???

[dpc]

No posts from legit FS owners? Ahhh OK. Don't understand but it's your forum. See ya in a week or so.

[newguy]

it was clearly explained....Microsoft said they haven't allowed retailers to release it yet...So 1....you have a bootleg copy or 2...the retailer you bought it from is gonna get in a lot of trouble from MS. And Flightsim.com forums don't want to be an accomplis to this...

[padds]

Microsoft will send a standard letter, which is worded just like the one we used to send at EA. It moans and groans but has no real meat to it, its just a way to try and slap wrists...

In the end we at EA used to have this happen all the time and outwardly there would be some annoyed letter, inwardly we didnt care, it was sold games and EXTRA hype and excitement, in the end it helped the game sell on the release date because of people saying how cool their early copy was....

Now if you were really paranoid you could assume it went into warehouses early for this very reason LOL

I have my brand new copy of it straight from MS themselves, everyone I know in the industry both here and in the UK have gotten their hands on it.

-Jonathan

[dpc]

Just to answer your implication and I'll leave it at that.

Bye
Dave

[newguy]

nobody was implying anything directly at you. The "you" in my statement was generalized...

[evh347]

Dave,
Isn't it amazing how closely those "bootleg" versions are beginning to resemble the real thing these days? ;-)

[drobson]

I didn't say "all" copies are bootlegged, did I? What I did say, is that they are 1. Either illegal, boot legged, pirated, or whatever term suits the situation. Or 2. Sold in violation of the rules/release date/embargo, (or any other multitude of adjectives) as set out by Microsoft.

My original post was made to make people aware that we are concerned about the situation, and that this site is not condoning actions by any other group, organization, individual or whatever, and are abiding by Microsoft's "Official" release date. Plain and simple.

I knew when I posted that statement, that there would be many to take me to task over it. As a Moderator of these forums, I do what I'm expected to do, and this is only one part of that.

Whoever has FS2004 should just sit back and enjoy it, take your screenshots, save them up, and post them on the 29th. What's 5 more days gonna hurt?

Darrell

[Tabs]

And of course Microsft as we all know now dictates interstate commerce laws... can we just elect Bill Gates ##### once and for all now? I'm sorry, this whole thing is TOTAL BS and probably the most insanely asinine thing I've seen in PC gaming. That's right punish/blame the hardcore fans of the series on which the whole foundation is built, because they managed to get it a few days early. Unbelievable - this is a "crime" with no victim folks. Who is being hurt by this? - someone please tell me that. Yes, pirated full blown tin case copies are being made with legit looking seals of authenticity, holograms etc...

Screw this - I'm buying the first chance I get and I DARE Microsoft to come after me for it.

Ryan

[Tabs]

G O D is a cuss word here??!?! ROFL!!!

[newguy]

ooohh..man you are the rebel...I love how people are getting upset over MS tactics and then rush right out and want to buy the game...Ha Ha Ha Ha..

[Tabs]

So you agree with this insanity then? Awesome man!!! :o

[newguy]

not really...on one side...I think MS is a little insane...but on the other I respect the forums owners' wishes. And if people really were "mad" at MS they wouldn't just rush out to buy the product early. they would boycott it.

[Tabs]

I just want to know one thing - did MS actually threaten/order FS.com for allowing DISCUSSION (not sales) of FS2004?? If so, I very well may consider not getting it...

Ryan

[newguy]

DO NOT QUOTE ME ON THIS.. I don't think they can. Just like I don't think they can do anything legally to stores that sell the product early. The only thing I could see MS doing to those stores would be to boycott the distribution of their(MS) products to those stores.. Effectively "blackballing" the stores.

[ladamson]

Then I'M NOT buying it either!!!!

L.Adamson ---- beta tester, gold copy..

[newguy]

don't you already have a copy? a "gold copy" OF course you wouldn't buy it.

[bilbo]

>And of course Microsft as we all know now dictates
>interstate commerce laws... can we just elect Bill Gates
>##### once and for all now? I'm sorry, this whole thing is
>TOTAL BS and probably the most insanely asinine thing I've
>seen in PC gaming. That's right punish/blame the hardcore
>fans of the series on which the whole foundation is built,
>because they managed to get it a few days early.
>Unbelievable - this is a "crime" with no victim folks. Who
>is being hurt by this? - someone please tell me that. Yes,
>pirated full blown tin case copies are being made with legit
>looking seals of authenticity, holograms etc...
>
>Screw this - I'm buying the first chance I get and I DARE
>Microsoft to come after me for it.
>
>Ryan

Personally, I don't think anyone is being hurt but the forum system here with all this nonsense about the "official release date". Anytime that people in this day and age try to control people's ability to communicate, the result can't be good. MS is gaining a lot of publicity for this sim with the people that were going to buy it anyway by creating this tension.
The retailers that are releasing the sim early are getting extra publicity and what exactly is MS going to do about their vioation? Stop shipping their product to these retailers? Take them to court? Now really.
Why don't we just get over it and start asking legitimate questions of the users so that this forum can get on with it's intended purpose?
Perhaps the moderators are afraid that MS is going to take them or Flightsim.com off the beta tester's list I don't know.
Bilbo

[ladamson]

>don't you already have a copy? a "gold copy" OF course you
>wouldn't buy it.

That's right! :) (which is why I included the "gold" notation)

Ladamson

[Tabs]

Yeah exactly - Microsoft can not afford to stop giving their products to stores liek Best Buy or EB. This whole thing is so ridiculous.

[Blade]

My copy is coming tommorow from a legit seller here in the US, AND they are getting more copies daily from MS. Two days ago they have 150 in stock, now they have around 800 when I bought it. Seems MS doesn't really care. Oh yes the company I bought it from was www.provantage.com

EDIT: Just check their site and they now have 1800 in stock. It keeps going up and I'm sure MS knows they are selling them, but are they doing anything? Nope. Maybe you would like to see the topic on flightsim.com's decision on the Avsim forums? http://forums.avsim.com/dcboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=121&topic_id=125697

[evh347]

Does it look anything like this?

http://www.flightsim.com/dcforum/User_files/3f209f1b462e04ec.jpg

[newguy]

it looks like a box with a red x in it? :)

[Blade]

Ok there it is, yep looks like that.