Any sales stats from Flight?

[angels355]

While there have been some positive comments about Flight, most have been negative. As we have waited years to receive Flight instead of what we had hoped for FSNext, I was wondering if there are any reports of how the sales of addons have been proceding since the release of Flight? Have they been grandios as predicted or less than expected?

[FlashMayia]

Flight total sales = FREE:D download, you probably meant dlc sales.

[Paxx]

Although I doubt an answer will be coming anytime soon (=never), to be fair the Flight Team should be given more than a week and two point five add-ons before judging "sales" success or not. We may be surprised what Flight "is" in a year. Or we may not.

Time will tell.

[angels355]

I was looking at Crysis 2 trailers, have looked at Battlefield 3. Auto racing games. Have a couple of FSX builds on the way, independant academic studies, hopefully flight training studies, a 50 US and 30 Intl busiest airports in the world RTW flight plan w/ Jeppesen airport plates. Not to mention keeping up with modern life. I'm going to be busier than ever before, which is good to make the time pass while I/we wait indefinitely for FSNext. I think MS has wasted their time and resources on a gamble, while the FS series was a known successful money maker. I find Crysis and Battlefield 3 more exciting.

[alaskancrab]

Although I think they'll announce the number of downloads of Flight, they won't announce sales of addons. I think the only way to know is if the prices keep dropping that more and more people are actually buying addons. As I said MGS can sell me whatever they want, they've already saved me enough money on a new PC. Although it's likely I'll upgrade for other reasons, it won't be to build the ultimate gaming rig.

Anyways my point is I've always actually wanted things to go this way, where hardware doesn't really matter. Certainly bigger is better, but going BIG is no longer a requirement. And I have a ton of friends who wouldn't mind using Flight, versus me telling them not to get their hopes up unless they wanted to seriously invest in the hobby. In fact all of them have everything they need to join me online already. When your friends are distributed geographically Xbox Live is a god send. And heck here's a free game.

So think of those market opportunities..

[jomni]

I bought the Maul so I'm part of the statistic. Will buy Hawaii and Alaska soon.
I kinda think it's quite expensive per transaction but I buy more expensive stuff for FSX quite regularly.

[Paxx]

Although I think they'll announce the number of downloads of Flight ...
Sure Microsoft will. Contrived numbers may help them with signing some 3rd party devs to exclusivity agreements and thus limiting the competition with their title. A common Microsoft tactic throughout it's 36 year history.


So think of those market opportunities..

Twenty three words sum it up nicely (http://www.hark.com/clips/btykngbxjl-stop-going-for-the-easy-buck).

[alaskancrab]

Yeah well unfortunately none of the third party devs had anymore right to the SDK then anyone of the other Deluxe/Gold Customers so I really don't care :) If three corporations out of a million people complain it's hardly an issue now is it.

[Paxx]

Yeah well unfortunately none of the third party devs had anymore right to the SDK then anyone of the other Deluxe/Gold Customers so I really don't care :) If three corporations out of a million people complain it's hardly an issue now is it.

Study up (ftp://ftp.cba.uri.edu/classes/banerjee/websyagnik/webpage/INFORMS/task%20complexity%20and%20consumer%20choice.pdf), you are missing the point. That you "don't care" is immaterial, but has evidently become the core of Microsoft Flight's design and marketing strategy. Thanks for the insight.

[alaskancrab]

Nope I'm not missing the point.. i don't have the EULA in front of me but i'll paraphrase... "This product is provided "AS IS:." "no warranty or suitability for any purpose is implied or expressed".

[Paxx]

The point is the apparent overall strategy to entice 3rd party developers into exclusivity agreements that will limit the competitions ability to compete. Not the EULA. Are you sure you want to go there (http://www.google.com/search?q=microsoft+unfair+business+practices&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8&aq=t&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&client=firefox-a) with this discussion?

[alaskancrab]

Did you ever stop to think that the reason most companies dont' offer SDK's because it allows competitors to see right through the product? Most SDK in the video game world aren't licensed , the engine is, the SDK is free, and so is the source code at that point. So exclusivity is certainly a small price to pay versus the 1 million P3D folks had to pay just to support an FSX format that they probably have no interest in other than for scenery.

[Paxx]

The discussion is "Any sales stats from Flight", not SDK strategies. My response above in post #3 was about as positive as I could be under the circumstances. Then we have you going off track about world wide buddies and how great Flight is for you and them. Good for you guys. Then you suggest that opportunistic marketing possibilities because of this may materialize. Then in response to my post #7 exposing what may be the real reason for releasing possibly contrived download numbers, you begin to go off tangent (again) about SDK EULAs.

Leading the conversation away from delicate subjects you probably shouldn't be talking about is not leadership. It is simple misdirection that has failed in this case.

