Why Payware?

[Falcon_Six_Two]

I'm a firm supporter of payware.

I'm only 13, so some of you may say, "WTF is a 13 year old doing supporting payware?"

Well, I have bought several payware addons and like what I got. (thanks to the 1st National Bank of Mom and Dad)

Since I don't have a credit card and can't aquire one, along w/ many other minors who play FS, we need our parent's permission to buy payware.

Because of this, (this has just been MY OBSERVATION) many minors don't like payware because if they ask their parents, they fear that they'll say "$30 for a plane? No way."

But...I caught my parents in a very good mood one night and from there, they bought me my first payware planes. AlphaSim's Su-47 and MiG-25! I was so impressed with the sheer quality. Next I bought LAGO's F-16 and AlphaSim's A-10. Soon I'll get LAGO's Tornado...they did promise me that.

Some kids have payware. I'm not saying it doesn't happen, it's just that the vast majority of payware owners are adults, as they have easier access to buying.

It all comes down to wether you want to lay down the cash or not. (if you can )

(The BIG advantage you adults have over us kids is that you can buy whatever you want. Only a few years, only a few more years...just wait... )

Just my opinion...

[Felix/FFDS]

Falcon Six-Two: you sound more like 13 going on 33 ...

I would also infer from your statement that because you depend on the art of negotiation (with the aforementioned 1st National Bank of M&D) you also tend to beparticular about the payware that you do buy..

[SabreHawk]

Wow, that's great Falcon and Im glad your parents are so good to you! You must surely be a good teenager for them as well, and that's really something in todays world.
I might recomend you look into the works of Bill Lyons, his payware pakages are all only $12.50 and are the best deals around, and the best work too as well.

And you dont just get a plane, you get several versions of it, scenery to go with it, and usually a surface vehicle or two as well. Not to mention lots of other goodies like special effects.
His latest two pkg's "Golden Hawaii" & Cutters Goose are simply the best there is for $12.50

Check em out here : http://windrfters.com/

[Falcon_Six_Two]

Falcon Six-Two: you sound more like 13 going on 33 ...

I would also infer from your statement that because you depend on the art of negotiation (with the aforementioned 1st National Bank of M&D) you also tend to beparticular about the payware that you do buy..

Is that a good thing? 13 going on 33? Am I correct in saying it's because of how I said it? If not, well, please forgive me, as I'm not really familiar with such phrases...

Negotiation huh? Well, I have no other choice. I must present the pros of the purchase in question. If I make it sound like it's bad, then...well, you know the rest. As long as I do good in school, (I have! ) they don't mind getting me whatever I want. (Within reason of course... )

As for being particular in the payware that I buy, well, I really have no other choice. You see, my parent's attitude toward this is "Is it good? Can you get any better for free?" and all sorts of other questions before I make a purchase with their credit card.

I really can't blame them, as it's THEIR money I'm spending...and the pricier the plane, the better it has to be in my parent's view...(understandably of course)

Wow, that's great Falcon and Im glad your parents are so good to you! You must surely be a good teenager for them as well, and that's really something in todays world.
I might recomend you look into the works of Bill Lyons, his payware pakages are all only $12.50 and are the best deals around, and the best work too as well.

And you dont just get a plane, you get several versions of it, scenery to go with it, and usually a surface vehicle or two as well. Not to mention lots of other goodies like special effects.
His latest two pkg's "Golden Hawaii" & Cutters Goose are simply the best there is for $12.50

Check em out here : http://windrfters.com/

Thanks, my parents are VERY good to me. I consider myself lucky to have parents like them,

Am I a good teenager? Well, most of the time.

Hmmm...rather intresting collection Mr. Lyons has there... I'll show that site to my dad, as some of the planes there would surely intrest him... Thanks for the link!

[ditto58]

I'm glad there is lots of freeware out there and the Microsoft has made their FS applications so open to modifications and add-ons.

I have no problem whatwoever with payware, though. After all, you paid for the original FS, right?

My problem may seem like a dumb question, but where do I find good payware add-ons?  Sometimes I would like to get a good add-on plane (or mission) for CFS1 or 2 and I just want the plane to work without spending lots of time putzing around with it.  I'm willing to pay a reasonable price if it's good.

[SilverFox441]

The best way to find good payware is to carefully judge the reaction of other owners. Being a forum reader helps in this as you get a feel for who has the same taste as you and who values the same aircraft features.

High points in selecting good payware:

• Company/Designer reputation
• Opinions of those who already have it
• Cost
• Scarcity of the subject

1. Company/Designer reputation. Many payware designers have a reputation for releasing quality add-ons at a fair price, many companies have a similar reputation. A good reputation is a good sign that a new release will be worth the money. Also check to see if the designer/company has been known to patch a release to correct any errors that slip through.

2. Opinions of those who already have it. Simple enough...how do those who already have it feel. Feel free to ask questions...most will give you an honest answer. You should also check out reviews done by websites you trust.

