I would enjoy very much, becoming a BETA tester.....but I do not know the proper steps in doing so........Money does not drive me in the least ( I would do it for free).......I am very computer savoy and even more so with FSX........If ANYONE out there could point me in the right direction in how to be a PMDG BETA tester please let me know.Thanks in advance.

Tim,Our beta team members who are not real life pilots or maintenance engineers on the aircraft in question don't really get a spot through any set "process" per se, sorry. Occasionally someone who's very helpful or knowledgeable on the forum will catch our eye and we may invite them, but for the most part our team now is made up of people who intimately know the real life aircraft.

Tim,have you beta tested before? I did, and I never got paid anything. There are some beta tests that require you to pay a fee though. Airsimmer was a nice example for that.I don't think a regular customer will have the chance to become a beta tester for PMDG. PMDG only does closed beta testing, so you need to be either close to the dev team, and thus deemed trustworthy and/or you have extensive enough knowledge about the aircraft that is to be beta tested, that enables you to actually spot bugs in the system logic. Possibly they follow the "Don't call us, we will call you." mantra.I have beta tested before (not for FSX yet) and if done right, it is hard work and not at all the fun that some people make it out to be. Most of the time each software build comes with a long list of things that the developers want the testers to look at and depending on the project this list can be quite extensive. You are also subjecting yourself to a Non Disclosure Agreement, which can be really strict and will prohibit you from talking about the beta test with anyone. The fine for breaking the agreement can be as high as several 100,000$ if discovered and shouldn't be taken lightly. Beta testing is fun, but also time consuming, tedious and repetitive. Maybe PMDG can hold a contest, with an admission into the beta team.My post crossed with Ryan's. There you have your answer.

Edited November 3, 201015 yr by eddh_flyer

I'd hate to be a beta tester... something about seeing how the cow is slaughtered before you eat the hamburger.

Our beta team members who are not real life pilots or maintenance engineers on the aircraft in question don't really get a spot through any set "process" per se, sorry. Occasionally someone who's very helpful or knowledgeable on the forum will catch our eye and we may invite them, but for the most part our team now is made up of people who intimately know the real life aircraft.

Ok, so what about those who actually do have real life contact with the aircraft, did they ever apply for or go through a selection process? I haven't seen one in the past (and never saw one at other developers, but then again I never really looked out for them), and as far as I know most devs will pick their testers themselves, just like Alex said (they pick you and not the other way). Not that I mean the 737 team specifically but just asking about the general process.

Hello allThanks for all of your answers. I was unaware of the process and now have a clear idea......Thanks.

Ok, so what about those who actually do have real life contact with the aircraft, did they ever apply for or go through a selection process? I haven't seen one in the past (and never saw one at other developers, but then again I never really looked out for them), and as far as I know most devs will pick their testers themselves, just like Alex said (they pick you and not the other way). Not that I mean the 737 team specifically but just asking about the general process.

We get a ton of emails and support tickets about it actually... Basically if someone can verify their real life job with the aircraft we're making and verify that they have experience with computers and FSX, then we'll consider them. We already have a bunch for the NGX though.

I'd hate to be a beta tester... something about seeing how the cow is slaughtered before you eat the hamburger.

not to mention:a) riding the cow around the same paddock ad nauseum to verify the grass consumption rateB) being overly preoccupied with the front left hoof modellingc) debating whether the moo sounds right at toga powerd) cleaning out the milking shed it's enough to make one go vegetarian, almost...Seriously, beta testing is rewarding and satisfying on many levels, but I'm not sure I'd call it fun. With PMDG at least the process is professional and well coordinated!

Any chance you could do preorders and give the pre-orders access to beta builds?Darrol Larrok

Tim,Our beta team members who are not real life pilots or maintenance engineers on the aircraft in question don't really get a spot through any set "process" per se, sorry. Occasionally someone who's very helpful or knowledgeable on the forum will catch our eye and we may invite them, but for the most part our team now is made up of people who intimately know the real life aircraft.

In fact, I am going to have a nice intimate evening with my 737 tonight on a red eye (that was just said in a very sarcastic tone). Jack C

I was a BETA tester for the Aerosoft Austrailia Avionics package. It's actually quite good. And for only 60 bucks. It is good for transitioning from beginner to advance. It includes a PFD, ND, EICAS, MCP, and FMC. I think it is really good. I think the NGX will be better, mainly because it is an actual aircraft package. http://aerosoft.com.au/home/home.html

not to mention:a) riding the cow around the same paddock ad nauseum to verify the grass consumption rateB) being overly preoccupied with the front left hoof modellingc) debating whether the moo sounds right at toga powerd) cleaning out the milking shed it's enough to make one go vegetarian, almost...Seriously, beta testing is rewarding and satisfying on many levels, but I'm not sure I'd call it fun. With PMDG at least the process is professional and well coordinated!

Sorry Mike,Should have been more aware of the stress involved.I was the person that requested screenshots of the FPV presentation on the MD11 PFD, while you were doing BETA test procedures.Reason was that the presentation on the Queen was not to real world standards, as I discussed that time in the forum. Happy to see that it has been corrected on the MD as it is.Suppose it will be used the same way for the upcoming 737NGX HUD.Regards,Harry

Any chance you could do preorders and give the pre-orders access to beta builds?Darrol Larrok

That would be like an open beta. I don't think they will ever do that. The risk of leaks and copyright infringement would be too high, not mentioning the number of people that won't bother to test one bit and instead just enjoy their free NGX. Again, look at the Airsimmer fiasco. Their beta builds float around the net and the large amount of "extended team" testers didn't help them at all to release a bug free product. I am not attacking AirSimmer, just stating the truth. Good beta testers are hard to come by. I would love to get an early view on the bird, but I am sure PMDG have more than enough people with the knowledge and spare time that is needed to beta test.And before even thinking about beta testing, they haven't even reached that milestone yet.

In fact, I am going to have a nice intimate evening with my 737 tonight on a red eye (that was just said in a very sarcastic tone). Jack C

Don't forget to use protection. According to your friends at PMDG those cockpits are really dirty places. :(

I never said anything about free. I said with a pre-order, which is paid for. I'd pay the NGX price plus 10-20 dollars for beta build access. Note that I said beta build access, not beta participation. The only issue I see is the risk of people judging the final product by the beta.Darrol Larrok

Darrol,I have never paid for any pre-order until it was actually shipped. In fact I cancelled some pre-orders in the past and didn't lose a penny. In theory you could pre-order, download the beta build and then cancel. There is your free, but of course incomplete, NGX. So, why would anyone give you access to beta builds if you are not testing? I don't get it *shrug*.