dainja556

Yes it is! It's a nice change from the other place. Thanks for these liveries. Keep up the good work! The BK117 is awesome. It's been my favorite civilian medevac bird for years.

Absolutely! You're running a business here. I expect you to do what you think is in the best interest of that business. If you feel that the Activation is more beneficial to your business than the additional customers you'd have if you didn't use it, you SHOULD stick with it. You'd be crazy not to, from a business perspective. If every plane I buy has some sort of Activation scheme and I buy twenty aircraft (not unreasonable over the course of a couple of years), that is twenty licenses I have to worry about breaking when I move computers or change equipment. I don't care for that. I like knowing that once I've paid for payware (and validated it if necessary), I'll never have to worry about it again. I'd feel the same way if the following wasn't true, but in my situation, I have to move computers a lot. I like X-Plane because it's happy running from a folder and doesn't have to be installed. I can keep it on an external hard drive and plug it into any computer, along with my USB gamepad, and play. I have no interest in some aircraft that phones home and denies me the ability to use an aircraft I paid for because I've already flown it on X number of other computers. Quite often when I'm on these other computers, I'm also in a situation where I have no internet access. That doesn't help matters either. Again, even if I had a "normal" lifestyle I would not want payware that required Activation, but that's one reason why it's not an option for me, even if I didn't mind it. I'm sure there are others that feel the same way. Obviously, there are others that don't care one way or the other. Either way, I've got no hard feelings at all! Anyways, sorry for the hijack. Please continue with the beautiful renders!

What I was talking about is Activation/Validation. (Those are the terms used on X-Aviation.com.) I have no problem purchasing aircraft with Validation, like the Cessna 152. I won't, however, be purchasing aircraft with Activation, like the Corvalis. I'd love to own the Corvalis and I'd happily pay $25 for it. I'd also love to own a Caravan. But more than my desire to own those aircraft is my desire to NOT own payware with Activation. I know you guys put a lot of work into making the activation trouble free, but activation is, by nature, not trouble-free. I don't mind Validating my download because it's a one-time thing. You don't have that same peace-of-mind with Activation.

Wow! If that Caravan performs like the real thing, and doesn't have active DRM, you've got a for sure buyer here! I've been waiting for a high-detail Caravan for a LONG time.

Well dammit. I'll have to start my own damn BT-based file library. Sounds cool. Is the bandwidth and storage space cheap? I'm looking at the Google Apps site and don't see pricing. Just the number $50/year, which includes 10GB of storage.

I think that's the one thing that really lacks over here. Desirable, <b>exclusive</b> freeware. Not just aircraft, but utilities, scenery, scripts, etc. I'm not crazy about the software that Rhe Org download manager is based off of (or perhaps just the way it's implemented). I'd like something more structured and organized. I don't mind paying for high quality payware, I really don't. I just think a good file library would give people a reason to stop by. Anything that attracts more users will most definitely result in more payware sales. X-Pilot is already way ahead of the game though. The Org Store wouldn't exist today if it weren't for the forums. The Org's success, in my opinion, is almost entirely a result of the very talented and dedicated folks that VISIT the Org, not the folks that host it. X-Pilot hit the ground running, and I really feel like it has a much brighter future than The Org does. Instead of a true file library, how about a BitTorrent tracker? Ben, I'm really not trying to push your buttons I'd love to see another legal, legitimate use of the very powerful technology. It'd save X-Pilot a lot of bandwidth and (if it didn't host the files as well) hard drive space.

Very cool! Where's that object come from?

Yea, that's a very good explanation. Thanks! Does X-Plane use vertex shading by default (when per-pixel is disabled), or does it use something else? I was having a hard time telling the difference between the default and the per-pixel, perhaps that's because I was using a high-poly aircraft.

I'm just curious what "Per Pixel Lighting" affects. I toggle it, but can't notice any difference. Would someone mind explaining what that option does? It does seem to make a noticeable impact on my framerate. I found this post: http://www.x-plane.com/blog/2009/05/per-pixel-lighting-isnt-free/ It talks about per pixel lighting, but I'm still not certain what visual difference it makes.

-TheoGregory: He said "I just got xplane". My guess is that his origin is the default X-Plane airport. lis: He said bearing, not heading.

About to get back to the States. I haven't been able to play with X-Plane much over the last year, and when I did, it was with a little gamepad. Not long after I get back I'll begin flight training, private pilot-helicopter. I want to be able to practice some maneuvers at home, and am considering buying some sort of dedicate helicopter controls. I have an X-52 and CH Products rudder pedals, but neither of those things seems to work real well for flying helicopters. They just don't have the same feel. I don't want to spend a fortune on controls (more I spend on sim hardware, the less I have to fly REAL helicopters. It's taken me years to save up the money.) A couple of years ago, the only company I was aware of that sold dedicated controls was Flightlink. I tried them out at Heliexpo '08, and I think they're just far too expensive for what they are. So! Can anyone recommend another company that sells heli controls, or at least controls that would work well for helicopters? I'd considering building/modifying something, but I don't really own any tools (I live in barracks, and have no space to store stuff) and don't know anything about electronics.

Thanks for the replies gentlemen. Sven: I'll be taking a look at that shortly, at least to get an idea of how difficult it will be. I'll report back if I decide to start working on this concept. Indi: The Wiimote is a great idea. I never even thought of that. Eventually, though, I'd like to feed information back to the Android. I have no plans yet, but it'd be cool to have some kind of informational display there. Maybe an FMS, some instruments, moving map, TCAS... something along those lines. It'd just be experimental. I don't want to have an obligation to paying customers, so I can't see myself every putting out any payware.

