Skysim Sea Vixen

[FallenPhoenix1986]

I've been humming and hawing over whether to grab the bird for a while now, every time I go to order her I have second thoughts based on the state of the seemingly abandoned order page. Given the numerous threads abounding in various forums regarding Skysim and customer service I'm a little apprehensive of paying for something I may never see...
I was just wondering if anyone has dealt with them lately or knows if they are even still in operation?

Craig

[DaveB]

Hi Craig..

AFAIA.. what was Skysim and what is now Skysim are 2 different things. As a 'new' customer, you shouldn't have any problems. The only hassle I've heard of is folk wanting to put the Hawk on a new pc (purchased from the old Skysim) and having difficulty getting it authenticated. Other than that.. nowt

ATB

DaveB

[J0hn]

Apart from highly recommending their excellent Sea Vixen - well worth it - I would suggest that if you have doubts, you use Paypal to pay for it, if the option is available.

Then, if it doesn't show up or you get no other reaction, Paypal should refund you your dosh.

I do see what you mean, though - there is absolutely zero information there - apart from the products and registration.

If I'd not heard of them, I would avoid that site like the plague!
Very bad practice imho. (Aren't those guys on here? Seem to recall so, though it was a while back).

JD

PS - if you look at this thread:

http://www.cbfsim.org/cbfsim/cbfsBB/vie ... wk#p233994

it seems Paul bought the Hawk from them in October - so maybe it would be an idea to pm him about the process, if you have doubts?

[DaveB]

Hi JD..

As I said in my post, Skysim as was is not anymore.. the guy who owned the company sold it. The folk responsible for the Hawk and Sea Vixen are here but they're not Skysim.. they are the developers, not the publishers

ATB

DaveB

[J0hn]

Hi Dave

that's my point - as the developers of products being sold by Skysim, surely they would know if the place is still in business? Regardless of who owns the site, the guys (Rick, isn't it? amongst others) must be getting their 'royalties' - unlesss they were paid off on takeover, I guess, though as it seems it was a recent thing (from Companies House info), mebbe not yet

Seems no shops have them in stock, either - so best to leave alone, I would say

JD

[TSR2]

Hi John,

Rick doesn't get Royalties for the Hawk (unfortunately for him) it was done as he was an employee of the old skysim company, not as a subcontracted individual, so when skysim was sold, the rights would have been sold allong with it.

[DaveB]

Hiya Craig..

Regardless of who owns the site, the guys (Rick, isn't it? amongst others) must be getting their 'royalties' -

Or so you would think It was (I believe) dependent and what sort of contract you were under.. eg on a salary or paid on a percentage of sales. I can't speak for BrianF/Jim or the Simshed team (or Rick really) but I'm pretty sure Rick hasn't heard anything from Skysim for years. I think the whole episode ended rather 'open ended' and unsatisfactory as far as the developers were concerned and few seemed to know what was happening under the original setup. The boys here are certainly able to help those who bought the Hawk from the original Skysim.. the Sea Vixen wasn't buttoned up in the same way so users didn't have the same problems with pc rebuilds.. a downside of which being it was out on the torrents in short order Support for purchasers from the original Skysim was offered by way of a months grace if I remember correctly (taken from the time the new owners took over). Any issues with the Hawk after that time have been dealt with by the developers themselves via folk ending up here asking questions.
I don't know what contractural obligations remain between the new owners and the developers but it should still be safe to buy both products.. moreso given the caution you advised by using Paypal

EDIT.. as Ben said

ATB

DaveB

[Rick Piper]

Hi Guys

I have almost no info on what happened to SkySim.
I know the Hawk can still be purchased and i provide the support via redirected Hawk support e mails.
I have had no contact from the new owner apart from support redirections.

Gordon would not tell me anything much as i had already left SkySim over other matters long ago which was pretty fair in my view.
Jim & Brian also left so they won't be in the loop either.

Not sure if you can still buy Brian's Sea Vixen from SkySim or what is planned as i work for the new company but have nothing at all projected for Flightsim as that promise has never materialised.
I just get on with the models they want me to make for their training software.

So i can't help much.

I don't get Hawk Royalties but i did get a new job because of it so i am not complaining

I have been unable to access the SkySim forum for months so cannot get in there to even read it.
But i do get Hawk Support request e mails and sort out every single one immediately.
(W7 and latest updates to Vista have been a real PITA)
Regards
Rick

[Rick Piper]

I forgot

Pretty sure you can still buy the Hawk And Sea Vixen from the SkySim shop.

I don't think anything has changed sales wise & i know it's safe to buy from there.
Regards
Rick

[DaveB]

Hi Rick

Yup.. while the product page doesn't appear to have had any movement nor the forums (for some time).. the on-line store page is active and current so there's no reason to presume anything is wrong there. I recently bought a scenery for FS9 from a site that looked a lot more disheveled than Skysims.. it was abroad too but the date and time were current so I gave it a go. It worked too!

Craig.. the Sea Vixen is (IMHO) the best carrier aircraft available.. and I don't say that because I was on the beta team either It's not 'new' now so may not have the very latest photo-like textures but that shouldn't detract from any uncertainty to purchase. Anyway.. RN colours do not lend themselves particularly well to flightsim.. the blue/grey upper is one of those colours that looks great in the flesh but one FS isn't struck on If carrier aircraft are your thing.. you'll wonder why you didn't buy this before

ATB

DaveB