UK here, never had any speed issues with fileplanet myself, 1.2 Mb/sec almost everytime.

Flight Simulator X, if I recall correctly, will be using Gamespy for multiplayer. Gamespy, which, along with the merged IGN network, runs Fileplanet. Why would they go anywhere else to test their multiplayer component? The thought which comes to mind is that Gamespy might be looking to have a valid test of their multiplayer interface with FSX.We've all seen where the popularity of a new addon has swamped the servers of releasing companies, and support forums - even the Avsim forums have been brought to their knees.I know Gamespy has the on-line gameplay environment down pat - but even the most confident IT manager wants a test in a controlled environment of a new technology before it goes live to the world.

I was invited to the Aces Studio to see the BETA version of FS-X....they have a team of paid BETA testers to put FS-X through it's paces. I even found one bug by accident that they hadn't see before.While we were playing with the new features, you could definitely tell that the product was BETA.So, why would anyone subscribe to a pay service to use a pre-release BETA version of a product from a company that has many talented BETA testers and programmers?Perhaps there is a market for people who are happy with BETA software and dont want to pay for the real thing, :-)Just curious.....

Personally, I am already paid subscriber to fileplanet, and have been for some time. I use their site to get demos all the time. So for me this is just an extra bonus to being a fileplanet subscriber. I would definitely not have signed up specifically for the chance to beta test FS-X.

>I was invited to the Aces Studio to see the BETA version of>FS-X....they have a team of paid BETA testers to put FS-X>through it's paces. I even found one bug by accident that they>hadn't see before.>>While we were playing with the new features, you could>definitely tell that the product was BETA.>>So, why would anyone subscribe to a pay service to use a>pre-release BETA version of a product from a company that has>many talented BETA testers and programmers?>>Perhaps there is a market for people who are happy with BETA>software and dont want to pay for the real thing, :-)>>Just curious.....Most of the people that will use the beta subscribe to the site anyway so most people are not subscribing just to use a pre release beta. Everybody (almost everybody?) who gets the beta will still buy the released product.Why would Microsoft go to the bother of releasing a public beta if they didn't think it was worth doing?

I'm not completely sure that I'm getting the connections you are making here, and I was hoping you could clear things up for me.Are you suggesting that people should not want to beta test FSX because there is already a team of beta testers? Also, I've played a number of shareware or open source games, not too mention a lot of mods that are buggy or in development. While not always complete or perfect, they can still be a lot of fun. I guess what I'm not clear on is why would being content with a beta product have anything to do with willingness to purchase a full game? They seem like completely separate items to me.I'm not trying to rag on you or anything. I just don't understand the points you are making.As an aside, let's not kid ourselves. Many of the games that come to market are pretty buggy anyways, regardless of testing.

Why did you accept the invitation to the Aces Studio?I assume you were not paid to attend so you must have gone because you were curious.I am curious too and so I joined File Planet and subscribed to FSX beta.Of course I will buy the final release just like I purchased FS2, FS4, FS5, FS2000, FS2002 and FS2004.Hopefully i will be accepted for the FSX beta.

Not a chance. Anyone who didn't buy FS95 is not eligible :-) .

Personally, I think the "selection process" is bull. In every beta I have signed up for on fileplanet (over 20) I have never been 'rejected'. I think it's first come first serve. It'd be nice if someone from ACES could elaborate on this.

>Personally, I think the "selection process" is bull. In>every beta I have signed up for on fileplanet (over 20) I have>never been 'rejected'. I think it's first come first serve. >It'd be nice if someone from ACES could elaborate on this. >I actually flew through one rather quickly and didn't bother to put in my systems specs, just leaving the selections at the default, and it told me there were no more slots left. I tried it again, filling everything in, and got a key.So there's that.

FilePlanet has always been a rip-off. Paying for betas, demos and large patches? No, thank you.Pat

It's paying for a download service so you don't have to wait forever to get those items. And it's $7.00 a month for me. Sheesh you guys really don't understand it at all. If you don't have anything constructive to add to this thread, unplug your keyboard.

Hopefully it is first come first serve because I signed up on Friday. If it is first come first serve then I am in good shape.

>FilePlanet has always been a rip-off. Paying for betas, demos>and large patches? No, thank you.>>PatI personally find this whole thread incredibly ironic, coming from the only gaming community I've ever encountered that pays for add-ons.

No, I don't understand it. I usually do not wait forever to download ANYTHING. Patches and are usually issued directly from the publisher and demos are available on more free websites than there are stars in the sky - with great bandwidth. You pay to offload the burden from the publisher and free advertising.Pat