I know most of you will not be interested in the finer points of the PMDG 737NG, but it seems to be finally near release. I've posted below a quick report from one of our writers, together with a couple of screenshots he's taken.
Regards
Joe.
The aircraft is absolutely amazing! They have done the whole "accusim" type thing with it where components can fail with wear, but they monitor over 9000 components and base wear and tear on data from Boeing. Rather like accusim, you should ensure that the NG is regularly serviced from the servicing menu.
The depth of detail is incredible. One of the testers was sat on the tarmac in a very hot San Diego with the front door open and got an overheat warning in the air conditioning duct that had to be dealt with by reference to the QRH. They even monitor ambient sunshine on the windows in relation to cabin temperature! I have honestly never seen any sim this detailed. It makes accusim seem quite crude by comparison.
Every subsystem of the aircraft has been developed with support from Boeing engineers to exactly match the schematics and functionality of the NG series. One of the main aims of the sim is for airlines to use is for very in-depth systems training. The public sales are really secondary to making the aircraft for Boeing use. Another example is that there are over 400 components in the aircraft that draw power, some as little as 0.05 of an amp. The entire circuitry and functionality for all of those components has been replicated.
Thank you Joe.
It is definitely on my "too purchase" list. It will be used on my desktop sim with my 32 inch LCD and TrackIR. My fear is that I will spend more time in it than my full size :-(
It looks and sounds simply amazing!
Scott
Well, that is great. I'm not going to lie, if it has taken this long to develop NGX in order to get Airlines to use for systems training, then I'd be very interested to see what kind of price tag this will have. All that is well and good, but we "public" have been sitting around for a few years gobbling up whatever scraps PMDG threw our way to pique our interest. If we aren't the target audience, they should have told us a while ago.
Regardless, let's see what and when we get it... I call dibs on the $225 to $250 price range.
Warren
Yep cant wait...
All I hope for is a"good" flight model (dont mean to hijack Mau's thread!) and
killer sounds.. :D
Nat
Quote from: melnato on July 14, 2011, 03:30:31 PM
Yep cant wait...
All I hope for is a"good" flight model (dont mean to hijack Mau's thread!) and
killer sounds.. :D
Nat
I'm sure I'll be very tempted too but I'll wait for your report first. ;D
Maurice
Cheers Joe that sounds like a promising product!
I think I will be buying a copy and maybe setting up a desktop PC to fly with, (I hear some people actually do that!!!) I'm keen to find out what the interface capabilities are although I'm pretty keen on using SimA to go with the rest of my FDS gear.
Might be doing UK again to include the FS weekend in Holland!
Cheers Gwyn
Quote from: the mad hatter on July 14, 2011, 05:10:27 PM
I call dibs on 1800 USD + for personal use and 10K plus for commercial applications
Not a chance in my opinion. They have been stringing people along for years now and there would be a riot at that price range. I think Warren's price is closer to it but my guess would be around $100.00 for non-commercial use considering that their 747 is still only $55.00.
For $1800.00, their only market would perhaps be the few nuts like us who have already spent multi thousands on our sims and they would lose countless thousands of desktop simmers. Not a wise move as far as I can see.
Maurice
Hi guys,
I have been studying the PMDG forums daily as I have been waiting for the arrival of this aircraft for a while. There are all sorts of speculation with regards to the pricing and PMDG are keeping the actual pricing under wraps until the release date. The nearest they came was when one poster stated $80 - $100 and one of the development team came back and said that he did not think that we would be disappointed with the price.
A lot of work has gone into creating this software and whilst PMDG gained permission to use the 'real' Boeing manuals to use as there NGX manuals, unless they are creating two tiers of software (one for us - the public and one for commercial use), I feel from what they have said, the NGX will be geared towards the public. Do you really think that a big airline company would put it's trust in FSX?
$1800 is just laughable as PMDG's customers range from the high school kids to the retired.
I think those of us that are interested will be pleasantly surprised with the price.
Just my $1800 worth !!
Gary
Impressive soft for sure.
How will you interface it Guys?
I'm not going back 20 years and fly desktop!
Am I wrong ?
JP
I'm told, (but don't hang me if I'm wrong) :-[ That this version will be fully interfacable (is that a word?).
Anyway when I last spoke to Robert Randazzo he said that they were going to make this version suitable for cockpit builders, with open access to each element of the systems.
That was some time ago, so I agree things may have changed, but as Scott has said it may be useful to have a quick flight when you don't want to fire up your full size sim. Regarding price, I think it will probably be a premium product but I'd be surprised if it went over the £100 mark. If it did it would significantly reduce any possibility of them making a profit from the public sector.
Once again more opinion than hard fact, ;) I'll keep you informed as I get more info.
Joe.
About a month ago, while at a Best Buy store, found a PMDG B747-400X version on sale from the $40 to $20. This version of PMDG has been out for awhile, but the original cost of $40 was surprising.
The fact that PMDG is sold in Best Buy stores like X-plane and FSX has been sold in Walmart stores, the prices for the new PMDG 737-700NGX likely will not go over much more than what these items have sold for in the past. At first, it will cost more and likely more for that open access or SDK factor. However, if you wait a little longer after it hits online stores, you'll see it in the discount stores for less. Heck, a to wait after it hits the market is worth doing since the bugs will be there to fix...that is always a factor no matter how good the software.
By the way, we don't really fly the B747-400X, but just wanted to get a feel for PMDG's new-ness so to speak. Anyone, doing a B747-400 build?
BSD
Jack, to answer your question about interfacing, PMDG have said that upon release, the SDK will be available to all software developers that want it, so hopefully we wont have to wait long to get the proper interfacing done.
At the moment, my MCP and radios work through FSX so I am hoping that until I get to the stage of completely getting rid of the keyboard and mouse, I will still be able to use it in my cockpit rather than on the desktop.
The snippets of info that PMDG have put out so far have led me and others to feel that this will be the most advanced piece of flightsim software to hit the shelves to date and looking at the videos they have released, I can see what they mean.
The NGX is currently in wide beta and most of the 'bugs' have been sorted out prior to this - hence it has taken so long to get to this stage.
I hope that with some video tutorials from Angle of Attack, I will be able to start to get the buzz that Mike Leavy gets when he sits down behind the controls.
They are even promising sparodic failures in the near future which could prove interesting.
So, I hope that the cockpit suppliers have already been in touch with PMDG so we wont have to wait for too long for the correct interfacing.
Gary
This reminds me of another piece of software LONG awaited.. Duke Nukeum.... Like 8 years? Anyway it's out and most who I talk to are very disappointed in it..... Yes I played the original, loved it. Yes I have played the new one. Will not waste my money. Just seems like the longer the wait, the hight the expectations. Point, when the expectations are set high the letdown can be along drop......
With all due respect Bob, I think a PMDG simulation is on a completely different playing field to that of a shoot em and blast em 'game'.
Thanks for the words of advice though.
