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Orbx / Dovetail Games Press Release


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DOVETAIL GAMES TO PARTNER WITH RENOWNED 

FLIGHT SIMULATION SCENERY SPECIALIST ORBX

 

Dovetail Games to bring Orbx add-ons to Steam

 

Chatham, Kent – 7th May 2015 Dovetail Games, the multi award-winning developer and publisher of a range of simulation games recently announced that it has agreed a partnership with flight simulation software publisher and developer Orbx Simulation Systems.

 

The partnership will enable Dovetail Games to publish new and existing Orbx add-on content for Microsoft Flight Simulator X: Steam Edition on Steam. Under this agreement, brand new Orbx content released by Dovetail Games will have a 90-day exclusivity period on Steam before being made available on other channels.

 

Designed with accessibility in mind, the upcoming Orbx releases for FSX: Steam Edition are optimized specifically for the Steam platform. This high-quality scenery will feature an automatic installation process via Steam, and will be completely self-contained without any dependencies on previous releases from Orbx.

 

CEO John Venema said, “We're thrilled to be partnering with Dovetail Games, and look forward to a long and fruitful relationship. My meetings with the team were friendly, positive and productive and I believe there are many exciting opportunities ahead for us.”

 

Tim Gatland, Chief Technology Officer at Dovetail Games added, “Orbx is highly respected in the flight simulation community and we are delighted to be able to work together in partnership to bring their scenery to Steam.”

 

Microsoft Flight Simulator X: Steam Edition was launched by Dovetail Games in December 2014.  It delivers authentic aviation experience for simulation enthusiasts and those with a passion for aviation.  The game is available now on Windows PC via Steam. For further information, please visit www.dovetailgames.com or https://fsxinsider.com/.  

 

 

 

About Dovetail Games

Dovetail Games was launched in 2013. Previously trading as RailSimulator.com Ltd, the business launched in 2009 and produces and markets Train Simulator. Developed for the PC, the Train Simulator series of products is available both as a boxed product from video game retailers and as a digital download. In 2014, Dovetail Games also launched it’s first flight product, Microsoft Flight Simulator X: Steam Edition, and is currently developing Dovetail Games Fishing for launch in 2015. To find out more, please visit http://www.dovetailgames.com.

 

 

About Orbx Simulation Systems

Orbx is one of the fastest growing independent flight simulation publishers in the world and has developed over one hundred award-winning products since its inception in 2006. Orbx's team of over fifty developers and staff focus on creating experience-driven terrain and scenery that mimics the real world as far as current simulator engines allow. The company is committed to extensive research and development, and has continually innovated by bringing new technology to the FSX platform.  To find out more, please visit http://fullterrain.com

DTG Orbx Partnership.pdf

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John, may I ask you to elucidate one point: This doesn't mean, when the Southern California Region will become available, it will be available on Steam for FSX:SE exclusively for 90 days and only afterwards on the FSS for, e.g., Prepar3d, does it?


 


Thanks and


kind regards, Michael


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"Under this agreement, brand new Orbx content released by Dovetail Games will have a 90-day exclusivity period on Steam before being made available on other channels."


 


I hope this is a joke and does not affect all the other faithful ORBX customers and FSX/P3D users who helped making the company big?!



 


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Love to know that too, Michael. So everyone that isn't on SE has to wait 3 extra months for a product to be released.


Agree Tom. I'm a little upset at this. Need to leave before I get banned.

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Hi guys,


At the moment there are only a couple of products not yet announced that will have the exclusive 3 month period, developed exactly for this purpose. All other Orbx products will be released as normal.


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Under this agreement, brand new Orbx content released by Dovetail Games will have a 90-day exclusivity period on Steam before being made available on other channels.

This is clearly the phrase of interest to many here - will this only be a subset of releases, or is it intended for all new products?

 

Edit:

Hi guys,

At the moment there are only a couple of products not yet announced that will have the exclusive 3 month period, developed exactly for this purpose. All other Orbx products will be released as normal.

Ah, question answered!

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Hi guys,

At the moment there are only a couple of products not yet announced that will have the exclusive 3 month period, developed exactly for this purpose. All other Orbx products will be released as normal.

 

Thanks a lot for the clarification, the press release wasn't clear at all.

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I wanted to leave but couldnt..


