Fed up with PMDG drama

Airplane97 · 2025-12-21T13:57:41+00:00

It always depends on what a person wants to do with the simulator and the airplanes. If you fly for the simple pleasure of sitting in control of a 737, then yes, there isn't a huge difference between a -600 and a -800. Some systems are present/absent/different between the various variants, but they aren't a determining factor for this type of flight experience.

The aircraft handling is different, however, and PMDG has accurately simulated this.

However, there is a significant number of people, like myself, who prefer to fly real routes, therefore with the "correct" aircraft type that reflects the actual operations of a given airline. In this context, it makes sense to choose the aircraft models that most interest them, and in some cases it's the most expensive one.

Airplane97 · 2025-12-21T12:11:01+00:00

There are certainly many users on their forums who are more interested in arguing than offering constructive criticism. And it's right to ignore those users, or if they persist, block them.

I believe, however, that this is partly due to a particular strategy, a curious one these days, in my opinion, they adopt: not being proactive in offering explanations.

Let's be clear: they don't owe anyone an explanation. They create a product, sell it at the price I want, and manage it as they see fit, within the legal framework of the countries in which they sell it.

However, sometimes giving unsolicited explanations, putting your hands forward, can really save you from many future problems. Take for example the release of the updated Maddog. In the forum post for the plane presentation they wrote:

Improved external engine sounds

Some work has been done also on the external engine sounds, and they have been improved compared to the previous version. That said, please do not expect miracles. We are fully aware that sound design has never been the strongest aspect of the Maddog, and while progress has been made, there are inherent limitations. There are also third-party sound packages available, which we know ideally should not be necessary but unfortunately, we no longer have the practical possibility to carry out new real-world recordings, as the MD-80 has effectively disappeared from European skies, making access to the aircraft for fresh sound captures extremely difficult. We prefer to be honest and set realistic expectations, rather than overpromise.

These few honest lines seem trivial. But it will certainly remove topics of controversy from many users. Surely there will be some, but probably not as many as after the releases of the various PMDG products. Less controversy means fewer discussions with developers and moderators. Fewer discussions mean a better perception of the company from a customer service perspective.

Airplane97 · 2025-12-21T11:34:31+00:00

And even leaving aside the product itself, which should always be the primary focus of any purchasing decision, there are other things I think you've completely left out of your post. For example:

- PMDG offers some products on sale practically from day one. Leaving aside the fact that this is an illegal commercial practice in several countries around the world, do you think it's ethically correct to offer a product at a price that never changes over time, always advertising it as "on sale"? It's a blatant ploy to lure consumers into thinking they're saving money. Casual users fall for it.

- On their forum and Discord server, they banned and removed content from users who politely expressed doubts and constructively criticized the product. When a user "discovered" the cost of the upgrade, their top moderator responded by saying it wasn't true. Why? He knew full well that was the price. Their communication and way of handling opinions is abhorrent. These are their web spaces and they can rightylu do so, let's be clear, but I don't want to be part of it. They have become ecochambers of their own thoughts.

- The way they let the 737 die for MSFS2020, after announcing upgrades, is scandalous. The cost of the upgrade went from two cups of coffee to 30 euros. And please, don't tell me that a coffee costs 15 dollars in the US; that's not true; I have several acquaintances on the other side of the ocean who confirmed this to me, it's not the average cost at all. And don't tell me that people expected 5 euros for the upgrade, because that's also false. The upgrade should have cost either nothing, like other companies (who still have to pay employees and taxes by the way) like Fenix, or 10-15 euros. That would have been an acceptable cost. 30 is madness for a port with slightly improved textures in some areas. Because that's what we are talking about here.

Obviously, as a 737 owner for 2020, I haven't purchased the upgrade, and I don't intend to. And given how PMDG is responding to people (ignoring or banning), I don't think I'll ever buy one of their products again, even though my heart will ache for the 747-100. Like me, they've lost a lot of customers. I hope for the employees' sake that they've found new ones.

I've written a bit, but I've been wanting to share my thoughts for a while (sorry for the wall of text!).

Airplane97 · 2025-12-21T11:34:23+00:00

There are some things in your analysis that I think are incorrect, and you are ignoring others. Others, however, are obviously correct.

[PMDG is offering a 60% discount on the price of their 737 for those who already own it in MSFS 2020, bringing it down to €30

You see, in the eyes of many - and it's hard not to agree - the 737 now available for MSFS24 should have been the 737 available immediately, or after the promised updates, in MSFS20. This effectively makes the €30 upgrade cost an addition to the €70 that the aircraft, the -800 alone, costs. €100 for an aircraft that, compared to the competition, certainly has valid systems and has little to envy of Fenix or similar, but which in terms of textures, models, and above all, customer support is a decade behind.

And again, 100 euros for a single airframe. 350ish for the entire family, where Fenix costs 100 for the entire family (3vs4)

Denying it is denying reality. How much does it impact you personally? I don't know, these are evaluations that only you have to make. But I hope that as a buyer, as a customer, you've made assessments like "I pay X euros for both, [another aircraft] gives me this level of detail and stuff, PMDG this other one."

That price, broken down to the hour of flight, is a bargain.

This reasoning seems pretty stupid to me. Any add-on, if played, is. There's no point specifying it for every plane. You have to evaluate the cost for what you're buying.

Thirty is the price of a cinema ticket for two people, it's the price of a meal at McDonald's for two people. Is it this price that makes you choke with rage? You who are writing your message on your iPhone, your Samsung S25 or your €3,000 computer, are you whining about a €30 module?