Gary
Quote from: bussgarfield on July 15, 2011, 08:04:52 AM
With all due respect Bob, I think a PMDG simulation is on a completely different playing field to that of a shoot em and blast em 'game'.
Thanks for the words of advice though.
Gary
Well we will see. I hope that to be the case. It has been a long wait and as of now, we are still waiting......
I just had a horrible thought. Microsoft releases MS Flight and you can now get incredible frame rates with fantastic scenery but none of the addon aircrafts work and the default 737 is not that great, so we all wait again another 5 years for PMDG to release 737NGFlight.
Arrrrrggghhhhh!!!! Stop this world, I want to get off ;D
Maurice
Quote from: maurice on July 15, 2011, 05:40:17 PM
I just had a horrible thought. Microsoft releases MS Flight and you can now get incredible frame rates with fantastic scenery but none of the addon aircrafts work and the default 737 is not that great, so we all wait again another 5 years for PMDG to release 737NGFlight.
Arrrrrggghhhhh!!!! Stop this world, I want to get off ;D
Maurice
Just when there was light at the end of the tunnel... ;D
I'm getting seriously worried about you Maurice... ;)
Joe.
Quote from: Joe Lavery on July 16, 2011, 02:38:23 AM
I'm getting seriously worried about you Maurice... ;)
Joe.
So is my therapist (wife that is) :)
Maurice
Too bad , because Mau had words of wisdom when he said that he was happy with his 737-8!!
One thing which can backfire for some in this hobby is the constant "End of the Rainbow" chase for a better mouse trap. At that rate no one will ever fly or be happy and satisfied with his Sim.
Improving is fine, going back to square 2 or 3 every odd year is self inflicted misery.
I am OK with Fs9 , a flight model with appropriate dynamics (the look of the airplane having zero value) and a sophisticated enough soft like SimA or PM, all enclosed in a nice shell with liners. My dreams: going from one projector to Mau's wonderful visual.
Funny enough, there is one limit to the real appeal of "Accusimizing"... assuming that we get a 100% copycat of a 737, with all systems and dynamics impeccably working and properly interfaced, none of us except the ATP and Type rated Guys here, will be able to fly the machine properly and react instantly to those random failures or malfunctions, unless of course we can afford full pro training!! :laugh:
I may be wrong or biased ..of course. :D
Someone on Ebay has a sense of opprtunity! :laugh:
[ebay]360380356049[/ebay]
Hi Jack.
To pick up on your point about an aircraft being unflyable unless one is Type Rated (which I have to concur - to a degree), take a look at this post in the AVSIM PMDG forum.
http://forum.avsim.net/topic/339657-give-us-a-brake/
It is from an NGX Beta Tester. Reading between the lines, I think that we will be able to pick how indepth we are going to want our new plane to be.
I have to say, I am really looking forward to it's release.
Gary
Quote from: bussgarfield on July 16, 2011, 09:16:35 PM
. Reading between the lines, I think that we will be able to pick how indepth we are going to want our new plane to be.
Gary
Well, after reading that post, I'm more & more convinced about how ridiculous this all is. Frankly, I don't give a a rat's ass about the type of brake pads they use and how it affects braking and I would venture to say that 99.999% of the buyers of that software won't care either or if they do care, will never have the knowledge required to fly that airplane properly anyway unless they are airline pilots.
And the only 'maintenance' I plan to do on my 'aircraft' is fix the mistakes I made when I built it and/or repair the parts that fail. I'm certainly not going to change the oil or replace brake pads nor do I want to pretend to do that by flicking some switches. I just want to fly and have some fun and not complicate my life with the worries of a real airline pilot.
But then again, I'm just a lazy simmer and not a hard core professional. I don't want another 'job' now that I'm retired...I just want a nice hobby to fill in a few hours during the day and/or week :)
Kuddos to PMDG for their accomplishments and to those of you who will use them to the max but for me, I maintain I will just be happy with decent flight characteristics and predictable behaviour that matches the behaviour of most jet airliners.
And for those of us who have flight decks, the ability to change the looks of the instrument panels or add/remove eyebrows to match a certain airline or whatever other customization, that is all useless in out fixed cockpits anyway. This to me confirms that the target PMDG buyers are really the multitude of desktop simmers and therefore the price of that software will match the target audience....< $100.00 I would say.
Maurice
I have to say, I agree with both Jack and Maurice about the depth of knowledge needed to fly a more accurate sim and also the price the new PMDG is likely to fetch.
I'm also happy with my FS9 sim but having reviewed about 50 airport and scenery products over the past two years, I am in the throes of transferring to FSX so I can make use of them.
I will keep my FS9 machine in it's current state, just in case the flight experience is degraded too much. It may have to be pressed back into service. ;)
However my new machine is a 6 core AMD rig with 12 gig of RAM and a video card I can only just carry. So I'm hoping for some better visuals on arrival and departure. I don't care what the external view of the plane looks like either and I don't see me taking an ATP exam so I can monitor a system that's probably not going to make any difference anyway.
At the end of the day we all have different goals and expectations; for myself I would love the room to make a wrap around display and enclose my cockpit like many of you have.
Now that my system is fully operational I'm refining different areas to make the flight experience even better and ultimately more realistic; which I think is the path that most of us take. :)
Joe.
Unless you already have it, download this manual, read some of the +2000 pages and
see how sobering it can be ...
http://www.firstload.com/?ir=1&fn=continental+737+manual
I have the manual Jack but that link is broken anyway.
Joe. ???
A google search on "Continental 737 manual" should get it.
Cheers
:D
Quote from: blueskydriver on July 15, 2011, 05:37:14 AM
About a month ago, while at a Best Buy store, found a PMDG B747-400X version on sale from the $40 to $20. This version of PMDG has been out for awhile, but the original cost of $40 was surprising.
The fact that PMDG is sold in Best Buy stores like X-plane and FSX has been sold in Walmart stores, the prices for the new PMDG 737-700NGX likely will not go over much more than what these items have sold for in the past. At first, it will cost more and likely more for that open access or SDK factor. However, if you wait a little longer after it hits online stores, you'll see it in the discount stores for less. Heck, a to wait after it hits the market is worth doing since the bugs will be there to fix...that is always a factor no matter how good the software.
By the way, we don't really fly the B747-400X, but just wanted to get a feel for PMDG's new-ness so to speak. Anyone, doing a B747-400 build?
BSD
PMDG said a long time ago that was a one time deal they made with Best buy for distro on an already old product. Under the deal they had no control over Best Buy pricing and were not happy that Best Buy undercut their own web download pricing that much for the same product. I too picked it up for $20 as it was a great deal. 747 was resource heavy though.
Just watched a video on the PMDG 737NGX by Angle of Attack and all I can say is WOW! Prepare to be impressed (unless I am just easily hoodwinked). The link is from the PMDG forum.
http://www.flyaoamedia.com/aoa/nicks-737ngx-cockpit-thoughts/
Dave C.
Watching this and about 1/2 through it, and it's awe inspiring! The detail is beyond belief for seeing this for the first time...
