Don't Get Your ACES Hopes Up ...

[Paxx]

This just in. And this. More official word here.

[xxmikexx]

"Lard butt" -- How very profound !!! (Evidently we have an intellectual giant in our midst -- how did I ever miss it before?)

Anyway, Paxx, as the saying goes, we report, you decide. If I thought that you and IG were the only people reading this thread I wouldn't bother to post -- casting pearls and all that, you know.

Still, I was quite impressed with the very clever way you avoided criticizing me directly. Darn it all, I wish I had your debating skills.

[JBnTX]

I had a beer last nite with lard-butt Ballmer. He says he never heard of Mike McCarthy.

What's your problem?
Any and all information about the future of flight simulator is important.
Do your parents know that you are on their computer?

And what's a Dilletante?

[mgh]

Mike

I'm not going to dispute your figures. You are closer to US costs than I am. However, comparing current revenue with the current costs or running ACES is irrelevant because the two are not connected. (Your revenue estimate of US$35 million is 0.05% of Microsoft's 2008 revenue of some US$60 billion so is hardly significant.)

Current revenue would be unaffected by the closure of ACES. FSX sales will continue as before. OK, there may be a few foolish people who, in a fit of pique, may decide not to buy FSX because Microsoft isn't going to provide FS11 at some future date but I doubt the number is significant. Abandoning FS11 also means that FSX revenue will hold up longer - normally it would begin to fall once FS11 was formally announced.

What really matters for Microsoft's decision is the total life-cycle revenue of FSX compared with the costs that have already been incurred. If, as I suspect, these show a positive rate of return, then FSX will have made an overall profit for Microsoft.
regardless of what happens to ACES.

On a wider point, the sales figures from NPD for computer games show that in 2008 console games sales rose by 28% to US$10.96 billion while PC games sales fell by 14% to US$970 million. There's a big difference in absolute terms. Gaming hardware sales (excluding accessories) totalled US$7.81 billion. On that basis I can see why Microsoft may decide to rethink its stategy. The revenue from console games is about 10 times greater that from PC games and the revenue from hardware is 8 times greater. Microsoft sells hardware too. Follow the money!

http://ve3d.ign.com/articles/news/44...own-14-in-2008

My general view is that Microsoft's decision is perfectly valid. Microsoft doesn't owe us any more than we owe Microsoft. Microsoft sells Flight Simulator and now it may stop. That's not really a big deal and doesn't justify some the near hysteria shown in these forums by some posters.

[Paxx]

Mike,
Thanks for the inside reports. If true, and I'm not doubting your word, perhaps MS will have a re-think on the future of the FS series and the pace of development. Time will tell, conjecture is only assuming and I have no doubt you know the other meaning of that word.

I posted the tunes as humorous levity. The top secret(s), spooks, NSA, CIA, DEC, ADR pontification gets old and diminishes what you have to say that is on topic. Perhaps when the writer elephantitis strikes you could just put in a continued ... link to your other site and carry on off topic over there.

See I can be reasonable and I !know! you laughed at those links, all while calling me an @$$40|3(NSFW). heh.

[boxcar]

What's your problem?
Any and all information about the future of flight simulator is important.
Do your parents know that you are on their computer?

And what's a Dilletante?

Hi JB. Right on. Strikes me as just another snert attempting for jollies by provoking a rise out of any MSFSimmer possible.


dil·et·tante (dil′ə tänt′, -tant′; dil′ə tänt′, -tant′)

1. A dabbler in an art or a field of knowledge.
2. A person who loves the fine arts.



Choice #2 for myself, thank you very much.
Though rarely used these days, it very much applies here.

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Reminds me of an old adage: When we lay a trap for someone we fall into it.

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Keep the info flowing, guys, thanks.

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[ldlcholester]

I told you what the future of flight simulation is. It's 64 bits. Just be patient and you won't be disappointed.

Did I tell you about growing up on the lower east side?

Have I told you what I did at DEC?

Would you like to hear my complete life story?

I know you're interested. It'll only take 800 pages.

Did I tell you what a great writer I am?

[boxcar]

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.... . ...<----- There you are! Can see you clearly now, thanks.
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[loki]

ldlcholester, we have already had one thread locked because it was getting personal. Please, let's not do it to a second one. If you have an issue with someone's posting style, or what they write about, you can always ignore it. Or, as Paxx did, come up with a mature response. There's even an option to ignore all posts by any user whose posts you don't care to read.

[JBnTX]

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.... . ...<----- There you are! Can see you clearly now, thanks.
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Got it. Just another gnat to be ignored.