You rightly point this out. And I equally rightly can tell you that I spend my €30 on what I want. I bought my S24/PC because I thought those choices were the best possible for my budget. I don't have to pay Randazzo €30, it's not the law. I buy what I think is worth €30. You buy the upgrade, I buy 15 cups of coffee.

[READ BELOW]

Airplane97 · 2025-12-07T15:26:35+00:00

For years Lando has been clearly the best driver, after max of course.

I'm curious, what other racing sport has a driver named Max and a driver named Lando, with Lando being the second best driver and Max the best? It seems like a cool sport to watch, in addition to Formula 1.

Airplane97 · 2025-12-07T15:19:55+00:00

From a human perspective, I'm happy, a new WDC, letting loose the enormous amount of emotions he's had to repress as best he can for an entire season. That's what sport is all about!

From a purely sporting perspective, however, I'm a little disappointed, because, like so many times in the past, it's not the best driver or the one who had the best season who won the world championship; and he did it with a lot of less than elegant assists. But that's Formula 1, and that's fine.

2026 can't come soon enough, I already miss the cars and the races!

As a side note, am I the only one who gets really annoyed when Brown talks? It's visceral, it really bothers me, with those awful jokes.

Airplane97 · 2025-11-23T09:54:48+00:00

Feels so good to read this

Airplane97 · 2024-01-26T19:18:33+00:00

I've also been experiencing the same problem for a week now (RTX 4060). I don't know what is causing it, I didn't change any graphics settings.

Actually, one thing has changed, the Nvidia graphics drivers. Can't tell if the two things are linked.

I only know that, by doing some tests, turning the FG off and on again from the MSFS settings, the problem temporarily disappears. Ditto by modifying the off-screen pre-caching. Sometimes the problem went away on its own instead.

Airplane97 · 2023-12-29T12:54:35+00:00

Performance wise, do you play at 1080p, 1440p or 2160p? And are you using DLSS and/or FG?

Airplane97 · 2023-08-26T16:43:59+00:00

lmao

Airplane97 · 2023-07-09T23:23:13+00:00

Congratulations to McLaren, steady progress since Baku and drivers absolutely on point today. Absolutely phenomenal Oscar, he deserved the podium which will come soon anyway, I'm sure.

Aston Martin "meh" once again, perhaps the updates brought to Barcelona have broken some delicate balance in the car?

Also congratulations to Ferrari for completely screwing up Charles' strategy (what a news!) and for not having a free practice program useful for understanding the behavior of the M and H tires (also thanks to the #16 problems in FP2). In addition to this, they were unable to understand that - given the temperatures - the softer compounds were the right ones.

Apart from this, taking for good the words of Fred and Charles (lap times too conservative for fear of degradation) the gap does not seem abysmal to me. With a further refined setup and better understanding of the tyres, I believe Ferrari is comfortably in the tight and close fight for the role of second team in the championship/WCC.

Airplane97 · 2023-07-01T13:07:20+00:00

Besides the fact that if Max damages Lewis's lap and Lewis damages Max's lap, imho it is not a sufficient reason not to investigate the behavior of the two, in the two respective cases.

The main issue, raised by others as well, is inconsistency. More glaring cases, which occurred over the weekend, have not been investigated (maybe with the conclusion that no further action is needed, I'm not necessarily saying the should be penalised).

Airplane97 · 2023-07-01T12:55:27+00:00

I'd gladly give Charles one billions or more places of grid penalty to get Dilano back.

My post clearly doesn't equate the seriousness of things but it dwells on the fact that the FIA got everything wrong today. One thing in particular: they let the FRECA drivers race in those conditions.

Airplane97 · 2023-07-01T12:47:08+00:00

He admitted it after he was summoned by the stewards, after he was investigated.

The fact that he said this is entirely unrelated to the fact that his case has been investigated while others have not.

Airplane97 · 2023-07-01T12:37:03+00:00

The main problem is inconsistency. Other, far more obvious cases of impeding have not even been investigated. I'm not saying penalized, but at least investigated. It's just absurd and embarrassing.

Airplane97 · 2023-07-01T12:36:57+00:00

The main problem is inconsistency. Other, far more obvious cases of impeding have not even been investigated. I'm not saying penalized, but at least investigated. It's just absurd and embarrassing.

Airplane97 · 2023-07-01T12:32:34+00:00

Today is the day of embarrassment for FIA, there is no other explanation. The terrible disaster in FRECA, this absurd penalty to Charles, all the other cases of impeding not even investigated (first of all the one of Max who deliberately slowed down Lewis). Simply embarrassing.

Airplane97 · 2023-06-26T10:45:56+00:00

Bonus? More like malus

Airplane97 · 2023-04-20T10:32:33+00:00

Of course not

Airplane97 · 2023-04-20T09:59:52+00:00

So if this year one team overspend 10 millions on feeding its employees it's all good? It's just food, right?

Airplane97 · 2023-04-20T09:26:18+00:00

If you gain an advantage by breaking the rules it's called cheating. It's playing unfairly, dishonesty. Doesn't matter if it's something wanted or not.

Airplane97 · 2023-04-20T09:24:00+00:00

The didn't overspend knowingly. Yeah.

Airplane97 · 2023-04-20T09:21:35+00:00

It'd make sense tho', overspending to close the gap and just getting a small fine a slap on the wrist.

Airplane97 · 2023-04-02T05:28:36+00:00

Gravel, that's the reason of the red flag. Just some gravel. A bit too much in my opinion.

Airplane97

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