Why scenery is payware?

[Nzeddy]

Hey guys,

Today I was sitting on my pc making Napier scenery for FSX (still trying to get the blending right...) and thought that why some scenery are payware? Is this because it's the amount of time that has been put into it or is that because you've used some resources that you had to pay for eg high resolution aerial imagery, aeroplane flights over an airport to get photos etc or you just want money etc?

I've seen some payware scenerys out there for FSX which look like freeware quality. Im not going to say who they are but I guess some of you guys know.

So what's your opinion why scenery for FSX should or why is it payware?

Cheers,
Eddy

[deeknow]

Jeeze Eddy, what are you, some kind of socialist?

I'm no expert on economic theory but I dont think FSX scenery (or aircraft etc) is any different to any other goods or services really, if we as consumers perceive of something as having high relative quality, or utility, and the maker/s has/have put a lot of effort into it, why not have them be rewarded. And I agree there is some cr@p payware stuff for the sim, but you dont have to buy it if you read a few reviews and it doesnt sound positive.

I guess an issue for the likes of yourself (and lots of others here who do produce freeware stuff) is at what point do you start charging for your work? I'd say you'd have to be producing something pretty special or have a decent track record to be charging a fee. Personally I think I'd only be happy doing that if I was working on something where it consumed the sort of hours/effort a full time job does, ie when you're essentially a professional.

[Ian Warren]

In a lot off cases it is the resource of photo images and the other is the travel to outside airports and airfield s , hiring an aircraft or helicopters to get aerial photos , this may have to be done many times course the time to put it all together , thats the payware reason .

The Freeware , the airport s i produced and works were free - Christchurch and Wigram are simple next door to me , my concept was simple , many people designing brilliant payware or freeware aircraft and no place nice to land , Invercargill , Nelson , Wellington was created by a team who all took photos and for myself to model also the art side .

On that note i check to look and check scenery , again i looking and applying the autogen and check mistakes and general feedback .

[toprob]

When I was single (between ex Mrs Toprobs) it was easy enough to find the time to produce freeware, but once you start having kids and getting more and more responsibilities, you don't really have time for hobbies. This applies to anything, not just flightsim... I last played golf about the time my first kid was born. Now they are all grown-up.

So to continue producing scenery, I need to support myself doing it. So when you buy my scenery, you are basically paying my wages, and hopefully a 'profit' for the business, although this doesn't happen often.

'Payware quality' is an often-abused term, and will be different for everyone. To me, it's more important that I am happy to pay for it. If not, I don't. Incidentally, I don't use much freeware at all, but that is a different matter, more to do with the fact that I can't take too many risks with my FS installation, as my 'business' depends on it.

I'd love to be back in the old days, when I could spend my spare-time producing freeware scenery, but it's been about 10 years since I had any spare time. If I couldn't justify this as a business, then I couldn't do it.

Most freeware developers drop out when they get to this stage, so take advantage of your freedom while you can. Giving up employment for this was a real risk, which in some respects didn't work out -- money is always tight, and health problems etc can set you back to square-one. I wouldn't recommend it, but I do get a kick out of supporting myself with something I really enjoy.

[craigyd]

Since ive starting down this scenery building thing I have developed a new found appreciation for how much time and effort goes into it, both freeware and payware. If someone can make a few bucks then good on em....

[creator2003]

I had a PC fail and borrowed money to finish HamiltonX which has over time taken me and friends 3 years to pull finger outta __- and get something to fly around ,i have modeled things in between etc but its a lot of hours and learning hours making just the most simplest Airports like Hamilton ,i think i priced myself at my skill level and wont ask for a cent more manly cause my misses says i have toO , after the PC is paid for ill invest into another Airport to model which will leave me about nothing again fun fun but i do do it for the LOVE

[Timmo]

As mentioned, often times it's a financial necessity- For the smaller projects that people do, they don't mind spending some cash on getting to the airport etc or purchasing an aerial photo if it's cheap enough. They are happy to write off the time and money they spend creating the addon for the benefit of the community , the expansion of personal skills and knowledge or the warm fuzzies when someone says 'thanks'.....however when a project becomes larger or the investment in it passes a certain level, there often needs to be something to offset that investment otherwise the financial and time burden becomes too large.

[Ian Warren]

[Adrian Brausch]

Ian ,....outstanding screenie

[Ian Warren]

Adrian , VLC with a little photoreal ya cant go wrong

[nzav8tor]

That screenshot is a good example of why we're happy to pay for certain things!

[FlyerMike]

Wow Mike, after my first flight around HamiltonX, I can guarantee that no-one will be disappointed to pay the asking price for this scenery. Magnificent!
As for the interior detail - I love to explore with "Bob" from Orbx - so was thrilled to see the detail in the terminal building - even down to the menus on the tables! LOL.
I hope you do better than break even and please continue to enjoy our hobby. You are giving a great deal of pleasure to the rest of the flightsim community, as have the other scenery designers mentioned in your credits.
Cheers MIke M

QUOTE (creator2003 @ Dec 29 2010, 01:26 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I had a PC fail and borrowed money to finish HamiltonX which has over time taken me and friends 3 years to pull finger outta __- and get something to fly around ,i have modeled things in between etc but its a lot of hours and learning hours making just the most simplest Airports like Hamilton ,i think i priced myself at my skill level and wont ask for a cent more manly cause my misses says i have toO , after the PC is paid for ill invest into another Airport to model which will leave me about nothing again fun fun but i do do it for the LOVE