

LOL. The "one or two reputable third party developers" would probably make a fortune if selected by the Aces Team. Therefore, it would not be fair to other 3d party developers that were not selected. If a 3d party developer can't figure out how to code their product to work in FSX, that's too bad for them and they shouldn't be in the business. Microsoft is providing the necessary tools for 3d party developers to make a product compatible. There are a lot of computer experts out there to figure things out and make an outstanding product. IMHO, I like the fact Microsoft made a basic product that can stand alone without 3d party support and, if consumers desire, they can purchase addons. That's how FS started out and that's how it should continue. My one cent worth....Best regards,Jim

[McCrash 3]

Nope!

[Guest BOPrey]

If we are getting 10fps, we will be screaming at the third party developer instead of ACES. LoL.

[Kabs 0]

>IMHO, I like the fact Microsoft made a basic product that can stand alone without 3d party support and, if consumers desire, they can purchase addons. That's how FS started out and that's how it should continue. My one cent worth....Notice I mentioned that there would be three flavors of FS XI.So can I take it from your statement that if FS XI TP edition did come out for $80 bundled with a PMDG 737, you would not purchase it. You would go for the Deluxe or Standard version at $60 or $50 respectively and the separate 737 at $50.Kabs

[Murmur 3,941]

>Hello, >>What does everyone think about this idea. For the next>installement of Flight simulator, the aces team should have an>agreement with one or two reputable third party developers>(PMDG, Level-D, and Dreamfleet for example) and bundle the>software with a couple of high quality 3rd party aircraft. FS>XI will then come out in three flavors, >Standard - $49.50>Deluxe - $59.50>TPE - $79.50Not so bad idea maybe.I would however drop out the deluxe edition, and make instead something like a "Heavy metal" edition (with one or two payware airliners) and a "General Aviation" edition (idem with GA planes).Marco

[Guest firehawk44]

"So can I take it from your statement that if FS XI TP edition did come out for $80 bundled with a PMDG 737, you would not purchase it. You would go for the Deluxe or Standard version at $60 or $50 respectively and the separate 737 at $50."IF Microsoft selected and put one of PMDG's products into one of their packages, yes, of course I would. But I don't see how Microsoft can fairly pick one of the many aircraft developers. (I seriously doubt any of the major developers would want to become part of the original FSX package too). Like I stated earlier, the current system works. PMDG, LevelD, Phoenix, etc., will eventually come out with compatible packages to enhance FSX. You can then buy the enhanced package or keep the basic FSX package on your system. New and enhanced aircraft and scenery keep my interest in FS and there will be many more outstanding developers in the future which is a good thing.Best regards,Jim

[Mace 1,902]

My take:First of all, a "TPE" edition with just extra aircraft would not be the end-all be-all of FS for some people. For example, many people would rather have Ground Environment Pro, and a bunch of hi-res mesh bundled with FS, and could care less about having a PDMG 747.Secondly, I think the TPE version would cost more like $120 if it had the things you mention. Microsoft is not going to take a pay cut just so they can pay a couple of 3rd party houses a portion of the proceeds--that money WILL be made up somewhere.Third, as was said, it would catapult the selected vendors to super status. I don't know if that would be a good thing for us. That may hurt the diversity and competition in the overall 3rd party scene.But the main thing to take away is that $79.99 is probably not a realistic price.RhettAMD 3700+ (@2310 mhz), eVGA 7800GT 256 (Guru3D 93.71), ASUS A8N-E, PC Power 510 SLI, 2 GB Corsair XMS 2.5-3-3-8 (1T), WD 250 gig 7200 rpm SATA2, CoolerMaster Praetorian case

[Guest allcott]

Wont happen. MS must release a general purpose product, and leave it to the after market to tailor it. The best - the very best - thing they could do would be to involve the aftermarket at the very outset and perhaps invite one or two to contribute features as part of the MS team and development process, not as an addon developer. Clearly, there are developers here who know a heck of a lot more about flight modelling than MS, a heck of a lot more about scenery or texture design, a heck of a lot more about, well, almost any specialist corner. And hey, maybe they could get someone who actually KNOWS how an Airbus operates, not one who works for Boeing and thinks they do:(I'd downsize the MS development team and just farm the product out to outside contractors. They couldn't stuff it up any worse than FSX and we'd have a product developed from the outset with addons and the aftermarket in mind. It's the gap between product release and addon release getting up to speed that snookers the franchise - as the basic sim gets more complicated so it will take longer for the aftermarket to get to grips with it and bring out enhancements and new products - and frankly, the default isn't good enough to wait that long.MS need to look very hard at enhancing the merge abilities of addons if they want future incarnations of FS to last more than six months. They certainly didn't with FSX.Allcott