An Interesting article

[theduke]

http://simflight.com/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=9995

[pete]

Interesting article.

The Q is - Where is FS headed? What are MS intentions, business wise, for FS.

Do they believe that it's more profitable to just go down the sealed gaming platform where THEY provide the Game (closed system no addons) , with other things such as on line flying, etc -

Or do they see as I believe that FS has remained constantly popular due to it's add-on-ability - the waay we can completely customise our FS to suit our needs - the exact aircraft we want, geography, etc?

Simviation's viewing figures over 10 years show absolute constant rise with no drops in interest between releases from MS. This would seem to be indicative of the consistant use of this platform.

I know it is said that most FS users don't know about add-ons - but I'm not so sure. I think that any figure suggesting that would be due to sales to non users. People get it - as presents, or try it & don't like it. They are not 'users'. I would argue that most users quickly find you can add on by searching, etc

& let's not forget the potential of the FS platform itself -

If MS want a pure 'wow' factor to sell boxes - that's a sure fire short term policy. The actual users, as opposed to simply 'buyers'  are those you have to satisfy otherwise the flocks will drift away.

So I still say to Aces/MS - Keep it easily add-on-able or it will bite the dust -

[alrot]

FS has become so complex that excellent

So I still say to Aces/MS - Keep it easily add-on-able or it will bite the dust -

Yes , Please

[Wing Nut]

Since the beginning of FS add-ons there have been doom-sayers that have predicted the fall of freeware, the end of add-ons entirely, and the end of FS as a whole.  So far they have been wrong, and FS has continued to grow despite being more complicated to both produce and operate.  The article I posted yesterday (HERE) about commercial companies finally being able to have a platform to adapt FS to professional simulation needs is one indication of the GROWING not decling strength of the FS title.

Yes, FS add-ons are much harder to produce, but this (imho) has this effect:  it is returning FS to the people who really care about it.  A lot of payware companies out there run by 3d artists could give a crap about FS as a whole and simply use it as a means to make a buck.  No names, but I'm sure you can guess.  Now, the people who really do care will be the ones taking the time to learn what is necessary to support their addiction.  It's a kind of culling out of the herd and only the strong will remain afterwards.

In short, I would prefer a few releases by people who care about FS more than a bunch of crap just to say there's a lot of choice....

[Wing Nut]

  I think the article is a well thought out, intelligent, and an eloquently written piece. I am more of a knuckle dragging nedrethal, and it showed in some of my past posts (as Mothball). I imagine there are a lot of folks who are having, or have had some aggrevations/disappointments with FSX and it's expansions/patches,  who have made posts out of frustration and aggrevation, much like my posts were written. I'm sure there are still quite a few folks out there who are "on the fence" or have been "on both sides of the fence". I think this author has the patience and wisdom to sit back, look at the big picture, ponder the situation and then make his observations and comments, unlike most of us. I did say that FSX should have been a more "stable" platform to build upon before it was released in my earlier rantings. The reasoning I gave at the time were the exact reasons this author has pointed out in this article. My beliefs have not changed. I still believe that if you start out with a very "stable 'base' or foundation' ", then casual users and developers could, in fact, do as they please. I think even if the base product has some imperfections, as long as they are stable and predictable, developers could work around it, through it or whatever. I have Vista/FSX/Acceleration working fine (or satisfactorily enough) now, but it was one hell of an ordeal to it get this way. My hopes for a stable, predictable base product for future projects are the same as this author. If the developers need to wipe the slate clean, then please do so. Create a new product from scratch and test the hell out of it, then let the public know that they will need ?? hardware, software, after-market stuff, etc. to run this product properly. If the developers of the base product have, in fact, tested the hell out of it, they will know what will be necessary to run the program properly. Just by reading through these forums, I have found that a lot of the FS community are willing to spend the money to get the most use of the product (myself included). So, creators/developers please let us know what's going on and what gear we need, fs-ers will find the money to buy what we need somewhere. Also, let us know if a particular after-market company is not living up to their end of the deal. Capitalism and a free market place will either light a fire under their azz and get them going, or they will wither and be no more...

  As far as freeware is concerned, I think there are just too many smart and talented folks out here, who are willing to freely share there hard work, wisdom and even a few with a the rare gift of being able to teach knuckle-heads like me to do some creative things. Microsoft has always boasted that Flight Simulator is base or platform to build upon. I doubt and hope freeware never goes away, but as stated above, a very stable platform is needed and I hope Microsoft doesn't shun that attitude.

Has there ever been a new version of FS where people have NOT complained about how it should have been better developed before its release?  You're not saying anything that wasn't said about FS98 or FS2000.  FS has always been on the experimental side of graphics design and hopefully always will be.

Add to that, the release of Vista, which is probably MS's biggest departure from the previous operating system to date, and DX10 and you have a perfect storm.  Things are going to get better, as they have in the past, just wait it out...

[Wing Nut]