Revenue idea...

[rrohde]

Since ED is adding payware campaigns besides their current stream of income, which is selling DCS modules, wouldn't it be great if ED could bring us simulation hardware as well?

 

Maybe thinking a bit outside the box here, but I've come across a few forum discussions of folks wanting those Russian-made Mamba flight control sticks that resemble real-life Russian planes controls.

 

I would definitely spend some money on such items, if ED could become my one-stop-shop for some decent flightsimming hardware that would be usually hard to get otherwise.

 

Just a thought.

 

Edit: Changed title for clarity.

Edited December 19, 2014 by rrohde

[AtaliaA1]

Put together a Proposal to the Manufacturer to become the U.S. Distributer of their product, then u could make the money. Wouldn't take much, I am sure they want into the U.S. Market.

[nervousenergy]

Put together a Proposal to the Manufacturer to become the U.S. Distributer of their product, then u could make the money. Wouldn't take much, I am sure they want into the U.S. Market.

If you haven't done something like that before, you'll be shocked at how much personal effort even something as simple sounding as a distributorship takes.

 

Thumbs up to the OP. I'd pay a premium to be able to buy some of the custom stick/throttle work I've seen displayed by Russian / Eastern European hobby manufacturers through the efficient and English language ED website. I own Slaw Device pedals, but Slaw was easy to communicate with. The Black Mamba stuff (and other similar examples) are typically only available through Russian language boards, with difficult payment and export abilities.

[rrohde]

I wonder if ED has a "suggestion box" that might get a little more exposure than these forum threads. I would love to see this thought become a reality. :)

[cichlidfan]

I don't think ED would be likely to have interest in selling physical products. Even the few recent DVD distributions of ED titles (not the p-51 or older titles), did not come from ED.

[NineLine]

I wonder if ED has a "suggestion box" that might get a little more exposure than these forum threads. I would love to see this thought become a reality. :)

 

Eagle Dynamics is a software company, I doubt they will be dipping their toes into the hardware market anytime soon... or ever. They have many ways to expand their business still that are still in their wheelhouse... no need to go beyond that.

[kontiuka]

They have many ways to expand their business still that are still in their wheelhouse... no need to go beyond that.

wheel-house. noun. the part of a batter's strike zone most likely to produce a home run.:)

[rrohde]

Eagle Dynamics is a software company

 

The old adage -- "Software sells Hardware" applies here, too. I remember my first Microsoft Sidewinder stick quite well. ;)

 

Not suggesting that ED ends up with a warehouse full of hardware goodies, but more along the lines of ED being the facilitator of these hard-to-get items as described above. They could really make their connections between the East and the West work towards this...

[sobek]

I think ED are spread thin enough as is without opening a new project that'll cost 'em 6 to seven figures (in dollars) to get to a working product and then some to market it and set up a distribution network (which in itself can be a nightmare).

 

Then they'd have to come up with a product that really sets them apart from the already established (and comparatively big) players that have divided that market amongst themselves for a long time now. No offense, but it just doesn't strike me as a stellar idea really.

[rrohde]

I think ED are spread thin enough as is without opening a new project that'll cost 'em 6 to seven figures (in dollars) to get to a working product and then some to market it and set up a distribution network.

 

Then they'd have to come up with a product that really sets them apart from the already established (and comparatively big) players that have divided that market amongst themselves for a long time now. No offense, but it just doesn't strike me as a stellar idea really.

 

Facilitators - not hardware manufacturers (should have made that more clear early on). I can see how developing flightsim gear might be out of the question; However, being the middleman between markets seems to be not too far fetched -- given the involvement of ED.

 

PS: on a more light-hearted note, I just learned that the old Software sells Hardware applies to -- drumroll -- the good old Farming Simulator series as well, as Saitek has announced a controller for Tractors... yes indeed. :) http://www.saitek.com/farmsim/

[shagrat]

I guess he meant more they could act as distributer / shop for smaller russian flight hardware developers... yet, even that is quite a task as logistics for hardware is totally different from a software download.

 

A nice idea, but not likely to happen any time soon...

 

EDIT: Sniped

[rrohde]

I guess he meant more they could act as distributer / shop for smaller russian flight hardware developers...

 

Yep. Along those lines. Would be very nice to have in the future... @Wags. :)