In all honesty, the time spent on the detail alone, justifies why it too so long for PMDG to complete it. Without going any further, the inital impression is a lasting one.
Now, the big question is what does it take in a computer system to tap into this detail? Wondering if PMDG is pulling the resources of the video card, and thereby putting it to use to relieve the CPU from doing the work, which is the normality for FSX. Hopefully, PMDG has discovered a way too do this; otherwise, nothing but the fastest CPU on the market will be needed.
Finally, this just makes the want or what Mau might say "the lust" for it all the more. Maybe, they should call it PMDG B737NGXrated or PMDG B737NGX (J-Lo) , since so many people will be getting even more overly excited about it now!...lol
BSD
It is pretty impressive. Hell, I'm buying it just to have it, regardless of whether it can be used in the sim or not. This will be perfect for taking on deployments on my laptop.
I hadn't been on the PMDG forum in a loooong time. I have to admit I had more time reading some the threads than actually reading about the plane. They have a couple of real winners signed up over there.
I may be missing something here, but how does this eye candy help cockpit builders in any way at all. Very impressive for desktop simmers for sure but all I will see is my own cockpit so that level of detail is totally useless to me or to any cockpit builder.
The proof of the pudding will be how well it flies & sounds and particularly how well and how easily it can be used with SimA or PM software or any other interfacing solution.
My guess would be that they are not going to reveal their software code for their VNAV for instance so we will still need to rely on SimA or PM or X-Plane software to do that and not on all the work PMDG has done to improve these and other very difficult software challenges.
I certainly hope I'm wrong but time will tell.
Maurice
Hey Maurice, im with you, i dont really see any benefit to using it in the cockpit, the only thing that might be of use would maybe be to use the flight model, but now were talking possibly going through the nightmare of it working with sim-A i had enough problems just getting the default 737 to work with sim-A from the beginning,Mark actualy had to make me another,file for his 737 default in sim-A, when we were having problems with it going whacko after it reached fl240 and unless this pmdg plane flies un believably better than the default,for all the headaches i think i will just stay with the default plane as i know it works well now.
i think it might be worth having the pmdg plane if you wanted to use it on your desktop sim and learn how all of the systems and various things work, it might be great as a learning tool for something like that
Tom
Well I know on their 74 model you can not modify it like the old 737 to use in our cockpits. Remove the panels and the thing will not fly right. So I would think similar will be done to the new 73.....
There is supposed to be an SDK released to allow 3rd party interfacing. If so, then good bye PM, SIM A, and prosim!!! But don't hold your breath! LOL
+1 Maurice..
Mike Leavy
Maurice, I agree. I just want it to learn how all the aircraft systems work and for the detail when I need to figure out how something in the cockpit looks. I think it is doubtful it will be able to be used in our sims, but I think it will make a fantastic resource tool.
Dave C.
I think the Angle of Attack DVD might be a good investment for the same reason Dave. I dread to think how many hours I've spent reading about the 737 systems. I find it's somehow easier to absorb when it's presented in this visual format.
Joe.
I'm not so sure this won't be able to be used in a home cockpit sim. Some of the comments made by the PMDG staff state that it will pass info through LINDA/LUA. While I'm no expert on LUA, it would tend to make me believe that along with an SDK, it may very well be usable. I guess we'll just have to wait and see.
Watching the AoA video, it appears that EVERY thing has been replicated. Obviously, as FSX doesn't replicate everything, it has to be in the PMDG logic.
I'm not a PMDG cheerleader, and I have no emotional ties to any certain simpit hardware and/or software manufacturers/developers. My goal is to replicate the 737 systems and flight model as accurately and as cheap as possible, with as much hardware as possible. Many will remember that I started this project a while back with the intent of using PMDG, like Ian.
As I said before though, despite my sarcastic wit in regards to how long PMDG has taken to release this bird, I'll buy it just for the ability to fly it on my laptop while away from home, where I do not have my simpit.
Being fair to PMDGs efforts here, you'll be hard pressed to argue that they have not developed a revolutionary product that will change the expectations of all simmers from here on out. Besides, we all know we're going to buy it regardless... who wants to be the simmer that didn't buy it? ;D
Now if someone would just develop a virtual tape measure to go along with EZDok, then I could just get whatever measurements I need from the NGX to build my cockpit :laugh:
Warren
A lot of very valid points there Warren, and like you i have no affiliation to any developer. I write for PC Pilot but the reviews we carry out are commissioned by the editor.
The previews and reports I keep getting from my associate who has the beta are very positive, in fact he is getting carried away a bit... ;D However he does not have a pit himself. He was actually a 747 captain for Virgin Atlantic for many years and a 737 jockey before that. Together with our mentor Ian Sissons, he was instrumental in getting me off the ground when I first built my 737.
Regarding your measurements, our friend Mike Leavy has been very accommodating with any measurements I needed, together with excellent photos. :)
Joe.
I tend to agree with Warren in so much that the replication of the system and logic will indeed be through PMDG. But and here is the big but. If the PMDG systems can be emulated through a lap top via FSX, then surely the systems and logic will eventually be able to be replicated through our home built sims.
I am sure the FS9 PMDG 737 was intended for the desk top simmer but look how people have been able to adapt the (what is now) 'old' technology to cope with their own cockpit demands.
It may well take time to get the 'other' software producers to get their act together to produce software to work along side PMDG and FSX but it will be worth the wait. Forget the eye candy, I have the FS9 version and as remarkable as it is, the FSX version really does surpass it with it's ability to mimic the 'real' 737 - I bow to the 'real' pilots here as I have never flown one but time will indeed tell.
If I can get just one function to work through FSUIPC then I know I am on to a winner and the world will be my oyster. If not then I will carry on building and flying the default 737 until something else comes along.
When all is said and done, if it works through FSX then the switches and buttons can be programmed with what I currently have so I live in hopes.
I will purchase the AoA tutorials to compliment the NGX and together with the manuals I purchased, I may start to get to grips with how to turn on the ignition, shove it into gear and put my foot down.
I know there are the die hards out there that will stay with the 737 software that they have and I take my hat off to them but please don't burst my bubble :-(
Gary
Further to the above, I have just found out that given the iFly 737 for FSX is just a few weeks old, OpenCockpits has announced the following (translated from Spanish) - We are pleased to announce the integration of opencockpits modules with the great iFly addon for Flight Simulator 2004 and FSX.
It wont be too long before the NGX gets the same treatment and given that most of my hardware is OpenCockpits, I welcome this.
Gary
A bit more fuel for the fire... :)
http://www.flyaoamedia.com/aoa/nicks-737ngx-cockpit-thoughts/
This is one awesome model, you may not want to use it but you have to admire what they've done. WARNING this video is over an hour long.
Joe.
All right Guys, I'm sold...
All this in a 3 digits product!
My advice now:
If you own some of the following Shares in your Portfolio, sell while you can....
CAE
Thales
FlightSafety Intn.
