The default 747 vs The PMDG 747

[visualchaosfx]

Oh K!

Since I bought the PMDG 747, I have grown to love and respect this line of aircraft. I've also been learning how to use the FMC and stuff. Now, I just thought for kicks I would try and fly the default 747 thats included with FS2004. Once I was in the virtual cockpit of the default 747, I felt lost. No FMC. No overhead panel with all of the switches on it. The MCP was sort of different.

Why didn't Microsoft design the planes to be like their real world counterparts? I mean this is a flight simulator. Its supposed to simulate the real and in my opinion, Microsoft did a half ass job of making this aircraft. When engaging the flaps in the default 747, its quick but the PMDG actually takes time for the flaps to fully extend to whatever degree its set on. The default, you use the GPS. The PMDG you use the FMC.

It doesn't make sense to me for a company to make a simulator and not have the planes mirror the real world counterparts.

Anyways, why do they do things like that?

[ashaman]

Basically the reason is twofold.

On a first level there's the fact that a REALLY well made plane would cost them more to realize.

On the second level there's the fact that the 95% of the buyers of FS things are godd as they are.

So why bother.

As real as it gets.

NOT!

[JBaymore]

The blessing and the curse of the plethora of freeware and payware developers for FS2004 (and X and whatever) is that they are always available to fix the stuff Microsoft does not do well.

[visualchaosfx]

Ok I get it out. But still though. Companies such as these should care about the product and not rely on others to provide fixes for their lack of attention to detail. That would be like a pizza place making there pizzas half ass and expecting the customers or neighbors to make the pizza better.

Hmmm..... I'm hungry now lol.

[Sir_Crashalot]

Ok I get it out. But still though. Companies such as these should care about the product and not rely on others to provide fixes for their lack of attention to detail. That would be like a pizza place making there pizzas half ass and expecting the customers or neighbors to make the pizza better.

Hmmm..... I'm hungry now lol.

On the other hand if Microsoft would have made the sim with airplanes at PMDG (or any other  developer) quality, you would have paid a few hunderd Euro/Dollars for it. Now they can sell the sim for less then 100 Euro/Dollar (FSX DeLuxe 64 Euro, FS2004 13 Euro).

Crash

[born_2_fly]

Ok I get it out. But still though. Companies such as these should care about the product and not rely on others to provide fixes for their lack of attention to detail. That would be like a pizza place making there pizzas half ass and expecting the customers or neighbors to make the pizza better.

Hmmm..... I'm hungry now lol.

On the other hand if Microsoft would have made the sim with airplanes at PMDG (or any other  developer) quality, you would have paid a few hunderd Euro/Dollars for it. Now they can sell the sim for less then 100 Euro/Dollar (FSX DeLuxe 64 Euro, FS2004 13 Euro).

Crash

Very true. And do remember, Microsoft would have to do every aircraft to this standard, and the price would sky-rocket to round

[JBaymore]

[quote]On the other hand if Microsoft would have made the sim with airplanes at PMDG (or any other

[FridayChild]

Why didn't Microsoft design the planes to be like their real world counterparts? [...] Microsoft did a half ass job of making this aircraft [...] It doesn't make sense to me for a company to make a simulator and not have the planes mirror the real world counterparts. Anyways, why do they do things like that?

Surely we can't be expected to answer a such question? Anyway, besides FS2004 being a phased out product, I don't think that, despite the often quoted slogan "As real as it gets", its purpouse was ever to "be like the real world counterpart". FS has always been a compromise between a game and a simulator, and was always sold at "popular" prices. And it was intentionally left open to external addons of various kinds. Cut them some slack.  ;)