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  • Please see the most recent updates in the "Where did the .com name go?" thread. Posts number 16 and 17.

    Post 16 Update

    Post 17 Warning

How much do videos influence your buying habits?

How much do videos influence your buying habits?

  • They are the main way I become informed about a product before I purchase.

    Votes: 5 3.7%

  • They often effect my purchases and I have purchased many products based on a video alone.

    Votes: 10 7.4%

  • They are a major asset and are complementary to other media such as a website, pictures, etc.

    Votes: 38 28.1%

  • They certainly effect my buying decision, but are not always necessary.

    Votes: 28 20.7%

  • They effect my opinion of a product little.

    Votes: 24 17.8%

  • They have NO effect on my opinion of a product.

    Votes: 26 19.3%

  • Other.

    Votes: 4 3.0%
  • Total voters
    135
CodyValkyrie

CodyValkyrie

Charter Member 2016
When watching a simulator product video, how much does it effect your buying decision? I'm very curious to hear the various responses.

If "other" is chosen, please explain.
 
I think they're a growing asset to the purchase decision, but crisp, clear, well done screenshots are what I look for, because I want to study the VC/exterior up close in detail and unless a specific video concentrates solely in those areas, I'm going to be looking for the screenshots and if those are bad/poorly done, then I'll wait for feedback from someone who has purchased and had time to evaluate before I'll even consider it.

Videos are great to watch and to get a feel for the aircraft, but screens will still be the deciding factor for me. . .you can miss a lot in a video.
 
None whatsoever. In fact I loathe them, especially the ones with a musical soundtrack :banghead:

I just want to see and hear the aircraft as it would be in my sim if I bought it. I don't want to see it sexed up by special effects and a god awful power-ballad soundtrack. Unfortunately I don't think 'vanilla' FSX videos like that exist anymore so I tend to avoid them altogether which means my answer to your poll is No Effect. Good clean un-photoshopped screenshots of the VC are all I look for these days when a new add-on is announced. And written opinion of course.
 
What a timely subject,I just purchased The RAZBAM A-7 Corsair because of Mirage's exellent video showcasing this bird.Before the vid I was remotely interested,after the vid I was SOLD!!!!
I don't think that's ever happened before.
 
I selected 'Other' because not all payware products have videos. When they do they may affect my decision to purchase, but they are not the sole determining factor.

When I'm interested in a product that was released a few months ago, I will research reviews. SOH comments, how many repaints, etc. with a focus on specific model details such as the VC.

When a new product is released I may wait awhile to see what others say. If I've been pleased with prior products of the same developer/designer, I will make an immediate purchase.

--WH
 
It really depends on the quality of the video, but yes it is one of the influences in my buying decision!
 
Interesting responses already, and insightful thus far indeed. I would like this to play out a bit more. Ideally, I want to get a rythm as to how I can best assist my clients market their products. If I get anything from this, it is how best I can show customers my client's wares.

Thank you all thus far for voting and responding. Please, let's keep the ball rolling :D
 
they dont really affect my desicsion but i do look on the fact that if they have a decent video (showing the key points of the aircraft, maybe a bit about what systems are in etc) then the product must be resonably good to begin with, however if its a cheap looking one or a boring one (that isnt showing any info whatsoever and is just the plane flying along doing nothing for 5 mins) then i'll most likely take my money elseware :engel016:
 
Aviator32 said:
None whatsoever. In fact I loathe them, especially the ones with a musical soundtrack :banghead:

I just want to see and hear the aircraft as it would be in my sim if I bought it. I don't want to see it sexed up by special effects and a god awful power-ballad soundtrack. Unfortunately I don't think 'vanilla' FSX videos like that exist anymore so I tend to avoid them altogether which means my answer to your poll is No Effect. Good clean un-photoshopped screenshots of the VC are all I look for these days when a new add-on is announced. And written opinion of course.
Click to expand...

I couldn't agree more! More vc and engine sounds - no music
Frog
 
Knowing how hard they are to make, I always enjoy a well made video.

As for having an influence on whether or not I purchase an add-on, I'd have to say that I've never gone from "not interested" to "interested" because of a video. If anything, a good video will re-enforce an "interested" attitude and might push me from thinking about it to doing something about it.

Of course I think I'm in the tiniest of minorities when it comes to what type of add-on buyer I am. The thing that motivates me to buy an add-on is whether or not the model can help me make a movie.
 
Video of a product is what I look for first. I fly VC as much as possible so the VC is high on my list to see in a video. But then is that not what flight sim's are about flying the plane.

The best thing is Demo's of the product. I would not have bought FSX If I had not tried the Demo. Same with PNW.

But video, yes video sells things like back in the day, with the previews at the movies.
You can not kick the tires of the product you want on line but you can look a video of the product.

flyer01
 
I purchase based upon the following-

1. A perceived usefullness and interest in the aircraft. For example, I'd never buy an A380 for several reasons. It won't fit into many airports and I'm really not interested in it. A Catalina you can put just about anywhere (water or airport) and I really enjoy them.

2. Reviews in forums. If you guys say it's crap, why waste my money on it?

3. Support. Not only from the company that put out the product, but also repaints, add-ons etc. available for it. If nobody thinks enough of an airplane to repaint it, it can't be that good to begin with.

And those are my thoughts. A video really isn't that useful in terms of answering the above questions.
 
Aviator32 said:
. . . . . .I just want to see and hear the aircraft as it would be in my sim if I bought it. I don't want to see it sexed up by special effects and a god awful power-ballad soundtrack.. . . . .
Click to expand...
On that point, I would have to agree. Videographers would do well to heed that point. There have been many that I was interested in watching, but were so turned off by the background music that I never got past the first minute of the video.

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.
 
Interesting answers so far.
I both watch and make videos ( at times ), but the videos i make are always based on alpha and beta versions of the model. They dont have engine sounds quite often because many times, i dont have any engine sounds when i start and simply drop something in that approximates what i want to hear.
As to the enfluence a video may or may not have?? That varies. Sometimes, as with PNW,videos are a major point i look for, other times, like with the A-7 they are informative more in what they dont show than in what they show. they allow me to pick out the six or seven prime focus area's for me to work on, or where the aircraft i'm viewing may need better craftsmanship. .
 
Videos influence me on products which are not "must-have" for me, i.e. if they don't fall into my "topics". With "topic" I mean e.g. naval aviation and bushplanes for aircraft or certain scenery areas I prefer to fly in.

Out of my head following products were bought solely because of the video: FTX's Aeropelican and Concrete (video on product site), A2A's Cub (Jaggyroad site), Classics Hangar's FW 190 (Mirage's site).
 
falcon409 said:
On that point, I would have to agree. Videographers would do well to heed that point. There have been many that I was interested in watching, but were so turned off by the background music that I never got past the first minute of the video.

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.
Click to expand...

I admit to liking some the headbanging ear-pounding music but it usually obnoxiously loud. I like hearing the sounds of aircraft and maybe a little tower talk...just tone the music back enough to allow potential buyers to get the feel of the cockpit and external sound quality. So Falcon has a very good point here
Ted
 
Very little effect on me. What effects me the most is who is doing it, what plane it is. If I like the plane the chances are I'm going to buy it. Videos are nice but not really influence my choice in anyway.
 
I watch videos very closely...looking for issues dealing with flight model such as pitch sensitivity and efects of weight/mass during taxi, take off and/or landing.

I have chosen both to buy and not to buy based on these issues in a video. Have been disappointed several times after disregarding "clues" provided by these videos.

... a music background that drowns out product sound is a non-starter.

p:)
 
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