While I use PATCx with no real issues, I do have to admit that leaving the forums as they are sure speaks volumes on a professional level that indicates a Big Fat " I don't Care " message in big bright lights..

 

It would certainly be more professional to simply display a page stating the forums are down for what ever reason they may like.

 

A professional price charged for a professional product... supported by a very unprofessional public showing... Not a good business plan ...

I suppose if the forum is down, he ( DEV ) does not have to read the negative posts. He mad a guest appearance  two days ago, posted everybody to cool down as he has been busy doing other things, and that was it. No status update, nothing, zilch.

I also agree with Rick , i would get kind of mad if i were to purchase this product right now an get all these bugs an not receive any support by the developers . I might even ask for refund the same day.  I don't expect a bug free product but at lease offer some support or reply to your customers. I will be okay if i receive a reply like in 2 business days or so but if they take long to reply or like some customer reported not even getting respond at all, then customers have all right to feel how they feel now.

Rich has hit the nail on the head and said what needs to be said. Sure, illness in business can have devastating consequences, for obvious reasons. While I hope for a speedy recovery for the dev, perhaps he or someone on his behalf, should take a clear look at things and either admit that there will be no further development and offer refunds to those customers who feel they should have one, and that includes me, or come clean and provide a reasonable, not exact, completion date for the forthcoming update, which so many have been waiting for.

 

IMO it's not acceptable to keep saying we're working on an update, it's going to be the dog's doo dahs, it will provide this that and the other blah, blah without some kind of future release date. It's unfair and unprofessional IMO. I'm not talking about devs offering a release date to a new product here, I'm talking about the release date to a product that doesn't function properly. People have spent hard earned cash based on the understanding that the update would provide them with a completed ATC program. I paid, like so many, good money based on that premise. I knew the program was in a constant state of development and by reading the forum could see that development was active and continuous and so had faith in the situation. I was not prepared for, what appears to be, the slow down (read halt) of the development cycle that should have concluded in a finished, polished ATC program.

 

BTW: I've just dropped by the forum, which now seems to be up and running again. There are some angry guys over there...

 

 

Personally i think anyone who invests in this program needs to have a long hard think about how they spend their hard earned cash.

ProAtc is so far from being usable as a 'Pro' ATC product. It has some nice features but its almost at beta level of development not a polished complete and ready to use product.

 

Oddly, I agree with the first statement but strongly disagree with the second.

 

I use this product for every flight and, other than the usual difficulties you get with route planning, it works every time for me.

 

There are areas which could be improved: most notably interaction with AI traffic on the ground.  There again, I believe some of the other ATC systems have limitations in this area: including generating their own, thus limiting your flexibility to set it up how you want, and presumably with online ATC, having no interaction at all.

 

To repeat what I always say, ProATC-X isn't perfect, it may not be the best product on the market, but it does work if used properly and it's a 1000 times better than the default ATC. 

Oddly, I agree with the first statement but strongly disagree with the second.

 

I use this product for every flight and, other than the usual difficulties you get with route planning, it works every time for me.

 

There are areas which could be improved: most notably interaction with AI traffic on the ground.  There again, I believe some of the other ATC systems have limitations in this area: including generating their own, thus limiting your flexibility to set it up how you want, and presumably with online ATC, having no interaction at all.

 

To repeat what I always say, ProATC-X isn't perfect, it may not be the best product on the market, but it does work if used properly and it's a 1000 times better than the default ATC. 

 

 +1 Although I think I know why Mourad is busy! His machines are all mining Bitcoin... :lol: As are mine.......

As I said in the past, i don't think that the lack of an update full of new features and a timeline for its release is what is getting up people's noses. It is MHO that if the dev had fixed the the program so that v1.2.3.8 worked properly and a "reasonable" level of communication had been maintained, everybody would have just sat back in eager anticipation of the new update and this and threads like it would not exist.

 

Just my thoughts (again)

 

Regards,

ProATC is nothing more then a big joke regarding support ...

 

I tend to state that the dev is simply overwhelmed with everything: the program and its bugs, the support.

Obvisously he was not overwhelmed to charge a fat price and make promises.

 

What is really annoying is, that it isn't so, that the dev is completely vanished, last sentences he throwed to us a few days ago was: "keep cool. I just had a few things to do beside PRO-ATC/X. How ever, I confirm I'm still working on it!"

