FSBreak 54: PMDG 747-8i Released and ends FS2004 development, Aviator 90 Released, and Porting Aircraft to FS9? - a podcast by www.fsbreak.net
from 2010-02-02T20:09:09
Hosted by Eric McClintock, Mark Stewart, Brendan Farmer, and Chris Palmer.
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New X-Plane Photo Scenery Concept
Here are some new screenshots from a quick test in the French Alps. This uses very accurate vegetation data to cover the whole areas, with an optimized simplification algorithm to reduce the polys complexity without loosing too much precision. The .for files will be created and optimized later with our own trees textures.
For full details, and screenshots, see here!
PMDG Released 747-8i/F Expansion and PMDG Refreshes Website
Built with technical input from Boeing and using the latest modeling techniques for FSX, the PMDG 747-400X -8i/F Product Model Extension adds the majestic new Boeing 747-8 variant to your existing PMDG 747-400X installation.
This high definition visual model raises the bar on large airliner modeling by showing the 747-8i and 747-8F in exquisite detail. Transparent cabin windows, fully detailed flight controls, 3D engine cores, scalloped nacelles and the incredible 747-8 wing flex are all presented in vivid detail. The model is covered with high definition textures, giving an incredibly lifelike appearance to the model, right down to the finest details.
The PMDG 747-400X -8i/F Product Model Extension will also please your ears, as we have included a new GEnx based engine sound set so that you can experience the amazing audio experience of the new GEnx engines mounted under-wing.
Price: $24.99, More Informaton (Requires PMDG 747-400X)
PMDG Has also refreshed their website!
PMDG's view on FS2004; Will Others Follow?
Posted By: Robert S. Randazzo Jan 21 2010
Captains-
We have been reading some truly ridiculous statements in this forum during the past 72hrs regarding FS2004 vs. FSX development.
I have stated PMDG's position on FS2004 a number of times, but it appears that some folks are under the misguided impression that there is a debate to be had on the topic.
There isn't.
As I have stated many times, PMDG has at our fingertips a wealth of data on current market trends for the entertainment flight simulator market. These trends for some time have been making it increasingly clear that the market for FS2004 customers is shrinking at an astonishing rate.
When analyzing the sales data available to us, we are seeing trends that make it clear that the long-awaited migration from an FS2004 centric community to one centered on FSX started in May of 2009. This trend began to accelerate rapidly in September, and has continued during the fourth quarter of 2009 and the first two weeks of 2010, leading to year-over-year increases for FSX products, and very steep declines in demand for FS2004 products.
The reasons for these trends, in our opinion, have everything to do with the steady advancement of computer hardware during the past three years combined with the performance gains seen in the conversion to Win7. In fact, the release of Win7 coincides with the VERY dramatic shift in sales performance of FSX products and a VERY dramatic decline in the sales of FS2004 products.
With these trends in mind, let me be abundantly clear on two things:
1) The future of an FS2004 based 737NG2 is doubtful at best. We will make this decision while the FSX version is in beta testing. While we do not doubt that some of you would be very interested in this product under FS2004, we are less and less certain that such a development cycle would recoup its own costs, especially when compared to the growing strength in FSX sales. One of the most critical factors that we will consider in this decision will be the projected costs in dollars and TIME to product this product in FS2004. I will be candid and tell you that right now, I am not comfortable sustaining FS2004 development- and this is based upon my review of 4Q09 trends and our considerable experience with development of complex add-ons. We will make a decision when the FSX version of this product is in beta testing, as that will allow us to evaluate against data that is current at the decision making time.
2) Aside from the 737NG2.0, no other PMDG product announced or in development will be considered for the FS2004 platform. This means that the Dash-8, the 777 and the recently announced 747-8 Extension will be in FSX only. I am sorry if this was not clear in our announcement from Saturday- but this has been stated before in previous discussions, so we thought it was understood.
Now- some folks (on both sides of the argument) have taken to becoming extremely emotional about this conversation. There is nothing emotional about the decision. It is based upon mathematics and economics.
We have seen some folks write some really off-the-wall comments in this forum of late, accusing one another of being cheap, snobby, rich, poor, smart, stupid, etc. We have also seen some folks make up information and pretend to speak with some authority on our data-based decision making.
ENOUGH. This forum is not a venue for such behavior- so please take it off-line. We are not interested in a debate about the merits of one simulator versus another- nor are we interested in a debate about whether we are making the right choice or not in consideration of your own opinion.
