Lately some developers have been using a 'new way' to develop their addons. They release a payware beta version of their software and then we all get to beta test it.

 

At first I have to say I liked it. The nice thing is that you stay in close contact with the devs and you can tell them what you would like to see and they actually implement a lot of those things, quite often very quickly too. Great.

 

However, lately I am getting fed up with all the new versions that give you new or changed options and that require you to figure out things over and over again. Methods that used to work suddenly change and don't work anymore. Too many things get added and quite often simplicity is replaced by (the obviously inevitable) complexity. Some changes aren't for the better too... and they may result in new bugs.

At first bugs or little things that don't work don't bother you too much because you know the devs are working on it, but when new things get added again and again, you discover you keep on having bugs (old ones AND new ones) and the testing seems to take forever... You never seem to have a fully working addon that you can use without any problems! Some addons seem to be in beta for infinity.

 

And in the end I have to say... I rather have fully working addons. I don't mind a few bug fixes but I do mind having to figure out things over and over again and to get used to new options and possibilities and what not. So for now I am going back to addons that are FINISHED and that work as advertised. The beta's that I own and still like to use (if they are actually usable!), I will keep on using them (which may require the installing of a previous version) but I will forget about new beta versions until I know for certain that the product is actually finished and working well.

 

If there ever comes a new addon that works this way, I will pass. I am done with being a paying beta tester. No more 'new way' addons for me.

 

If there ever comes a new addon that works this way, I will pass. I am done with being a paying beta tester. No more 'new way' addons for me.

 

Without specifics, it's hard to react to this.  I see advantages to buying in to an evolving product so long as the initial product's feature set is complete enough to be useful, you're aware of what's going on and aren't forced to participate in each new cycle unless you choose to.  Choice is good.  Actively developed products are good.  Community involvement is good.

 

If, on the other hand, you're referring to products that are so flawed as to be relatively useless and you're basically funding what should be initial development, then I concur - no thanks.

 

The devil's in the details.  How the process is managed and presented to the user community can make all the difference between a positive and negative experience.

 

Scott

When I say "I would love to be a beta tester for FSX add-ons" what I'm really saying is "I would love to have the time available to be a beta tester for FSX add-ons". Being a beta tester of any kind of software requires a special kind of personality, relatively rare in a typical software user community. Having been in the IT industry for longer than I would care to mention, and having been both an official beta tester of unfinished software and an "unofficial" beta tester of supposedly finished software, I will tell you: being a beta tester is not for most people (including myself).

 

Beta testers must have lots of time, infinite patience and copious attention to detail.

 

Most software companies these days do closed betas with groups of regular users. This methodology will speed up development time considerably and generally will bring a better software product to market. IF the beta testers and the developers can stand the workload...it is very demanding of both sets of participants. From my perspective, as long as the developer makes it plain that the product currently being sold is a "beta" AND that my feedback will be incorporated in the final product when I recieve it, then I am good with the purchase.

 

I recently bought the pre-release beta of an add-on for a discount on final product and did almost nothing with it. Installed it and took 2 flights, no more. Because I am not a good beta tester at this point in my life, I let other folks "bake" the final product. When the final product arrived, it was in remarkably good shape for the rapidity of the beta test cycle. In addition, the developer did not take a holiday after the release, they were available for feedback and in short order (less than 1 week) took care of several issues that came from use by the wider user community. It all seemed to work pretty well.

 

No worries about the harshness of being a beta tester, it's not as glamorous and much more work than it sounds.

The practice of asking people to pay for a beta or incomplete product with the promise of finishing it later is very flawed.

 

At best its very naive, at worst its downright exploitative.

As a concept, I think it's fine.

 

But whether it materializes into a fair and transparent programme of development, or an exploitative sale of unfinished software, depends entirely on the company who is managing it.

 

There is one company who does this approach who I would gladly go with time and again, and I can think of another who I would never again trust with the 'sale of unfinished software' approach.

I think it's especially exploitative when it's done to usurp another developer's product.

The practice of asking people to pay for a beta or incomplete product with the promise of finishing it later is very flawed.

Unfortunatly, hat is the norm. And, you can't sell it once you buy it! if I were to practice that approach in my manufacturing, I would be run out of business and spend most my time in court!

The practice of asking people to pay for a beta or incomplete product with the promise of finishing it later is very flawed.

 

At best its very naive, at worst its downright exploitative.

Couldn't agree more. It is the developers manipulating the system to suit their bottom line. And as an added side benifit, they no longer have to remain acountabl to the customer, because after all "it's still in beta."

 

But like everything in this world, if the market will support it, then the sellers will exploit it, as they should. It is upon the consumer to put their foot down and say "NO. I won't pay for an incomplete product!"

 

To the OP I say good for you! Tell developers what you think by not playing by their rules. You hold the money, so make the game played by your rules!

Well J van, i agree with you %100, i know your not naming products, but i know what your talking about...and it is crazy to spend that kinda of money....basically we are the "Ginny Pigs" What happens when they never get this software to run write....are they going to reimburse us...I think not...I know they're  trying, but..................    

Yes, Guinea Pigs indeed.

 

But @@pegger74 is absolutely right;  the system is only exploited because people hand over their money! ...... We are all foolish (myself!) to "fall for" this routine time and again.

 

As the FS community we are empassioned and very very impatient, so although a certain aircraft is not finished, we hand over our hard earned Euros / Dollars / Pounds / Yen.

 

If we all voted with our wallets and refused to buy these 'half cooked' packages, no-one would be able to exploit us any more.

I'm with you Jeroen, can you imagine paying for a car and beta testing it....lol

 

That is why I have not buy another sim. or add-on that I know are not finished or full of bugs to be ironed out in the future, I have one in mind (to be released by a big company) where you will pay a lot of money for it and will never be finished as it will be evolving...

 

As long as the customers buy them unfinished they (3PD) will release them unfinished, simple is in it?

Wish I hadn't read this thread, now suffering buyers remorse

Its taken to new levels when the devs DONT tell you its in Beta eg, that certain air traffic control program that was not able to complete a flight from At to B but was dumped on the market anyway.

In that scenario you get forced beta testers who want to see their 50 bucks not completely wasted.

I don't want to break anyones bubble, but ALL software is beta tested by its users. There isn't a piece of software out there that hasn't had at least one patch to fix issues. Flight sim developers are catering to a smaller market every day, fsx is old software, requires expensive hardware, the economy is still bad a lot of people don't have much extra money to spend. I don't have a problem paying for software that will have a handful of patches if the end product will be almost perfect. Especially if it helps a company stay afloat as opposed to closing down. We need all the developers we can get in fs.

 

I don't want to break anyones bubble, but ALL software is beta tested by its users.

 

Yep, that's one way to put it.  Another consideration is that the whole term "beta" as used here is highly subjective, particularly in the absence of specifics.  It's particularly disturbing to hear continued product development being equated with bad practices, rather than it being viewed as an advantage to the end-user.

 

What I want is fair value for my money.  I buy carefully and quite frankly have almost invariably gotten that fair value with my FSX purchases.  The few times that I have not have been as much my fault for not doing my due diligence ahead of time as anything, and in those cases I've not been shy about making known what my specific issues are, so that others have the opportunity to judge. 

 

Scott