I've been in this hobby (and REAL aviation) since the Apple IIE Computer. I've seen SO many of the latest and greatest expansion pre-release hype and the downright overreacting, childish, impatient frenzy that some get themselves worked up into a lather over with these things from day 1 pretty much. The developers for the most part can tune most of it out and concentrate on the real task at hand, delivering on what they just promised you. They'll say that they don't feel the pressure, or in anyway compelled to rush a half complete, sub-standard product out the door to the teeming masses just to hear the cash register slam into overdrive and start throwing rods and blowing gaskets. They say. I've imagined myself in that position MANY times, and they'd all have to be some non-human, physically, emotionally, and indeed psycologically detatched lot in order to NOT feel the pressure. Certain devs are better at coping with the mass hysteria better than others, PMDG being a prime example. In many cases, wresting control once again and restoring some semblance of order. IMHO, I'd say PMDG is the Rolls Royce of the FS add-on community. A certain "Quality over quickness" approach, and "we'll release it on release day." attitude that angers, frustrates, indeed, infuriates some. But, at the end, we get to install on our computer a kind of "Electronic artistry" that VERY few developers in this industry would dare dream of creating. And they do it under CONSTANT barrage of at least "Best left for a later date" questions to inane, pointless, and overall impractical questions for a given state of development.
With the T7, PMDG got me to do something I would never for a second consider when purchasing from any other developer, and had never done with even them. I shelled out over 100 dollars (as did we all I know) to purchase a product that couldn't have been on the download servers more than a half hour. THIS is my hobby, I LOVE it, and I'm ALL in!!! If it's something I have interest in, looks unique,or one of those harder to define "I GOTTA have THIS one!" feelings we ALL get when eyeballing a new gizmo for FS. I'll gladly fork over the cash for it...AFTER it's been around a bit, IF the overall word is good or at least not negative. I've NEVER gotten "buyer's regret" from PMDG, Well, Mom said never say that word. After Ops Center 1.5 something threw it's 1st puke troubles started for me, And things have degraded now to the point I have no Ops Center at all. To learn that there are a few of you with at least PARTIAL functionallity with OC is all at once a suprise, shock and mystery. I don't get the disparity between those that have limited, vs. those of us with none (to be entirely fair, I don't know that there are anymore besides myself with NO OC) As instructed, I've listed my gripes here, sent along what logs (IF ANY) are being produced at this point, and overall monitored the situation as best I can. But the last TWO emails I've sent to PMDG have gone unanswered. (and YES i've checked my spam filter, as well as added every publically available email address PMDG has to my "safe" list) Currently, I have a severe infection being caused by MASSIVE Kidney stones that my Dr. informs me are far too large to EVER pass on their own. Surgery is next. AFTER they can get and keep my temp below 104. So, out of the gate I'm an unhappy camper ATM, so to add the fact that I've plunked down over a hundred dollars for a completely un-useable product, and I am now having difficulty even having my emails acknowledged? I think it's VERY fair to say I'll remember this when the already MUCH discussed (speculated) 747 v2.0 is released...And for a long time after, as well. May all your logbooks show the correct ratio of takeoffs to landings!
Robert