Mechtronix
Frasca
:laugh: :laugh: :laugh:
Thanks for the tip Jack.
Just wondering - have you any advice on my shares with the Murdochs' News Corpration?
Regarding the 3 digit price tag, I reckon we might find out this week - might be surprised !!
Gary
I'm guessing $100 +/- a bit. Then plan on HUNDREDS more for all the addons: Training Manuals, Charts, Posters, Videos, etc. Good consumer strategy for them. We'll see shortly.
Dave C.
Well Dave, they've already published the price of the manuals.
For example the full set of Chief Pilot flight training manuals is on offer at $329.99.
This includes:
•PMDG 737-NGX Flight Crew Operating Manual Vol. 1 & Vol. 2
•PMDG 737-NGX Flight Crew Training Manual
•PMDG 737-NGX Quick Reference Handbook
•Three 737-NGX Cockpit Posters
•PMDG 737-NGX Aircraft System Schematics
•Bound set of Jeppesen Training Charts for your Type Ride
Plus $50 worth of valuable extras!
Over 3500 Pages of printed manuals.
Expensive.. Yes but there's a lot in there for your money. Naturally you can buy all these separately which means you can buy just the ones you need.
If you buy just the 2 manual set of Operating manual they are $169.99
Joe.
I read that a PDF version of complete manuals will be included with the plane purchase.
Yes a PDF version will come with the plane. Quote from Ryan at PMDG -
'Here is what's coming with the product as PDFs:
PMDG written:
-Introduction (over 100 pages with an overview of the aircraft, explanations of the options and use of our custom fuel and payload UIs, the livery manager etc)
-The tutorial flights - there are two coming with the airplane, a basic introductory flight and a more advanced flight. I intend to make this an ongoing thing, more will be written post-release focusing on specific advanced things - for the first time ever we have the ability to embed armed failures into the saved flights, so this will make for some neat tutorials that involve dealing with them without knowing what's coming at you.
Boeing written:
-Flight Crew Operating Manual (FCOM) Volumes 1 & 2
-Flight Crew Training Manual (FTCM)
-Quick Reference Handbook (QRH)
These 4 items are over 3000 pages in length.'
Hope that helps Dave - probably saved you buying $100's of unecessary addons !!!
Gary
Well, I have to admit I have been following the PMDG forum very closely. I've downloaded all the videos, and I've even (briefly) contemplated buying the Boeing manuals (I've decided that for that price I can buy a lot of toner for my laser printer). I'm extremely impressed with the level of detail PMDG has put into the product, and the apparent ability AoA has to present it to the user.
I admire PMDG (and now also AoA) for their marketing prowess. Between the two companies, they have built the anticipation up to such a point that I would guess that most simmers will probably buy both the NGX and the AoA training (within minutes of it's release based on the forum online numbers)! Don't get me wrong, both products look like they will be well worth the money (provided they keep to past pricing practices), but I am very concerned that this opens the door for a large increase in pricing. While I cringe at dropping $5,000 for yokes, $4,000 for TQ's, and $1,000 for logic software and such, I have always had the means to pretty much buy any Flight Sim software I needed as they were always reasonably priced for the simmer (<$50), so I hope that the cost of the NGX and the AoA training doesn't surpass my principles and ability to fit it into my flight sim budget.
For those that know what I do, you'll know that it is hard to get me excited about much but yet I find myself constantly checking for a release date... in the meantime I sit here and grumble that I didn't preinstall my PMDG 737 into FSX before I went on vacation which leaves me flying it in FS9 at the moment (and wait for the next AoA video to download so I can watch it stutter free) :'(
Warren
Wont have long to wait now Warren. PMDG have just released a 7-10 day window for the release and are aiming for 4th August. They still have a couple of bugs to iron out but they have said that they want a perfect plane on the release day.
Phew.
Gary
I also see that they say pricing will be out tomorrow (Tuesday)!!
Warren
Indeed.
Could prove interesting. Either way, like most I guess, the credit card will be ready come the day of reckoning.
Gary
Quote from: bussgarfield on July 25, 2011, 02:40:00 AM
but they have said that they want a perfect plane on the release day.
Phew.
Gary
Thanks Gary...I needed a good laugh :) . There will be a frosty Sunday at high noon in the middle of July in the Kalahari desert before that happens. Just watch the forums on day 2 of the release and if nobody finds bugs, I'll be thrilled to eat my words ;D
Mauricer
Not long to wait Maurice, PMDG announced today that they intend to realease the 737NGX on 4th August.
Personally I'm looking forward to it. :)
Joe.
Time to get your hat and scarf packed then Maurice :-)
Time will tell - of that I have no doubt.
So, Joe. Will you be doing the review in PC Pilot in a few weeks time ?
Gary
Sadly Gary no, my colleague Jane Whittaker will be doing it.
He's had the beta for the past month and I have to admit :P is possibly better qualified to do it. As a former captain for Virgin Atlantic flying a 747 and a 737 jockey before that I think he outranks me somewhat. ;D
Ah well!
Cheers
Joe.
O'h well, never mind.
I have been following Jane's updates and she does seem well versed with the aircraft and systems - no offence meant - so it will be interesting to read her article in the near future.
Gary
Edit - Jane - you refer to Jane as he. His/her posts on the forum are under JaneRachel I believe. It must be an age thing with me or have I missed the bus here !!!!
No Gary you're not late with the transport... Jane Rachael is a man... I can only say he must have had a very hard life in school. ???
We've spoken at length about this anomaly and for many years he wrote under a pseudonym which I believe was John. But after some soul searching he decided to go with the name he was christened with. I think I might have changed my name permanently in his position.
However as you have gleaned he is a very talented writer and has an enormous amount of experience both as a pilot and in the world of computer multimedia.
Joe.
Thanks for clearing that up Joe, I feel awful now :-[
I look forward to his future updates and reviews.
Gary
Perfectly natural mistake Gary.
One of our readers who took exception to something he said in an article wrote "what does this woman know about aircraft anyway". The offending gentleman was told exactly what he knew about aircraft, for example 5,000 plus hours as P1 in a 747, how's that for a start :)
Cheers
Joe.
You guys and many others have mentioned cost. Think about this, what does SIM-A, ProjectMagenta, Prosim, cost? This plane has all that built in already! Even if it is north of 100.00 it is the deal of the century with the replication you get of the real 737.
Personally, I think it will be a bargan if it is priced at under $3k. I don't even care. I just want it. I think Ivar said one time "if you can't afford the documentation, don't build a simpit".
Dave C.
