So that's it. FLIGHT is on hold. And if Redmond's company eventually aborts the project, that's a whole new deal for this market. A little bit prematured but let's think ahead of futur events. Here are 10 possible consequences....
"XX XXXXXX 2011. Microsoft definitely stops FLIGHT project."
Possible consequences :
1° PMDG, ORBX and AEROSOFT (who were reluctant about this project) can make new and lasting plans on FSX products.
2° X-Plane 10 launch (Chistmas 2011) is a much greater success.
3° Aerosoft resumes studies on his own simulator project.
4° FS9 users can still expect new products for their platform but it's a short respite.
5° Microsoft discreetly sells FLIGHT licence to an important designer or a group of developers.
6° Sceneries makers can imagine new ambitious upgrades plans for their range of products.
(for instance, Aerosoft launch a new range of european MEGA sceneries).
7° New developments to boost FSX longevity (road traffic, trains, new 3D models,..).
8° Now that FSX longevity is assured, new designers join the market as they know they will have enough time for development.
9° Consumers weary of FS9/FSX and the market slowly dies.
10° Gamespy stops his FSX multiplayer service.
11° And you ? What do you thing?
6 comments:
Why should Microsoft replace a simulator like FSX right now. I bet the appearance of the NGX alone pushed their sales, too. Average price for the professional edition still at 30 Euros. But it is a shame that they are not willing to develop a third, last service pack that the simulator needs.
No denial <> confirmation.
I can tell you that MS have stopped all contact with third party developers. That's a very stupid decision which has made developers very angry. If they ship without 3PD content there is little chance of success for their sim. There are other sim alternatives now looking attractive...
Anon Developer
I worked for MSFT a long time ago and have watched them closely since. If anyone in the press suggests they are killing a product, they vehemently deny it - until the day they kill it. Unless they actually are going to kill it. In which case they issue a non-denial denial. Which is what this was. The fact is, no one is exited about Flight and they know it. And since this gives all of us a reason to support the now mature and stable FSX platform, that's a good thing.
Probably a good indication that the financial problems of the world are far from over! On the positive side, we've had FSX for 6/7 years rather than the 2 years of FS2004 and 2002. That's a lot of add-ons for re-building in any new sim - taking people's energy away from making scenery for places we don't yet have.
1. Not going to happen. The next PMDG development is at least three years away form EIS and that is a bold estimate. By then FSX is dead and over with.
2. Sure, it will have SOME effect, users will switch.
3. Never going to happen. Aerosoft doesn't have the skills, knowhow, finances to do such a project. The only reason they pitched it was to build momentum for their own shop/website/products, nothing more, nothing less.
4. FS9 is done and over with. That small group of users are surely loud mouthed, and therefore seem the largest group of simmers, but they aren't.
5. Nope. I don't see this happening either. MS will hold on tight to that code.
6. This might happen, but if Aerosoft is smart, they don't make big plans, a lot can happen in the FS market over the next 12 months. I think FSX will die off eventually.
7. I don't think so, you will see the last couple of spurts from ORBX and REX, but that's it. There's no time left for gamechanging developments, the game is already in the top of the 9th inning...
8. Nope. You will see the big players slowly pull back and that might make a new kid on the block THINK there's more room for his development, but you need skills, lots of it to make it in the FSX business, and most of those guys don't have those skills.
9. Now you're getting somewhere
10. I wouldn't know.
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