Release Dates Gone Wild - PFPX

[Lawyer+Pilot 126]

Anyone following the PFPX development no doubt remembers the anti-prophetic "shortly after Christmas" release date. Well, here we are creeping into June and PFPX is, and will seemingly forever remain, "virtually finished."

 

This is perhaps the best example of why release dates are so risky for developers. FlightSimSoft has taken the approach that a lot of simmers cry for by giving out release date estimates. And they've shown why that's such a terrible idea. To their credit, they seem willing to give regular updates, but every update is the same: PFPX is ALMOST here.

 

I wouldn't be so peeved had it not been for the fact that the Angle of Attack folks bought into FlightSimSoft's release date game. By incorporating the use of a beta copy of PFPX into the NGX Flightwork and Linework training, AoA has created a series of videos that nobody but PFPX beta testers can follow. I doubt AoA would have done this had they not been blinded by the "shortly after Christmas" smoke screen. They must be so incredibly ###### right now.

 

Thanks to this sideshow, I'm now much more understanding (and appreciative) of developers who refuse to provide ongoing release date projections.

[HighTowers 1,434]

Anyone following the PFPX development no doubt remembers the anti-prophetic "shortly after Christmas" release date. Well, here we are creeping into June and PFPX is, and will seemingly forever remain, "virtually finished."

 

This is perhaps the best example of why release dates are so risky for developers. FlightSimSoft has taken the approach that a lot of simmers cry for by giving out release date estimates. And they've shown why that's such a terrible idea. To their credit, they seem willing to give regular updates, but every update is the same: PFPX is ALMOST here.

 

I wouldn't be so peeved had it not been for the fact that the Angle of Attack folks bought into FlightSimSoft's release date game. By incorporating the use of a beta copy of PFPX into the NGX Flightwork and Linework training, AoA has created a series of videos that nobody but PFPX beta testers can follow. I doubt AoA would have done this had they not been blinded by the "shortly after Christmas" smoke screen. They must be so incredibly ###### right now.

 

Thanks to this sideshow, I'm now much more understanding (and appreciative) of developers who refuse to provide ongoing release date projections.

It seems to be from reading the forums that while its very functional , they keep adding features and on and on and on it goes. Or they are just wanting absolute perfection which is not a bad goal, but also impossible. You will never get it perfect with so many users, so many setups and different knowledge. Someone will find a bug deep down. For the majority of us, its already an all encompassing huge flight planner. More than we can imagine. So as long as they want perfection this will never be released. 

 

As for the AoA videos, they will still be useful when PFPX does release. It was a great preview of the software in action and somewhat of a tutorial as well. No doubt they probably had to get permission from flightsimsoft in order to get a beta AND preview it in their videos, so it wasnt just AoA per say. 

 

Personally id rather use it right now as ive seen the final printout of a released flight, and its pretty spectacular.  Then service packs for whatever they find is left.  But thats just me. Right now I have to bounce all over the place to plan a flight. 

[Lawyer+Pilot 126]

Right now I have to bounce all over the place to plan a flight.

Exactly right. I hate that.

[Jarkko 59]

PFPX: from release announcement (2011) to nothing in two years.

 

I wouldn't mind wainting if I didn't feel that I'm constantly being lied to (or at least mislead).

 

If we forget about about 2011 and most of 2012, here is how things have progressed.

 

December 2012 official statement: PFPX is almost ready, only documentation to be done.

 

April 2013 official statement: PFPX development is complete, now the only thing need is the documentation.

 

Current date: The team is implementing a way for users to create their own FP formats. The team expects this to be a long process. The state of the documentation is unknown.

 

---

 

To sum up my thoughts:

 

Will PFPX be a product that I would like to use? Yes.

 

Do I like being lied to? NO!

[hero93 12]

There is a new video on youtube.
It makes me hope, that it will be released very soon.

It is in german, but maybe you want to take a look at it:

[Lawyer+Pilot 126]

...

 

The team is implementing a way for users to create their own FP formats. The team expects this to be a long process.

I think that's the problem their having. Like HighTowers suggested, they could spend the next few years tinkering around looking for perfection. Why not release the base product and add functionality, like the ability to create FP formats, via service packs?

 

I guess I wouldn't say they're lying to us. They're just unforgivably sloppy in how they communicate.

