Since we are going to pay in average $100 dollars every 4 years

$100 / (4 * 12) = $2 / month

 

Would you prefer to pay $2 / month subscription ? I would because I could stop paying when I take a break for a couple of months. (which is currently the case for me since several months)

I've thought of it that way too.

Subscriptions are all around us these days.  And I understand people who dont like them.  Because that mindset was me up until a year ago.  The quality of goods provided has been well worth it to me.  I recently re-subscribed to Navigraph and it's been awesome.  About 8 USD a month.  I can barely get an entire meal at McDonald's for that price.

Irrelevant to me, one's as good as the other.  Peanuts either way, for the amount of work that has gone into the sim.

Don't like subscriptions. If you don't have a good control of yourself you can end up paying a lot of money month after month.

9 minutes ago, ryanbatc said:

I've thought of it that way too.

Subscriptions are all around us these days.  And I understand people who dont like them.  Because that mindset was me up until a year ago.  The quality of goods provided has been well worth it to me.  I recently re-subscribed to Navigraph and it's been awesome.  About 8 USD a month.  I can barely get an entire meal at McDonald's for that price.

Yes. My NG complete renewed today at $90.00 and change. And due to AAUI(1) I lost about what, four months of NG charts use.  But it is great!  With all the rants and raves about how wonderful MSFS is, despite its remaining faults and refusal to open up key portions of the SDK, you'd think it would then be worth much more than $2.00 a month. 

$2, $5, $8 a month?  Its not like getting hosed by your ISP/Cable provider.......

Edited June 13, 20232 yr by fppilot

I generally prefer to buy outright, then I don't have to worry about whether or not I'm getting my money's worth every month. Probably a stupid way to think about it. 🤔 

If I get a subscription I don't plan on keeping for more than the minimum time. I cancel it immediately, or remove my payment option so it doesn't auto renew.

Just now, odourboy said:

I generally prefer to buy outright, then I don't have to worry about whether or not I'm getting my money's worth every month. Probably a stupid way to think about it. 🤔 

I agree. The discussion turned to subscriptions by dividing the purchase price by the months of interval until the next the estimated release of the new version.  What concerns me is what I see about occupatonal fantasy experience versus finishing development of MSFS 2020. 

Many have their lists.  For me it is accurate weather reporting (ATIS/AWOS); inclusion of more cloud types/textures (TCU, CB, altocumulus castellanus, altostratus, cirrus), Better timliness in matching metar and pireps to what is depicted. Yesterday I flew into KBJC in the Denver area experiencing thunderstorms, heavy rain, and widely variable but strong winds.  Oddly enough, a look at real world live weather and radar indicated that the depiction in MSFS was a couple of hours ahead of when those conditions were to arrive in Denver.

Then ATC needs considerable help.  I just cannot stand being assigned an opposite runway for conditions or listening to all the  "please expedite" comms. 

Should improvements toward more realistic traffic be mentioned here?  Aviation traffic of all types.  And radio communications with "generic" should be scrubbed from the sim.  Are those aircraft running generic drugs? LOL!

And why did they not mention TV traffic copters?  LOL!

MS will know what their margins are and should surely be able to offer a choice to be able to purchase the product outright or monthly subscription.  Then those of us who prefer one model or the other will be catered for and satisfied.

Personally I don't like paying monthly subscriptions but I can understand those who do.

30 minutes ago, Stearmandriver said:

Irrelevant to me, one's as good as the other.  Peanuts either way, for the amount of work that has gone into the sim.

Not to mention how much money is spent on the hardware to run it.  When I think about what I pay for multiple subscriptions, for how important flight simming in general and MSFS in particular is to me I could see paying well more than I pay for any other subs I pay for including several streaming services--but that would only feel good if the sim polished up a few areas considerably better than they are in the current sim.  MS/A could absolutely deliver on most all of the areas like ATC/seasons/cleanup airport taxiways/improve METAR:Global integration, resolve greenish tinging, variable color schemes by region, etc.  At least those not constrained by the hardware (e.g., higher density voxel resolution as a necessary condition of distinct cloud morphologies).  Probably MS/A knows this so will deliver an MSFS 2024 much improved in that regard. 

No

4 hours ago, cepact said:

Would you prefer to pay $2 / month subscription ? I would because I could stop paying when I take a break for a couple of months.

That might work for you but not for someone who uses the sim infrequently, perhaps just firing it up on a whim when the time or inclination arises.  I go through periods of regular to heavy use followed by little or no use, so a subscription model wouldn't work for me. So, no, I'll stick with a one time payment, thank you.🙂

Yes

I personally don't care for subscriptions.  First and foremost, that limits the upfront proceeds for the development of the sim. That is perhaps the biggest drawback. By having the huge infusion upfront, MS/Asobo can front end load and prepare for simulator improvement. Otherwise, improvements might not happen as quickly due to staffing, budgeting issues. 

Not interested in a subscription, since I don't play video games much between May and October. Prefer to be engaged in outside activities.