How dare they?!

[SuperEagle116]

I hope developers are reading this, because I'm disgusted at how they all gave up on FS9. Their claims that it is no longer a profitable sim to develop for couldn't be more wrong.

There are so many people still using FS9 who want to purchase add-ons, however since they all dismissed it as being an "old and outdated sim" and stopped developing for it, we basically just have the old payware packages which are slowly becoming freeware cause they completely lost faith in the profitability of FS9.

I sent an email to Carenado saying that I wanted their new packages for FS9 and they told me they would convert the FSX packages to FS9 for me for about $100 per package? Are they kidding me?

If you look at the sales stats for the older paywares, they are still being sold. Some developers even admit that over half of their profits come from the old FS9 packages, however when asked to continue FS9 development they say no way.

I just don't get it. The proof is there that money is still to be made here, and yet nobody wants to pursue it. I guess this is something I will have to fix myself.

[Adam24]

You are partly right, and partly wrong. Yes, FS2004 is a very vastly used sim, that should still be developed. But, remember, payware developers want to get as much money as they can, and since there are more FSX users (I can be wrong, but Im sure they are the mayority), they have a bigger chance of succes in the FSX market. But dont panic, there are still many addons for fs2004, maybe even more than for fsx.

[pschlute]

Andrew

I am as much an FS9 fan as you obviously are. I have devoted too much money, learning, and most importantly time into getting FS9 the way I have it now I would not dream of moving to FSX.

However, the descision of developers to develop for solely FSX or include FS9 can only be based on commercial reality. If they get that descision wrong they will soon go out of business.

Sad, but true

Peter

[BruceAir]

It's a sad situation. As a painter of ai for FS2004 I wish we could get more stuff to keep the sim alive BUT,thankfully there's enough freeware to keep it from being forgotten. I get emails requesting paints for FSX but I can't see me catering for that for a very long time (if at all). I bought it in anticipation of something great but it falls short for me as when I buy a program I don't expect to have to buy a new PC to be able to run it in it's most basic form. My advice would be to stick with the existing stuff and enjoy the freeware. Regards-Ross

[shanwick]

FS9 is about 9 years old now. I wonder if there is any other technology this old that is still being actively developed or added to when it has been superceded by a later model.

And just think - FSX won't last forever either!

David

[mgh]

I hope developers are reading this, because I'm disgusted at how they all gave up on FS9. Their claims that it is no longer a profitable sim to develop for couldn't be more wrong ....

Then go into the FS9 development business and make a profit for yourself.

[Wing_Z]

Yes you simply vote with your wallet, and the result will come all by itself!

[dcmair]

Then go into the FS9 development business and make a profit for yourself.

I've been on and off FlightSim. com since 1993,94,95 almost everyday.

MGH. that was a cold reply, and wasn't necessary.


dcmair

[royalone]

The reality is FSX is selling strong, so developers want to pool all their talents on one sim. It's cheaper, which means more profit. Some of the developers are already on a shoestring budget, so it is sink or swim in some cases. Good luck with your FS9 quest.

[trad]

The reality is that FS9 technology is at least a decade old (I know I'm going to get hammered foe this) and significantly inferior to FSX. It still has "legs" and provides a very satisfying experience but the truth is that while like Windows XP, it still has a loyal following, the world has moved on and commercial developers have to cater to that world to survive. As was mentioned above, the market for FSX products is greater than FS9 and today's creative designers want to produce the most advanced, cutting edge products they can and the FS9 platform simply can't support that.

That said, there is still a plethora of top notch FS9 freeware and commercial add-on's to be had and some developers are still offering new designs (Lionheart Creations and FS Addon to name just a couple) for FS9 as well as many freeware designers.

Just so you don't feel alone, before you know it, FSX users will be crying the same blues when the now defunct "Microsoft Flight Simulator" platform is left behind completely by the likes of "Flight", Prepar 3D, X-Plane or some other as yet unknown player. The reality is that computer flight simulation lives on technology and as it progresses, we pretty much have to go for the ride with it or risk being left behind and feeling forgotten.