[HighTowers 1,434]

They arent lying as software development is iffy when it comes to bugs just showing up. I get that. But ive seen this software in action. Having the OFP in front of you where you can check to see how your fuel is doing is very useful.  And to have winds aloft data and your flighplan routed accordingly not to mention the NATS as the video shows. All these extra things can be added later, and the minor bugs that show up fixed after. 

This is in demand right now, as there is no all encompassing flight planner like that to such detail. Its near real world airline dispatch from what I read. 

[dcgator29 37]

With the launch of the 777 close, I can't see why a PFPX purchase wouldn't go hand in hand. They need to release NOW!

[Johnny767 40]

With the launch of the 777 close, I can't see why a PFPX purchase wouldn't go hand in hand. They need to release NOW!

 

However, I wonder how close are we for the Tipple Seven to be released... months, 1 year, or 2 years? Who knows. Same with FSL, it could very well be a loooong time before release.

[B777ER 2,483]

This is held up only because of the team wanting a feature were users create their own flight plan format? And it's going to take a long time? Sorry, that's stupid to hold it up for that.

 

Sent from my Samsung Galaxy Note 2

 

[Jarkko 59]

Why not release the base product and add functionality, like the ability to create FP formats, via service packs?

I asked the very same thing. The reply was that this is a must have feature in the release version (because so numerous users will need to have it).

 

I would personally would have been able to live with the default format.

[simbio 56]

<p>We have also seen strange episode from the navdata producer, where they didn't supply files for testing.<br />

IMHO on a software that compile Flightplan which they can be approved like the real European CFMU does, you can imagine the testing that needs without getting crazy.<br />

When PFPX work needs to know the aircraft, weather, notam and country there are big chance to find lots of anomalies with what Navigraph or Aerosoft can deliver as navdata.<br />

I really hope that once delivered I can use it like pilot do on those ITTV video, where the dispatch center prepare the paper work and in 10 minute you can organize a cross the pond and fly safe.<br />

<br />

But one important aspect that I hope from FlightSimSoft is a different strategy on support, because with Topcat they fail on not integrating new aircraft and develop future that save time.<br />

<br />

Now with the integration of PFPX they said it will change, they will need 2 full time people working on support and future i think but the CO Christian Grill is a real pilot that work full time so I am wondering who is going to concentrate on costumer request.<br />

<br />

Anyway I am really bored on dispatch for my self, so once PFPX will be out I will fly more and enjoy more on VC.<br />

I cannot count how many time I saw ATC online prepare the flight and once ready to open IFR the ATC closed and I had to switch to unicom 122.80

 

I just saw that Christian Grill did a English version of the German mentioned above today, sounds ready ?

[HansRoaming 73]

Looks awesome and just wanted to say I love the Opus FSX model of releasing a minimal shippable product and doing short release cycles, fantastic.

 

I would use this product right now as it stands, please can someone take my money!

[Lawyer+Pilot 126]

Looks awesome and just wanted to say I love the Opus FSX model of releasing a minimal shippable product and doing short release cycles, fantastic.

 

I would use this product right now as it stands, please can someone take my money!

+1

 

Pointsoft did the same thing with ProATC-X. They're continually releasing updates to add functionality and have given us an idea of what's to come. They could have sat around tinkering for a decade but decided to take our money as early as possible. Pretty smart, if you ask me.

 

Listen up, FlightSimSoft. People are ready to buy your product AS IS. There's no competitor on the market right now, so regardless of how many bugs we find, and regardless of how many features you still haven't had time to implement, PFPX will be a grand slam. With your current strategy, some of us older simmers may very well be dead by the time you guys release.

[HighTowers 1,434]

Lawyer+Pilot, on 22 May 2013 - 2:07 PM, said:

 

+1

 

Pointsoft did the same thing with ProATC-X. They're continually releasing updates to add functionality and have given us an idea of what's to come. They could have sat around tinkering for a decade but decided to take our money as early as possible. Pretty smart, if you ask me.

 

Listen up, FlightSimSoft. People are ready to buy your product AS IS. There's no competitor on the market right now, so regardless of how many bugs we find, and regardless of how many features you still haven't had time to implement, PFPX will be a grand slam. With your current strategy, some of us older simmers may very well be dead by the time you guys release.

+1

Especially the dead part. lol

 

More videos here by the way. http://flightsimsoft.com/pfpx/?p=screenshots

http://flightsimsoft.com/pfpx/?p=screenshots