It seems over the last several months that personnel from the FSX team are either quitting their jobs entirely with Microsoft, moving to other MS areas, or changing job-specifics within the FSX team.And these are just the people that are 'visible' to the community, so there are probably more 'under-the-hood' doing likewise.Some of these people have quite a few years on the team and replacements would either have to be found, or underscored.(Loss of talent, or introduction of new talent(?))My questions are:What impact will this have on the generations after FSX?Will there still be a fluid, consistent transition of FS versions, or will it result in dramatic changes, almost rendering one vers. of FS unrecognizable to the next?Why have team members 'suddenly' moved around, or is this a standard procedure within the FS/MS company?(Seems either to be an unstable business or a high degree of flexibility, allocating resources to where its needed most)Is IT-burn-out a factor?What did the FS/MS corporate structure lose or gain that would cause their employees to seek-elsewhere?Do we need to worry?The future of FSX is grander than wondering if FSX will have cloud shadows in this version...Will Mike go fishing for Tuna, so he can make that perfect smoked Tuna d

>It seems over the last several months that personnel from the>FSX team are either quitting their jobs entirely with>Microsoft, moving to other MS areas, or changing job-specifics>within the FSX team.>>And these are just the people that are 'visible' to the>community, so there are probably more 'under-the-hood' doing>likewise.>>Some of these people have quite a few years on the team and>replacements would either have to be found, or underscored.>(Loss of talent, or introduction of new talent(?))>>My questions are:>What impact will this have on the generations after FSX?>Will there still be a fluid, consistent transition of FS>versions, or will it result in dramatic changes, almost>rendering one vers. of FS unrecognizable to the next?>>Why have team members 'suddenly' moved around, or is this a>standard procedure within the FS/MS company?>(Seems either to be an unstable business or a high degree of>flexibility, allocating resources to where its needed most)>>Is IT-burn-out a factor?>>What did the FS/MS corporate structure lose or gain that would>cause their employees to seek-elsewhere?>>Do we need to worry?>The future of FSX is grander than wondering if FSX will have>cloud shadows in this version...>>Will Mike go fishing for Tuna, so he can make that perfect>smoked Tuna d

<>That's so sweet, Jason. Come here and give me a hug! :)

>>>That's so sweet, Jason. Come here and give me a hug! :)roflol...

Steady now, you'll have tongues wagging :)

Lets pray that FSX will be a great seller and that they won't have to call it the last version of MSFS!! Who is going to get multiple copies?

>Lets pray that FSX will be a great seller and that they won't>have to call it the last version of MSFS!! Who is going to get>multiple copies?You bring up a good point. IMO, this is our sim and MS has been very up front with info, especially when compared to past versions which were non existent on any interactivity. In case you haven't figured it out, this is a businesss, plain and simple and part of them interacting with us is marketing. Since all of us here on the forums are the hardcore users, we should feel obligated to support MS and the ACES team, regardless of a feature or two missing to ensure it does well and that they continue towards an even more realistic version.buying a single copy should be a no brainer!Regards, MichaelKDFWhttp://www.calvirair.com/mcpics/mcdcvabanner.jpgCalVirAir International

"In case>you haven't figured it out, this is a businesss, plain and>simple and part of them interacting with us is marketing."While there is of course a lot of truth in what you've said, you should know that interacting with the community is entirely optional and is done on a volunteer basis by the people who do so. We don't *have* to do this. :)Cheers,Jason

>...., this is a businesss, plain and>simple and part of them interacting with us is marketing.Would seem pointless marketing amongst hardcore users as they would be the most 'loyal' and best percentage of people buying FSX.Although I'd think you're partly right, it would seem to be a MS strategy to interact, but not an FS-team obligation.Better to market amongst new users, invest in news headlines, media coverage etc.I think the keyword to entice new users would be "appeal" and portraying elements that would capture their interest would be the most beneficial.I think the team have gone to great lengths to try to improve what many hardcore users would like to see AS WELL AS new features for new users, I'd suspect this version is almost 2 versions in 1.

<>Well, I'm not in marketing (anymore) and nobody's telling me to do this. I just like customer interaction. So if you think the intent isn't genuine I can find other things to do on a Sunday morning.

I surely don't doubt that you do it because you like the interaction. There are, no doubt, some paranoids who would believe otherwise. After all isn't Microsoft and Bill Gates trying for world domination?Thanks for the interactions. It sure makes the anticipation entertaining especially watching the children get so excited that the train set may not be under the Christams Tree.

>It seems over the last several months that personnel from the>FSX team are either quitting their jobs entirely with>Microsoft, moving to other MS areas, or changing job-specifics>within the FSX team.Worry not - this is ENTIRELY normal in a software development company. Some folks specialize in certain areas of programming the sim like graphics, UI's, the flight aspects. Still others don't have any "programming", but help out none the less in areas like sound, textures/art, video, help documentation.The people leaving for other projects may not be "abandoning" their jobs with the flight sim project - it could simply be that they have COMPLETED their job on the flight sim project and are moving on to others. I say don't worry. FSX will release and I believe we'll all be impressed. And no sooner than FSX hits our computer desks, someone in a cave up in Redmond will be thinking of how to improve on it, starting the FS-XI developments... -Greg

>Well, I'm not in marketing (anymore) and nobody's telling me>to do this. I just like customer interaction. So if you think>the intent isn't genuine I can find other things to do on a>Sunday morning.Never said that Mike and I do think it's genuine (and it's very much appreciated), guess I should have worded it differently, sorry. If it was never suggested that you guys come on the forums and interact with the community and that it would be a good thing for the product, then again, I apologize, Just seemed like a natural thought since this is a first.Regards, MichaelKDFWhttp://www.calvirair.com/mcpics/mcdcvabanner.jpgCalVirAir International

Okay then I will only buy one copy of FSX! :)

Would seem pointless marketing amongst hardcore users as they would be the most 'loyal' and best percentage of people buying FSX.Because pi..ing off the "loyal and hardcore" users is a very good way to end a game/ program's future. An unhappy major part of the hardcore group would not advance sales and give a good message to the newbie's.it would seem to be a MS strategy to interactThat's definitely the case. Most of my real world job involves MS products and from our company Technical Account Manager, to the team members on the groups for server, workstation and systems management tools - the level of interaction and accessibility has gone up tremendously in the past couple years.Better to market amongst new users, invest in news headlines, media coverage etc. I think the keyword to entice new users would be "appeal" and portraying elements that would capture their interest would be the most beneficial.I'll agree, but an unfortunate amount of the time of folks like pixelpoke and tdragger has gone into telling the hardcore folks on this forum to not get upset or over despondent over marketing released for the general audience - the newbie's.Everytime some screenshots, a mission, a video are made available - focused on newbie's - the hardcore moans and cries about the "game" aspect being developed to the detriment of the simulator aspect.We've got to settle down, take a deep breath, wait and watch. Frankly I don't expect to much detail until the SDK's are released. There will be more information at the Avsim gathering - and I'm sure the similar big European event.I think the team have gone to great lengths to try to improve what many hardcore users would like to see AS WELL AS new features for new users, I'd suspect this version is almost 2 versions in 1.Amen.