When making decisions we must consider what is best for the long term vitality of PMDG, and this means evaluating information in a cold, detached manner.
The numbers dictate the rules in the game of business- and the numbers DRAMATICALLY favor us simplifying our development process and focusing on the platform where our customers are heading.
Does this mean that a percentage of you will not buy one or more future products? More than likely... But sentimentality will not keep the lights on, nor will it recover development costs for products that the market is communicating quite clearly that it does not want.
So- once again, we will evaluate the future of FS2004 development as it relates to the 737NG2 in a few months. The major factors in this decision cannot be controlled by any argument here in the forum- they are controlled by the numbers we see in our systems- and MOST IMPORTANTLY by our assessment of the time and monetary costs associated with converting a project this complex to the older platform.
View It Here, What are your thoughts? E-Mail or Call Us!
Aviator 90: Episodes 1 and 2 Released
A huge thanks to Chris for putting this out for people to enjoy, Aviator 90 Episode 1 and Episode 2 are now released! Interested in some great training material? Check it out! Check back every other day for a new one!
Mark's Texture Conversion program last week, how did it work?
Still need to try it out? Click Here. Let us know what sort of improvement you saw!
Discussion: Community porting FS2004 aircraft to FSX... Is it right?
A couple of weeks ago Mark recommended one of Nemeth Design's AS350 choppers in FSX format. Nemeth Designs released the chopper as Freeware in FS9 format, and a group called "Nor Cal Prop Club" converted the helicopter to FSX and re-released it as freeware, giving credit to the original developer.
Will, from our forum posted some links to other FS forums to our attention that shows some developers not happy with Nor Cal Prop Club re-releasing their work.
Link: http://www.cbfsim.org/cbfsim/cbfsBB/viewtopic.php?f=7&t=15989
Link: http://mainescenery.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=genav&action=display&thread=7332
Mark contacted Nemeth Designs, and asked their opinion on this practice, their response:
I have no problem with which Nor Cal is doing as long as they do it only with our freeware releases and they don't sell it as payware. We have no time to convert those old freeware stuffs to FSX so they just do favor to the FS community with taking the time to do that.
Your Thoughts? Give us a call!
Carenado releases C185F Skywagon for FSX
Carenado have released their C185F Skywagon for FSX, As always, high quality designed aircraft, polygon optimized model, friendly FPS and a Control Windows new feature for controlling eyes candies (wheel chokes, bag & package, pitot cover, sights prop and tiedown ropes). Pop up Skywagon manual with performance charts and normal & emergency procedures. It also has its original instruments.
Price: $25.95
Link: http://www.carenado.com/ecommerce/buscador.php3?id_producto=80
Hardware News: EVGA's W555 Motherboard
- TWO Intel LGA 1366 Slots (For Xeon Processors)
- 12 DDR3 RAM Slots
- 7 PCI Express 16x Slots (Up to 4 16x At a time, others are 8x)
Hardware News: Matrox 3H2Go Doubles Monitors
Multiple DualHead2Go and TripleHead2Go Graphics eXpansion Module (GXM) support to drive up to four or six monitors, respectively, from a single system. A second GXM can now be connected to the secondary output of a supported dual monitor graphics card so two DualHead2Go GXMs can power up to four outputs in 2×2 or 4×1 modes, while two TripleHead2Go units can be combined to connect six displays to produce either a 3×2 or 6×1 setup.
Great Cockpit Building Podcast From MyCockpit.org
Looking for a great series of FS related podcast just for home cockpit builders? Check out the latest releases from MyCockpit.org. One such release is an interview with Peter Dowson (Of FSUIPC), check it out here!
Recommendations
Eric: Freeware De Havilland Tiger Moth DH-82A, By Anthony Lynch
- Very high quality gauges, air model, VC, external, etc...
- Pilots have moving heads
- Hand start prop!!
- Model approved by OZx
- FREE!
Brendan: http://www.avsim.su
Mark: PLANEMAKER / BLENDER TURTORIALS - x-plane 21 part series
E-Mails and Voicemails
ArkView USB Monitor Adapter In Action
There is a video on YouTube of the Arkview USB adapter in action.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wfrl2wUxtmQ
What needs to be noted is that these are 1 to 1 devices. You can extend up to 6 monitors, but you need 1 for each monitor.
Ted
Further episodes of FSBreak - The Flight Simulator Podcast
Further podcasts by www.fsbreak.net
Website of www.fsbreak.net