I got this off the ActiveSky forum originally posted by FPEMiller. This is something we all need to know concerning how to fill out the questionnaire and what data Microsoft is actually collecting. I for one want Microsoft to know every add-on I use (ASV, FDC, etc.) so they can better design the next version around these payware packages...Here's the original email:I received my email the other day, installed the monitoring software, and took a good look at what info MS was collecting (or lack there of). Their monitoring software is NOT looking for third party add-ons that might be integrating with FS, such as ActiveSky or a flight planner, or the so to be released FS Passenger. I also asked about the "other" use selection as most of my flying is not one of the choices. I emailed them inquiring about this and got the following reply:"Given the constraints of trying to look at what we could given what FS2004 was already recording (for the video replay stuff) we could not record more information without modifying FS2004 itself. Therefore, the logging program can record things like third party aircraft usage and the like, but not record things like ActiveSky. We figured getting some information is better than none, but I am working on ways to try and capture other patterns of usage. The major reason why I didn

** Bump ** Just in case someone missed this information. I'm surprised no one has commented on this...

I am a participant in the MS study. And I have been filling out the survey at the end of my FS session with what addons I was using. It is a good idea for all of the participants to do this.-=MAB=-

Bad thinking :-sae : Don't they intend to integrate the most popular addons in the next release of FS? This has been a succesfull MS policy in other software segments in the past... Not intended to start a MS flame here! What do they think to achieve/do with the collected information?

So, in other words, they'll create an even more amazing MSFS. What is wrong with that? Nonetheless, the addon community will always have plenty of creative ideas to enhance any future FS version.-=MAB=-

I don't want to alarm anybody, but I went to Microsoft and asked if the survey website was legitimate. Here is the response I got. Maybe this is a case of the left hand not knowing what the right hand is up to. I sure hope so.FR: [email protected]******* The following is an email for a support case from Microsoft Corp.******* DO NOT REPLY TO THIS MESSAGE--your email will not be added to ******* the case if you do. Instead, FORWARD your response to the******* email address [email protected] and place your text after******* the keyword 'MESSAGE:'. Also, delete all other text above ******* and below the keywords 'CASE_ID_NUM: SRnnn' and 'MESSAGE:' ******* to ensure proper delivery of your email. Thank you.CASE_ID_NUM: SRZ050625000133MESSAGE: ********************** The message for you follows ************************Hi, This is regarding the Support Incident that you have created for Microsoft Flight Simulator 2004. I checked the provided site and it appears to me that it's not a legitimate Microsoft site. When Microsoft conducts a survey or even to create a service incident, it asks for .Net passport or PID information. Also appearance of Microsoft website contains the Microsoft Logo or the copyright information from Microsoft on it. From these symptoms it appears that it's not an official Microsoft Website. Please do not provide any personal information in that particular website. I also encourage you to forward this information to [email protected] I hope this information helps to resolve the issue. Since I have not heard back from you and am guessing that you've been busy lately, I'm closing this case as "Not Resolved". Please do not be alarmed at this closure. If you require further assistance, you can re-open this case by replying to this message. I will get a notification and I will continue to help you further. It is possible that we have not received a response you have sent. If so, we are indeed sorry for any inconvenience this may have caused. Please do not hesitate to contact us again if you need further assistance on this specific issue. You can directly send me a mail to [email protected] I'll continue to assist you further.I believe that you would be interested to look at the following sites as well.PC Game Manuals: (You could download the Manuals of almost all the Microsoft Rise of Nations: Thrones and Patriots from the above link)329564 How to Obtain the Game Manual or Other DocumentationIn order to provide with the best support to our customers, Microsoft has provided a self support option that includes Highlights & Top Issues, Frequently asked questions about hardware products on the Microsoft official website.For your convenience, I have included the following link: If the particular issue is not listed on the above link, you can search for the specific issue.To do this, please follow the steps given below.1. Click the above mentioned link.2. Click on Search (KB)My endeavor is to make you a Very Happy customer. If you are not happy with any aspects of this case (or the support process), please let me know as soon as possible.Thank you for contacting Microsoft Online Support!"====================================Best RegardsMaqmoor AhmedMicrosoft Product Support Serviceshttp://support.microsoft.com/Games Delighting our customers is our top priority. Our managers welcome your comments and suggestions about how we can improve the support we provide to you. Please e-mail us at Delete Reply Forward Spam Move...Previous | Next | Back to Messages

