XST

I think It is a matter of time and resources. Dealing with a seller is always a headache and time consuming. So when they have someone that sells reasonable enough, they don't want to have extra headache. This happens mainly with single freelance developers, not big companies. Some of them can not have revenue even as a main work for living so they have other jobs too. Having just one seller makes everything easier. Sometimes sellers give you a great deal if you don't sell your products elsewhere.

I never said the ratio 1:1000, that was never my statement, I said exactly "MSFS users are counted in millions while XP users are counted in thousands. " which doesn't mean at all that the ratio is 1:1000. Was a way to express that you can access to a million of potential sales in MSFS whereas in XP will be only thousands for the same thing. This is not even a sales comparison between XP and MSFS units sold. Numbers are based on a potential market targeting taking also in account the built-in marketplace in MSFS. Was a estimation of a potential marketing target comparison for developers, never a ratio of units sold. Again, You don't have to agree with me, neither believe me if you don't want, just please don't change the meaning of my words.

You should not believe me, you have to find you own information and have your own opinion. And it has not to be the same I have. And I will respect you whatever it is.

Exactly, and there is a very important feature, not related to a the simulator itself, but a great source of revenue for everyone... the built-in market place. When a simulator has a built-in marketplace means that ALL of the simulator users will see all the new and updated add-ons immediately, almost every time they use the sim. Is a common repository of add-ons. This means for a developer to sell X times more than spreading the product in different web stores. Plus much more simpler... manage multiple stores is really a headache and a waste of time for a developer. It is also a huge source of income for the simulator itself, who gets all the extra commissions for all the sales made. So its a win-win situation. And developers still have the option to publish in all other web stores if they want to. Is this related to the users/simmers? directly it is not... they can buy where ever they want. But is a way to get developers interested in the marketplace by multiplying their potential sales amount, and lot of users go where the good developers go, so yes... making developers happy makes good indirect source revenue for the sim company. LR never said anything about adding a built-in marketplace to XP 12. That was not over the table, no complains. Just saying this is just a small feature along some others that makes the difference when taking strategical decisions to take the company and the sim to the next level.

Thank you @Ianrivaldosmith , The beauty of the word we are living in is when we are in a place that everyone can express their opinion with freedom and respect and learn something from other people. I respect and listen (read) everyone even those not agree with me or even trying to ridicule my words. I develop and sell software and when a customer call to my phone to complain I listen carefully everything they have to say just in case they are right or have anything interesting to add. I don't understand why people get that defensive in forums no matter how polite we post, but probably is a part of this freedom we are talking about.

Probably you are right... I don't know what I'm talking about and probably invented or just imagined in my brains half... not half... all the information I posted before.. so don't worry I take it back and I will not do this anymore 🤦‍♂️

This is a good point, perhaps a key point. If you buy a new car, when you sit in the driver seat you want to feel you are a new car. Easy and simple. And yes! scenery matters. I know is not the most important feature when you are flying at 10000 feet. But people want it, just because its is possible these days and other sims have it. Nowadays makes no sense to see Lego City when landing.

I understand and agree. Not sure what I would’ve done if I where in his shoes. Maybe the same thing. I think the mistake was in a message that confused some (or a lot) of XP users. As much as I read forums lot of users expected something else. Me too. A good decision with a wrong message or explanation doesn’t help. And I have also to say that Austin has a difficult puzzle to solve ahead with a lot of complicated decisions to take. Not easy at all. This is why I don’t request a refund, because I understand the difficult way he is going through and there are my two cents of support, even not liking the results of the product. No one has a magic ball to see what is the right way to go. In this stage there are several approaches: investing in the company and going to the next level, hire a new young manager with brand new fresh ideas, partnership with google. Who knows, not easy decision at all.

To understand what is going on now in the market and specially with XP 12 we must to put feelings, old timer loyalty and heart brains aside. For LR and all other sims it’s a matter of business and strategy, and this whole thing can only be understood with a change of mind and point of view. I’m software engineer, UL pilot, home cockpit builder. I develop my own home cockpits including the software for my instrument panels. I’m in touch with a lot of XP aircraft developers due this matter. And behind the scenes, in the backstage there is something happening believe it or not, you like it or not. Lot of users are going to MSFS. Even lot of XP unconditional ones. Therefore, and this is a fact not a guess, lot of XP aircraft developers stopped developing for XP and moved to MSFS. It is difficult to ride two horses at once. And probably lot more will eventually do. The reason is very clear: just pure business. MSFS users are counted in millions while XP users are counted thousands. So, aside of the developer feelings, loyalty and love… making much more money for the same effort makes lot of sense to them. That speech about “XP is an engineering tool with the best model physics and we don’t care about eye candy” is now useless to solve this new puzzle. And I totally agree with that statement, but business-side is useless. No matter what with think, love or like… the numbers are talking. The real fact, and this info comes from aircraft developers, is that XP add-ons market is going downhill and it has nothing to do to what it was some time ago, just before MSFS came out. And sadly, this means that LR is suffering the same effect too. And it is happening, you like it or not. That is the real reason why LR released this XP 12 early access beta prematurely. I read comments saying that it is very stable compared to other betas of XP… of course it is. Because it is an XP 11 upgrade with additions, not a total rebuilt of the code. And I’m sure LR effort is huge, not saying they are just cleaning the face. The question is, are they rowing in the right direction? We, users, can argue and fight each other stating the old timer loyalty slogan. But don’t forget that in the backstage this is just pure business. I don’t believe at all that LR don’t care about competing MSFS just because they have their niche of market. If you are an entrepreneur, you can understand that statement is absolutely wrong. My loyalty to LR and XP also means to say no, when I have to say no. And now this XP 12 early access beta makes me feel that the way it will go is not the right one… so to me is a no. And if LR doesn’t change this approach, the only thing that will save XP (again) is that MS/Asobo will someday mess this up (again) and abandon (again) the project as they did with FSX. Continuous denial of the truth will not help. BTW: I’m not requesting a refund to be consistent with my own meaning of loyalty, and because I still have hope, but I totally understand those who did.

I have all XP versions from XP 9. Actively using XP 11. I own and use almost all other simulators in the market, but XP is always my first choice. I bought XP 12 yesterday and expend hours doing several tests and comparing with XP 11. I know is early access, I know is beta, I know there is a lot to be done… but don’t forget…I paid money for it… They don’t give beta or early access for free. I expect something fair in return. The thought that is always around my brains when I use it, is: I expected more… probably much more. They say it has a lot of improvements: clouds, weather, water, rain, runway effects… My feelings after some test flights: I feel like flying in XP 11 with 10 to 15 fps loss. I can evaluate things based on my experience and what I feel, what is in the papers is useless if I cannot feel it or touch it. I like LR a lot… and I like XP a lot… and I have in mind is an early access, and a beta, and looking forward to all of those great updates that LR will release not sure when… But so far, the truth is that I’m somehow disappointed. Although I will very happy to take back all of what I said if they do what they have to do.