9 hours ago, JBDB-MD80 said:

Off topic: but word is Mathijs Kok is a new member of the PMDG team?

Hopefully not the new communication manager 😂

13 hours ago, JBDB-MD80 said:

Off topic: but word is Mathijs Kok is a new member of the PMDG team?

Indeed he is. I did call the fact that he wasn't just disappearing but he was moving up.

I guess those who expect to be treated with triple-layered velvet gloves will hate this, but I, for one, am glad to see that he moved to a company where he'll probably find like-minded people. Robert Randazzo isn't exactly known to mince words either.

Edited August 9, 20232 yr by Abriael

3 hours ago, Abriael said:

Indeed he is. I did call the fact that he wasn't just disappearing but he was moving up.

I guess those who expect to be treated with triple-layered velvet gloves will hate this, but I, for one, am glad to see that he moved to a company where he'll probably find like-minded people. Robert Randazzo isn't exactly known to mince words either.

In which way not mincing words is a quality for a vendor after he has sold his product escapes me. What the user expects is honesty and a little empathy.  It comes with the price IMO.

On a related matter can you  confirm  that you pay for all the products you review as a business or do you get them free ? 

Edited August 9, 20232 yr by Dominique_K

17 hours ago, JBDB-MD80 said:

Off topic: but word is Mathijs Kok is a new member of the PMDG team?

Don't even joke about that, or it may mean no more PMDG for me!  I don't want to listen to even more weasel words.  I can live without the B777 if I need to - no problem.

13 minutes ago, bobcat999 said:

Don't even joke about that, or it may mean no more PMDG for me!  I don't want to listen to even more weasel words.  I can live without the B777 if I need to - no problem.

https://fselite.net/content/mathjis-kok-begins-new-role-at-pmdg/

This was released hours after the post you quoted. There was even a thread here in the MSFS forum that was moved to the Hangar chat than deleted.

4 hours ago, Abriael said:

Indeed he is. I did call the fact that he wasn't just disappearing but he was moving up.

I guess those who expect to be treated with triple-layered velvet gloves will hate this, but I, for one, am glad to see that he moved to a company where he'll probably find like-minded people. Robert Randazzo isn't exactly known to mince words either.

I am a PAYING customer, and I expect to be treated with respect. Some vendors seem to have trouble wrapping their heads around this concept. 

There is no room for rudeness. 

...or is this too much to ask for?

Edited August 9, 20232 yr by Ricardo41

7 minutes ago, Ricardo41 said:

I am a PAYING customer, and I expect to be treated with respect. Some vendors seem to have trouble wrapping their heads around this concept. 

There is no room for rudeness. 

...or is this too much to ask for?

Even if not respect, a little bit of dignity at least.  After reading the post from @JBDB-MD80 it all seems like a bad joke! 
What experience will he bring exactly other than being rude to customers, fobbing them off, and even lying to them on occasion.  If that is what PMDG want, then good luck to them.

I am glad Fenix are around.  They seem to be the exact opposite.

4 hours ago, bobcat999 said:

Even if not respect, a little bit of dignity at least.  After reading the post from @JBDB-MD80 it all seems like a bad joke! 
What experience will he bring exactly other than being rude to customers, fobbing them off, and even lying to them on occasion.  If that is what PMDG want, then good luck to them.

I am glad Fenix are around.  They seem to be the exact opposite.

 Aerosoft under his 20-year lead has produced middle of the ground aircraft.  I had several of them in FSX and P3D and every time I was a little disappointed. They were not bad, mind you, just they could have been so much better. That PMDG recruits him with this background is not what I would call a good omen.  

His after-sale reputation is what it is. Not undeserved. The snarling dogs he let loose for years on his forum have not helped it.

What does Randazzo look for ? His European connections ? His geographical proximity to Asobo's HQ  ?

Edited August 9, 20232 yr by Dominique_K

18 minutes ago, Dominique_K said:

 Aerosoft under his 10-year lead has produced middle of the ground aircraft.  I had several of them in FSX and P3D and every time I was a little disappointed. They were not bad, mind you, just they could have been so much better. That PMDG recruits him with this background is not what I would call a good omen.  

His after-sale reputation is what it is. Not undeserved. The snarling dogs he let loose for years on his forum have not helped it.

What does Randazzo look for ? His European connections ? His geographical proximity to Asobo's HQ  ?

There are a lot of points to consider in your post.  And I can't disagree with any of it. 
I had the Aerosoft Airbus series in FSX, and I really liked it for the level I was at, at that time.
But here I am now, wondering if I will ever get an update to my decidedly middle of the road Aerosoft Twin Otter that isn't even on sale any more.

