User:Ssvv7/sandbox/FlightGear redistribution 1st draft

First draft of edit under FlightGear#Commercial redistribution

Criticism from media

Games website RockPaperShotgun has criticised the ethics of third parties attempting to profit from the work of volunteer contributors to FlightGear. That is, making a profit not commensurate with the amount of work done in any shipping, support, or improvements to the sim re-shared under GPL. This is in contrast to official DVD copies containing the sim and scenery sent out to people who cannot download conveniently, in exchange for a small fee per copy sent to cover the cost of supplying and operation of project server infrastructure.

Games journalist Tim Stone, in his simulation column The Flare Path, spoke of his intense dislike of the practise in an article titled "The Flare Path: Don't Buy VirtualPilot3D", opening with "I’ve been a flight simmer for thirty years, and a flight sim critic for 4369 days, 9 hours, and 37 minutes. In all that time I don’t think I’ve ever loathed a piece of software as passionately as I loathe the game you are currently thinking about buying" and "Purchasing VirtualPilot3D isn’t just stupid, it helps a career cad misrepresent and parasitize other labours of love." He also singled out redistributions by VirtualPilot3D, ProFlightSimulator, Flight Simulator Plus or FlightProSim.

He critisied the ethics reflected by the VirtualPilot3d website breaching ethical standards commonly enshrined in consumer law. Tim Stone pointed to deception by stealing media available online from other sims to misrepresent VirtualPilot3d, as well as alleging VirtualPilot3d of "lying through their teeth" considering the difficulties in getting Virtualpilot3d FAA certified. Tim Stone also referred to anectodes alleging the positive customer testimonials were likely fraudulent as the photos appeared to be stolen from online sources, sometimes used in testimonials for multiple unrelated products, and attributed each time to new names with fabricated biographies.

In 2018 Tim stone followed up a second column focusing on Pro Flight Simulator titled "The Flare Path: Don't buy Pro Flight Simulator" , in which he criticised the "ethical standards" and "extraordinary willingness to lie in the pursuit of sales" displayed by the advertisements. He alleged fraud, citing stolen screenshots of other sims like FSX, stolen youtube videos of other sims, claimed photo of the lead programmer matching a stock photo model, an apparent attempt to create an impression that Pro Flight Simulator deserved large profits by claiming there was a 200 person development, apparent use of false limited time bonuses that leverage's loss aversion, seemingly fabricated user testimonials etc.