Wow... :-eek This could potentially be the biggest scam to hit our community. I sure hope that's not the case... I for one am going to blame Tom for all of it...:-lol

>So, in other words, they'll create an even more amazing MSFS.>What is wrong with that? Nonetheless, the addon community will>always have plenty of creative ideas to enhance any future FS>version.>>-=MAB=-Sure, that is an option. But I myself would hate to see companies/programs like ActiveSky, FSNav, FSBuild etc etc going out of business. MS flightsim monopoly is not something I'm personally looking forward to...

I said this right at the start!http://forums.avsim.net/dcboard.php?az=sho...id=260215&page=

Hi,re the comments on the surveys legitimacy, I don't believe it's a scam, more like one hand not knowning what the other is up to. . have a look at http://www.microsoft.com/games/flightsimul...2004_survey.asp. Its an update about the survey on the official FS2004 web page. However I too have contacted Microsoft enclosing a copy of the survey e mail I recieved, and the reply given by Maqmoor Ahmed from the post above by Thriller. They need to clarify and confirm it is genuine or people are not going to take part and a valuable opportunity to influence the evolution of the series will be missed.I'll post an update if/when I get any replies.Steve

Thanks Steve. I also forwarded the email to the [email protected] address. I agree that this is MOST LIKELY a case of one department not knowing what is going on. However, Maqmoor was supposed to be working in the game department of Microsoft, so I would certainly hope he would have been aware of it. We'll see.

I think the email you got from Mr. Ahmed is exactly as you suppose; a case of the right hand not knowing what the left hand is doing.

Probably the best people to tell if someone is MS is giving out bad information on this is [email protected]. This email address is read by the FS team and they'll be able to deal with any internal MS problems if necessary.

I too did some deep checking as to the legitimacy of the FS Survey by utilizing some of my government contacts at the CIA. The following is the result.Original letter:Dear Porter Goss:How are the wife and kids? How are things going over at the CIA? Still getting ribbed at the local bar about the whole WMD in Irag / Al Queda - Saddam thing? Well keep a stiff upper lip, and remember nobody's perfect! On another note. We at the flight sim community have gotten a supposed email from Microsoft asking us to load software on our computer to send information on our simulated flight habits over to a server located on the Microsoft network. The URL address is: http://131.107.135.179/FlightSim/Even though a "who-is" lookup shows that the address resides on the MS network in Redmond Washington and answers to emails from this site have been originating from Microsoft.com email servers, we have reason to believe that we are being fooled into sending our flight simulator habits to parties that could use this highly confidential information for illegal purposes. Could you please use all of your resources available to find out the truth about this issue and get back to me at your convenience.Your friend.Mike [email protected] here is the reply:*********************************CLASSIFIED TOP SECRET - EYES ONLY*********************************CLEARANCE: MAJESTIC OR HIGHER ************************************Penalty For Private Use is $250,000and / or up to 10 years in Federal PrisonDear Mike:It's going well here at the CIA. I'm settling into the new job as Director, but I don't think they like me here. Last week I came to work and someone toilet papered my whole office and posted pictures of me dressed in women's clothing from my fraterity days *sigh*.As far as the Irag thing, well, I still get ribbed about it occasionally, but I've got into the habit of having those people "terminated with extreme prejudice" shortly thereafter so it has been pretty quiet lately.Regarding your inquiry concerning the Microsoft Survey. We were able to incorporate NSA and DIA assets on the ground along with Keyhole assets tasked into geosyncronous orbits over Redmond. I was also able to pull two Darkstar UAVs, one Delta Force Recon unit and three SEAL Foxtrot Zulu teams for eyes on. Here is what we found.1 - Information collected is "spoofed" and has been forwared to the Arecebo Radar dish in South America where the information they are collecting is being encrypted and transmitted to a yet unknown location in the vicinity of Regulus: coordinates 10h 08m 22s +11

Go and contact Steven Spielberg. I'm sure he can make a great movie using your script! ;-) :+