>OK, so it actually is the full, time limited beta>version. But, notice that there is a "FREE SUBSCRIPTION">available...Bill is right, does not say you have to use the pay service, just subscribe, then hit the "no thanks" button for the pay services.Brian S.

You're very wise. :-wave

wise? not so much. Wise-a** , yes definitely.

>wise? not so much. Wise-a** , yes definitely.The problem is that you CAN'T ADVERTISE SOMETHING THAT DOESNT EVEN EXIST IS THE POINT! NOT that you are guaranteed but just advertising that some people WILL!Carmine http://forums.avsim.net/images/wave.gifhttp://img155.imageshack.us/img155/7118/phoenixtp8mg.jpg

Its a subscriber exclusive beta, you dont get anything unless you pay.

I don't think he's joking!!!

As far as I know you will need to agree to an NDA.

I actually don't know how the selection process works...this is new for us, too.

>>Paying for betatesting, i think not. What a slap in the>face>>to all in the flightsimming community, why the heck not ask>>here if they wanted betatesters.>>To pay for the bandwidth?? I've no idea either. It's an aggregator business model and has to do with our ability to scale (or not, depending on your POV) our internal program. We don't have unlimited resources and so have to limit the number of beta testers in the MSFT program. FilePlanet has their own business model and manages their own programs and gets economies of sclae by doing so.The advantage to us is that we get more eyes on the product and don't have to pay someone directly to collect and filter the feedback. I suspect that's why lots of other developers and publishers use FilePlanet. Since the subscription is for the service it makes sense for folks likely to want to participate in numerous programs over the course of a year.

>As far as I know it is the full thing--12GB worth.Wonder how long that will take to download...

Man, if this isn't a PRIME EXAMPLE of our modern gotta-have-it-now mentality!Let me get this straight:1. You are all going to pay good money to get merely a chance to download a 12 GIG file. 2. Now of course you will need broadband and despite that, the download will tie up your computer for many, many, hours. Has anyone calculated just how long this download will take? 3. Oh, and on top of that, if you succeed, you will have downloaded a program which the publisher freely admits is buggy (it IS beta, after all).And all for what?Just so you can get a few WEEKS jump on those of us who wait for the official release?I think you all have bumped your heads one too may times on the overhead panel!!!-Rick

To answer your question, yes I would do all that and will. You have to remember this beta isn't all about having fun it's also about finding glitches and reporting them so when the final version is ready for release we will have the smoothest possible experience.:)

Any idea when this is supposed to be released?

>Bill is right, does not say you have to use the pay service,>just subscribe, then hit the "No thanks" button for the pay>services.But.. that doesn't actually work? When you click the "No thanks" you just get tossed to the front page. I imagine if you choose one of the pay services you will be presented with some kind of "You've been added to the list of beta candidates" page or somesuch.As it stands, clicking on "No thanks" gives you no indication of if you're included in the selection process or not.

It just said within a few days time.