I think that the $64k question here is will the new 737 allow us to easily access the internal offsets, unlike the FS9 version. I suspect yes, but only as an extra cost option at some time in the future. If we can easily interface our own hardware then it could rival existing avionics packages
Dependent on price, I may buy it anyway just for the cockpit detailing so I can use it for my build :)
David
The other thing besides access to the offsets that is HUGELY important to cockpit building is the ability to have networked PCs run the displays. There is absolutely no way you can get the 4 MIP displays, 2 CDU Displays, along with a TH2GO 3 Screen Visual Display working off one computer on today's hardware and get decent framerates. The displays would HAVE to be able to be drive from a seperate computer using an FSUIPC WideFS setup or similiar. Then on top of that you need a way to control all from a central point. That is a lot to ask for a desktop sim that was designed to be flown from a virtual cockpit on a single PC. I highly doubt therefore it will replace Sim-A, PM, or Pro Sim. That said, my wallet is out and ready to buy for my desktop sim!
We'll have to wait and see :-)
Scott
Yes! I agree with Scott. This is the reason to go to multiple computers. 1 machine can not do it all and give acceptable frame rates in heavy scenery. Even with todays high end machines and video cards you need 1 with a very good video card and at least 1 or 2 more with with lesser video cards. Just my 2 cents.
Looks to me like its going to be a great desktop sim thats for sure. Im sure ill buy it just because. Prob just to see how accurate it really is. Definately gonna skip on the manuals though :) only thing i would be concerned with is the performance of the PC running this thing. Sounds like its going to be pretty taxing. This stuff needs to be split up on multiple computers, as others have said.
Will be interesting to see how much PMDG allows builders to get to the internals..
I hope they actually make this thing fly like an airplane and not drive like a train in the air on tracks like all the other flight models usually do. Although i think thats a flight simulator issue.
Well C
Mike Leavy
I dont see any problems running NGX with all its displays on computer number 1, and the visuals with 3 projectors on a second computer via wideview, or using prepar3d for both computers.
Should be possible as it is possible with most other addons. Limitation as I would see it would be ligthing if this is done in "PMDG" software. We will see soon :)
My theory...
If you run FSX and NGX with its displays on one computer with all the "FSX/prepar3d" settings as low as possible...
Then run three undocked views on a high performance computer with "Higher" FSX settings. I would guess that the "FSX/prepar3d server" can run on much lower settings compared to the "visuals-client" if the NGX computer is not used for visuals. I would assume that you also can have full realism settings on the visuals computer without strange effects also, as there is only one visuals computer...
Ivars theory only... ;)
Time will tell on all the connections... don't misunderstand me, I fully plan to purchase PROSIM and all it's modules, regardless of how NGX works out.
I've been playing with it here while on vacation and really like it. Once I get home and go into relocate sim/rebuild mode, I'm going strictly PROSIM. The time, effort, and service that Marty has put into PROSIM is worth every penny it will cost. There is a lot of good software out there but very few developers match Marty's responsiveness to the user and the simming community.
Marty had nothing to do with that plug for his software, I just hope the PROSIM users don't forget the effort towards, and expanse of the "beta" he is providing when he is ready to go to market.
Warren
I have PM and Prosim, i now use only Prosim. Works great with my OC cards and SIOC.
Hi all, this thread is getting longer and longer.
I understand that PMDG have coded the NGX independently from FSX, so effectively the aircraft is running purely on their own code, FSX is in fact simply an external viewport. Which means they can make use of muti core processing etc. to drive the cockpit, the result being frame rates similar to the default Cessna but using the most complex aircraft ever designed for FSX.
So running with a single PC may be possible.
Joe.
Hi all.
Told you that you might be surprised. Just this minute released on the PMDG forum are the pricing details as follows ;-
PMDG 737NGX PACKAGES:
=====================
PMDG 737NGX Base Package: $69.99* ETA: On/Before 04AUG11 Contains the 737-800/800WL, 737-900/900WL
PMDG 737NGX 6700 Package: $24.99 ETA: 4-8 weeks after base Contains the 737-600, 737-700/700WL
PMDG 737NGX ER Package: TBA ETA: 4-8 weeks after 6700 Contains the all 737ER variants.
PMDG 737NGX BBJ Package: TBA ETA: TBA Subject to interest Contains BBJ/BBJ2 variants.
PMDG 737NGX Mil Package: TBA ETA: TBA Subject to interest Contains the P-8 and "Wedgetail" variants.
Download size: Base Package is appx 540MB
Have a look here http://forum.avsim.net/topic/340470-pmdg-737ngx-pricing-and-availability/
to get the full run down of the release packages.
70 bucks - I can live with that.
Gary
That is pretty nice!
I'll take one of each
Warren
Having gone through the forum comments about the pricing, PMDG have cleared up the situation with the asterisk against the $69.99. They have said that the base package (800/900 variants) price will be $69.99 up until the release of the 600/700 package and then it will increase to $74.99. So to get the lower price you have 4 - 8 weeks.
Gary
Five bucks...that's an incentive!!
:laugh:
Thought the same, it's about EUR 3 here ... what a bargain ...
Wondering if they have the download sites setup yet? Not just their own, but other locations. Guessing that first day will be the biggest collective download ever for PMDG...
Anyone with news on DVD's being available the same day as the opening; any vendors have these in reserve, waiting for the first sale date? Or any pre-ordering events being listed yet?
If so, please post.
BSD
Their site was down for hours the other day so they could get the preparations done for the iminent release.
Regarding the DVD boxed sets, they will be out until around 6 months after the download release.
No pre-orders are being allowed.
PMDG will let us know exactly when the downloads will be available. They have said there will be no surprises regarding the release date and they are still aiming for the 4th August.
Gary
Okay, the pricing for PMDG 737-800/900 NGX has been released, and the cost currently is:
(drum roll)
$69.99
Later, 737-600/700 NGX will be released and it will cost:
$24.99
Thus, that is on par with pricing in the past for PMDG 737 suite (fs9).
Finally, the program has not been released yet, but their website is overloaded with members and guest. It's supposed to be today; however, maybe PMDG staff is letting the tesnion build for dramatic effect. Funny thing that'll likely happen is their servers will crash!
Go here for more info:
http://www.flyaoamedia.com/aoa/pmdg-announces-737ngx-pricing/
Okay, so now back to the refresh button on the PMDG site...lol.
BSD
Errrr, BSD you should follow these threads a bit closer, Gary Buss announced the official pricing on 27th July, including file size and expected delivery... seems like you missed it. :idiot:
Joe.
Joe,
You're right Gary did post it, but I missed it...sorry; although, the price he had for the 737-600/700 is not listed at $24.99. As he only has the 800/900 base package price shown.
Besides, just trying to be helpful by providing the extra info and link...
BSD
BDS,
Only joking with you, I often miss posts and ask questions that someone else has already answered previously. Now if you can tell us when they're going to release the bloody thing, now that would be news.... ;D
It was supposed to be today but all I hear is silence.... :-\
All the best
Joe.
It's releasedatum, but the pmdg server is subject to an attack from China (pmdg statement on facebook). Looking forward to know how we can integrated this beauty into our cockpits.
Thomas
Quote from: fly_ebos on August 04, 2011, 06:03:03 PM
It's releasedatum, but the pmdg server is subject to an attack from China (pmdg statement on facebook). Looking forward to know how we can integrated this beauty into our cockpits.
