If we read between the lines, it is certainly great news, in the sense that MF won't be done under the worst case scenario that some people have predicted. : i.e. XBoxI don't think that Mr. Allensworth and company would take the time to announce something that is not good for simmers.Personnaly, i see great thing coming!Sorry for my english.Ben

Your English is good ! Welcome to the forums Ben.

Can someone explain why the development of these new versions are always shrouded in secrecy. Why the reason for NDA's ? It's not like there is loads of competition around the corner waiting to ###### 'new' ideas and trump MS. What exactly is the secrecy supposed to protect?

Can someone explain why the development of these new versions are always shrouded in secrecy. Why the reason for NDA's ? It's not like there is loads of competition around the corner waiting to ###### 'new' ideas and trump MS. What exactly is the secrecy supposed to protect?

You are right but secrecy generates curiosity and curiosity generates speculations that lead to publicity within game websites / forum / media etc...Summarizing, advertising for free.

Thank you for letting us all know Tom. Look forward to what you may or may not disclose.

hehe . you cant be looking forward to what he doesnt disclose.

Can someone explain why the development of these new versions are always shrouded in secrecy. Why the reason for NDA's ? It's not like there is loads of competition around the corner waiting to ###### 'new' ideas and trump MS. What exactly is the secrecy supposed to protect?

the secrecy builds marketplace anticipation. its the same playbook that has apple losing a prototype iphone at a bar, just before the release of its next version.

I wonder if Austin got an invite?

I wonder if Austin got an invite?

you really are wondering about that? please say that you were just tried when you type your note.

I wonder if Austin got an invite?

You talkin' to me ? Uploaded with ImageShack.us

Can someone explain why the development of these new versions are always shrouded in secrecy. Why the reason for NDA's ? It's not like there is loads of competition around the corner waiting to ###### 'new' ideas and trump MS. What exactly is the secrecy supposed to protect?

It really just allows them to craft and design what the public message will be.PR is part of the whole package of delivering a game...so they need a way to control it.Beyond that...and I can’t say for Flight, but in general game developers don’t put themselves in a position where they have to explain every detail, decision, and change. And those do happen in the process of development; team members know to be open-minded and flexible. But for the public every message naturally becomes an implied promise. Breaking public promises is avoided. Things like features and release dates just aren’t publically shared until targets can be reasonably met. As bad as this forum can get, it would be worse still if we, the peanut gallery, were actually invited to comment on everything ;)The NDA has little to do with competition; it’s for managing the public message.

Looking forward to the soon to be released facts!

That's good news to me thanks Tom.

hehe . you cant be looking forward to what he doesnt disclose.

Funny, I had a feeling someone would call me on this.

Finally we will be getting some serious news about FLIGHt from a trusted source!

The very fact that MS invited this select group of "press folks" also implies that "Flight" will continue to provide them a continued "raison d'etre" as well...

Exclty, and it shoews Flight will not be an arcade game (although gaming will likely be supported). Why else would MS bother to invite the folks behind the forums of traditional simmers to the Flight news event?

Can someone explain why the development of these new versions are always shrouded in secrecy. Why the reason for NDA's ? It's not like there is loads of competition around the corner waiting to ###### 'new' ideas and trump MS. What exactly is the secrecy supposed to protect?

It's like your future mother-in-law not letting you into her daughter's dressing room while the bride-to-be is putting on her wedding dress. You go wait by the church door, and when she's ready, she'll show up. Same deal with Flight: When it's ready, we can all go buy the DVD. Until then, it's all speculation.Cheers,- jahman.

Thanks for the update Tom, looking forward to more news when you are able to shareJohn.

It's like your future mother-in-law not letting you into her daughter's dressing room while the bride-to-be is putting on her wedding dress. You go wait by the church door, and when she's ready, she'll show up. Same deal with Flight: When it's ready, we can all go buy the DVD. Until then, it's all speculation.

Then 6 months later you realise you made a mistake, get divorced and go back to your ex whom you realised you can't live without