Looking at their different webpages, Github, Facebook etc, I still can't find any info on who the people behinf the FBW Team is. 

How many people are in the Team, and what are their job in the project? And are there real A320 pilots in the group?

I'm more than amazed at what they have achieved so far, so I wondered why they can do what they're doing and that Asobo/MS apparently can't do.

I'm pretty sure the A320N will turn out to be the best freeware mod ever made (don't use Xp11, so I can't speak for the Zibo mod of the default B737) and I honestly can't see why I should pay for FSlabs A320 If and when it comes out.

So a BIG THUMBS up to the FBW Team.

You should join their discord channel to find out more.

They have real world pilots and engineers on their team.

Not sure what you mean by "what Asobo/MS can't ". I don't think MS wanted to build something to the detail FBW are going for so it makes sense they are filling that space.

 

Yep, we basically use our Discord as a primary means of communication, the link is on our Github landing page. We have a core group of about 20 or so developers, but anyone is free to contribute, and to date we have about 110+ people who have worked on the project. We have a few dozen technicians and type-rated A320 pilots in our discord as well, who we constantly consult to make sure all our additions and changes are true to the real plane.

I think 320 Sim Pilot on YouTube is one of them. As a real A320 pilot, he usually goes through all versions at some point on his YT channel. He is very interesting, and explains it really well. I watch him all the time now, as I had never flown an Airbus in a sim until the MSFS A320 and the FBW mod!

BTW, great work FBW team!

54 minutes ago, jlund said:

so I wondered why they can do what they're doing and that Asobo/MS apparently can't do.

A completely new sim, plenty of aircrafts, scenery .. etc, I don't think is easy to give a complete focus on one aircraft vs an awesome group of over 100 people on the same aircraft. 

 

7 minutes ago, omarsmak30 said:

A completely new sim, plenty of aircrafts, scenery .. etc, I don't think is easy to give a complete focus on one aircraft vs an awesome group of over 100 people on the same aircraft. 

 

Plus Asobo actually did help FBW and others with a recent AP fix

I think the work the FBW team is doing is absolutely incredible. But considering you haven't ever used XP11 / the Zibo mod, let me tell you - they've got massive shoes to fill.

The Zibo 737 was a near study level 737. Every system was modeled, parts of the plane's 3D modeling were redone, an iPad EFB was added, custom sounds were added, a payload / fuel management system was added, and the performance was nearly spot on. The FBW team is definitely getting there, and I can see them reaching the same level that Zibo has within the next several months to a year. 

All I can say is, I really wish they included a default 737 in the sim so that the FBW team could be creating that instead of the A32NX (obviously they wouldn't be called FBW anymore if they were working on the 737 haha). It's a bummer that we have to wait over a year for PMDG to release their 737, but it's incredible that we've got a team of dedicated developers committed to creating high-quality freeware for the community.

Edited December 8, 20205 yr by FlyingInACessna

21 minutes ago, FlyingInACessna said:

The FBW team is definitely getting there, and I can see them reaching the same level that Zibo has within the next several months to a year. 

All I can say is, I really wish they included a default 737 in the sim so that the FBW team could be creating that instead of the A32NX (obviously they wouldn't be called FBW anymore if they were working on the 737 haha). It's a bummer that we have to wait over a year for PMDG to release their 737, but it's incredible that we've got a team of dedicated developers committed to creating high-quality freeware for the community.

If I’m not mistaken, Zibo is basically a one man show.  With 20+ core developers (and anyone else free to contribute), I have no doubt FBW will be at the equivalent “zibo” level sooner rather than later.

They are also developing an A380 from scratch.  Nothing stopping anyone, including Zibo himself, from doing the same thing with a 737 in MSFS.  In fact if PMDG (or for that matter FSLabs) takes too long bringing their wares to market, they may find the freeware community is far more competent and capable than some have been lead to believe.

 

50 minutes ago, FlyingInACessna said:

The Zibo 737 was a near study level 737

.... and Zibo took years to get to where it is today, granted a much smaller team.

MSFS in not even out for four months and it is incredible what the FBW team has done already. EFB will come, as I understand and many further improvements..

I will take every opportunity to thank the FBW team and everyone involved for their selfless contributions!

Thank you!!!

4 hours ago, jlund said:

I'm more than amazed at what they have achieved so far, so I wondered why they can do what they're doing and that Asobo/MS apparently can't do.

It's not that Asobo/MS cannot do it in terms of skills, it is that as a couple of large organisations in development contact with many others which are contributing and consulting etc, they cannot simply 'turn on a dime' when if comes to the production process, whereas a freeware team with no commercial constraints and no other objectives other than its focus on one thing, can react quicker.

Sort of akin to how a small guerilla army can do fast hit and run stuff, whereas a regular army has a chain of command to go through and so things take longer. But equally, to carry on that analogy, a small force can't carry out a massive operation like a large regular army can, and similarly, a small team of freeware developers probably cannot pull off something as large as creating something such as MSFS itself, whereas we know MS and Asobo can. So in praising the freeware developers, you also have to acknowledge that whilst a freeware team may indeed be doing good things, they would not be in a position to do that at all without the considerably greater contribution MS and Asobo have made to the endeavour in the first place.

After all, I've never yet seen anyone 'mod' a sim or game which didn't exist in the first place.

Edited December 8, 20205 yr by Chock

5 hours ago, jlund said:

I wondered why they can do what they're doing and that Asobo/MS apparently can't do.

As others have noted in this thread, this is somewhat uncharitable phrasing.   The simple fact is that creating what some might term a "study level" simulation of a complex airliner is a daunting task that can fill up an entire development team on its own.   A detailed simulation of an airliner can take years to develop from scratch and cost at retail double what the entire base price of MSFS is;  it's not realistic to expect a company creating a general sim to invest the time and effort needed to model an entire hangar full of airliners to "hardcore" simmers' expectations.

I'm sure Asobo and MS would love to have detailed simulations available for everyone to play with, and having spoken to a number of the Asobo developers I am confident they could create a quality "study level" sim themselves with enough time and available expert knowledge.  It's not that they can't do it, it's just that it's not commercially viable for them, at this point, to do it.  But they definitely want folks to have these nice toys to play with, which is why they've been working with FBW, and with us at Working Title, to help us along in our work.

3 hours ago, FlyingInACessna said:

The Zibo 737 was a near study level 737. Every system was modeled

Was? It isn't anymore? What happened?

 

51 minutes ago, Alvega said:

Was? It isn't anymore? What happened?

 

My bad lol I stopped flying X-Plane so so my mind pictured it as being no longer in development 

3 hours ago, Gilandred said:

Nothing stopping anyone, including Zibo himself, from doing the same thing with a 737 in MSFS.

Well I mean Zibo didn’t create the 737 model in XP. He simply modified the systems (and minor cockpit modeling) with assistance from real 737 pilots. But it would be incredible if this could happen! @FBW Team if you’re reading this, maybe make a 737 before your A380 ;);)

I'd like to add my thanks and praise for what FBW have done with the default A320. It's incredible that in a relatively short space of time we have functionality to the level we do. For example; the AOC Menu items in the MCDU and now the experimental AP. Great stuff.

Boeing, Boeing, Boeing - Gone. I'm Airbus now.

Vastly impressive stuff. Thank you!

Edited December 8, 20205 yr by Will Fly For Cheese