nimbusgb writes
Windows doesn't come with a 'demo', neither do about 95% of the
packages in use today.

Sorry, but a comparison of Condor to Windows doesn't really fly

As for 95% of the rest of the packages in use? Arguable, I suppose, in
such broad terms, but my gut instinct would be to disagree. An awful lot
of software products (both commercial and domestic, for that matter) are
supported by demo versions or some other method of direct evaluation
prior to purchase. If I were to go out on a limb I'd say it was more
than half.

More to the point, all the other gliding simulators, including the most
obvious direct and contemporary competitor, Silent Wings, have demo
versions available. Condor is the obvious exception. I know why they
chose to make themselves the exception in this case, but even in view of
their arguments I still maintain that it's a mistake on their part and
wish they'd reconsider.

I know its a bit of a pain but that's the state of the market. Condor
costs a few quid less than an Xbox or PS2 game and very few people
complain about the lack of demos of these games. My son can happily
devour console games after only a few comments from mates in the school
playground or a single TV ad.

No. It's not the state of the market, and the only pain is that they'll
miss out on at least one potential sale, mine. In fact, in that their
particular niche of the market specifically makes demos available, they
are running against the state of the market.

In any case, most PC games have demos available, especially the more
obscure or specialist genres. As for Xbox, PS2 and the like, you are
comparing apples and eggs. The performance capabilities of my Xbox are
the same as your son's, or anybody else's, for that matter. Game
consoles are great levellers in that respect. Unlike PCs. I can read the
back of the game box and perhaps a review or two and have a fair idea
that I'm not going to waste my money on an Xbox game. The same can't be
said of a PC game, given the infinite variation of hardware capabilities
out there. One of my principle concerns with contemplating the purchase
of Condor would be with how it might run on my (now a little dated) rig.
The only way I can be sure is to try it. In the case of every gliding
simulator except for Condor I can try this before I spend hard cash.

Then, of course, there are all the other considerations that apply to
whether or not you actually get on with a product. For example, I
absolutely preferred the feel of SFSpc (and so purchased it) over SotS.
In the absence of a demo of each how would I have made that informed
choice?

Personally, as a paying customer, I'd like to see the Condor
development team staying focussed on reacting to the very active forum
requests and comments rather than putting out a demo so some skinflint
glider pilots can try to hack their work.

Personally, as a potential customer I have to say that in the absence of
a demo the Condor crew won't be selling me their simulator. If I'm in a
minority, good for them; they clearly made the right market decision in
not making a demo available. If I'm in a minority. Otherwise they're
loosing out on a significant share of what is, after all, a very
specialist and constrained market.

By the way, don't take this as a slight against your original post. I
did enjoy reading it and appreciated your sharing your feedback on the
sim. But I think their decision to not publish a demo is short-sighted
and
ill-advised.

Regards,


Bill

--
Bill Gribble
http://www.scapegoatsanon.demon.co.uk
- Learn from the mistakes of others.
- You won't live long enough to make all of them yourself.