Hey all,
I usually dont talk about work. I am a Sim Freak first and all things related to planes and Flight Simulator catch my attention. That and I like to help people out so I tend to advise when I can.
I shouldnt be doing this, but I want to vent just a tad.
I make planes for both simulators. Mainly I do this because;
A. I fly in FS2004.
B. I make FSX planes because that is where the money is.
FS9 planes arent really bringing in as much as FSX. Since I am in this to survive on, I thus make FSX planes. That or I go get a job to support my FS9 planes.
Now here is the funny part. I can make a plane for FS9 in quick order, but converting an existing, pre-mapped plane to FSX format takes weeks! lol... This is from a full time person that does this all day long. Getting all the animations, attach points for click points, textures functioning properly, adjustments of airfiles, all running properly, can take 2 to 6 weeks.
Now, here is an even funnier side of the big picture in 'Dev World'. I handle all customer service, such as help with questions, issues, etc. All of my complaints or problems with the version of Flight Simulator is FSX related. These issues stem from their systems not having enough Ram for FSX to show all parts mapped (textures stop showing up when Ram is exceeded), parts stretching up into the sky (same issue), invisible exterior textures, (FSX SP1 not installed) and wierdness, which comes from FSX Accelleration. (For some reason, Accel will do things like a FSX without SP1 will do, but supposedly FSX Accel has SP1 in it, so go figure).
Then there are problems with the new OS systems in 64 bit, like vista 64, and now Windows 7-64. The issues are mainly that the installer doesnt find the right location. Now I know the installers are usually working right (usually, and even with exterior drives, though still, some stumble). But bugs however are occurring with 64 systems. And again, not with everyone, only a minority.
Now some of these emails are from people that have purchased something, paid good money for it, and its not working or showing up on their computers, so some are a bit irate. One guy was going to tell his friends to never buy from me again, because his update wouldnt work, which I had sent to him several times. Turned out, his FireFox didnt show the link. Another was one that had brilliant Spam protection. I kept getting emails from him, but all of mine were rejected by the host, lol.. What can I do? eeks...
Here we have so many OS systems now, so many browsers, 2 simulators, one simulator with variations of update levels, and we (developers) have to make these work for everyone.
wheww....
One thing that I do like though, is that FS9 customers, I usually never hear from them. Smooooooth. Runs good on their sims, no things sticking out of the plane going up into the sky, no black parts.
Presently, I am rigging the switches in the Epic LT to have sound. Sounds simple, right? Add a section of code to each VC switch, same for the 2D switches. Took me almost 2 hours for the FS2004 Gmax model. Now, for the FSX model, I am on week 2. Thats 2 weeks for switching sounds to gauge code. Why you ask? You tell me. The Attachpoints seem to work intermittently. I have some switches that actually inherit a different Mouse Rect (attached via Attach Point Tool in FSX Gmax), Animations not working (I have no idea why, they worked before on the previous edition FSX model). Yesterday, I had 4 switches not working right. By 7PM, I had 5 switches not working. One joined the others, lol...
Whewww! I broke out the bottle of grapes and tried to relax.
Do you know how much work a modellor can make in 2 weeks? Some people can make a plane in that time, fully mapped, mesh creation, everything... 2 Weeks......
Then add the emails that come in, handling those twice a day. "My plane isnt showing up in FSX. The exterior is transparent."
I am not looking for pitty. I am not saying 'boo hooo'. I am venting, lol.. But not looking for a pat on the back. If anyone thinks this is easy, they are far from wrong. Very far.
And pirates want to know why I get frazzled because they can take my blood sweat and tears and hand it out to several thousand people?
:d
Just venting.... All is well.
Bill
I usually dont talk about work. I am a Sim Freak first and all things related to planes and Flight Simulator catch my attention. That and I like to help people out so I tend to advise when I can.
I shouldnt be doing this, but I want to vent just a tad.
I make planes for both simulators. Mainly I do this because;
A. I fly in FS2004.
B. I make FSX planes because that is where the money is.
FS9 planes arent really bringing in as much as FSX. Since I am in this to survive on, I thus make FSX planes. That or I go get a job to support my FS9 planes.
Now here is the funny part. I can make a plane for FS9 in quick order, but converting an existing, pre-mapped plane to FSX format takes weeks! lol... This is from a full time person that does this all day long. Getting all the animations, attach points for click points, textures functioning properly, adjustments of airfiles, all running properly, can take 2 to 6 weeks.
Now, here is an even funnier side of the big picture in 'Dev World'. I handle all customer service, such as help with questions, issues, etc. All of my complaints or problems with the version of Flight Simulator is FSX related. These issues stem from their systems not having enough Ram for FSX to show all parts mapped (textures stop showing up when Ram is exceeded), parts stretching up into the sky (same issue), invisible exterior textures, (FSX SP1 not installed) and wierdness, which comes from FSX Accelleration. (For some reason, Accel will do things like a FSX without SP1 will do, but supposedly FSX Accel has SP1 in it, so go figure).
Then there are problems with the new OS systems in 64 bit, like vista 64, and now Windows 7-64. The issues are mainly that the installer doesnt find the right location. Now I know the installers are usually working right (usually, and even with exterior drives, though still, some stumble). But bugs however are occurring with 64 systems. And again, not with everyone, only a minority.
Now some of these emails are from people that have purchased something, paid good money for it, and its not working or showing up on their computers, so some are a bit irate. One guy was going to tell his friends to never buy from me again, because his update wouldnt work, which I had sent to him several times. Turned out, his FireFox didnt show the link. Another was one that had brilliant Spam protection. I kept getting emails from him, but all of mine were rejected by the host, lol.. What can I do? eeks...
Here we have so many OS systems now, so many browsers, 2 simulators, one simulator with variations of update levels, and we (developers) have to make these work for everyone.
wheww....
One thing that I do like though, is that FS9 customers, I usually never hear from them. Smooooooth. Runs good on their sims, no things sticking out of the plane going up into the sky, no black parts.
Presently, I am rigging the switches in the Epic LT to have sound. Sounds simple, right? Add a section of code to each VC switch, same for the 2D switches. Took me almost 2 hours for the FS2004 Gmax model. Now, for the FSX model, I am on week 2. Thats 2 weeks for switching sounds to gauge code. Why you ask? You tell me. The Attachpoints seem to work intermittently. I have some switches that actually inherit a different Mouse Rect (attached via Attach Point Tool in FSX Gmax), Animations not working (I have no idea why, they worked before on the previous edition FSX model). Yesterday, I had 4 switches not working right. By 7PM, I had 5 switches not working. One joined the others, lol...
Whewww! I broke out the bottle of grapes and tried to relax.
Do you know how much work a modellor can make in 2 weeks? Some people can make a plane in that time, fully mapped, mesh creation, everything... 2 Weeks......
Then add the emails that come in, handling those twice a day. "My plane isnt showing up in FSX. The exterior is transparent."
I am not looking for pitty. I am not saying 'boo hooo'. I am venting, lol.. But not looking for a pat on the back. If anyone thinks this is easy, they are far from wrong. Very far.
And pirates want to know why I get frazzled because they can take my blood sweat and tears and hand it out to several thousand people?
:d
Just venting.... All is well.
Bill
Oh wait, I'm a ground guy, not airplanes. Shouldn't be any conflicts awaiting...
. That should even it out a bit