Thomas
LUA or Linda is a very viable option. I will let you know as I think i'm going to give it a shot!
Rob
Well I bought it last night and all I can say is WOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! It flies like the real deal and something I never thought FSX was capable of!! Well worth the money. For us guys using SIOC and OC stuff, im sure there will be an interface available soon similar to Leeskon for the LVLD767.
I can't fly anything else now as it all sucks in comparison!!
Rob
Hi Rob,
I bought it too and it sure is impressive, what fps are you getting?
I'm running a six core AMD Phenom II Black Edition processor, 12 GB Ram, I terrabyte HD and a Gainward Nvidia GTX 465 Video Card. What are you using? And what settings are you using.
I've set the frame rate to unlimited and screen res to 1920 x 1080 x 32. It works OK but I'm only getting between 13 and 21 fps. Incidentally this is a brand new system optimised for FSX with just about nothing else on it.
Cheers
Joe.
No worries Joe...
You guys are lucky to have it already. Tried to purchase it at 2am CST and the server was down. Although, that is 7am GMT, so Europe and Asia were likely overworking the server.
Will try again today, but with so many people waiting 5 years to purchase it, another 5 days wont matter and that'll give time for the server to catch up.
BSD
BSD
Quote from: Joe Lavery on August 05, 2011, 05:44:47 AM
Hi Rob,
I bought it too and it sure is impressive, what fps are you getting?
I'm running a six core AMD Phenom II Black Edition processor, 12 GB Ram, I terrabyte HD and a Gainward Nvidia GTX 465 Video Card. What are you using? And what settings are you using.
I've set the frame rate to unlimited and screen res to 1920 x 1080 x 32. It works OK but I'm only getting between 13 and 21 fps. Incidentally this is a brand new system optimised for FSX with just about nothing else on it.
Cheers
Joe.
I have an I5 - 2500K oc to 4.3G, NVIDIA 460GTX OC Fermi, 8gb ram My FPS are on my lock at 34FPS with REX 2048 HD textures and traffic at 55%, all scenery sliders maxed except autogen which is dense. I am running in 2560x720 on two projectors thru a TH2GO. If you search my post I had one on my new PC I built. It rocks and all for 998.00! A friend of my sent a test program to me and some other flightsim guys to test the speed of our systems and HDD. See I use a SSD drive. Win7 boots in 7 secs and FSX in about 15secs. My SSD drive absolutely KILLED a a Raptor Velociter HD and some other high end drives. I think that is helping more than what some think due to quicker access times. If i start getting lower FPS i'll just bump the OC up some to compensate but so far all is well. This plane is better than sliced cheese and bread!
Rob
Quote from: Joe Lavery on August 05, 2011, 05:44:47 AM
I've set the frame rate to unlimited and screen res to 1920 x 1080 x 32. It works OK but I'm only getting between 13 and 21 fps. Incidentally this is a brand new system optimised for FSX with just about nothing else on it.
Cheers
Joe.
Those frame rates do not sound too promising for those of us using 3 undocked windows but then again we don't use most of the goodies available on this airplane anyway since none of the panels are used in a flight deck.
Very curious to see how this will develop for those of us with a flight deck and 3 undocked views. This time, I will not be one of the first ones to jump on a new release...been there...done that :)
Maurice
Maurice, if I simply use the external view, (no panel) then the frame rate hits 40 to 50 where ever I am in the world. So it may be ok for you guys with the undocked views.
I'm going to go through the manuals and see if I can improve on the fsp. Incidentally there are 5 manuals totalling over 3000 pages of information to troll through. :P
Joe.
Just finished the over 600Mb download. Started at 2am Friday morning, but it took till now because the download server timed out repeatedly. Imagine looking at 65% done, and then it does a timeout, and have to start all over.
Pretty much said it earlier in this thread that the server(s) would be over run and likely they didn't take into account mirror servers. They probably have some, but not enough for the hoards of 5 year waiting users.
Not a complaint though, just an observation. So many people followed this new product over the years that a documentary or reality show could be made. Imagine the titles?
"PMDG made me do it!"...next on "Police Women of the Nipping Point Task Force"
"My cousin Bertha married a PMDG beta tester"...next on "The View"
"I know what I saw!" this episode reveals the unforseen UFO (unreleased flyable object) product...here on NatGeo.
"He was a former PMDG user, but gave up because he only sees in three panel vision...it's a new uncurable sickness called "MAURICEMYEYEOMIA" "I am Dr Phil and we'll be right back with the beginning of our program".
"President Barack Obama and Congress (who urgently came back from vacation) held an major emergency vote on FAA approval for PMDG B737NGX; however, Congress will not be moving any further forward on the minor issue of the FAA not operating, and thousands will remain out of work" Obama says "PMDG should have known not to release this while Congress was gone because it will delay the votes on the minor FAA issues even longer. Especially, due to all members of the House and Senate waiting for their PMDG download account codes, and then pretending to be pilots, like they pretend to be politicians" This is Anderson Cooper 360, and I am Bozo Barney who is in for Anderson, who is out today due to PMDG fever!"
Okay, okay that's enough from here, but why not make fun of this day and have a good laugh! Let's see what you guys can come up with for movie or show titles. Can be Film, TV, Radio, Print (Newspaper/Magazine), and etc. This is just for fun.
Oh Maurice! We really love you here from Wis-con-nie...you know that's so true! Wait for it, wait for it...okay, Bob give up some of that good humor we know you have...love you too!
BSD Team
dot...dot...beep...beeeep...dot...dot....beep.
...We interrupt this program for a Special Weather Statement from NOAA...
A Emergency Heat Warning has be issued for the midwest United States, where temperatures have risen up to record levels of 117 to 120 degrees in some states. NOAA Scientist agree that the rest of the World is in jeopardy and Global Warming will began faster than forseen. They also say the quickest way to advert this disaster is for the thousands of PMDG users, who have been clicking Refresh or F5 or Ctrl R keys continuously, over the last 7-10 days, to take their hands off the mouse and keyboard. The friction heat has caused a 10-20 degree influx to the surrounding air, and that on-top of the external sweating, heated eye tears, and furious pounding on the desk has caused the humidity index to reach unsustainable levels!
...dot...dot...beep...beeeep...dot...dot....beep....
this has been an Emergency Broadcast and not a drill!
...dot...dot...beep...beeeep...dot...dot....beep....
I see I haven't been the only one to notice the hysteria over the NGX... what will everyone do now? What is there to look forward to now? ;D
I did buy it last night though. Hope to get a chance to install it next week. Way too busy this weekend.
Warren
At this very moment, got it installed and projecting it. The FPS in 2D view standard (not 3 panels) without 2D panel displayed is awesome, 60-120 fps unlimited. Will try 3 panel view later...
If anything the sound is unbelievable! Way better than any add-on we own here at BSD Team...
Okay, that is our first 30 second impression, will give a better one in a month or two.