3. Cost. Check the price tag and what it offers...is it valuable to you. This works with the last category...

4. Scarcity of Subject. Obviously a plane that is available in many forms is popular...but is a payware add-on offering enough to get you to loosen the purse strings? The Boeing 727 has been extensively modelled...but there is at least one payware add-on that is outstanding in terms of quality and the package that comes with the plane. On the other side of the coin are planes that are not available by other means, or only available at great reduction in the quality. I did a review a while back of a CF-100 release...try finding a freeware or payware option to the subject of the review.

When you run all that through your mind you can decide whether you want a particular piece of payware. In the case of the Boeing 727...no buy for me, my B727 needs are met by the freeware market. The CF-100 is another story...if I didn't have the review plane I would dig out my plastic.

One place I would check out for CFS1/CFS2 stuff is Alpha Sim...many of their older subjects (mostly CFS1, but some later stuff) have been released as freeware on their site. http://www.alphasim.co.uk/main.html

[ditto58]

Thanks, Silver Fox

The planes at Alpha Sim look very nice.  Question:  are payware products any easier to install than freeware ones?  I have been having very inconsistent results installing freeware planes.

[SabreHawk]

Much easier, most have auto installers, and as for Bill Lyons stuff you simply unzip all that he sends you to the main FS9 folder and all is done. Heck ya dont even have to activate the scenery in the usual way, the next time you start up FS9 it all updates as it should without you doing a thing.

This is one of the little nice things with payware,.......no hasssle installs.

BTW, with anything you buy from Bill, it's also personalized just for you, with your name in it someplace, usually right on the plane's ID plate!

[Falcon_Six_Two]

For other kids that want payware, I've compiled a list of tips for you...

• 1. Get good grades in school. This is the MOST important.You might not get aircraft, but most parents will give their child anything they ask if they do good in school, as an incentive for further excellent performance. (within reason of course...)
  
• 2. Master the art of negotiation and persuasion.
  
• 3. Regarding the payware you want, if you find yourself walking into your local EB, and happen to see a payware aircraft/scenery/whatever in a box, GET IT. That way, your parents don't have to use their credit card.
  
• 4. Make sure that the payware you get is of exceptional quality. I.E. NO Abacus...they have good utilities, but, in the words of planespotter, "piss-poor" aircraft...FD3 is a great little program though, so do yourself a favor and get it. If your parent's spend $30 of their money and they find out that you get a horrible aircraft...you can probably say goodbye to any future purchases...
  
• 5. Another VERY important tip: BE PATIENT! Good things come to those that wait. If you keep nagging your parents, they'll just say no and that will be that.
  
• 6. Timing is EVERYTHING. Don't ask your parents for a plane when they're fuming and expect to get it...
  

That's all for now...if you have anything to add, tell me and I'll add it in...

Hope this helps!

[Prowler1111]

I.E. NO Abacus...they have good utilities, but, in the words of planespotter, "piss-poor" aircraft...

Ok roger that....but since eeveryone noticed the quality of their planes...well.they must have sales or they should be shut down quite sometime ago...i mean they must be selling some!
Best regards
Prowler

[SilverFox441]

Looks like I have to buy my CF-100 now after all...it's been updated and it would be rather classless to ask for a free upgrade for a free review copy of a plane.

Only $9.00 (US) so it's well worth it for me.

[Falcon_Six_Two]

Ok roger that....but since eeveryone noticed the quality of their planes...well.they must have sales or they should be shut down quite sometime ago...i mean they must be selling some!
Best regards
Prowler

True that, but...oh well. I don't want to go around making fun of ANY payware cpmpany, including ABACUS.

[Felix/FFDS]

True that, but...oh well. I don't want to go around making fun of ANY payware cpmpany, including ABACUS.

Yeah - especially when part of one of mine is going to be there..

[Falcon_Six_Two]

Yeah - especially when part of one of mine is going to be there..

Whoops! Sorry about that Felix...didn't mean to offend you and your creations...

What I was trying to say is : Abacus's planes may not be of the best quality as you might expect. The planes MADE by Abacus anyway...

When a 3rd party developer offers to Abacus their project, then that plane is usually of good quality. (Just another one of MY OBSERVATIONS.)

[Boss_BlueAngels]

I have to admit I voted #4 initially on the poll, but after reading some of your responces, I'd have to agree that I would (and will) support Payware addons.  I still think it's kind of a low-blow to charge people for single addons for a program most of us already payed 60 bucks for, but it promotes a much higher level of detail in the products.  The only payware I'm getting are the F/A-18 Hornets by aerialfoundry as that's the only plane (for me personally) worth spending any money for (I love my sweetheart very dearly) but I am quite confident my investment will be extrememly worth while.  Being a college student also in the flight program, I certainly hope the price is low (ie under $20) but if not, oh well, no food for another nite. j/k

In the end I would change my vote to number 1.