I bought the 777-200ER and I'm happy with it, but I also have a couple of things, that I'm a little disappointed with.

• The exterior modelling is not what I actually expected, when comparing to Fenix or iniBuilds' A350
• The texture work (particularly) the exterior textures are lower res, than its direct competitors. Decals are unreadable and when you look in detail around landing gear, hatches etc, you can see, that the work just isn't as good as the Fenix or iniBuilds A350.

I would have expected a higher quality of work, given the pricing of the product...

On the other hand system-wise it's very good and handflying it, is just amazing. 

In my view, PMDG is still one of the top developers out there. But it has lost the enginuity and edge, that they used to have. In my opinion, they're no longer "setting the bar" for how addons should be created.

2 minutes ago, anden145 said:

In my view, PMDG is still one of the top developers out there. But it has lost the enginuity and edge, that they used to have. In my opinion, they're no longer "setting the bar" for how addons should be created.

Yeah, same feeling. They are still good, but no longer exciting - their EFB was late and poor at first, they haven't innovated in any new QoL features for a while, they no longer provide the manuals they used to (they dropped the license from Boeing, presumably too expensive), GFO remains vaporware and will never release as it simply doesnt' make sense now, texture work has not met the mark for a while.. lots of little things that add up. 

Their few planes remain high quality and are the only game in town, usually (esp the 777), so that's good, and I am looking forward to the 300 and the 737s releasing for 2024 soon. But I do agree that they simply don't set the bar anymore. They are just another "good quality" developer.

6 minutes ago, carlanthony24 said:

Lets be realistic the only reason the 736 is cheap is because hardly anyone will buy and isn't that popular. To really compare you should use the 738 which is $69.99 sale price or $74.99 without sale. Fenix costs £39.99 just for the A320 and speaks for it self really. The A319/21 £39.99. To have all three £89.98 which before had a sale on to about £80 give or take. So it is cheaper. Maybe if Fenix did create the A318 you would expect it to be roughly around the same price point of the 736 which would be more comparable. 

Nope.

The reason the 736 is cheap is because it's a First Time Buyers program.

It's a no-brainer business strategy to get price conscious or price hesitant prospective customers to try your product.

I'm sure he sells a TON of them to new simmers and XBoxers.

And arguably, the $50 739 is more of the same.

You can't compare the Fenix price in GBP to the PMDG price in USD. The A320 is pretty much exactly the same price.

AND, though I'd certainly buy an A319 or A318 for $40, I'm probably never gonna buy the the entire package just to "save money". 😆

Real World pervasiveness has some bearing on this pricing, but not nearly as much as you believe.

2 hours ago, Kevin_28 said:

That's important. It's also fair to say that their operating expenses have likely increased since before 2020 release (more hires, etc). By how much? *shrug*

There are suggestions that PMDG made more money selling the 737-700 on Xbox in the first month that they did for every 737 model across the entire lifespan of P3D.

I have no evidence that this is true, but based on what PMDG themselves have said about the DC-6 sales it seems plausible, so if the truth is anywhere even close to this (and I strongly suspect it is) any increase in developments costs would be utterly irrelevant compared to the increase in sales.

Edited May 7, 20251 yr by Matchstick

-Deleted-

Edited May 7, 20251 yr by Matchstick
Double Post

20 minutes ago, anden145 said:

I bought the 777-200ER and I'm happy with it, but I also have a couple of things, that I'm a little disappointed with.

• The exterior modelling is not what I actually expected, when comparing to Fenix or iniBuilds' A350
• The texture work (particularly) the exterior textures are lower res, than its direct competitors. Decals are unreadable and when you look in detail around landing gear, hatches etc, you can see, that the work just isn't as good as the Fenix or iniBuilds A350.

I would have expected a higher quality of work, given the pricing of the product...

On the other hand system-wise it's very good and handflying it, is just amazing. 

In my view, PMDG is still one of the top developers out there. But it has lost the enginuity and edge, that they used to have. In my opinion, they're no longer "setting the bar" for how addons should be created.

The new update releasing some time this week is supposed to fix some texture issues that people brought up, so maybe that will address some of your issues there.

I've been sitting on the fence regarding this thread...up until now.

PMDG offers a good product for the flight sim community. Full stop.

I would like to comment on the post title, specifically the word "anger". Having been on/off this forum for well over twenty years, some posters (not just commercial) develop a strong community resentment against themselves. When that happens, the "pack mentality" just piles on.

Yes there are definitely some here "angered" by PMDG and I sense that some folks also are on the verge of borderline "hate"...just as can be observed with another Airbus developer.

I've been buying PMDG products since the FS2004 days...the MD-11 was ground-breaking. A lot of customers felt "betrayed" when that product became vaporware.

I'm trying to stay objective when I read posts like "the 737 for MSFS was free for existing customers who bought the latest P3D offering". That is a true statement. Also true; the MSFS 737 was a ported product, not a new build...and those who remember will still recall all the "excuses" during the lengthy port of that product to MSFS...recall "Asobo this, Asobo that...". There was a lot of negative feedback from the community, especially when Fenix "hit the ball out of the park" with their first release...without the drama.

The 777 for MSFS is a new build specifically for that platform...I would expect a higher (initial) price to cover the company's development costs. What we're seeing now, is a different pricing strategy then we had in the past. That is their (PMDG's) choice...we as consumers can either purchase or not. Market dynamics will be the decider if PMDG made the right move.

I'm also surprised that PMDG has not taken advantage of integration with GSX. Again, their business.

Personally, I don't visit their forum anymore...I just don't find it useful. My choice/opinion.