Now, the big question, how to win the over $100 million Powerball Lottery tonight in the USA?
Anybody? ...crickets chirping...
(got to stop having Ice Cream so late here...slap happy, as well as PMDG happy)!
Alright, the second big question is, how will this work with Project Magenta or SimA? Hopefully, it'll be just as easy as removing the data in the cfg(s). Or, maybe PM and SimA will not be needed any further... Any word on SDK's?
BSD
SDK will be release shortly to anyone and anybody as stated by Ryan at PMDG just yesterday. It will allow full access to the plane. In a nut shell, Sim-A, PM, PS, and others are in trouble! Good for us, bad for them. I have put a couple of hours on the new plane both stock and modified to use Prosim737 and all I can say is, i'm deleting all my other planes!!
Seems to me you are a bit fast on the trigger Guys
I suspect some bias, induced by years of frustrating wait and an over enthusiastic response to (so far) hypothetical compatibility with our fairly complex hardware. :D
More seriously...I flew some complete DSTD with all bells, whistles and visuals at FDS (and Maurice), and I can attest that they are overwhelming enough for a solo pilot to learn and operate, wether with PM or SimA.!!
I must say that I have a hard time understanding why, in this hobby, we always tend to scrap all the knowledge and experience we painfully acquire over the years to embark on the next unproven and glittering cheaper wonder-soft.
Most of us have already invested many thousands of dollars if not tens of thousands, so it cant seriously be for the sake of money. One thing is certain, going to a new platform and relearning whatever SDK , coding and debugging will set you back many months if not years .
When you have most components nearly ready to put together, do you want to do that?
It all depends on your own priorities but for me, flying a Sim like Mau's is much more exhilarating than playing with new bits or Bytes! (being challenged in that matter!)
:laugh:
Last minute on the PM forum:
http://www.projectmagenta.com/forums/topic.php?id=82
Very funny Blueskydriver but I'm afraid you have just proven once again that flight deck builders are mostly insane. How else can you explain the mass hysteria about the release of an add-on for flight simulator? You would swear there was a famine and that everybody was waiting for some magical supplement to smother the starvation effects.
On the positive side, maybe the buying frenzy will revive the stock market. All these frustrated would be flight deck builders who up to now were perfectly happy with a desktop simulation will now see themselves behind a full flight deck instead after PMDG releases their SDK.
Countless vendors will come out of the woodwork and start creating even more software add-ons to take advantage of the new features. After all, seeing a drop in pressure of the water supply when the toilets are flushed is what we have all been waiting for in our sims. I assume PMDG must be modelling this feature as well.
But wait a minute....isn't Microsoft planning to give us even more choices hopefully sooner than PMDG's marathon like development cycle? And what about X-Plane? What are they cooking in the background to take advantage of sim addict's fantasies?
Seriously now, out of all the people in these & other forums as well as those building quietly and not participating in any discussions, how many actually have a fully functional & completed sim with all the features currently available? My guess would be less than 1% since it seems we are never happy and keep adding more & more useless functionality instead of just enjoying the flying part which was the original goal for most of us.
When do we say enough is enough? I guess never and that is the one sad part about all of this. And I'm not just talking about other people. I too have been afflicted by this insidious virus and it's only now that I am beginning to see the foolishness of it all now that I am able to actually fly my sim instead of being in a perpetual building cycle. And I'm still not even finished yet since the overhead is not in place yet. I need more new 'functionality' like I need another kidney stone.
So, to conclude, I'm still glad people are excited about PMDG's new offering. Anything that makes this hobby more exciting is a good thing, But we all need a reality check from time to time to remind us that the sky is not always bluer on the other side. Sit down and smell the jet fuel from your current setup instead of dreaming that you will magically end up with a CAE simulator in your basement just because someone released a better sim trap.
Yes, I will almost certainly buy the NGx as well if it offers a better flight model that I can actually use with my current hardware & software. But if it needs totally new add-ons to make use of the improved flight model, then I will stick with what I have and enjoy poking holes through the beautiful FSX clouds.
I totally agree with Jack. The cost of the NGx software is totally irrelevant for me compared to what I have already spent. The cost in new unnecessary headaches will be the only deciding factor for me.
And yes Blueskydriver...there will likely be new reality program like the one you mentioned : "PMDG made me do it!" or perhaps PMDG destroyed my sanity. One thing is for sure, the world will never ever be the same now that PMDG released us from the FSX bondage. ;D
I must say though that your evaluation of the new 737 sounds may well be the deciding reason I buy the program even if I use nothing else. Killer sounds really make a huge difference in my opinion and I'm still not happy with all the sounds modules I have tried so far. So I may be doomed after all ::)
Maurice
Hi guys,
I fully agree with Maurice and Jack.
PMDGs new bird was never intended to be a solution for those of us having a hardware flightdeck.
The flight model is reported to be mediocre when the program is stripped of the things we do not need.
It is however a beautiful and interesting sim - for the desktop pilot.
No questions about that.
But when it needs to be integrated in a hardware flight deck your headaches will start.
Our friend Ian in Wales had unprecedented success with his FS9 PMDG737, but has now changed to a more dedicated solution that drives his gauges and glass.
Others who has taken the Level-D (767) route sits with a sim that is virtually impossible to "upgrade" as well as it is a huge frame rate eater when you detach all glass screens necessary.
A FS sim solution will need the possibility to be spread out in a network as well as having dedicated support when you run into trouble. I do not believe PMDG support will cater too much for the very tiny profit segment cockpit builders are in the FS world.
When NGX is stripped of what we do not need I cannot see any benefit at all over what we have - PM, ProSim or Sim-A.
It does not rework your flight deck, it does not add any meaningsful "features" but it will certainly will give you a reason to stay in the hangar for a couple of more years :D
Of course I might be wrong, but I do not believe so :)
My 10 cents,
Bjorn
Just to add a little fuel to the fire ::)
The sounds from the NGX are awesome, particularly on takeoff, the turbine whine is better than any other I've heard, (other than on board a real 737 that is).
Well worth the investment even if it doesn't interface with my pit.
Incidentally I don't have any involvement with PMDG, in case you;re wondering.
Joe.
Neither do I ! :laugh:
Thanks guys, you helped me make my decision , im going back to a desktop pilot and putting this madness to an end! I'm going back to enjoy flying and stop the nonsense that Maurice mentions.
I'll keep my real 737 throttle and yoke but the rest of my stuff will be up for sale soon. It's been real and thanks for all the help.
Oh and by the way, having been in the sim world since the start of computer flying, my comments are still accurate! PMDG has hit a Grandslam with this one! Sorry it hurts you guys feelings and this is from a fellow pit builder, but it is what is. A TOTAL and accurate simulation of the 737.
Rob
Quote from: 727737Nut on August 06, 2011, 11:05:43 AM
Thanks guys, you helped me make my decision , im going back to a desktop pilot and putting this madness to an end! I'm going back to enjoy flying and stop the nonsense that Maurice mentions.
