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Birthday Blog, yes!
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Happy birthday! 
One thing that I think MS needs to take a look at within the MP ecosystem is fake/manipulated/paid-for (whatever you want to call it) reviews… It’s pretty astonishing to me that MSCENERY now has multiple extremely highly rated planes within MSFS 2024, but their planes on MSFS 2020 had reviews that were on average between 2.0 and 3.0. This can be seen pretty clearly still within the 2024 marketplace right now. Generally, anything that was released on 2024 has a 4.5+ review and any of their 2020 planes show poorer reviews.
I’m not sure how MS can control this- but, it’s not a great look when the quality of a product CLEARLY doesn’t match the reviews.
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I’ve tried several aircraft from MSCENERY and, in my opinion, the overall quality has been disappointing.
Some of the models lack system depth and features that many simmers expect, and a few also seem to have visual or modeling issues.
At first, I assumed the positive reviews might be coming mainly from Xbox users who prioritize different aspects of the experience, but that was just my initial assumption. In any case, I think it’s fair to say that the quality varies, and I personally haven’t had a good experience with their products so far.
That’s one of the reasons many of us have asked for comments to be attached to these reviews. You’re right, we never know why someone gave a plane a 1 or a 5. Someone might give it a 1 because the cabin isn’t modeled, but someone else may not care about that at all.
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Not always helpful unless moderated. How many times have you read reviews of games and the reviews are meaningless drivel? Xbox store reviews are a prime example of this. Also I hate reviews that say, for example: “This game is rubbish!” yet give no valid reason for their comment.
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MSCENERY topic keeps coming up. MS/Asobo will do nothing about them because the shear volume of junk earns them money. The annoying reply that is often seen to justify this junk is basically what is one man’s tat is another’s jewel. Apparently kids like this stuff so they can brag about owning an airliner. Go figure!
It is especially annoying to learn the truth about the correct ratings on 2020.
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These sort of blanket assumptions are always wrong.
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Of course they wouldn’t be helpful in every case, which is true anywhere that comments are accepted. But I think many of the reviewers would take a few moments to explain their rating if the option were available.
Sorry if it’s annoying but I’ll continue to argue that just because you like filet mignon does not mean McDonald’s should be banned for everyone.
Honestly, SU4 introducing persistent Marketplace filters will solve 90% of the perceived MScenery issue for users - I haven’t seen an MScenery, CaptainSim, etc product in weeks of browsing the MP and it’s been great.
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Be good if they only allow reviews/ratings from “verified purchases” for any add-ons
Isn’t that exactly how it works today?
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If it is how can you then have fake reviews, if they are from people who purchased! Do not use Marketplace, so….
Hello @KernowDave9643,
It has only ever been possible to submit a review on the Marketplace if you own that product.
Thanks,
MSFS Team
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I think what’s been alleged is that developers are theoretically “paying” for these reviews. “Here’s $10 go buy my $10 product and give it a 5-star review.” Of course MS would have no real way to prove this.
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No idea how you stop that, as still from a purchaser ! But reputation and word of mouth helps !!
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Yep, reviews are a must before parting with your money. And the other side, as much as people don’t want to hear it, is that simple arcade-style aircraft ARE 5-star products for a certain demographic of user.
Then how does a mscenery plane land on MP site, all with 5 x5 star reviews before anyone has a chance to buy. Sorry, that alone installs disbelief.
Hello @Pilotfirst9999,
You can go ahead and test it for yourself – launch the sim, open the Marketplace, and try to leave a rating for a product you do not own. It shouldn’t let you. If it does, then this is a bug in the MP rating system that will need to be resolved by the developers.
Thanks,
MSFS Team