On 11/17/2024 at 10:01 AM, Ray Proudfoot said:

I don’t toddle. 😁 I fly faster than a bullet out of a rifle. 😉

You’re sitting at your desk. You’re not flying anywhere. 😂

14 hours ago, Ray Proudfoot said:

They released a 64-bit Concorde for v5 in August 2023 followed by a few updates. The last in November. Twelve months on still waiting for many bugs to be fixed. They've switched development to MSFS Concorde but no formal announcement or release date.

In the meantime us v5 users wait patiently.

Ray, have they improved visuals ? ( gaps, low res textures, nose and windshield etc )

There was a ton of issues as I remember.

Edited November 19, 20241 yr by Beardyman

4 hours ago, Beardyman said:

Ray, have they improved visuals ? ( gaps, low res textures, nose and windshield etc )

There was a ton of issues as I remember.

Definite big improvement over the 32-bit version. No 4Gb VAS limit now. I haven't checked for the gap between the FE panel and bulkhead.

Plenty of screenshots here.

On 11/18/2024 at 12:13 PM, Patco Lch said:

I think in the case of developers such as RR of PMDG some use the dead sim label as a passive aggressive insult to legacy customers who opt to stay on their older platform.

Yes, this figure of speech is intentional and suggests a disdain for older sims and thus those of us who still use them.

PMDG will never get another dime from me, which means they've already lost several hundred dollars in revenue.  Even if I eventually switch to MSFS I won't buy any planes from them.

Like I've said before, most of these flightsim developers are poor at business and desperately need some customer service training.

Dave

Edited November 19, 20241 yr by dave2013

On 11/18/2024 at 7:13 PM, Patco Lch said:

I think in the case of developers such as RR of PMDG some use the dead sim label as a passive aggressive insult to legacy customers who opt to stay on their older platform. Perhaps an attempt to sim shame them into following the pied piper from platform to platform buying their same aircraft over again. A psychological sales ploy like saying you’re dead to me. Who wants to hear that from the guru of sim domain.  
After years of following and buying from PMDG I take it as a personal snub and will not spend another dime with that company.
 

Yep, I agree with this observation. Certainly a marketing ploy to create FUD. The same predicament that P3D simmers faced some years ago with PMDG products no longer being developed has come home to roost with those PMDG users that are on the MSFS2020 platform and in fear of being left behind. It certainly seems to have alienated current MSFS/PMDG users. When I read the RSR comments on their current development strategy I thought "here we go again!". I prefer to not just blindly follow the crowd.

To be honest, I think the the small yet devoted community for P3D has an advantage of having a stable sim, able to be run on a reasonable mid-performance PC, not being "server tied" so you can start and fly at any time and the plethora of add-ons that are already available is pretty stunning. I no longer tinker with P3D because there is no need to. It runs smooth every time I start a flight. Enjoy what you already have is my motto.

I do also agree on the interesting observation @sloppysmusic made above about the appeal of a specific sim becoming more selective. The folks that frequent this sub-forum are, I would imagine, have already been quite selective in their choices, myself included. As time goes on and development of sims extends further into providing additional functionality and capabilities, there comes a point in time for every sim user to ask, is that new functionality really what I need or do I really need to invest in sim platform x? Over time the market will be much broader for flight simmers in general, but I expect even more market fragmentation and more, selective sim user sub-groups being established catering to a more specific set of user needs and preferences.

Anyway, the "long and short" of this post is, P3D may be a small community nowadays and many developers have left for pastures new, but its here to stay (providing you can keep your PC running) along with a host of other legacy sims that still provide enjoyment to many.

3 hours ago, 787flyer said:

Enjoy what you already have is my motto.

LOL especially when it comes to women. You'll live longer.

Seriously yours was a very insightful post and expresses the sentiment of many here, I'm sure.