I'm surprised that PMDG has elected to try to bring the "baby" 747 (-100) to market before the established -400 and -8 series...again...it's their call.

Now for the controversial bit: RSR has always been the (vocal) face of PMDG...the two sets of letters are synonymous in the world of flight sim. Mr Randazzo has also been at the forefront of "hype" for his products, more so than any other developer (that I can recall at least). Recall the bluster of their vaporware Global Flight Operations program?

Human nature says we shouldn't speak ill of people we've never met...no, I have never met the man. Regardless...he is "known" to all.

Personally, I believe the long record of "hype" (and instances of documented under-delivering) is what gets the PMDG name into trouble (IMHO).

I was also surprised by the hiring of the ex-Aerosoft guy...from my view, why would a company that solicits such a strong public relations reaction (polarity) from the community do that? Again...it's their business.

To summarize...I like the PMDG product...it delivers what is expected...for MSFS, I have purchased the 737-600, 737-700 and the 777-300ER and freighter. I am choosing the products that I like to fly. That's how the market works.

My past "gripes" with some of the noise/hype surrounding PMDG's planned updates, etc, is now water under the bridge. 

Maybe getting older has also changed my purchasing patterns...PMDG is no longer a "day one" buy...personally, I look at the reviews (for all my purchases) now, resisting the impulse buys of the past! 🙂

9 minutes ago, UrgentSiesta said:

Nope.

The reason the 736 is cheap is because it's a First Time Buyers program.

It's a no-brainer business strategy to get price conscious or price hesitant prospective customers to try your product.

I'm sure he sells a TON of them to new simmers and XBoxers.

And arguably, the $50 739 is more of the same.

You can't compare the Fenix price in GBP to the PMDG price in USD. The A320 is pretty much exactly the same price.

AND, though I'd certainly buy an A319 or A318 for $40, I'm probably never gonna buy the the entire package just to "save money". 😆

Real World pervasiveness has some bearing on this pricing, but not nearly as much as you believe.

You falling for that chestnut its cheap because its a single variant and is less common. I'm sure they sell the 738 way more. You've literally compared it in your post.

38 minutes ago, JonathanC said:

In such cases, I quietly back away and shut the door because you cannot have a substantial discussion with people that apparently are emotionally engaged with a corporation. I hope you and PMDG enjoy many happy years together. 

The same can be said for the converse case, with people that apparently are emotionally engaged with a corporation in the negative sense, and seem easily triggered by everything the corporation (or head of the said corporation) says/does, and seem eager to dump on them at any chance they get, etc 🤷‍♂️
 

I have the 77W and don't like the price of the 772 so I haven't bought it.  Does it need to be more complicated than that?

1 hour ago, JonathanC said:

"Boom! Done" 😄 

I know the common criticism of AVsim is that everyone here is too old.. but sometimes, you find the kids. You are kinda in love for PMDG (look at all your responses). In such cases, I quietly back away and shut the door because you cannot have a substantial discussion with people that apparently are emotionally engaged with a corporation. I hope you and PMDG enjoy many happy years together. 

 

 

I'm 52 years old and I say Boom Done, and I also agree with him 100%.  Perhaps I am a) still young?, or b) young at heart.

Also, emotional engagement can go the other way, too.  There's a lot of pile-on negative stuff on almost any topic, meanwhile the silent majority who enjoy x y or z, stay silent and do not post about their positive experience or positive view.  Then the negative folks post, "See!  It /does/ suck!  Everyone says so!".   The older (nooo!  I'm young), experienced guys like me see that and just roll the ol' eyes.

1 hour ago, JonathanC said:

"Boom! Done" 😄 

I know the common criticism of AVsim is that everyone here is too old.. but sometimes, you find the kids. You are kinda in love for PMDG (look at all your responses). In such cases, I quietly back away and shut the door because you cannot have a substantial discussion with people that apparently are emotionally engaged with a corporation. I hope you and PMDG enjoy many happy years together. 

 

 

So are YOU a "kid"...? Because I haven't been carded in a bar for 20 or 30 years now.

In love with PMDG...? Nah, I have PLENTY of criticism for them, and haven't spent a dollar with them in years now.

But they make good products and I still enjoy the ones I already have.

I just like poking holes in the "logical" fallacies of people like you. 😆

The emotional engagement you wrongly perceive is your own in that you can't even figure out why the prices are what the are and what vocabulary to use.

So, yeah, good to see you "back away".

Have a great day!

 

Edited May 7, 20251 yr by UrgentSiesta

1 hour ago, carlanthony24 said:

You falling for that chestnut its cheap because its a single variant and is less common. I'm sure they sell the 738 way more. You've literally compared it in your post.

That's pretty much the exact opposite of what I said.

It's a shame that basic business practices go right over your head...

1 hour ago, JonathanC said:

I know the common criticism of AVsim is that everyone here is too old.. 

Not sure about too old. Too insular surely?

"You mean not everyone flies on VatSim!? Gasp"

1 hour ago, rmeier said:

the MSFS 737 was a ported product,

You were off to SUCH a good start, then you tripped up.

Followed by this:

1 hour ago, rmeier said:

Fenix "hit the ball out of the park" with their first release...

When it took Fenix longer to release...

1 hour ago, rmeier said:

The 777 for MSFS is a new build specifically for that platform...

And topped off by another fundamental misunderstanding of software development.

Yeah, you were off to a good start, and followed it up with 2.5 face plants in a row.

I do agree with you on RSRs showmanship and over hype, but OTOH, he's not my buddy and so I couldn't really care less as long as he keeps delivering great products at competitive prices.