I'd like to create a plugin for X-Plane that takes data from an Android phone. The first thing I'd like to accomplish is the ability to read the phone's accelerometer data from within X-Plane. I can think of a lot of cool uses for this, but I don't have a specific goal in mind. Right now I'd just like to get the framework laid out to allow X-Plane and Android to communicate. I'm not a great programmer. All of my experience has been with scripting and interpreted languages (PHP/ASP.Net/a small bit of Python). I guess I'd have to learn Java to create an app for Android that pushes the data out. I can use the Python SDK for X-Plane plugin. As far as communicating between the two, I would think my choices are between Bluetooth, Wifi networking, and a physical USB cable. I don't have an Android phone yet, but will be getting one in the next couple of weeks. Is this too be of a project for a novice programmer? Right now, my main goal is just to create some custom datarefs in X-Plane that use real-time information from the androids different sensors. I'm not trying to put out payware, just trying to learn.

Don't stop reviewing because of the backlash you've received. If you quit, let it be on your own behalf. The good that comes from posting fair and honest reviews FAR outweighs the bad. Yes, you may hurt the feelings of a developer, and that sucks. Many of the payware developers are great people and great community members, and it's understandable that you wouldn't want to upset them. Like I said, though, the good far outweighs the bad. After posting a less-than-favorable review, consumers will be more likely to buy a product they are happy with and more likely to buy X-Plane products in the future (both XP itself, and third party add-ons). users of other sims will see that the XP community is raising its standards and is no longer content with the low-quality add-ons that have turned away potential X-Planers for so long. your praise of a product will hold much more weight, which rewards the developers who ARE trying hard to put out a good product at a fair price. Those developers DO deserve to be highlighted and held in contrast to their peers. someone that stumbled across it may not buy that product, but there's a really good chance they're going to take a minute to check out some of your other reviews, especially the favorable ones. This is obviously a great thing. a consumer may actually be persuaded TO buy the product. For instance, you could say the exterior model and 3d cockpit of an airplane suck, but that it flies ok and has a decent 2D panel. A user that never leaves the 2D panel view might come along and buy it just because you've confirmed for him that that the 2d panel is workable. I have definitely bought aircraft after reading a mostly-negative review due to the review showing me some better screenshots and more specs than the stupid org store has on its page. And most importantly: If a developer cares about his customers, he will take what you wrote into consideration, and improve the product. That's a win-win for everyone! If he doesn't try to fix the problems, he doesn't care that much about his product, and you shouldn't feel too bad about hurting his feelings. If you're a softie (nothing wrong with that) and you don't want to hurt the opinions of the developers, that's fine! Don't post negative reviews, post only the positive ones. Your site will become more a source of recommendations than reviews, but you will still have readers. Those readers will still benefit from your work. But as long as you remain honest and tactful in your reviews, no payware developer can really complain. They agreed to be criticized and held accountable for their product the moment they chose to charge people for it. If they want people to be nice and have no expectations for their product, they should release it as freeware. As the saying goes, "There's no such things as bad publicity." Just having your reviews out there brings publicity to X-Plane, and that's a good thing for all of us. Thank you, and please, keep up the good work.

This is the nicest freeware model I've ever seen! Thanks guys!!

Ah! I confused validation and activation. My apologies. I'll use your contact form. Thanks for your extremely valuable input, Indi. Much appreciated. We all fully understand that "access restrictions" aren't just a software thing, thanks to the dozens of photos you've posted. Nobody could have figured that out without pictures of tickets and locks.

Not cool, not cool at all. The stores says that this product does NOT require validation. That is incorrect. I just purchased it and the installer wants my account information to install it. What gives?

I get excited to see these small, common planes done really well. Planes one might actually get to fly in real life. Don't get me wrong, aircraft like the MU-2 with all it's complex systems are awesome to see in X-Plane, but low and slow VFR flight benefits so much from an immersive cockpit. Five minutes left in the download! I'm excited.

Hey. No DRM and updates through XP10? Awesome!

Even though I'm not ready to accept DRM, I definitely admire the work y'all do to make sure it's not a problem for users.

Sorry to add to this topic so late. I've been busy (I deployed to the Middle East in February). I just wanted to add one thing. If you're not a fan of DRM, like myself, don't spend too much time complaining about the fact that the product includes it. The developers are going to do what benefits them the most financially. That's not a crime. If you don't like it, don't buy the product. If DRM makes them more money than they would make without it, it makes good business sense to keep it. The intention of my original post was just to let the developers know that they lost a sale (well, a few sales at this point), not to bitch and moan or argue about it. I have no problems affording the MU-2 and some of the other models that are sold on X-Aviation, but for now I'm sticking to my principles.

Will there be updates through XP10 for those that purchase now (this late in the XP9 cycle), or should I wait until an XP10 version comes out?

I would definitely pay for a really well done DA20 C-1. I train in this aircraft and would love to fly it in the sim.

Man. I want to buy that BK117 so bad, but I just can't bring myself to buy something else at the damn Org store.

I've just started using G2XPL, and it IS functioning, but my results aren't as good as yours. Especially around water. Wherever I have water, there's a nasty looking fringe between the imagery's water and the X-Plane water. Do you not have that problem?