I would assume that MS/ACES has more than enough data/feedback to work with from releasing the demo, so I question the need of a full beta. It seems that MS/ACES wanted to make 'something' available for feedback and wasn't really sure, if they should make it available in the form of a beta or demo (which coincidentally both were due for public release around the same time).I would also say that MS/ACES has gotten a lot better feedback than expected from the demo release, because of the broader exposure to FS enthousiasts. A FP beta would have probably attracted more users who find it 'cool' to see the full (beta) product before the release.In any case, we should be happy that MS/ACES decides to include a broader range of flight simmers into their development/bug hunting efforts.Pat

>I would assume that MS/ACES has more than enough>data/feedback to work with from releasing the demo, so I>question the need of a full beta. It seems that MS/ACES wanted>to make 'something' available for feedback and wasn't really>sure, if they should make it available in the form of a beta>or demo (which coincidentally both were due for public release>around the same time).>>I would also say that MS/ACES has gotten a lot better feedback>than expected from the demo release, because of the broader>exposure to FS enthousiasts. A FP beta would have probably>attracted more users who find it 'cool' to see the full (beta)>product before the release.>>In any case, we should be happy that MS/ACES decides to>include a broader range of flight simmers into their>development/bug hunting efforts.>>PatI agree with you in principal, releasing a beta if, and only if, the retail game is coming out October 17, 2006, would seem to be a waist of time and effort.After visiting the Trackir website, http://www.naturalpoint.com/trackir/03-enh...imulator-x.html looking for a possible driver for the demo, I realized that a FSX beta has been out for a while and not only that; there is already a Beta 2 of FSX out.So why would the ACE team go through the trouble of releasing a public beta? Well my only guess would be to comply with their new open policy of involving the general public in their software development?I do think that with all that you said, it would be PR wise to release it anyway. Arranging for Fileplanet to promote and supply a beta and fileplanet going through with advertising it with a page dedicated to it, would look very unprofessional for both parties. It is not uncommon for Microsoft, or any other developer for that reason, to change their release date. That is probably why on Microsoft

>I do think that with all that you said, it would be PR wise to>release it anyway. Arranging for Fileplanet to promote and>supply a beta and fileplanet going through with advertising it>with a page dedicated to it, would look very unprofessional>for both parties. >I'd agree with that.

It's been a holiday here, in parts of the UK, today so it would have been nice to have been able to have a look at the beta. Oh well, never mind.

>It's been a holiday here, in parts of the UK, today so it>would have been nice to have been able to have a look at the>beta. Oh well, never mind. Which holiday?

>>It's been a holiday here, in parts of the UK, today so it>>would have been nice to have been able to have a look at the>>beta. Oh well, never mind. >>Which holiday?Just called August Bank Holiday or Summer Bank Holiday. :-)

Next weekend is a Holiday weekend in the states. Its Labor Day weekend and its going to be a long one if the beta does not arrive by Friday. This is yet another conspiracy theory but it would not surprise me if they canned it. Perhaps converting the file into a downloadable format is proving to be such a problem is was robbing resources from finishing the final product on time? This is still very inexcusable and very unprofessional and a PR disaster for Aces and MS. One would think they would be well aware of this problem well before the program begins. Also makes me wonder how people currently on the beta program are getting it? I heard from the grapevine that these people are downloading it direct from MS. These versions did not seem to be a problem if this is true. Regardless of what is or the cause of delay another small update would be very nice.

Yes they canned the beta, tdragger said the deluxe version is out in a couple of weeks. But a couple of weeks probably means a couple of month :D.

Maybe there is a delay so all the beta testers (incl. FP) get the next beta version 3 one?

Id have thought they would almost be on RC's by now.Mikes also added some more information about the beta on his blog.http://blogs.msdn.com/tdragger/

Mike has updated his blog with new info regarding this.It's in FP's hands now.Although I don't know what the delay is...I've done plenty of betas through them that require unique keys.https://blogs.msdn.com/tdragger/archive/200.../28/728572.aspx

>Mike has updated his blog with new info regarding this.>>>It's in FP's hands now.>>Although I don't know what the delay is...I've done plenty of>betas through them that require unique keys.>>https://blogs.msdn.com/tdragger/archive/200.../28/728572.aspxThanks for that and many thanks to Mike for updating us. So it's all down to Fileplanet now.

>>Mike has updated his blog with new info regarding this.>>>>>>It's in FP's hands now.>>>>Although I don't know what the delay is...I've done plenty>of>>betas through them that require unique keys.>>>>https://blogs.msdn.com/tdragger/archive/200.../28/728572.aspx>>Thanks for that and many thanks to Mike for updating us. So>it's all down to Fileplanet now.Most of the time, I've gotten emails with the key included, or you get the key (if it's out already) when you sign up or go through the download page.Either way, looks like one less thing we can dump on ACES about now :(

I wonder how long FP have had the beta.

Good news :-) :-)and thanks for the update :-waveI would imagine if the program is in good shape Fileplanet would not waist much time sending out those emails with a link being provided a few days later.I would also check your beta key archives at fileplanet. Sometimes you don't get an email for whatever reason but you get a key placed there. Not a big thing but it does happen this way.