Scenery production, FS9/FSX ratio : a small market report

Business. On the flight sim market, the year 2010 has mostly been described as a gloomy period. We can record 34 launchs in first term (trimester), 30 in 2nd term, 40 in 3rd term and 43 and the last one../..

* This first term 2011, january to march, we record 34 new launchs as well. No growth compared with the 1st term 2010.

* Prices have not risen. You can check  that most designers didn't change their price from 1st term 2010 to 1st term 2011.

* In the meantime, the FS9/FSX ratio has shown a significant change ;

• 1st term 2010, FS9=14   FSX=20
• 2ndterm 2010, FS9=12   FSX=18
• 3rdterm 2010, FS9=17   FSX=23
• 4th term 2010, FS9=18   FSX=25
• 1st term 2011, FS9=08   FSX=26

 If we compare the 1st terms 2010/2011, FS9 products drop of 43 %, FSX products raise of 30 %.

- And of course, last year, FSX products weight 58,5 % of the overall launchs.

- In the first term 2011, FSX products weight 76,5 %.

- A lot of heavy aircrafts editors have now definitely choose FSX (PMDG, Flight Sim Labs, Aerosoft, Enigma etc.)

*This structural change shall be interpreted as a new chance. If editors can concentrate on one platform, their productivity shall raise. But the history isn't finish. A lot of us are staying on FS9 and two new platforms might be launched this year ; Flight ? Aerosoft 2012 ? X Plane 10 ? Make your choice.

This study covers all new products downloadable from january 1st 2010 to march 31 2011. That excludes boxes, bundles, pure meshs or photoreal products, simple updates and stuff under 15 €/17$. There is one serious limitation ; some products include both FS9 and FSX. No aircrafts neither in this sudy.