I'll keep my real 737 throttle and yoke but the rest of my stuff will be up for sale soon. It's been real and thanks for all the help.
Oh and by the way, having been in the sim world since the start of computer flying, my comments are still accurate! PMDG has hit a Grandslam with this one! Sorry it hurts you guys feelings and this is from a fellow pit builder, but it is what is. A TOTAL and accurate simulation of the 737.
Rob
LOL ok Rob...... You may sell all your stuff, again..... But you will be back. You always are........ This is a sickness, you can't just sell it away. 8)
dot...dot...beep...beeeep...dot...dot....beep.
...We interrupt this program for a Special Statement ...
A first case of severe viral PMD-Genitis has been diagnosed near Greenfield.
Also known as Baktoodesktop Syndrome, this highly contagious disease can spread without warning . A strong SDK fever is usually the first symptom.
People affected are invited to call Dr. Mau Clinic for an immediate MEDEVAC and a three beams treatment.
...dot...dot...beep...beeeep...dot...dot....beep....
Rob....you cant be serious!
Besides you will not teach Junior to fly a Boeing with a stick!! :laugh:
Going BACK to a desktop? Really? That must be a first! I wouldnt go selling your stuff just so fast.
To me part of the fun with all this is sim building stuff is having friends and family sit in the sim and share the experience. Not so sure you can recreate that on a desktop! When mine was up and running at one point in time, so much of the fun was seeing faces when that garage door opened and sitting in there was a 737 pit ready for takeoff!
Im sure that PMDG thing is great and all but i dont tink it comes even close to the sim experience.
And yes like most people here say, i cant even image the new problems and configuration work arounds that will come into play trying to use that NGX for the sims. Ill prob get it.. Maybe.. Im more curious just how accurate it really is but it will be nowhere near used in any way for the sim! Besides everone here knows im not much of a MS Flight Sim guy when it comes to my sim :)
Mike L
While I do understand Rob's feelings about all this (I've had similar feelings many, many times), I do think that reverting solely to a desktop sim will never ever satisfy any former pit builder. Boredom will soon take over when all you do is click on a mouse now & then and the beautiful PMDG flight model will never really be as satisfying as an imperfect FSX flight model inside a full cockpit powered by PM or SimA or whatever.
It will be like reverting to an old 19" B&W CRT TV after you've had a 60" LCD HD TV. Yes, you can still watch your programs but you will always be thinking about what you had before.
So Rob, if you do decide to sell it all, my advice would be to really sell it all and get flying out of your system once & for all if that is possible. Cold turkey will be much less painful than a slow withdrawal. I came very close to doing just that at some point but I'm glad I stuck with it now that I can fly my imperfect sim and challenge myself while trying some difficult approaches. In fact, a bad flight model is even more challenging than a perfect one and since I don't know what a perfect one is like, ignorance is bliss.
Now about "the turbine whine is better than any other I've heard, (other than on board a real 737 that is)." that Joe mentioned, that is good news indeed. It will certainly replace all the whining that has been going on for several years by would be PMDG buyers. The whining will indeed go on ;D
Maurice
OMG! What did we just get started? Lol, lol, ROFLMAO! You guys are a riot...really!
Rob, Karen (my wife/BSD Team member/the banker) wants to know if she should plan for me to road trip to your place AGAIN? She says post your part list first though...lol, she is sitting here laughing at all of us big kids...
She also wants to know what kind of protection she needs to have now? With these new diseases she doesn't know whether to "RUN or put on a RAIN COAT"...the laughter is really going here now...
Still loving all of you guys...
John and Karen
Rob, seriously you know better, don't get out of a real cockpit...if you really need to go that far, call me, so I can talk you out of doing it. And, you and your son could come visit us or Maurice even to help you stay motivated.
Besides, Karen just bought a Case 1840 Skid Steer...her new toy (no joking), and she is in the process of destroying our backyard. Thus, she says my fun money is gone and she is using what's left of hers to buy a second bucket with teeth, so I can't have it...lol.
Really, PM me your phone number again if you want to chit-chat with HER about why you should keep the cockpit going... Oh, you can talk to me too.
John...aka BSD
Wow, this thread has legs... That is great as it has been a long time since we all bantered back and forth on a subject.
Quote from: 727737Nut on August 06, 2011, 11:05:43 AM
Oh and by the way, having been in the sim world since the start of computer flying, my comments are still accurate! PMDG has hit a Grandslam with this one! Sorry it hurts you guys feelings and this is from a fellow pit builder, but it is what is. A TOTAL and accurate simulation of the 737.
Rob
No hurt feelings Rob. I don't think you'll find anyone here that will argue that the NGX is a grand slam. It should be, for the time and effort that RSR and the guys put into it.
I bought it, and it will have a permanent place on my laptop, where based on my ratio of "time away:time at home" it will get many hours of use in far off, exotic places so I can maintain my skills. But... when I'm home, it's my full up cockpit that I'll fly (with Prosim737).
I will say that I'm surprised that you feel so strongly about quitting the cockpit building scene... Maybe I'm clueless here, but what does the NGX offer you as a desktop flyer that a sim cockpit with PM, Sim-A, or Prosim doesn't offer you? Especially as you now have both.
Warren
Likely, you know we're using two truck style, sub-woofer type speakers under the flight deck and have the bass side of the FSX sound card coming to the amp for those speakers.
Anyway, the sound changes for PMDG 737NGX is affecting the low freq; it seems the developers might have dove into the FSX sound cones and the low-end freqs. The one's you don't really hear, but feel... Have it running now, and the room is so alive with the low. Not once has it sound like this, and nor have we changed the settings on the sound card or sub-amp.
Knowing there is a lot more to this new plane, but the sound observation is for sure a stand out...
BSD
Quote from: bussgarfield on July 25, 2011, 04:01:10 AM
Time to get your hat and scarf packed then Maurice :-)
Gary
Not needed Gary. There will not be a "a frosty Sunday at high noon in the middle of July in the Kalahari desert" :)
If you check the PMDG forums, it is quite obvious that they did not release a plane without any bugs since they already issued a hot fix.
Having said that, PMDG has really raised the bar when it comes to doing extensive testing before releasing software. Based on the complexity of this airplane, it would have been inconceivable that some issues would not surface, but they really deserve a lot or praise for coming out with such an amazing simulation even if the reported bugs are legitimate and not due to people not knowing how a real NG is supposed to behave and jumping to the conclusion that they found a bug.
I imagine PMDG support will be quite busy for a long time trying to educate people rather than fixing fictitious bugs.
I mentioned in another post that I bought the program just for the engine sounds and I'm glad I did even if that is all I ever get out of it.
Maurice
Yes I think PMDG will be answering a lot of questions about bugs that do not exist. I at one ime was pretty good with the 737 NG but it has been 3 years since I flew it. Would not be able to just jump in and go anymore.... Most folks will not read the manuel and will just assume the product is broke. I would not want to be in their tech support staff right now.... :idiot: