I'll will say that PMDG addons are the only ones I've never had bug with. I remember flying another airliner addon which is suppose to be one of the best but found a very basic bug. I was doing a go-around but despite trying many many things I couldn't get the autopilot to disengage on LOC and GS mode. Believe me I've done that many times with the 747 and it worked well. I doubt that they will find any bugs in the NGX, at least I hope so. They haven't been making this aircraft so long for nothing :)

It's really funny you should mention that, try disconnecting the autopilot on the 747-8 with the button on the yoke... no dice. Despite this small inconvenience, I do agree PMDG has the absolute best and highest quality add-ons on the market IMHO. They've got a lifelong customer here.

the problem with public beta is like having a cake thats not quite ready yet. sometimes it yummy, sometimes it gives you a tummy ache.

Gents-To follow up on Ryan's points... When we say how effectively DCS conducted their open beta- we discussed internally whether this was a valid approach for PMDG.We could found only a single positive to doing so: It would get the NGX in your hand sooner.The negatives however, stacked up to the ceiling. Since PMDG released our first product back in 1997, the process of development has been evolving. Our first MSFS product release took place eight years ago this month (The NG1.0, for those who were around!) and it was very close to being an unmitigated disaster.Poor product quality, inadequate infrastructure to handle sales, a bad support process... The NG1.0 nearly became our last product release.From that day we have refined and perfected our testing process. We use a dedicated core of advisers who work with the NG airplane every day. These folks have an incredible eye for detail and the "correct" look/feel/operation of the airplane. During that period of testing we have around 25 people looking at the airplane.That phase is now through and we are in the wide beta phase. Currently we have just shy of 50 people looking at the airplane.That gives us a pretty wide swatch of data to work with, but it is not so overwhelming that we cannot manage the process.Right now- we have COMPLETE control of the development and quality control process for the NGX in a setting where we can get the information we need without taking on "customer liability."By customer liability I am not referring to the angst that is so obvious here in the forum as everyone waits for us to finish... I am talking about the fact that once we have your money in exchange for our airplane- there MUST be a reasonable expectation that it is ready for you to use and enjoy.Once we take money- we no longer have the freedom to say, "you know- this needs another week."Companies like DCS reap HUGE benefit from an open beta. But DCS A10C is a whole different monster from the NGX.At any rate- different companies have different processes. At PMDG, we like the idea of finishing a product before we release it to you.

Just seems like a way to get the plane early and not have to wait...

I'll will say that PMDG addons are the only ones I've never had bug with. I remember flying another airliner addon which is suppose to be one of the best but found a very basic bug. I was doing a go-around but despite trying many many things I couldn't get the autopilot to disengage on LOC and GS mode. Believe me I've done that many times with the 747 and it worked well. I doubt that they will find any bugs in the NGX, at least I hope so. They haven't been making this aircraft so long for nothing :)

Sagga-There WILL be bugs found. It is software. Heck- if you read the first chapter of the FCOM, you'll see this is true even with the real-live airplane.Our goal is to make sure that the things that come up are small- and don't ruin the usability of the product. Then we can take some time to collect a bunch of them for a service pack- AND we can add some of the things we didn't have time for on the first go-around. So please- lets not talk about the NGX in the context of "bug free." Lets talk about it in the context of "fully usable."

I guess one thing about public beta that can go in the "negative" column is the simple fact that some people may report as a bug something they are simply not doing correctly or may complain that the aircraft doesn't handle/feel the way they think it should at certain times when in flight and this would make the beta testing time longer as the development team sort through which reports are real bugs and which are imagined.

80% of volunteers for a public beta test would surely be motivated more by owning the beast before release more than founding bugs.I'm frankly happy that this phase is done by bug hunters, not by a really excited user.

I'm frankly happy that this phase is done by bug hunters, not by a really excited user.

So TRUE.

Sagga-There WILL be bugs found. It is software. Heck- if you read the first chapter of the FCOM, you'll see this is true even with the real-live airplane.Our goal is to make sure that the things that come up are small- and don't ruin the usability of the product. Then we can take some time to collect a bunch of them for a service pack- AND we can add some of the things we didn't have time for on the first go-around. So please- lets not talk about the NGX in the context of "bug free." Lets talk about it in the context of "fully usable."

Hopefully it will be very "fully usable" :(.

80% of volunteers for a public beta test would surely be motivated more by owning the beast before release more than founding bugs.I'm frankly happy that this phase is done by bug hunters, not by a really excited user.

Lol! Let's hope they won't have any bug and everything will be fine.

Sorry for the off topic but... what time is it over there Ryan and you post replies? Must be very early in the morning...Beta testing or just came back home after a few drinks? :(

I'm a night owl - 2AM here right now. I won't go to sleep until probably 5 or 6AM.

It's really funny you should mention that, try disconnecting the autopilot on the 747-8 with the button on the yoke... no dice. Despite this small inconvenience, I do agree PMDG has the absolute best and highest quality add-ons on the market IMHO. They've got a lifelong customer here.

That's not a bug, that was intentional - most people use a button on their joystick or the Z key to disconnect the AP.

But apart from all this, the smaller the team the less likely it is someone is going to give away the details of the product under test.

Security is another big concern for us for sure - a public beta allows crack teams a look at the product before release.

I watched another developer do a large scale beta that they sold access to. It was a disaster. Anyone who bought into it (which I did with my own money) could see it.

Got burnt by this myself and would never pay for a beta product from anyone again! I have participated in a couple of closed betas however, and found it a great experience to help out the dev team iron out bugs, and also to get to play the games ahead of the general public, although in my experience they are never as good as the released version and quite often have major issues in them. Personally I'd like to wait for the released version of NGX when its fully bug tested!

well i had the DCS A10c right from beta 1. it was intresting to see it become what it is today. But if I had to do it again I would of waited untill at least the the official launch. Having graphical issues though most of the beta releases gave me a headace. Fortunatly its all totaly fixed now and smooth as a melted icecream.

Hi,A public beta is just a BAD IDEA, how many bugs have been reported in the past (other aircraft/after release) that have turned out to be PILOT USER ERROR. All a public beta will do is allow individuals that have no clue about the 737NG series aircraft to submit false bug reports, they will base their finding on past inferior aircraft. Since these false bug reports need to be checked by PMDG, it will delay the release of a finished aircraft.I'll say it again, its a BAD, BAD, BAD IDEA.

I am glad you guys are reading this at the moment, the title of this would probably will take you to back ages, WHY NOT PUBLIC BETA TESTING. why not, are you afraid of your product performance? this is something we need to know before we purchase your product and on on on etc..What my point is that why not have a public beta team? dont get me wrong, I am a technical engeener for a .com company in the USA with 100 million active accounts with over 200 million customers. Before we come up with a great product to our customers, we do regresion tests with our real account holders, why not do it here? I think this will help your company achive great goals here, it will give you opportinity to open other doors in flight sim world, it will exetend your product further. I believe this is one of the lack of other many companies forgetting public beta sessions before they come on live.

Hi,A public beta is just a BAD IDEA, how many bugs have been reported in the past (other aircraft/after release) that have turned out to be PILOT USER ERROR. All a public beta will do is allow individuals that have no clue about the 737NG series aircraft submit false bug reports, they will base their finding on past inferior aircraft. Since these false bug reports need to be checked by PMDG, it will delay the release of a finished aircraft.I'll say it again, its a BAD, BAD, BAD IDEA.

Hi Michael,Totally agree with you. :(