How much do videos influence your buying habits?

[FAFL342Pascal]

Many demo videos are captured with impressiv hardware, enhanced with visual and special effects, and for some trailers, they are just video prod build with other software.

I really prefer a trial release.

 

[Roadburner440]

Yeah I have to agree about A2A.. If it wasn't for the videos I would of never believed the things they said about the 377, or subsequent planes. I mean now it is a given, but back then you have to see it to believe it. For me I like seeing a product in action before plunking down the $$ for it.

 

[clmooring]

a lot! I had never purchased a Lionheartcreations product, but the epic video made was compelling. I had purchased flight1 products, but the cessna mustang video was also very good.

 

[warchild]

How much do you folks discern between a payware video and a freeware video, and does it influence your choice in downloading?? Also, what would you like to see that would help you better in making a decision??
I mean, lets face it. Shaggyroad, Cody, Lotus,, there all incredible film makers, and that means they put a lot of heart, time and money into it and they aint cheap either. So lets say that a certain developer was making a certain plane that they honestly feel is the best work they and their team have ever done, but they dont have a dime to spend and wont be getting any money from it either. What could that person put into a video, that would help to convey to you, the customers, the quality, confidence, and yes, even joy that can be had in that aircraft, without spending a dime ( or several hundred dimes )???

 

[CodyValkyrie]

How much do you folks discern between a payware video and a freeware video, and does it influence your choice in downloading?? Also, what would you like to see that would help you better in making a decision??
I mean, lets face it. Shaggyroad, Cody, Lotus,, there all incredible film makers, and that means they put a lot of heart, time and money into it and they aint cheap either. So lets say that a certain developer was making a certain plane that they honestly feel is the best work they and their team have ever done, but they dont have a dime to spend and wont be getting any money from it either. What could that person put into a video, that would help to convey to you, the customers, the quality, confidence, and yes, even joy that can be had in that aircraft, without spending a dime ( or several hundred dimes )???

This post has provided a lot of insight, that my company (my crew and I) have taken note on. The idea also is to provide information for others who may be planning to do so or develop ones themselves. The camera features of FSX make it a very camera friendly (for the most part) simulation to film. There could be improvements nonetheless, but overall I am pleased with it's ability.

With a few tools such as FRAPS, EZDOK/EZWalk, a simple idea and a good piece of editing software, you can well be on your way to advertising an addon. For those uninitiated, the Windows video editing software is good. If you have a few dollars (or more) to spend, I would recommend a copy of Vegas or Adobe After Effects, the latter being a much harder editing suite to master.

Another option is to ask one of the freeware video developers (of which there are MANY) who may be interested in helping you advertise the addon.

As a side note, I'm more than willing to feature your plane in some videos we make, if you don't mind. I love featuring various aircraft in videos. It adds ambiance, and gives developers a chance to see their hard work viewed in a commercial or non-commercial video.

 

[b52bob]

If the video's end purpose is to get you to buy the aircraft, why smother the video in headbanging, earpounding music? An aircraft's engine sounds are important as well as the VC and external work, so save the music for another time.[/QUOTE]

Amen, I want to see what I will get, not some heavy metal stuff. I really HATE those videos with all sorts of stupid dissolves or airplanes flying backwards and what have you. A good video will really get me to thinking about purchasing.

 

[skyblazer3]

Cody's last video on WWI has really got me thinking about picking up Rise of Flight.

I think videos are an important part of the equation , but they certainly are not the principle factor. Like others, I love a good flight sim video, and abhor a poor video with heavy-metal music.

It would be great if some of these talented video makers wrote a little bit about their process for those of us that are interested in making our own films. I have a feeling, however, that the truly great video makers are more artists than they are technicians and would have a difficult time describing their process.

Chris Eells

 

[Snave]

The difference surely, is whether the video creator is purposely showcasing the product (in which case showcase the product, not the myriad other addons you have running at the same time); a generic depiction of the state of their FSX installation ("look how pretty my sim looks, it's much better than yours"); or their video editing skills (I could make a video about glass blowing, and with a banging' rock back beat you'd want to go out and make a chandelier `coz I know about crosscuts and FTB's and you don't...)

Horses for courses.

There are a handful of real artists working in the flight sim community actually creating videos that actively promote and encourage the products for sale. And we've seen them all, and look forward to their next creations. All the respect to them. if it was easy we'd all be doing it...

THOSE few, a very few, DO actually encourage purchase.

Probably 99.975% of the remainder are just irritating because they fall short in one way or another of being a sales tool. Not to say they aren't good in their own way, whatever that might be. I like a good rock soundtrack as much as the next man, and more than the guy next to him.

But it's piggin` useless to me when what I want to know is has that sound designer released a package that has entirely the wrong engine sound for the package he's foisted on the paying public, or the VC when all they show is shots of the external model flying into and out of shot...

Frustration is rarely a purchase signal.

 

[warchild]

Cody!, thank you.. Much appreciated.
I'm still curious though. So far i've learned, keep the music down, have the plane heard, use real life videos and images mixed in, show more of the VC, and much more, but everyone is talking sales.. To me that implies payware. But what about developers like piglet ( as an example ) who produce wonderful freeware. Do videos enfluence a persons decision to download those planes??

