1 hour ago, Noodle said:

Wow!

Congrats! You quoted the same thing I quoted in this very thread.

And like most everyone else who responded here, you didn't read or comprehend what I said. 

I am not talking about the participating in the Alpha. Try actually reading what I said.

You might want to read it again then, because i quoted two different Q/As. And the one you seem to miss is the first one, so i'll copy it again.

 

Q: What are the benefits of joining the Insider Program?

A: Insiders will answer short surveys, have access to private forums and receive exclusive weekly newsletters. Moreover, Insiders will have exclusive opportunities to participate in Technical Alpha and Beta tests of in-progress Microsoft Flight Simulator releases and provide feedback to the development teams.

 

It's obvious that we are still waiting on the forum part for non alpha users 🙂  And there might be new surveys issued in the future as well.

Besides that.. what else would you like to have as an Insider?

6 hours ago, Noodle said:

Given that all the "exclusive" content posted in the MSFS insider area is reposted to public channels within minutes of release. 

And given that all Alpha participants are chosen from the pool of Insider members.

What is the benefit to Insider membership for those not picked to participate in the Alpha?

This is a legitimate question meant to stimulate MS/Asobo to consider other ways to increase the value of the Insider program.

I tacitly acknowledge that not everyone can participate in the Alpha, and my comment is not intended to imply any such entitlement. In fact, I'm specifically suggesting alternative perks completely separate from any testing or early access role.

Being "patient", as suggested by the moderator, does not address the spirit of my comment.

There is no other benefit to it, and there isn't meant to be.  It's "value" was only ever to provide the weekly updates to interested persons on the state of development, and to generate a self-selecting pool for testing purposes.

Trying to come up with additional benefits for being an Insider is just a waste of time and resources.  It doesn't cost anything to be an Insider, nor was it ever sold by them as anything more than a means to access dev updates and the occasional new media, and to get a chance at being an alpha tester.

In conclusion, I suppose I'd answer your question with another question:  Why do you think there needs to be other "benefits" to being an Insider in the first place?  Or why do you think Asobo should want to create those added benefits?

12 minutes ago, Pastaiolo said:

You might want to read it again then, because i quoted two different Q/As. And the one you seem to miss is the first one, so i'll copy it again.

You're the one missing things. That's the one I quoted. A fact you would know if you had actually read what I said instead of reacting impulsively to what you think you saw.

Haha! Ok, you guys win. I regret my terrible transgression of suggesting there could possibly be improvements made to the Insider program.

I've learned that a significant portion of respondents are incapable of reading and comprehending a 150-word post. That's pretty disheartening.

But hey, you guys did a great job banding together and teaching me a lesson. So there's that.

7 hours ago, Noodle said:

What is the benefit to Insider membership for those not picked to participate in the Alpha?

This is a legitimate question meant to stimulate MS/Asobo to consider other ways to increase the value of the Insider program.

For all those people who do not visit Avsim or other forums, if any, that repost everything from the Insider site, it's a source of news about the new sim.  Which is all it has to be.

If you have something in mind that you're not saying, then say it.

Hook

1 minute ago, Noodle said:

Haha! Ok, you guys win. I regret my terrible transgression of suggesting there could possibly be improvements made to the Insider program.

I've learned that a significant portion of respondents are incapable of reading and comprehending a 150-word post. That's pretty disheartening.

But hey, you guys did a great job banding together and teaching me a lesson. So there's that.

I read your post, and I comprehended it fine.  I also didn't have a problem with it, but that isn't the same as agreeing with the premise.

I even asked follow up questions so you could explain why you think there is a need for added Insider benefits in the first place.

16 minutes ago, Noodle said:

You're the one missing things. That's the one I quoted. A fact you would know if you had actually read what I said instead of reacting impulsively to what you think you saw.

I did read it, but i thought it answered your question in the original post and most people needed to read it properly 🙂

32 minutes ago, Pastaiolo said:

Besides that.. what else would you like to have as an Insider?

Since we are doing the "you didn't read" game, how about answering to my question as well? 

It's not my responsibility to rewrite a billion-dollar corporation's marketing strategy. I'm just a simmer pointing out that the stated benefits of the Insider program leave something to be desired.

I'm not playing any "games", but that you think I am says something about your state of mind as well as the culture of this forum.

I made a casual observation in good faith, because I'm lifelong simmer and fan of the new MSFS. The reaction has been swift and "word not allowed".

 

2 minutes ago, Noodle said:

I'm just a simmer pointing out that the stated benefits of the Insider program leave something to be desired.

So tell us what it is that you desire.

Hook

I get that you think you're proving a point by putting me on the spot to come up with a million-dollar marketing idea on the spot, but I already explained I don't think it's my responsibility to do that. For the third time: I'm not a marketing person.

I simply wish there was a middle ground between public knowledge and Alpha tester. I dont think that should be a controversial position, but here we are.

So basically you don't know what you want, but you want more of it?

Give us some suggestions for improvements.  What kind of thing do you expect to see?  If you can't think of anything, and no one else here has any idea what you're looking for, Microsoft probably won't either.

Hook

My two cents.

I agree in principle with Noodle, I made a suggestion to open up the alpha forum under certain restrictions but that got shot to pieces so I understand his hesitance to make a suggestion.

There is nothing wrong with different points of view but I think sometimes it turns into a lynching on here and it’s a bit unnecessary. 

I want there to be a middle ground between public knowledge and Alpha tester. I thought I've been clear about that.

I think I've also been clear that I don't have any million-dollar marketing ideas swimming around in my non-marketing head.

If I actually made specific recommendations,  I absolutely guarantee that you or someone like you would come in here and tell me I'm wrong for making demands.

You're not going to goad me into coming up with new ideas. I've said what I had to say, and it's obvious my opinion is met with hostility. I've got better things to do than go round and round. Go back and read my original.post if you have any lingering questions about my position.

1 minute ago, Noodle said:

If I actually made specific recommendations,  I absolutely guarantee that you or someone like you would come in here and tell me I'm wrong for making demands.

It can't be any worse than what's happening now.

I already mentioned that the forum there will be opened eventually.

Hook

6 minutes ago, LHookins said:

So basically you don't know what you want, but you want more of it?

 

It’s not his responsibility to come up with a solution.

I’d like to see the end of poverty and a cure for cancer doesn’t mean I know how but I’d like to think I’m free to express that or should you not mention it unless you have the answers. It’s a forum for throwing ideas around and at the moment for the none alphas there isn’t much to chew over so everyone should just chill out.