MSTS-X

[miketsims]

Will there be volunteer beta testers for the new sim? If so do we contact Microsoft?

[gerr]

I Dont think Microsoft uses Public Beta testers, and I think its a ways off too.

[maddog_2020]

MS uses their own set of beta testers.

[Hawk]

Micro$oft doesn't want your help or opinions. They only want your money and control of your computer.

[RedDeath5]

>Micro$oft doesn't want your help or opinions. They only want
>your money and control of your computer.
Problems? lol

[sstyrnol]

>Micro$oft doesn't want your help or opinions. They only want
>your money and control of your computer.

I do not think your antipathy against Microsoft has anything to do with the topic at hand! And yes, while MSTS does not do any public beta testing, if you are located in or near their games studios, you could still apply for a beta testing position.

[goldenpig]

MS typically beta's internally with employees, then the employees can invite a certain number of family and friends, after that more wide-spread invitations are released.

That has been my experience here with MS/Ensemble... not sure what the drill is in Redmond but I am pretty sure it's the same.

DBeck
=|GoldenPig
visit me at www.dannybeck.com
www.streamlines.ca

[rpicardi1]

I find this in my temp folder every time I access the Internet.

This is the activity for the three times that I connected to the Internet today.

* CActivityLogFile::Initialize(50) : Activity Log Started: C:\DOCUME~1\Owner\LOCALS~1\Temp\osCheck Vista Migration 2007-06-29 07h06m26s.log
* Current OS is not Vista. Exiting...


* CActivityLogFile::Initialize(50) : Activity Log Started: C:\DOCUME~1\Owner\LOCALS~1\Temp\osCheck Vista Migration 2007-06-29 12h26m11s.log
* Current OS is not Vista. Exiting...

* CActivityLogFile::Initialize(50) : Activity Log Started: C:\DOCUME~1\Owner\LOCALS~1\Temp\osCheck Vista Migration 2007-06-29 18h01m14s.log
* Current OS is not Vista. Exiting...


If I don't manually delete the contents of my temp folder from time to time,, it will contain hundreds of this crap put there by Bill Gates in Windows XP update update in March.

SRV Ron

http://forums.flightsim.com/vbts/up1/120635.gif

[delamaize]

wow someone's bitter

[rdamurphy]

He makes a good point. M$ is using their OS to find out how many people are using Vista. Kind of like an involuntary survey...

Robert

[Whitepass]

I was a beta tester for Trainz UTC and TRS2004 and I can say that a beta tester for a rail sim has to know railroads and computers. A few who do not are OK but most should know what trains look like and behave. This is why MSTS has a bad front coupler etc.

[landnrailroader]

Okay guys, and Microsoft: Here are my relevant facts, i.e. my mini-resume. I want to beta the product - do I hear laughing in Seattle from here in Florida?

27 years CAD system operation and management using operating systems from RSX (DEC) through UNIX to Windows/workgroups/95/2000/NT/XP, and in my younger days I operated both steam and diesel - not a lot, but when the employees went on strike, we company officers had to step in.

Jerry Sullivan
aka landnrailroader
creator: CSX BR & KP Subs., Milwaukee Road, 1st, 2nd, & 4th Subs. in MOntana as electrified.

But, I'm probably not qualified, sigh!
LOL

[sstyrnol]

>do I hear laughing in Seattle from here in Florida?

Prolly not, but for sure they will ignore you anyware! :P

I guess if and when they need external beta testers they will announce so! ;)

[plainsman]

"if and when they need"
They definitely need them, the question is will they recognize the need? I hope a lot of the aggravating quirks can be remedied before they become entrenched. Things like the extra parenthesis dropping out braking is very hard to eliminate after it becomes a fixture in the library. This is not a criticism of MicroSoft, just that a few eyes looking at the work with some idea of how it should work may make the whole program more marketable. Not every potential customer will go to the trouble of repairing or patching a software problem, they may just give up and move to the next program. If a simulator program grows in popularity by archiving a community that upgrades to the next version with each new edition, bringing with them the unpaid support and augmentation, then you need to establish as broad a community as possible. The program needs to be able to enthrall the unsophisticated, and hold the passionate and dedicated.
Bob Boudoin

[sstyrnol]

You got a point there dude!

[wakeboarder82]

To all those who say MS never does a public beta... Ever heard of FSX?

People who wanted to be in on the beta had to have a paid subscription to File Planet. Then they had to sign up for a chance to be picked. Only a select few were. I have no idea what this actually contributed to the process but never the less, it was a public beta with people outside MS.

[plainsman]

Hi Sebastian,
Thanks! But you might be surprised how infrequently the term dude is used to describe a 60 year old scientist from Wichita Falls Texas, who has spent his life up and down the Great Plains of the United States. :D
Even Nebraska, where I have been for the last 15-20 years, is hardly dude country.

[TrainMan_112]

My only fear is that MSTS will really half-ass this one. On purpose. Microsoft knows very well that train simulators are very short in supply. They've witnessed the community pull MSTS onto it's feet. I'm confident that they WILL release the new sim, but I honestly don't know if it will be of any quality. Take Flight Simulators, for example. There's tonnes of them. The MSFS community wouldn't have lifted a finger if FSX was programmed as badly as MSTS. So, they'd better put some effort into this one.

[daniellouwrens]

Hi

I am a big Microsoft fan, so I post in their defence,
MS does do public Beta testing, I have been involved in the program.

Go to
https://connect.microsoft.com/default.aspx
and sign up, there is a programs link that allows for application for many development projects, including one for games, I have signed up for Train Simulations in Games Studios.

Cheers

[dmacleo]

>He makes a good point. M$ is using their OS to find out how
>many people are using Vista. Kind of like an involuntary
>survey...
>
>Robert

Nero applications create this log during installation and use.

[Macster]

Um,

Microsoft has always, always done public tests. Have you heard of Play Tests? I think I have been to around 50 of them over lifetime...All of them have been releases. I hope to get called to do a survey on Train Simulator 2.

Being in Washington State has it's advantages... Especially less than 20 miles from Redmond, Washington.