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MSFS20 MASTER Thread of Airports Being Worked On

peacefarm

peacefarm

Messages
203
Country
unitedstates
Hi all,

I recently released a title that I had been working on for ~6 months when another developer came in with their XP conversion and released it prior to mine. While I understand it's an open market and we can all release whatever we want, whenever we want, I don't believe this to be the right way of going about this. Not only do we loose sales, we're missing out on the possibility of further expanding the map of available airports. While developing is many of our livelihoods and sales are of course important, I believe better communication between each other in regards to our ACTIVE projects could help avoid stepping on each others toes.

We, who release a "second" rendition of an airport also usually have to deal with the blowback from the community saying we're creating airports already been made without them digesting the fact that there is very little communication between developers (in the grand scheme) so it's often quite difficult to know if someone is working on the same project we are.

So, I propose we have a chat on here and toss some ideas around as to how we can have a "MASTER active project list" somewhere. I (or with the help of others) can create and maintain a spreadsheet with all current active projects. I say "active" as I believe it's only fair to those who are actively working on the scenery to have first dibs, not someone who has it on a "roadmap". Also, this list must be made known across all forums/sites so I could really use your help sharing your ideas on how we could this. Heck, we could even enroll news sites like FSElite to spread the word that way we have most all developers participate in it (if they choose to).

Finally, I'm not proposing this be made law. Again, we are obviously all free to do as we please, but I bring to the table as a way to have better cohesion amongst our fellow developers.

What do you guys think? I look forward to your thoughts/ideas.

Thanks,

-PEACE FARM
 
I wouldn't bother with a spreadsheet. You'd never get all the addons listed and it will just waste your time. The consumer can use whatever addon he desires. If he thinks a previous addon is best, good for him. And the developer can make whatever he desires. Maybe he doesn't care if there is already an addon for that airport, maybe he thinks his addon is better, or better priced, or free. If I was enthused about a particular airport, I would make it. If someone else had it, I would try to make it better. Or offer it for free as an alternative to payware.

A spreadsheet might even have a reverse effect with some developers going after published addons with improved or cheaper alternatives, or simply to hurt the sales of a competitor.

As far as blowback goes, welcome to the world of addon development. Some consumers stay awake at night thinking of new things to criticize.
 
rhumbaflappy said:
I wouldn't bother with a spreadsheet. You'd never get all the addons listed and it will just waste your time. The consumer can use whatever addon he desires. If he thinks a previous addon is best, good for him. And the developer can make whatever he desires. Maybe he doesn't care if there is already an addon for that airport, maybe he thinks his addon is better, or better priced, or free. If I was enthused about a particular airport, I would make it. If someone else had it, I would try to make it better. Or offer it for free as an alternative to payware.

A spreadsheet might even have a reverse effect with some developers going after published addons with improved or cheaper alternatives, or simply to hurt the sales of a competitor.

As far as blowback goes, welcome to the world of addon development. Some consumers stay awake at night thinking of new things to criticize.
Click to expand...

Hey Dick,

You know what? You're absolutely right.

The more I think about it, the more irrelevant I consider my points to be. I suppose the theory would be great in a Utopia of sorts, but as I'm quickly learning, this community is plagued with ... well, let's just say "unhappy" folks, not only on the consumer side, but also the development side of things. It is, a sad, reality but it certainly shouldn't affect what we do.

Pedal to the metal, come one, come all. I've been simming 20+ years, but only in the last year have I taken development seriously enough to dive into it on a commercial level. Needless to say, I appreciate your wise insight!

-PEACE FARM
 
Another thought along this line. Let's say you were working on a killer addon for C59 (my favorite test airport). You know it's good and release it. You get some sales and things are looking ok. Then along comes "ORBKS". They are deciding on their new lineup for developing airports. C59 is suggested, someone tells the group about your addon, and how good it is, and ORBKS decides to add it anyways because they are ORBKS, and have a huge following that will buy anything they develop. They are going to have more sales than you. Their rendition could be far inferior to yours, but they will still have the sales. Because they are ORBKS.

In this scenario, you might actually sell more of your C59 because it is better than the ORBKS rendition, and word gets out among the airport addon collectors in the community, and ORBKS brought C59 to the attention of the community. Even a bit of controversy in forums might help your sales, following the idea that there is no bad publicity in the marketing world.

I guess my message is to not fear competition. Watch your time and profit margins. Build quality addons. Get a following of customers. Maybe down the road ORBKS will make you an offer you can't refuse, and hire you full time to make their excellent products.
 
rhumbaflappy said:
Another thought along this line. Let's say you were working on a killer addon for C59 (my favorite test airport). You know it's good and release it. You get some sales and things are looking ok. Then along comes "ORBKS". They are deciding on their new lineup for developing airports. C59 is suggested, someone tells the group about your addon, and how good it is, and ORBKS decides to add it anyways because they are ORBKS, and have a huge following that will buy anything they develop. They are going to have more sales than you. Their rendition could be far inferior to yours, but they will still have the sales. Because they are ORBKS.

In this scenario, you might actually sell more of your C59 because it is better than the ORBKS rendition, and word gets out among the airport addon collectors in the community, and ORBKS brought C59 to the attention of the community. Even a bit of controversy in forums might help your sales, following the idea that there is no bad publicity in the marketing world.

I guess my message is to not fear competition. Watch your time and profit margins. Build quality addons. Get a following of customers. Maybe down the road ORBKS will make you an offer you can't refuse, and hire you full time to make their excellent products.
Click to expand...

Again, you're absolutely right, Dick. You've made outstanding points from a perspective of wisdom/experience in this market. I agree. I believe that the name of company can only go so far. People notice quality and slowly but surely one is able to have a following of loyal customers who support our products because they see the quality.

I'm curious as to what your thoughts are on where the market is heading considering the plethora of new "developers" (myself included) on the scene? Do you think it's just a boom that will eventually fade and be only the few handful of long standing companies we've seen in the past?
 
This is a really great exchange. If you go to the “showroom” forum, you will see several “I’m working on…” threads.

Arno created these threads specifically for developers that wish to inform the competition their intentions.
 
=rk= said:
This is a really great exchange. If you go to the “showroom” forum, you will see several “I’m working on…” threads.

Arno created these threads specifically for developers that wish to inform the competition their intentions.
Click to expand...
Will take a peek. Thanks, Rick.
 
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