I do not want to start a 'bash Alphasim' thread, but thought it an interesting reflection (a weather gauge anyway) of the state of our hobby IN GENERAL.
Alphasim were responsable (as Phil Perrot and his panel add-ons in MS98) for my interest in FS, a hobby I have now enjoyed for 12 years. I must not be the only one here sad not make a weekly visit to the AS website, to see screen shots of some upcoming new model.
At it's height, AS were releasing FS9 models every 2 weeks, of variable quality for 'pocket money' prices. The sort of Airfix (series 1) kit of the FS world, if you grew up in the 1960-70's. Nowadays we have had one model (Yak-52) and a half model (C-17) in 6 months. Even the 'we are still here' notice on the website looks a bit faded now.
So what has (all but) killed off AS, pirates? Customer service? (which was fine when the had a forum), model choices? the complexity of FSX and the time it takes to model nowadays? Good old lack of profit? or just a gradual decline of flight simming in general?
Remember, no mud slinging please, just some educated thoughts on the (possible) demise of an old long established developer and it's implications for the rest and the hobby in general.
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