 

[AckAck]

Well, the thread title asks how they influence buying habits, and Cody has done several videos for payware products, and, IIRC, there was some mention of data for clients, so that's why I assumed payware.

I would think there would be almost no effect on freeware. Freeware you just download and try, as there is almost no opportunity cost. No reason to look at a video to decide to download something free. Yourcosts are time and bandwidth, and a video is likely similar in bandwidth requirements to the actual item - no cost saving there.

That doesn't apply to instructional videos, only promotional.

Brian

 

[warchild]

No reason to look at a video to decide to download something free.
Brian

SO, ( and please forgive what appears to be negativity. Admittedly, I find myself frustrated, but am more curious than frustrated ) that means that there is no reason for a freeware developer to make better aircraft, because there is no advertising, there's probably little interest, or even knowledge??
Certainly there's word of mouth, thats how both Multon and ito-san became known. but theres only one Milton.. And in todays world, where exactitude in visual models, flight models, systems and gauges are mandatory how can you separate the dedicated artists from the casual hobbyist if they all get lumped together under the fifth grade show and tell "looky what i did" heading?? Wouldn't a video go a long way towards helping the public to make that decision??

 

[Aviator32]

SO, ( and please forgive what appears to be negativity. Admittedly, I find myself frustrated, but am more curious than frustrated ) that means that there is no reason for a freeware developer to make better aircraft, because there is no advertising, there's probably little interest, or even knowledge??
Certainly there's word of mouth, thats how both Multon and ito-san became known. but theres only one Milton.. And in todays world, where exactitude in visual models, flight models, systems and gauges are mandatory how can you separate the dedicated artists from the casual hobbyist if they all get lumped together under the fifth grade show and tell "looky what i did" heading?? Wouldn't a video go a long way towards helping the public to make that decision??

Word of mouth is crucial for add-ons and that is probably even more true for freeware. If it's good enough then pretty quickly all the forums start to buzz and it becomes hard to avoid even if you would want to. A video isn't going to come close to creating the same level of interest. It's a very different issue when you can just download it, try it and take it off again if you don't like it compared with having to be persuaded to part with money.

 

[warchild]

i see.. so its not really the quality of the product that counts, but the money that gets negotiated..
Perhaps i'm getting too old..

 

[Snave]

SO, ( and please forgive what appears to be negativity. Admittedly, I find myself frustrated, but am more curious than frustrated ) that means that there is no reason for a freeware developer to make better aircraft, because there is no advertising, there's probably little interest, or even knowledge??
Certainly there's word of mouth, thats how both Multon and ito-san became known. but theres only one Milton.. And in todays world, where exactitude in visual models, flight models, systems and gauges are mandatory how can you separate the dedicated artists from the casual hobbyist if they all get lumped together under the fifth grade show and tell "looky what i did" heading?? Wouldn't a video go a long way towards helping the public to make that decision??

I don't think your asking the right question, or should I say you're reading wrongly into the answers proffered to the question asked: The question is specifically: `How much do videos influence your buying habits..?`

The implication that all answers relate specifically to payware is obvious, and any conclusion attributed to other sections of the marketplace are erroneous.

FWIW videos have no influence on me as to whether to download freeware. My criterion do not require a financial commitment to the fidelity, skill or dedication of the developer on trust prior to handing over my hard-earned, and therefore I rarely pay any attention to what others create moving-picture-wise for freeware.
That's not to say that I have never downloaded something I had previously discounted on the basis of seeing a video, but with freeware the principle is always `try it yourself` not wait for a video...

The difference is, I have never gone to the trouble of searching out a video for a freeware product in order to decide whether it was worthy of the download time. In most cases it takes longer to find a good vid that covers those areas important to me than it does to simply install the product and find out.

The common ground is, I suppose, that one cannot rely on a videographer to focus on the elements of freeware that make it desirable to me...

 

[warchild]

I don't think your asking the right question, or should I say you're reading wrongly into the answers proffered to the question asked: The question is specifically: `How much do videos influence your buying habits..?`

The implication that all answers relate specifically to payware is obvious, and any conclusion attributed to other sections of the marketplace are erroneous.

FWIW videos have no influence on me as to whether to download freeware. My criterion do not require a financial commitment to the fidelity, skill or dedication of the developer on trust prior to handing over my hard-earned, and therefore I rarely pay any attention to what others create moving-picture-wise for freeware.
That's not to say that I have never downloaded something I had previously discounted on the basis of seeing a video, but with freeware the principle is always `try it yourself` not wait for a video...

The difference is, I have never gone to the trouble of searching out a video for a freeware product in order to decide whether it was worthy of the download time. In most cases it takes longer to find a good vid that covers those areas important to me than it does to simply install the product and find out.

The common ground is, I suppose, that one cannot rely on a videographer to focus on the elements of freeware that make it desirable to me...

Good Answer. Thanks Snave.. most appreciated.