 


I'm still not sure it has been answered fully though. I wonder what those 'couple of products' are and if and when this will spread to other products. Does the statement 'All other prodcuts will be released as normal' mean that the 90 day thing never applies? My guess is that the one or two products (airports) that have been advertised already will be released as normal. All other products will follow the 90 day rule. I would love to get further clarification on whether that is true.


 


Thanks.


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JV already covered this a couple of weeks ago:

 

Anything we offer DTG for Steam will not be aimed at our core "Orbx enthusiast" core customer base, but the casual Steam gamer looking for simple to install DLCs for FSX:SE. This means no FTX Central, no Objectflow, no FTX regions or Global assumed, default autogen and mostly designed for default terrain. In other words, anything DTG publishes from Orbx will be unique to the platform and not really designed for our core customers.

Saying that, anything brand new published via DTG will have a brief 90-day exclusive-to-Steam period, then followed by our own Orbx triple-installer down the track. This gives us a window to release the FSX:SE-only version, then 90 days to enhance it and release it to our core base as a Global/Regions compatible triple-installer.

Finally, there is a crossover of our core customers who have embraced FSX:SE as their platform of choice and they will continue to use FTX Central to install our full-featured triple-installer built for Global or FTX regions, not the Steam DLC method.

I hope this give you some insight into our foray onto Steam.

 

 

Cheers

Jack

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Thank you Holy Cheese for setting that straight, I think you guys should know better than to think that we would do that to our customer base, we are Aussies, we don't play games like that.


 


After the earlier explanations, the press release was more than clear and I think the loose guns need to be tightened and holstered.


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After the earlier explanations, the press release was more than clear and I think the loose guns need to be tightened and holstered.

 

Yes. Let's all have a bourbon in the saloon to celebrate Orbx' achievement with this deal. We all benefit from the growth of Orbx.

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After the earlier explanations, the press release was more than clear and I think the loose guns need to be tightened and holstered.

I usually don't carry guns being forbidden in Germany anyway. To me, this point was unclear - certainly my fault growing old.

 

Kind regards, Michael

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Hello folks, allow me to clarify the press release further. We have no plans at this stage to port 100+ products across to FSX:SE as DLC sold by DTG.

We have entered into an agreement to create two (2) brand new airport sceneries which will be designed for FSX:SE default and exclusive to DTG for 90 days. Those projects are under way and DTG will publicise them when they reach beta stage. We're also considering other existing Orbx sceneries or further new content. These sceneries are designed for default ground terrain and won't have Objectflow support and will use default FSX vegetation and autogen (although we may provide an optional Orbx tree set).

During the 90-day exclusive period these two airports will be further enhanced to match their respective regions (whether that is an FTX region or FTX Global), and have Objectflow added. Finally they will be specifically tailored to P3Dv2.x and released as triple-installers.

So essentially we release these new titles as Steam DLC via DTG early in the development cycle before the triple-installer work commences.

Meantime, existing FSX:SE users are welcome to install any of Orbx's 100+ products provided they don't also have the old FSX Boxed Edition on their PCs.

I hope this is now clear for everyone :)

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Think this makes alot of sense. For new FSX Steam Edition pilots, not having to purchase Global (although they would be crazy not to) is a step in the right direction. Slightly watered down scenery with all the ORBX goodness that is one click install and accessed through the Steam portal is great! 


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I have no problem with this. I understand a lite version could be released to DTG while ORBX takes extra time to add more onto it for the core users. This is similar to many other games released to consoles first then released to PC later when they can make major refinements.
 

 

PS...I bet yea Meigs will be one of the DTG Offerings. That would make a popular choice amongst the masses  :ph34r:

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Thanks for the welcome clarification, John. Offering two levels of quality for the same product is a new concept in the PC game industry, if I am not mistaken. A delicate marketing to handle, I suppose.. 


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John, thanks a lot for the clarification.

All is well when the "regular customer" gets the best possible feature loaded FTX add ons für FSX and P3D  8) 
And I wish you and ORBX all the best for the cooperation with Dovetail!  

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Hello folks, allow me to clarify the press release further. We have no plans at this stage to port 100+ products across to FSX:SE as DLC sold by DTG.