If this situation gets carried over to PMDG, I can only see them getting 'dumbed-down', as the A330 under Kok wasn't looking too promising in terms of fidelity.  At least he admitted to that!  Hopefuly he is joining PMDG a little too late to get his tendrils into the B777 that people are eager for.

Edited August 9, 20232 yr by bobcat999

I think people need to chill a bit. PMDG have a legacy when it comes to the level of simulation in their products for as long as they have existed, and it's a bit overdramatic to worry about Kok single-handedly bringing them down as if the rest of PMDG including RSR have no say in their own company anymore.

11 minutes ago, threegreen said:

I think people need to chill a bit. PMDG have a legacy when it comes to the level of simulation in their products for as long as they have existed, and it's a bit overdramatic to worry about Kok single-handedly bringing them down as if the rest of PMDG including RSR have no say in their own company anymore.

Agreed.  It isn't that, but the amount of influence he has on the business, and his use of his brilliant 'customer relationship skills' in the forums.

I suppose we all have the same choice.  See what the B777 is like at release, and vote with our wallets. 
If the plane is fairly good on release then we have the choice to stay away from the PMDG forums anyway, and avoid any communications from this character.

1 hour ago, bobcat999 said:

But here I am now, wondering if I will ever get an update to my decidedly middle of the road Aerosoft Twin Otter that isn't even on sale any more.

If this situation gets carried over to PMDG, I can only see them getting 'dumbed-down'

There I was, in FSX, wondering if there would be any update to the J41 and there I was, in Windows 10 wondering if the MD11 would ever start again, and there I was wondering if the DC-6 would ever fly again in X-plane 11.....

It's not all that different I guess.

Edited August 9, 20232 yr by avhpilot

44 minutes ago, threegreen said:

I think people need to chill a bit. PMDG have a legacy when it comes to the level of simulation in their products for as long as they have existed, and it's a bit overdramatic to worry about Kok single-handedly bringing them down as if the rest of PMDG including RSR have no say in their own company anymore.

Can’t say you are wrong 😄.

I see two scenarios :

- MK brings his Aerosoft way of doing business to PMDG (‘nuf said)

or

- PMDG helps him to reveal his true self, a meek human being striving for the best. 

Now, brothers, let us pray.

FWIW, RSR posted on a PMDG forum thread re: this (also as RSR mentioned in his speech at FSExpo and then later on including this post, they are expanding by multiple team members, of which Mathijs is one):

https://forum.pmdg.com/forum/main-forum/general-discussion-news-and-announcements/260128-aerosoft-s-loss-is-pmdg-s-gain?p=260167#post260167

Gents-

I am personally thrilled to welcome my very long-time friend, Mathijs to the PMDG team. I'll have more to say on this topic a bit later- and I may or may not shine a light on some of what we'll have him doing as part of our expansion going forward.

Anticipate him hanging back a bit while he gains his footing and gets up-to-speed. Our culture is very different from the one he has left behind after two decades- and his role here will be quite a bit different as well. There are a few key moments in PMDG's history- and it has been 15 years since we made specific, positive changes to improve the wider skill level and capabilities of our team. Mathijs coming aboard the PMDG team is one of numerous changes taking place in the background that go a long way toward my strategic objectives for PMDG- and I assure you you will be excited when you see what that plan looks like.

In the mean time, I hope you will all welcome him to our team. If your opinion is otherwise- you are welcome to sit back and give him the opportunity to prove himself with a clean, PMDG slate, but you have to promise you will come back here and offer acknowledgement when we prove you wrong.

Always remember he is a member of my team, and a dear friend- and I am glad he is here.
 

Edited August 9, 20232 yr by lwt1971

"If your opinion is otherwise - you are welcome to sit back and give him the opportunity to prove himself with a clean, PMDG slate".

  Hah!  No-no-no-no-no!  I am always suspicious when a 'clean slate' is mentioned.

I try not to hold grudges, and people can change behaviour over time or at least pretend to act differently, but I am very cautious of people like him and the way he has acted in the past.
Clean slates aren't necessary.  I just remember how I was treated in the past and act accordingly.  If you wipe the slate clean you can end up being very disappointed!  
Leopards don't change their spots I have found.  Especially older ones.  

Anyway, in the big scheme of things, I don't think it will matter.  By discussing this, it is probably showing him more importance than he is worth.  
If he helps get a good B777 out of the door, then all well and good!