[angels355]

Do you say caribian, or carrrabeeyan? Let's call the whole thing off!

Seriously, a couple people have said that they have actually purchased downloads, and there are a few people here that like either mountain vfr or bush flying. One is keenly interested in the Alaskan package, and I think several others might also be. I'm thinking some sales might be made on the Alaskan package. If MS makes a good product and makes some sales then good for them.

[angels355]

PS: I can't take all the credit.

WHERE'S MY LIMO??

[Paxx]

Yes releasing Alaska was a no-brainer decision for Flight.

For the record, I am fortunate enough to have the resources to purchase Flight DLC. I skipped the P-51, but I have licensed the rest of the content so I could give Flight a proper accounting, my own opinion of course. I also plan on acquiring the Alaskan content when released.

I don't think Flight sucks, I think it needs to become more robust with its implementation and content. I also think it can serve both purposes, i.e "Something New" Mr. Howard style and content for the traditional legacy flight sim series crowd. They can also do far better with the "new" features in my opinion.

But anyway, now we know for sure, Microsoft has sold two add-ons.
:)

[angels355]

Yea team, I knew things would be really hopping. But really, I think a lot of sales will be made with the Alaskan package. In the RW, the mountains and isolated terrain are littered with aircraft crash sites. Experienced bush pilots go into the AK mountains and are never seen again, and never found. Exploring AK's wilderness and deep freeze temperatures from the comfort of your warm home w/ pizza etc would be something I'm sure a lot of people would like.

[jomni]

With Alaska I hope we can see real seasonal changes.
You won't see those in Hawaii. (And also in X-Plane. Lol!)

[raimondo2]

With Alaska I hope we can see real seasonal changes.
You won't see those in Hawaii. (And also in X-Plane. Lol!)

To be honest - xplane is far above the concept of seasonal changes idea ! which also might come as it progresses through is life.

if you prefer to fly flight - good for you - but for your information this is how xplane 10 look - with a couple of addons -

http://www.flightsim.com/vbfs/showthread.php?245634-VFR-Test-Flight

which is much much better than Flight dlc style scenery Ms is offering you -

After all You know it already !!

[jomni]

To be honest - xplane is far above the concept of seasonal changes idea ! which also might come as it progresses through is life.

if you prefer to fly flight - good for you - but for your information this is how xplane 10 look - with a couple of addons -

http://www.flightsim.com/vbfs/showthread.php?245634-VFR-Test-Flight

which is much much better than Flight dlc style scenery Ms is offering you -

After all You know it already !!


Actually making XP10 look that pretty is a lot of work. Not ready to do that yet so I might do it next time.

[vonBobo]

Although I think they'll announce the number of downloads of Flight, they won't announce sales of addons. I think the only way to know is if the prices keep dropping that more and more people are actually buying addons. As I said MGS can sell me whatever they want, they've already saved me enough money on a new PC. Although it's likely I'll upgrade for other reasons, it won't be to build the ultimate gaming rig.

Anyways my point is I've always actually wanted things to go this way, where hardware doesn't really matter. Certainly bigger is better, but going BIG is no longer a requirement. And I have a ton of friends who wouldn't mind using Flight, versus me telling them not to get their hopes up unless they wanted to seriously invest in the hobby. In fact all of them have everything they need to join me online already. When your friends are distributed geographically Xbox Live is a god send. And heck here's a free game.

So think of those market opportunities..

I think this is your most relevant post regarding the debate. Flight is a great option for you and your resources. The problem is, you are trying to defend and justify Flight as a viable alternative to people that have fully loaded and functioning FSwhatever installs, and that is simply an argument you can't win.

I think this is why your arguments keep going sideways.

[n4gix]

I hope that folks will finally get it through their blinders that it is not a binary choice between one or another, but is a case of FS9 and FSX and Flight. Each has its own strengths and weaknesses.

[alaskancrab]

1. Flight 2. GTAIV. 3. FSX 4. XP9 5. TrainSim 6 FS9.

And yes if somehow all but one of those were deleted I''d still survive regardless of which one it was.

[fxsttcb]

I hope that folks will finally get it through their blinders that it is not a binary choice between one or another, but is a case of FS9 and FSX and Flight. Each has its own strengths and weaknesses.Sure it is Bill! 11111111111...Don

[azzaro]

Or 'FF' for those who are hexadecimally inclined. ;) — Bob

[angels355]

I am quadrinarily inclined myself.

Yep, I understand Flight better now. It's a game versus a simulator, difficult concept to absorb.

Flight you just get in and fly and explore, and for FS for me for the most part, just jump in, flight plan, download weather, do the lengthy start up, atc, then a nice leisurely flight at around FL360 for 5 to 26 hours. Good times! Frozen pizza! Just doesn't get any better!

Should I get GTA 4 or wait for 5?