This is nicely put. Thank you for expressing it and you speak for me on this front too.
I was a software development manager before i quit for better things, and I think the engagement with the customers is better than it was. I also think that the Devs are using a well structured, agile roadmap approach which is quite responsive to the bug and improvement reporting being made by us.
I do, however, think that even cutting edge deliveries need to be very consistently stable, especially with an application that is surely going to be built upon for a few years to come. A good foundation, if you like. Times have changed: this is what good, modern, software architecture demands.
Some of the issues being reported don’t ring true with that, but that’s just my opinion. When there are significant issues with installing and crashing, then it falls very hard. These are issues which aren’t expected in modern software deliveries and not getting the sim to install, or having the game silently fail on loading are not the same thing as having an ILS not align correctly. Some people have spent more hours installing and trying to get the game working than actually flying, which is a shame. For example, I have had to install it several times already and I haven’t owned it very long. I also get regular crashes with no feedback or logging, on a system within the specs, bought from a major manufacturer (Dell) and never tinkered with. That’s pretty bad as a customer experience.
But on the whole, I do agree and it’s a really, really fine thing that is a joy for most people to use. And well priced for what we get. It’s great value, not just for money but for time and energy spent with it.
Great thread, thanks 