Why the hell, are there AI Dash 8s, MD 83 and other planes that we have to download

Are microsoft a bunch of AR$EHOLE$

I wonder ???

Yeah and non existant Euro world

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.. what does it matter? Surely the 'add-on-ability' of FS is it's greatest singular asset?

Baring that in mind I can't see what you are complaining about ...


As for US scenery .. well it has to be said - judging from this site & I suspect others - the majority of FS users are from the US. Our stats say 67% US.... So ... Given Rome wasn't built in a day ..... & the globe is a massive task - ongoing  - but appropriately aimed I would say ..

Since it seems we're on the topic of "add-on" ability. Yeah, it's great, but it could be a whole lot better.  Anyone familiar with Trainz Railroad Simulator (TRS)? It was created by the Aussies. When designing the software, they planned on having user add-ons and created a wonderful add-on capability.

As you go through their website download section, what you select is added to a "shopping-cart". Everything is free so don't let the "shopping" scare you.  After you have selected the items you want, just select download. Everything is downloaded and installed automatically. The original files downloaded are stored so if you need to re-install TRS, everything you have ever downloaded is there waiting. From there, you would use a simple program simular to SimCommander, to select one or all stored downloads for re-installation.

Mircosoft could really learn from them on this matter. Yeah, it would mean all content creators would have to conform to a standard method of packaging, but in the users perspective, adding-on is so much simpler.

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You are so correct. The proposal I made to Microsoft was a little more detailed.  The idea I have is to unite all the websites. NOT onto the same server, but into the same service. There are a lot of details that would have to go into an idea like this, but we would not need a single source. Many site offer many things. Everone has their own preference.

There is no reason why the shopping cart must be dedicated to a single site. If someone was to produce a single program for downloading and everyone who creates content for FS, constructed their packages in a formatted structure, this one program could go to all sources for download.

The BIG problem with this idea is all of the content already created outside of a standard, orderly format.

Should I continue to explain or just let it go?

Joe

It's just an idea. People designing stuff for Trainz are not so stubborn to have it their way. It's not that they are limited in design, it's mostly file structure. But that has to start at MS.

The people here, can take it or leave it. No skin off my nose.

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Hmmm, the people at Auran did something which is, IMHO, absolutely brilliant. First, if you want to upload to the Auran library (which is the largest by far) you do it their way, and their way only. This allows them to check the file for correctness and install on demand to individual people.

When one DLs a route and then starts Trainz one has an option to DL the extra content to run it, right from the program.

Yes, at first, and even later when noobs first get active with content creation, there is/are some whinging thoughts about "their way". But it's an established system now and works just fine. You can DL for free from Auran but it only costs about $10 per year for a "guaranteed" first class connection which takes the brakes off DL speed. Sort of like; you get a 56k modem speed if you DL for free and Avsim DSL speed if you pay. I pay! It's such a small sum and helps assure that Auran DL is available into the future.

This is the basic difference between a smaller company and MSoft; smaller companies value their customers and MSoft could give a d**n about them. "We've got your money, why should we help you?", is their demonstrated motto. "Course, if you send money we'll TRY to help you."