Migrate to XPlane

Question

I am thinking about moving from FSX Steam to XPlane 10/11. I have not yet purchase this simulator and it takes a lot for me to change since FSX "works" I do appreciate a company keeping up with technology and making improvements since Microsoft isn't. My two biggest concerns are

1: Is everything I have purchased for FSX like PMDG 737 and FSDT sceneries be transferred?
1.a: What can't be transferred.
2: Is the XPlane 11 Demo will be open to everyone or selected people? can i try before i pay? or can i return if i just dont like it?

Thank you in advance.

Answer 1

I don't think any aircraft will transfer since each company uses a proprietary file type. 

Scenery can be converted if you would like to learn how and take the time to do so. X-Plane comes with a lot of airports already installed. Many are bare bones with only the runways + some pavement, but here is a list of airports we are working on and whether or not they have enhanced default scenery.

When we have a demo for X-Plane 11, it will be available for anyone to try, just like the v10 demo currently is. I do not have any idea of when it will be available however.

Answer 2

To elaborate on what @jroberts said, I'll also answer the questions. 

1.) The PMDG 737, and other FSX aircraft, cannot be transferred, period. The aircraft in FSX and X-Plane 10 rely on a different file layout and a different physics system. They cannot be reliably placed into another simulator. Luckily for you, there have been rumors (a rumor) that PMDG is planning to bring the 737 to the X-Plane 10 platform, but this requires some major reworking. They have already released the Douglas DC-6 Cloudmaster for XP10, however. 

On the hand, scenery can be transferred, but this is known to be a somewhat strenuous and perhaps tedious process that requires patience and some background knowledge on file format. But it IS possible. 

1a.) Pretty much anything else can't be transferred. Utilities, FSX plugins... they are coded differently than the X-Plane core entails. 

2.) It is possible that the X-Plane DEMO, before release, will only be available to developers and other reliable beta testers. However, I am sure (and I think Laminar Research themselves may have said this) that a DEMO will be available once X-Plane 11 has been officially released to allow people to try it out before purchasing.