8 minutes ago, Christopher Low said:

Some of us prefer to install our stuff rather than stream it. I have no problem installing 10GB files to my M2 Nvme drives. I do have a problem when developers make it unnecessarily awkward to install and activate them.

The problem with the recent Phenom update is if you downloaded it, you will have to download the plane again to get the (tiny) update. A vicious cycle I don't miss.

dd

I can’t believe a major store has managed to make the marketplace the more attractive option, but here we are.

There’s no planet where I’m starting an app to run an airport scenery. Guaranteed I’ll forget until I’m on short final.

Edited May 29May 29 by regis9

On the Orbx forum a user posted this apparently information from the developer of this DRM module, and I'll post it here. You can draw your own conclusions as to whether this is someone you want to give kernel level system access to on your PC..............

"I did what you'd call "AI Assisted" coding. No "vibe coding".

Formal training: I've studied computer science for 5 semester, but haven't finished because I changed jobs and had to move to another city, making continuing impractical. It included several security-specific modules.

I'm part-time employing another developer who as a computer-science degree and he has reviewed the application.

No personal data is being stored. The SimGuard client transmit only the activation key you enter and a unique device-id (from which no information about the users pc can be deferred, SHA256 hash to be exact). Optionally, automated error-logging via sentry.io is enabled, but you can opt-out anytime to that)"

8 minutes ago, regis9 said:

I can’t believe a major store has managed to make the marketplace the more attractive option but here we are.

There’s no planet where I’m starting an app to run an airport scenery. Guaranteed I’ll forget until I’m on short final.

I just arrived at the same conclusion. If DRM was needed then they should have just done the marketplace. I can get comfortable with the marketplaces and its built in DRM but adding another layer of DRM just for one airport?.. No thanks

Thankfully i don't usually buy airport scenery much or consider having all the bells and whistles that addon airport scenery entails a must have like the aircraft that i use daily.

On the Orbx forum a user posted this apparently information from the developer of this DRM module, and I'll post it here. You can draw your own conclusions as to whether this is someone you want to give kernel level system access to on your PC..............

"I did what you'd call "AI Assisted" coding. No "vibe coding".

Formal training: I've studied computer science for 5 semester, but haven't finished because I changed jobs and had to move to another city, making continuing impractical. It included several security-specific modules.

I'm part-time employing another developer who as a computer-science degree and he has reviewed the application.

No personal data is being stored. The SimGuard client transmit only the activation key you enter and a unique device-id (from which no information about the users pc can be deferred, SHA256 hash to be exact). Optionally, automated error-logging via sentry.io is enabled, but you can opt-out anytime to that)"

That’s all we need, more AI, I need AI like I need ANOTHER hole in my head. Good grief, this topic has more twists and turns than my lower intestine.

2 hours ago, ryanbatc said:

How is this any different from Fenix's app? All of you people saying you won't buy it but you also own the Fenix with the same type of system lol...

Piracy sucks. It sucks for the developers, it sucks for the customers.

Orbx is being transparent about it. This isn't a shady company installing spyware on your PC. It's really not a big deal at all.

And if it is truly scary for you, you should disconnect your PC from the internet....

The Fenix/PMDG i use almost daily. Its the primary interface you are working in.. When the App starts in the background you arent just getting DRM... you are also running the essential components that make the Fenix work.

Orbx KATL I dont think i would be flying out of one airport that regularly even if it was my home airport (which it isnt). In addition to that im pretty sure scenery can be run within the sim without DRM so in this instance the DRM layer is just there for DRM.

I applaud Orbx for being transparent no issues with that but as a potential customer who tries to keep everything running on their system to a minimum there should have been a marketplace option ... At least with that the dev gets their security and the customer does not have to have additional processes running.

4 minutes ago, Maxis said:

there should have been a marketplace option ...

There is. Don’t make confusing obfuscations please.

-B

3 minutes ago, btacon said:

There is. Don’t make confusing obfuscations please.

-B

I saw that revelation after my post. Don't make assumptions please. Ask next time. Or if you want to be helpful just make a friendly correction and it would have been noted.

Thank You

Edited May 29May 29 by Maxis

5 minutes ago, Maxis said:

Thank You

You are welcome. Sorry for a misunderstanding. You could just have easily corrected your misassumption. They are your words, not mine.

-B

I don't think I want an unknown developers .exe running on my computer who had a few semester in college.

Lightshot

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Edited May 29May 29 by Wise87

I am very long time flight simulator addict and, like others here, own a vast library of ORBX products.

I guess I am naive, or maybe just word not allowed, about piracy of individual addons to streamed games. How much of that kind of thing occurs.

How many sales of ATL or any other Orbx product are lost to people buying "prirated" or being "gifted" addons?

What is the scale of the problem?

7 minutes ago, TacomaSailor said:

I am very long time flight simulator addict and, like others here, own a vast library of ORBX products.

I guess I am naive, or maybe just word not allowed, about piracy of individual addons to streamed games. How much of that kind of thing occurs.

How many sales of ATL or any other Orbx product are lost to people buying "prirated" or being "gifted" addons?

What is the scale of the problem?

They will never tell you, as that would reveal they‘re making good money in actual sales, and have just gotten greedy to the point where they think they can inconvenience regular customers in order to make pirates pay for the software, which is fanciful at best. Sad story.

18 minutes ago, Wise87 said:

I don't think I want an unknown developers .exe running on my computer who had a few semester in college.

Lightshot

Screenshot

Captured with Lightshot

It says a lot about Orbx, too

Recent example of kernel level anti cheat software being exploited...........

https://www.pcgamer.com/ransomware-abuses-genshin-impacts-kernel-mode-anti-cheat-to-bypass-antivirus-protection/

"Security skeptics and advocates have worried for some time now that exploits able to take advantage of anti-cheat kernel-mode drivers could wreak serious havoc on PC security. Now it seems to have happened: The anti-cheat driver used by Genshin Impact, the popular free-to-play RPG, has been abused by a ransomware actor to stop antivirus processes and enable the mass deployment of their ransomware."

The fact that blue chip AAA companies even struggle with this and the potential dangers leaves me pretty stunned that FS developers would allow a college drop out with 5 semesters of experience and who used AI to code his app to have this level of access to anyone's PC.
Honestly I'm struggling to find this believable.
I really think as a community we need to take a stand on this and say no. I 100% believe devs should be able to protect their work and their livelihood, but this is not the answer.

1 minute ago, atco said:

Recent example of kernel level anti cheat software being exploited...........

https://www.pcgamer.com/ransomware-abuses-genshin-impacts-kernel-mode-anti-cheat-to-bypass-antivirus-protection/

"Security skeptics and advocates have worried for some time now that exploits able to take advantage of anti-cheat kernel-mode drivers could wreak serious havoc on PC security. Now it seems to have happened: The anti-cheat driver used by Genshin Impact, the popular free-to-play RPG, has been abused by a ransomware actor to stop antivirus processes and enable the mass deployment of their ransomware."

The fact that blue chip AAA companies even struggle with this and the potential dangers leaves me pretty stunned that FS developers would allow a college drop out with 5 semesters of experience and who used AI to code his app to have this level of access to anyone's PC.
Honestly I'm struggling to find this believable.
I really think as a community we need to take a stand on this and say no. I 100% believe devs should be able to protect their work and their livelihood, but this is not the answer.

I’m speechless.