Preferably one of the stores with a good desktop application, Contrail or OrbX, because it's so much easier to manage, re-install and get an overview. I tend to avoid buying directly from the developer purely on the basis of I hate having all my purchases scattered around, having to go to multiple different independent pages to login in, navigate through my order page, just to find my download. Especially if they serve updates through there as well and not some auto-update function. Though more and more developers seem to get on board with the idea of having a little launcher-esque application that makes download, managing and updating easier. Then I'll definitely get it from the developer.

I flat out refuse to use the marketplace. Clunky, awful, hidden behind an atrocious interface, encrypted files, can't browse without starting the sim and purchases made in the Store version of the sim don't carry over to the Steam version. A complete joke of a store that I wouldn't even use if it was the last and only option.

Edited May 27, 20233 yr by Sethos

I buy a lot of addons. And I do mean a lot. But I don't have any particular plan about where to buy them, other than avoiding the Marketplace if possible as I don't like the process of purchasing through the sim and the slow access to updates. However, there are some aircraft that only seem to be available there so that's where I'll buy them! I'll also check out their offers from time to time and will buy scenery there on occasion.

I have used all the online stores over the years, but now it is just SimMarket and JustFlight, plus of course the developer sites wherever possible. Probably bought more from SImMarket than anybody else for MSFS. JustFlight invariably (and in some cases, a good amount) cheaper if they have the same product as SimMarket. plus a good loyalty discount.

I do use Orbx, but mainly for their own stuff, which is becoming an increasingly rare purchase. Their update system is good, but I hate that I can't exclude items from their store listings. I have a huge number of things that I've bought elsewhere that show up in the Orbx Central app and I would really like to be able to hide stuff I either already own or will never want. I have of course suggested this to Orbx, and they have of course ignored me, as is their wont these days.

It would be a nightmare to keep track of this all without my spreadsheet. Every item bought is listed (regionally for scenery, category for aircraft) and each item has links to the purchasing site, original order number etc. Can be a bit of effort sometimes to make myself keep it up to date, particularly if I have a freeware frenzy at .to (as occasionally happens), but the whole thing about the sim for me is to have as accurate model of the world as I can get (and afford!) so I just consider it the price I have to pay in terms of maintenance.

Not a huge fan of all the Contrails and IniManagers springing in to being these days, but if that's what it takes to get the products I want then so be it.

Oh, and the encryption issue with the marketplace is avoidable with a decent file manager. I manage all my stuff via the addons linker, so anything I buy from the marketplace gets moved out of the MS folders into my own setup folders. I use a product callled Directory Opus as my file manager, and it is unaffected by encryption issues. Stuff gets moved and linked to ok. Directory Opus is not particulary cheap, but is very powerful. I've used it for mayby 20 years and can't imagine a PC without it.

It feels like all the vendors these days are competing to be "the one and only source" for all products, but all that's doing is creating a mess of download apps. Nobody is ever going to completely dominate the market unless MS themselves enforce some sort of draconian requirements about how stull is installed and managed. And that would pretty much kill the sim anyway.

So just buy what you want from wherever you want it. There's no real benefit in focussing on a single storefront these days, the market is too big and complex.

Straight from the Dev where possible.  Second choice is Just Flight as they are generally cheaper for UK residents than the non UK based companies. Orbx third choice.  Never from the in game Marketplace for several reasons (encrypted files, no weapons on warbirds, long waits for updates to name a few)

I've never bought a game, like RPG, FPS etc. from the MS Store. Is it as cumbersome as it is for MSFS addons ? 

13 hours ago, Krakin said:

Consider using the marketplace to help keep the sim alive and kicking.

I'd love to do this however wish they could give you the option to install into the community folder so I can link or unlink with Addon Linker.

Jase

1 hour ago, JaseMelbo said:

I'd love to do this however wish they could give you the option to install into the community folder so I can link or unlink with Addon Linker.

Jase

Thre is an option under Setttings/Advanced to link addons from the Official folder as well.

Kind regards, Michael

1 hour ago, pmb said:

Thre is an option under Setttings/Advanced to link addons from the Official folder as well.

Kind regards, Michael

Can I move that official folder to another drive?

Jase

Marketplace encrypts all of the cfg files of all addon aircraft, meaning no-one can do small tweaks. This is quite unnecessary and has nothing whatever to do with piracy as cfg files are not of use to pirates unless you have the model, texture, gauges etc. So I never, ever buy aircraft from the market place.

10 minutes ago, JaseMelbo said:

Can I move that official folder to another drive?

Jase

I only tried this once time ago (this was when we had issues with the WU PG cities) and don't recall detail. However, I doubt you can move the complete Official Folder as such, rather you make another folder (say /My Offical Folder Addons) where elements from the official folder can be shifted to and are linked from that place to the Official Folder. Basically, it's the same way as it's done with the Community Folder.

In any case, I would take this option with a grain of salt. That's why it's under Advanced.

Kind regards, Michael

5 minutes ago, robert young said:

So I never, ever buy aircraft from the market place.

As long as they are available elsewhere. Carenado's are not. Some (few) sceneries as well.

Kind regards, Michael

6 hours ago, Dominique_K said:

Well, you don't want a market where the MS store would be a monopoly so it is also useful to buy at   Orbx or Simmarket etc. to keep these distributors alive too.   

I never implied that he should only buy from the marketplace. there are a lot of must have add-ons that aren't available there anyway. Most of my purchases have been direct from the dev but I've made one or two through the marketplace.

17 hours ago, newtie said:

 

I think my next ac is going to be the Kodiak.

Good pick. One of the best add ons!  I fly the float version frequently.   Awesome detail & sounds.  

2 hours ago, robert young said:

Marketplace encrypts all of the cfg files of all addon aircraft, meaning no-one can do small tweaks. This is quite unnecessary and has nothing whatever to do with piracy as cfg files are not of use to pirates unless you have the model, texture, gauges etc. So I never, ever buy aircraft from the market place.

No real tweaking besides exterior/interior light/cockpit color and liveries work....

22 minutes ago, blueshark747 said:

No real tweaking besides exterior/interior light/cockpit color and liveries work....

There are many models, Carenado in specific, that have solvable issues with their avionics and flight model. However, because the files are encrypted all you get from the marketplace is eye candy.

Here is a great example of an issue that was never fixed by the developer but was easily fixed in the unencrypted files: Some more “Hmmm” | uchi's world (wordpress.com)

Not fixable in the Marketplace version.

Edited May 27, 20233 yr by hs118

11 hours ago, pmb said:

I only tried this once time ago (this was when we had issues with the WU PG cities) and don't recall detail. However, I doubt you can move the complete Official Folder as such, rather you make another folder (say /My Offical Folder Addons) where elements from the official folder can be shifted to and are linked from that place to the Official Folder. Basically, it's the same way as it's done with the Community Folder.

In any case, I would take this option with a grain of salt. That's why it's under Advanced.

Kind regards, Michael

Thanks mate.  Yeah, it's probably not for me.  I like that buying outside of the marketplace let's me select what drive and folder.  Then I point add-on linker to it.  Thanks though bud.

Jase