1 minute ago, Watsi said:

I actually do wonder, how long MS is planning to provide all these online features for free. Multiplayer, live traffic, live weather, scenery data. Checking my MSFS data consumption: this is a lot of data/traffic (having offline cache deactivated) for quite a lot of users.

I wouldn't be surprised if some of the online services become a payed service at some time in the future.

(word not allowedstorm ahead)

Agreed. But considering how many hours i use Netflix and pay em 12 bucks or so a month and how many hours i use MSFS per month i wouldn't have any issues with a monthly fee as long as stable servers etc. are granted.

They have not done away with the Meteoblue system. 

Meteoblue provide aviation weather data and METARS already, they are available on the Meteoblue website and app.

The entire weather system is generated by Meteoblue data. It hasn't always worked out as planned, but I would suggest that is due to the challenges involved and the fact they are the first to try it.

I once bought the first DSLR Camera that had the ability to record video, but it didn't have auto-focus. It wasn't for cost cutting, it was because they were the first to attempt this. That's the pitfalls of technology. It just isn't that easy. 

 

2 hours ago, MrFuzzy said:

Are you happy with this modern approach in videogaming or would you prefer something maybe less grandiose but 100% "owned"?

This business model is dictated by a few major factors:

1. The simulator was not complete before being released, hence the necessity to  correct, add whatever is missing or out of order, this allowed for a fast tracking of the commercialisation and cashflow for running costs
2. To sustain commercial interest in the title, MS came up with the concept of perpetual updates that will eventually conquer more market share over time and thus finance the constant R&D needed to improve the product
3. Partners were and will be limited to the strict minimum so that Asobo and MS will have their hands free regarding what they want to add and how and when they will do it (several third party developers are on hold with their products due to the lack of proper SDK
4. Offering a full product including weather, AI traffic, will contribute to a vibrant market place and less reliance on third party developers, this is what will compensate for running costs (if any) such as weather from Meteo Blue and updated AIRAC

Personally, I fully support this approach, the only thing I find highly unacceptable is the poor way these updates are tested - if at all - before being released, thus throwing more oil on the fire instead of bringing it under control. If a proper lesson was learnt from this last hot fix it may be that seeking the community's help can considerably reduce those mishaps.

 There are two hard realities. Everything being equal, the sale growth will not be what it used to be in the last 17 months and streaming has costs (direct and indirect). The profit margin will then decline which is unacceptable for a company like MS. To alleviate this, I see three broad non exclusive solutions :

- to cut costs, including not renewing  contracts with external people like MeteoBlue and pink slips for team employees. Is the METAR sourcing a sign of it ? To soon to say but the question can  legitimately be raised. After all, MS had no qualm to nerf the code (including the weather) to adapt it to the 6 GB operational RAM of the S. 

- expand the production to new  markets, professional or geographic, to keep the growth up. Professional markets (schools, military etc) need professionalism and stability of the product. 'nuf said.

- subscription. I do not think that  our beloved sim can survive without going this way and I would accept it if this is a pathway to better quality and reliability. Why not ? 

There are a couple of other solutions but less probable and more polemical 😉...

 

 

Edited January 7, 20224 yr by Dominique_K

And now for something completely different !!!

11 minutes ago, Anatoli-Kagari9 said:

And now for something completely different !!!

Thank god it's not Rick!!!

24 minutes ago, Dominique_K said:

 There are two hard realities. Everything being equal, the sale growth will not be what it used to be in the last 17 months and streaming has costs (direct and indirect). The profit margin will then decline which is unacceptable for a company like MS. To alleviate this, I see three broad non exclusive solutions :

- to cut costs, including not renewing  contracts with external people like MeteoBlue and pink slips for team employees. Is the METAR sourcing a sign of it ? To soon to say but the question can  legitimately be raised. After all, MS had no qualm to nerf the code (including the weather) to adapt it to the 6 GB operational RAM of the S. 

- expand the production to new  markets, professional or geographic, to keep the growth up. Professional markets (schools, military etc) need professionalism and stability of the product. 'nuf said.

- subscription. I do not think that  our beloved sim can survive without going this way and I would accept it if this is a pathway to better quality and reliability. Why not ? 

There are a couple of other solutions but less probable and more polemical 😉...

 

 

I guess they can easily make money on marketplace commissions and by selling us DLC + aircraft addons  

I wouldn't have a problem paying a fee for a service that is first-rate quality and reliable.

Or maybe, just maybe this is the first implementation of the new hybrid weather system and they will be taking feedback from us to make it better? That never occurred to you? This tinfoil hat nonsense is getting really boring but threads like this drive a lot of traffic....that I'm also contributing to lol.

 

And guys, stop worrying about MS asking us to pay for online services. The sim is selling better than any that came before it, They have a thriving marketplace (which after some improvements will make it even more profitable) they're dropping more paid content than they ever did before and even 3PDs are making more money than they ever imagined on the platform.

Bing is theirs. The Azure servers belong to them. Phil Spencer already said he's just using infrastructure that already exists so the operational cost of their online services is "cheap".

Nothing wrong with speculating sometimes but we need to get our heads out of the past and get used to the realities of the present.

Edited January 7, 20224 yr by Krakin

3 minutes ago, bendead said:

I guess they can easily make money on marketplace commissions and by selling us DLC + aircraft addons  

Indeed and this is something we should hope for. So far the poor handling of the shop is not exactly a strong incentive to buy there but it can improve. Would these revenues compensate the progressive diminution of sales coupled with standing costs ? Only their books could say anything.

2 hours ago, ThomseN_inc said:

Correct me if i am wrong. But wasn't it "the angry mob" who demanded METAR implementation for MSFS? 

Now we got METAR implementation and the angry mob is still unhappy. 

 

Some people really need to get their **** together and stop yelling at the devs for new features and what not every freaking time.

Get a life man.

Ah first thread this morning is yet another ridiculous conspiracy theory. 

15 minutes ago, Dominique_K said:

So far the poor handling of the shop is not exactly a strong incentive to buy there but it can improve. 

I strongly agree with that, right now it's a mess. UI is not the best, no video for product showcase, no review comments and to find a specific airport is nearly impossible.

But i heard somewhere, I think it was the Q&A, that they will improve it on the next WU or SU.

We also need to keep in mind, that's the only place where Xbox user can purchase addons.

Edited January 7, 20224 yr by bendead

24 minutes ago, Krakin said:

Or maybe, just maybe this is the first implementation of the new hybrid weather system and they will be taking feedback from us to make it better? That never occurred to you? This tinfoil hat nonsense is getting really boring but threads like this drive a lot of traffic....that I'm also contributing to lol.

 

 

I am sure this thread will be followed in a week by another " Is it a sim or a game " BS session. 

6 minutes ago, Bobsk8 said:

Ah first thread this morning is yet another ridiculous conspiracy theory. 

If you say so! 😉

Personally, I like the new METAR system because my part of the world finally feels like it matters. I've mentioned this before but before SU7 I would start my flight in St. Lucia and there would barely be any clouds in the sky 9 times out of 10. In reality we almost always have scattered clouds at the very least. The only time the sim would look like real world conditions was when there was a significant weather system over us. Things are flipped now with the sim looking like the real deal 9 times out of 10. I trust Asobo will get the kinks out and make it even better for most users.