 

 

So, hopefully, every interested possible customer will read a few lines here before purchasing ...

I suppose if the forum is down, he ( DEV ) does not have to read the negative posts. He mad a guest appearance  two days ago, posted everybody to cool down as he has been busy doing other things, and that was it. No status update, nothing, zilch.

 

Yes, I saw that.. unfortunetly I have been keeping very calm and patient for the last few months. I have started a topic here on avsim warning about what is going on at Pro atc and that has been since locked because of some user. Anyways the reply that the dev left being his first in months time was a huge slap in the face to his supporters and customers. Apparently another user was able to reach him via PM and he told him he was working on the setup for the new update. That was over 2 months ago now I believe. He should be making a post with all the changes made, new features etc instead of us chilling out cause he was busy with other things.

The ProATC website seems to be down most of the time, and there is no support from the Dev.

 

The Dev's lack of response is bad for customer relations..............and there have been posts alluding to possible health issues?

 

I have the product, but it has too many things that don't work on my system.....and there is no progress in updates for months, and a number of broken promises.

 

If I didn't know better, I would say this entity is probably going belly up!

 

The website reliability is inexcusable.

 

Bill Clark

There is something really wrong IMO. If you visit the main website and look at the downloads/updates section, the last update was in May! Bearing in mind that updates prior to this date were coming thick and fast, a couple a week at one stage, so something is amiss. I am really sorry if the dev has been ill, and I believe this is the case, or has been, but perhaps if he was to post some kind of assurance to customers as to what exactly the problems have been and some kind of release date he is working towards, then perhaps it would alleviate all the fears and negative rumours.

Hi again guys,

 

Not getting at anyone by my views so please dont take offence, its prob cuz my day job is so close to this subject i know what simmers should get from an ATC program.

 

Let me put this another way.

 

You want a conservatiory.

 

You ask four builder for a quote.

 

#1 is old and seems dated, still work to 1990 rules and regs, still offers a service but no chance of being dragged into the modern day. This one is one of the bottom cheapest.

 

#2 is not quite as old but has done some good work and when you email him with questions he gets back to you within 18 hours personally, the personal touch. This one is also one of the bottom two cheapest.

 

#3 is the most expensive by two - three times. On the face of it he seems to offer the same service but he has is own conservitory designers where the other two get theres from your old house builders, but your house is old, needs constant work and doesnt 100% work as a house cuz sometimes the roof falls in ... But this builder is still up-to-date and improving his workmanship, its using state of the art tech, he answers your emails and your conserv will talk to you.

 

#4 is the 2nd dearest and the new builder on the block, you would expect the best as diggers, building techniques have improved so much. Hes seen what the other three can offer and offers a Pro product.

 

You opt for builder 4.

 

Builder 4 gives you a conservitory that isnt wat you expected. You get no reply from the building company but there workman help you out cuz they have pride in what they have helped to build, even tho its based on your old pants building design that you tolarate cuz you like the house. You hear the builder is not around and looks like your money has been slightly wasted as youve not got what you wanted or expected.

 

Where i come from builder #4 would be thought of as a cowboy and to get what you want you have to go to one of the other builders for something closer to what you want.

 

Why do we accept shoddy workmanship and not complain?

 

If you bought a take-away pizza and got a soggy piece of bread with ketchup a slice of ham on it would you be happy? ... Would you complain?

 

Trouble is these days you have no re-dress on software youve bought cuz the eula on purchace means ur stuck with it. Unless you the end user stands up nothing will change. If we all take a stand software developers will have to offer refunds or be held responsable for what the produce.

 

As i stated i design and produce ATC simulators for training Air Traffic Controllers. I work in the private sector, if i build or produced sub-standard sims or database software students would complain, airports would ge elseware for training, i'd be out, the company would go under .. Accountability ... We all have that in our day job, we deserve it in our hobbies.

 

Anyway im off now, i think i spot a sniper with his sights on me by my swimming pool!!!

 

All ment in the best possable way guys.

 

Rich

Hee hee, nice one Rich, all very true. BANG.. hang  on, was that sniper fire I could hear...

Well Rich, if you build ATC sims, and are in FS from 1985, wouldnt you produce something for us then ?

Alas ... I wait for the next version, but I don't hold my breath :-)