Reviews, moderators, advertising and the like...

[Pielstick]

I know I've only got a few posts here to my name, but I've been a lurker here for quite a long time now, I find it to be one of the more level headed and intelligent FS forums around.

I was just thinking earlier, this is one of the few forums that really doesn't have any commercial affiliations or interests, and as such is one of the few places where we can actually speak our mind about developer X, Y or Z or their products. I've noticed more and more in the last few years moderators on at least one of the big FS websites seem to lock threads that are critical of certain developers, whilst unashamed bashing of other developers is allowed to continue Likewise, I can think of another big FS site with "busy nodes" that publishes reviews that are thinly veiled adverts. Even bloody PC Pilot went through a phase last year when they seemed to give everthing glowing reviews (after which I stopped buying the mag)! Then of course we've all heard stories of Simmarket removing unfavourable customer reviews at the request of the developers, and of course the increasingly heavily moderated (censored even?) official product support forums!

I'd just like to say thanks for giving us a place where we can speak our minds, without getting a thread locked or deleted because the owners have other commercial interests!

CHEERS

[Garry Russell]

Thanks for that Pielstick

We do like to be fair and if there is a comment good or bad within the scope of this forum, then it is only right that folks should be able to say so and feel free to say so. Threads only get locked if they get out of hand which is very rare.

ATB

Garry

[DanKH]

And therefore this thread should be banned, locked and after while shamelessly deleted..... ;-)

[Trev Clark]

As Garry says, we like to let almost all threads run themselves, it's a bit like having your own cosy local pub CHEERS , in a big hostile internet world

I am (was) an Avsim reviewer, but got fed up with new staff coming in and only wanting to do reviews on the latest expensive payware and then not even submitting a review, that and US style company politics in a volunteer organisation knocked the fun out of it, I tried doing freeware reviews, but they could not be of stuff that was on a rival company download site :brick: .

If you fancy writing a review (or anyone else), write away, but ideally keep it to subjects (free or pay) that follow the theme of the site ;-)

[Pielstick]

No, thank YOU Garry. Having run a forum myself a few years ago I know what a royal pain in the backside it can be, especially trying to keep things civil and sensible.

I watched with interest the Alphasim saga, and was very impressed at how it was handled. If you release some freeware then we should take it as it is, free, done in somebody's spare time out of their enthusiasm for the hobby and the desire for others to enjoy their work. However, the moment you ask money for your work then it is a totally different ballgame and you should be prepared to take criticism, both justified and unjustified. Once money changes hands then personal sensitivities and egoes should go out the window That criticism should be what drives forward a commercial developers products, especially seeing explosion in payware products and the rise in prices we've seen in the last few years.

[Trev Clark]

The Alpha saga was a sad thing that for all our attempts at 'constructive critism' got us shown (to other forums) as a bunch of 'grumpy old rivet counters'.
The thread was locked (but not deleted) to prevent any further negative feelings being posted by either side. Only time will tell if the damage caused (real or not) will be forgotten or forgiven, whatever it's all part of life's rich tapestry and nobody got hurt or maimed......so lets not (do as I have just done ) and open it up again. :kissu:

We now have a new developer in Skysim who will pick up the mantle of British aviation in MSFS and as a number of members here are involved in one way or another with these projects, you can expect NO critism at all on this site

[Pielstick]

Hi Trev. I actually quite enjoyed your reviews on Avsim, but some of the reviews they have are pretty awful. I also think that Andrew Herd at Flightsim.com does some pretty good reviews too, but I also see that just about all of them these days are *very* positive... hmmmmm :think: I remember some of the reviews that "Cap Mason" did a couple of years back were truly dire, he would give a glowing review of whatever product, and at the bottom of the page would be a great big "PURCHASE NOW" link :roll: I've never written a review for one of these sites but I would guess they are all subject to editorial approval, and it just won't do to criticise one of your advertisers latest and greatest products.

I really do think the big sites should do more in depth review of freeware, but I imagine their advertisers lean very heavily on them to just cover their products.

I've suspected for a long time now that the big developers are making quite a lot of money out of us, and as such the big portal sites like Avsim and Flightsim have got their attention... I think the wider community are slowly cottoning on to the fact that its a business now for a lot of people and not just a hobby.

One of the real problems is it's getting harder and harder to find reliable sources of info about new products (this forum being one of them!). It seems the big FS sites already have affiliations with certain developers, and I think this sometimes (often?) reflects in their reviews and forum moderation. Likewise the developer's website isn't going to be the best place to get reliable opinions... a bit like phoning Labour Party HQ and asking for an opinion on how good a PM Gordon Brown is It also seems lots of people have an axe to grind with whatever developer and will bash anything they make, regardless of its merits. Even some developers aren't very well informed. Only last night I was reading another forum for a payware addon and someone asked if their product would work in Vista. One of the developers stated that "Nearly all FS9 addons require compatibility patches to work with Vista." As someone who has recently been lumbered with Vista, and having a large collection of payware addons for FS9 I can tell you this particular developer's info is absolute b******s .

[DispatchDragon]

Welcome Piel

Why does the name Pielstick sound so familar// And it has nothing to do with flying Emeraudes

I think the joy of this forum (for me anyway) is the incredible amount of information floating around mostly

from "grumpy old rivetcounters" who do not need Google to identify various obscure bits and bobs. As Trev

I think said ,(I have a digusting habit of attaching quotes to the wrong people) - It is like a very comfortable

local - One that serves the very best in beer, grub and conversation. I believe the recent altercation with a certain

pay-ware site is a mere distraction for most people here, Yes we are spoilt by the quality of the freeware that is

generated by the folks here, however when criticism is laid down , it is done neither lightly or destructively, I can vouch

for the amount of researching, testing, building and rebuilding that goes on with any of freeware generated here,

it does quite literally emulate real life , and it also explains the long incubation time on the aircraft released by the "gurus"

of CBFS. I would also say, having been a member here for almost four years, that it is the most tolerant, and

gentlemanly (sorry Kim and the other ladies) website I have had the pleasure to encounter, If we are critics its because we

as a group genuinly care about our subject and wish that others would show the same care and attention to detail that

the builders here do.

Sorry didnt mean to ramble - been up for almost 24 hours as is usual on a Monday

All the Best

Leif

[airboatr]

And therefore this thread should be banned, locked and after while shamelessly deleted..... ;-)

yeap they even let the stark raving mad man to get a word in edgewise..........

just don't post any copy writed pics an stuff like that...
that one will get ya pinched ,,
:think: Not that I would know any (( cough coughh hack eckhemm ) about that

:dance:

sory haf a frog in my throat.....

[Garry Russell]

The copyright issue is out of our hands.

We have to protect it or we could be in trouble.

Innocent as it seems and infact on here harmless.... the rules have to be obeyed.

Garry