As for the actual topic, I can only say that even in 2024 and 2025, and beyond, you can still enjoy an "old" simulator. There are communities that still enjoy FS 2004 today. For me, FSX and P3D are still just as relevant as they were 10 years ago. I’ll be straightforward: I like the visuals of P3D v5. I enjoy flying with it. I wish there were a few more aircraft addons, but I’m fine with it. And I love these gems. Some time ago, I bought the iFly 737NG. The QW 787, Majestic… all great addons that are really fun. Now that Orbx is having their annual sale, I will be picking up more for P3D. It’s possible that the current, or let’s say “older,” FS 2020 looks better right out of the box. But for me, it’s about the flying… as long as the overall feeling is right (I can’t describe it any other way), I’m happy. Photo scenery always looks great, but FS 2020 and 24 show that without a server or internet, you don’t get much out of it. Auto-Ortho in X-Plane is nice, but not always optimal. I like the rendering in P3D with the Orbx textures, landclasses, and vectors. For me, that’s the representation that’s just good and strikes a nice balance between storage space, hardware requirements, and quality. First and foremost, I’m sitting in the plane and navigating. That’s what brings me joy. And for me, P3D is not dead. As long as people are still flying with it and talking about it, everything is good. On the contrary, I often feel more comfortable in P3D forums because it’s calmer, more laid-back... the mass influx is over. Now, only the enthusiasts are left.

12 hours ago, Tim_ELLX said:

On the contrary, I often feel more comfortable in P3D forums because it’s calmer, more laid-back... the mass influx is over

That's for sure. I enjoy frequenting this forum with good discussion with learned people wiling to help out when you have a question or a problem.

 

2 hours ago, 787flyer said:

That's for sure. I enjoy frequenting this forum with good discussion with learned people wiling to help out when you have a question or a problem.

 

But the forum here becomes already very silent. There are only a few left of all the people we had here 4 years ago. But I agree, the masses on the other forum are kind of overwhelming. I think in the near future it will be sufficient to come here once a month, not daily.

People tend to post when they have a problem. Given the relatively small number that has bought v6 I’m not surprised to see few posts for that version.

v5 is stable and most have a good knowledge of how to resolve problems or in my case, no problems whatsoever. Hence the quiet forum.

I continue to enjoy flying various aircraft with all software on my own PC. The only online access I require is for weather via Active Sky.

I am one off the few using V6.

With Orbx Global V6, it works perfectly with almost all my "old" addons. And very fluid.

The most ennoying issue is caused by the change in effects behavior and specially the fact that dusk and dawn are now considered as DAY.

Gérard

 

2 hours ago, Ray Proudfoot said:

People tend to post when they have a problem. Given the relatively small number that has bought v6 I’m not surprised to see few posts for that version.

v5 is stable and most have a good knowledge of how to resolve problems or in my case, no problems whatsoever. Hence the quiet forum.

If only that was the single or even the main reason.

The severe lack of new addons must take it's fair share of blame towards having a major impact on dwindling posts.

Therefore it follows that if nothing new is available, no new problems will present.

 

10 minutes ago, Sparkrite said:

If only that was the single or even the main reason.

The severe lack of new addons must take it's fair share of blame towards having a major impact on dwindling posts.

Therefore it follows that if nothing new is available, no new problems will present.

There’s a huge catalogue for P3D. Most major airports are already available. Why would a developer produce an airport when there’s a decent one already available? Most here will have lots invested in them and unwilling to ditch the sim for the alternative which currently appears to be a right mess.

MFSG have produced excellent airports as have WF Scenery Studio. I’m flying into airports I haven’t visited in months.

27 minutes ago, Ray Proudfoot said:

There’s a huge catalogue for P3D. Most major airports are already available. Why would a developer produce an airport when there’s a decent one already available? Most here will have lots invested in them and unwilling to ditch the sim for the alternative which currently appears to be a right mess.

 

What??

I never said nor even intimated anything relating to what you have posted above Ray.

Edited November 22, 20241 yr by Sparkrite

14 minutes ago, Sparkrite said:

What??

I never said nor even intimated anything relating to what you have posted above Ray.

You said… “The severe lack of new addons must take it's fair share of blame towards having a major impact on dwindling posts.”