 

We have entered into an agreement to create two brand new airport sceneries which will be designed for FSX:SE default and exclusive to DTG for 90 days. Those projects are under way and DTG will publicise them when they reach beta stage. We're also providing the Lancair IVP. These sceneries are designed for default ground terrain and won't have Objectflow support and will use default FSX vegetation and autogen (although we may provide an optional Orbx tree set).

 

During the 90-day exclusive period these two airports will be further enhanced to match their respective regions (whether that is an FTX region or FTX Global), and have Objectflow added. Finally they will be specifically tailored to P3Dv2.x and released as triple-installers.

 

So essentially we release these new titles as Steam DLC via DTG early in the development cycle before the triple-installer work commences.

 

Meantime, existing FSX:SE users are welcome to install any of Orbx's 100+ products provided they don't also have the old FSX Boxed Edition on their PCs.

 

I hope this is now clear for everyone :)

specifically tailored to P3Dv2.x? and the good old fsx, i hope 8)

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Thanks a lot for the clarification, the press release wasn't clear at all.

If it wasn't clear it was probably well chosen words to give the impression it gave without actually meaning that. Dovetail Games are all about selling FSX SE and hoe that ORBX will help them do just that.

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At least we now know when we can expect a "triple installer" release (for FSX/P3D). That will be about 90 days after the DLC release. One good thing is that we might not se so many postings anymore asking for "when will this or that be released", wait for the DLC release an wait another 90 days.


 


 


Jack


the Swede in Spain


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Those 90 days will have to be a minimum no. of days, as nobody can guarantee the triple installers will be ready exactly 3 months after release of the Steam content.


 




(...), not to mention the forums being full of newbies posting taunting screenshots and support topics.




 


So suggesting limited user access only then.   :P


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Hi all

I am just curious about if a long term plan has been decided or is now up in the air as to which way Flight Simming will progress.

Please please Orbx do not take offence to the issues I am about to put forward, but I am sure that there are 1000's like me who are stuck with which way to go. Everything was fine, it was P3D ...... until Dovetail came along and did something very unexpected and with results never expected.

FSX-SE seems to be having good reports and in the end, it looks like the two players of flight simulators may very well be FSX-SE and P3D (sorry X-plane ... That's a different discussion all together which is too hot to discuss here).

I also accept that it is not fair to expect Orbx to go with FSX-SE and every other sim that comes along with potential . And maybe Dovetail is restricting Orbx from doing to much anyway? But if it boils down to these two being the major players (FSX-SE and P3D), would Orbx consider supporting these two as the main platforms, or only chose one, ie P3D. But if yes to FSX-SE as well, is there a lot of work or is it minor to convert Orbx to this platform . Some FSX users have transferred over to FSX-SE with ? good results (so they say very happily with there Orbx products), rather than P3D, and at present, with the stable platform and improvements to FSX-SE, FSX may slowly die and FSX-SE be its true replacement.

I have over 100 Orbx products and am very grateful that Orbx is supporting FSX and P3D, as P3D looked like the new system I was going to head towards once current issues of v2 resolved. I also know my knowledge of the political game and what FSX-SE is and isn't allowed to do, is very very limited, and JV has a far great picture of the FSX-SE / FSX / P3D future. But at this stage for me, with the knowledge I can gain, I am at a stalemate, not happy with P3D v2 yet, happier with FSX at present, but based on public feedback and reviews I am seeing, I am being pulled more to FSX-SE, but I don't want to go there without the quality of Orbx, as nothing else really comes close to the quality (other than Orbx spin-offs eg: 29 Palms and Sim 720).

So i sit at a crossroad, probably with 1000's of other Simmers, unsure which way to turn. And fully aware no Company, not Dovetail, not Lockheed Matin and not Orbx are going to give their game-plan away at this stage (due to financial and contract reasons well beyond a customers need to know) so that I can make a real educated choice today or within the next few months at least of which direction to take.

It's Murphy's law, just when your ready to bite the bullet, something comes along and changes everything.

Spacey.

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Spacey, you make very vaild points, with one important one missing: The new simulator (working title DFS) Dovetail is going to develop due in the next year, which *might* have much more potential than just FSX:SE.


 


Kind regards, Michael


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that´s why i stay with my good old running fsx,i have try p3d and i do not like it........have also fsx-se,but not try it at moment,i will not mess up wat i have..........maybee i try it on my other pc,


at moment i have stop to buy airports and planes and wait wat the future show..........and enjoy a lot wat i have now........ ::)


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