6 minutes ago, JYW said:

I'm so pleased that, unlike the last two purchases I've made (FSR Phenom and Aerosachs P-Mentor), I'm not forced to buy something I want, from the Marketplace and have no access to config files.

But doesn't one have access to the config files if one downloads the Aircraft from the Marketplace instead of streaming it?

The Marketplace for me is a two edged sword.

On the plus side I'm totally onboard with the streaming architecture and like that the aircraft don't clutter up space on my drive if I don't want them to. The PMDG fleet alone is 23Gigs.

What I dislike is that they do not properly aplly exchange rates to their prices. So if an add on is originally sold in Dollars not only will you naturally have to add tax on the asking price, but they rip you off with the exchange rate. When I bought the Phenom it was by my calculations 6€ more expensive than it should have been.
Currently the dollar is so weak that the price before taxes should be lower in Euro. But it isn't.

6€ may not be much but it's 6€ per sold item. So they make thousands by overcharging.

Edited June 1Jun 1 by Farlis

5 minutes ago, Farlis said:

But doesn't one have access to the config files if one downloads the Aircraft from the Marketplace instead of streaming it?

Unfortunately, no.

When MSFS2020 launched, all the default aircraft files were encrypted. The 3rd party community (free and payware) complained about it, and by late 2021 we had unencrypted default aircraft, with full access to cfg files. Marketplace payware aircraft remained encrypted.

Someone in MS obviously had a serious change of mind when 2024 was launched, as all default content files went back to being fully encrypted.

This prevents 99% of mods being made. In 2020 one of my favourite LSAs was the default VL3. But Asobo decided it didn't need an autopilot. It required changing 1 parameter in the systems.cfg to enable the autopilot, and 1 parameter in the WT panel.xml to get it to show in the G3X. 1 minute job. In 2024 it's impossible to activate the AP in the VL3 because there are no systems.cfg and panel.xml files. I still cry daily that I can't fly the VL3 in 2024 with an AP 😄 The VL3 is a 200k EUR aircraft and I can assure you that there are almost certainly no G3X-equipped models that don't have the AP. Particularly because the G3X has the AP software built in! (It's called the GFC500-X). So to utilize the AP in one of these, all that's required is 2 servos. This is not an expensive installation as it's a non-certified aircraft.

But what use is logic and experience when someone is MS or Asobo has "mAdE tHeIr dEcIsIoN" ? 😉

Edited June 1Jun 1 by JYW

17 minutes ago, Farlis said:

So they make thousands by overcharging.

Absolutely true. The eastern side of the Atlantic gets a terrible deal where Marketplace pricing is concerned.

4 minutes ago, JYW said:

Absolutely true. The eastern side of the Atlantic gets a terrible deal where Marketplace pricing is concerned.

And they break the law. Because while they are allowed to not use the exact current exchange rate at the moment of purchase they have to make transparent what kind of exchange they use. And the Marketplace doesn't do that.

ORBX on the other hand DOES inform you what exchange rate to AUD they use when you purchase.

I can't wait to read reviews of this plane and see how it compares to other aircraft of this type in MFS.

2 hours ago, JYW said:

I'm so pleased that, unlike the last two purchases I've made (FSR Phenom and Aerosachs P-Mentor), I'm not forced to buy something I want, from the Marketplace and have no access to config files.

Huge shout out to Skyward Simulations for giving us the choice. I'm not Orbx's biggest fan because I've had issues with Orbx Central's downloader failing on every single purchase for about 3 years. (I can get them, usually after 5 or 6 cache validations per product). Attempts to get help on their sycophantic forum have been utterly fruitless.

But still, I am so happy to not have to buy something I really want, from the MSFS Marketplace.

Choice = 👍👍👍

I’m surprised to hear you have issues with the Orbx app! 😮

I must say that my overwhelmingly positive experience with it over many years and several simulators is what makes me generally positive towards the MP.

I hope it fixes for you at some point 🙏

Companies use the marketplace mainly for security and product visibility.... and of course to support console.

I'd bet the marketplace sales would do 10x that of a developer's own shop. Just speculation on my part though.

26 minutes ago, ryanbatc said:

I'd bet the marketplace sales would do 10x that of a developer's own shop.

I agree with this, but I wouldn't say that the main alternative to selling on the MP would be to sell on a devs own shop. Instead selling via a major 3rd party retailer (eg. Just Flight, Orbx, Simmarket, etc). Or even better, selling via a range of different outlets, to give people maximum choice.

Edited Monday at 08:43 PM5 days by JYW

1 hour ago, UrgentSiesta said:

I’m surprised to hear you have issues with the Orbx app! 😮

It's a long-running issue that is specific to downloading from Orbx Central from the UK. When I was back in Canada, it was super fast and reliable 👍

56 minutes ago, ryanbatc said:

Companies use the marketplace mainly for security and product visibility.... and of course to support console.

I'd bet the marketplace sales would do 10x that of a developer's own shop. Just speculation on my part though.

Yep.

And if we're to believe Jorg's quote (and why wouldn't we?) that almost 50% of the player base is on Xbox, then it would be almost criminally negligent for any (every?) dev to avoid selling through the MP. Well, at least that's how their wives would feel... ;)

29 minutes ago, JYW said:

It's a long-running issue that is specific to downloading from Orbx Central from the UK. When I was back in Canada, it was super fast and reliable 👍

Oh - that's unfortunate!!!

Have you tried using a vpn?

Released.

Orbx only at the moment. Marketplace to come later this week

https://orbxdirect.com/product/skyward-citation-msfs2024

Under 30 USD - that's cheap! Too cheap for such a nice addon hehe

Nice price! Well, the competition.

Wow...great price, can I exchange my ORBX KATL for this??🫤