Just to clarify for those who may be confused, the posts/screenshots/fps issues being recently discussed are not at all in relation to ASP6.

1 hour ago, Damian Clark said:

ASP6

1) does it have smooth, non noticeable cloud transitions? fsrealwx, the other tool that we were discussing here produces sudden changes in clouds whenever it downloads new weather.

2) "no in-cloud visibility reduction"

what exactly does this mean: when I am flying in volumetric clouds in low visibility, I would still see the scenery? that can't be. It should look like this:

Edited July 18, 20232 yr by turbomax

Yes, transitions are smooth, please see the product page and if you'd like more details, you can install the product and read the documentation (in the installation\documentation folder).  You can get it from our downloads page at http://hifisimtech.com/downloads.  AS In cloud visibility reduction and cloud motion effect are features we debuted about 10 years ago for FSX/P3/P4.  This won't work with volclouds (yet) but work with legacy clouds thus our note regarding such.  Of course, P6 includes it's own forms of visibility reduction when in clouds, and it's done quite nicely.  We integrate with that fully and the visibility restrictions are proper as you would expect.

34 minutes ago, Damian Clark said:

if you'd like more details, you can install the product

you meant to say: you can PURCHASE the product, then install it, then find out more details. 

2 minutes ago, turbomax said:

you meant to say: you can PURCHASE the product, then install it, then find out more details. 

The hostility in this thread speaks poorly about our hobby. I guess casual fun no longer applies to flight simulation. How sad…

 

sherm

10 minutes ago, shermank said:

The hostility in this thread speaks poorly about our hobby.

asking detailed pre-sales questions about a new product is hostile? especially since the developer in his own words warns explicitly:

"it will have bugs, issues and be unfinished..... There are no guarantees regarding timelines or eventual features, limitations or any other aspects of the software."

that is why I have asked if there is a trial version so we can see for ourselves what those "issues" might be. unfortunately the developer does not offer a trial version and is currently not planning to do so, even though it would be a simple matter of time-limiting it since "login system requires online connection – this product cannot be used offline" anyway.

2 hours ago, turbomax said:

you meant to say: you can PURCHASE the product, then install it, then find out more details. 

Incorrect.  I think I was pretty clear.

2 hours ago, shermank said:

The hostility in this thread speaks poorly about our hobby. I guess casual fun no longer applies to flight simulation. How sad…

 

sherm

Not just in this thread.

4 hours ago, Damian Clark said:

Incorrect.  I think I was pretty clear.

not exactly, that's why I was asking, since your website shows:

"ASP6 Early Access Beta, requires ASP6 Early Access license "

 

Creating a new version of Active Sky, compatible with P3d v6, and most surely trying to push development @ LM to implement more detail in their new weather engine takes time (man / hour), hence investment...

This when the status quo is that of mass migration of 3pds to a well known platform, with many having declared 100% dedication to that platform in detriment of their source of income for years, which was surely not FSX but rather P3D and in some cases XP too...

Someone willing to "keep alive" and able to offer the very same services (that have a fixed cost every year, probably growing) has to guarantee budget, sustainability... 

What would you prefer? That HiFiTech announced not supporting P3D anymore, or that they would probably not even be able to keep supporting versions up to v5?

Instead, HiFiTech has decided to support v6, and I am glad they did it. Who knows if i the future P3D will, again, be a good reason for users to keep using it?

 

Yes, we all appreciate HiFiSim's Active Sky weather product and we're very glad they are updating it to work with P3Dv6.  Does this mean that they are sanctified and can do no wrong now?  Of course not.

It seems like nearly every time someone in this forum criticizes a *payware*, *for profit* developer, they get attacked by some supporters of said developer.  We have a right to be critical, especially those customers who have purchased the developer's products for years.

The issue for me is having to effectively pay a substantial sum to Beta test a payware developer's product.  I just have a fundamental opposition to this idea.  For a number of years I've watched other payware developers engage in this "buy the Beta" version 0.80 nonsense and frankly I'm tired of it.

I will not pay someone to Beta test their product, and at this point I am questioning whether I will even purchase the final, actually completed product as I have discovered alternatives which actually cost less.

Dave

38 minutes ago, dave2013 said:

I will not pay someone to Beta test their product,

I would suggest there’s a difference between actively testing a program trying to break it and just using it with no intention of testing all features.

You’re a beta tester only if the first statement is true. If you’re happy to use what history tells us is a pretty stable product you’re getting a decent discount those who prefer to wait won’t.

53 minutes ago, Ray Proudfoot said:

If you’re happy to use what history tells us is a pretty stable product you’re getting a decent discount those who prefer to wait won’t.

Do you use Active Sky P3Dv6?  How do you know it is a "stable" product?

Here's the quote from HiFiSim's website: "ASP6 is available via an EARLY ACCESS BETA program"

They publicly state that it is a Beta program.

Dave

29 minutes ago, dave2013 said:

Do you use Active Sky P3Dv6?  How do you know it is a "stable" product?

Here's the quote from HiFiSim's website: "ASP6 is available via an EARLY ACCESS BETA program"

They publicly state that it is a Beta program.

Dave

By the same token I bought XP12 Early beta, IL-2 Battle of Stalingrad, ... and many add-on products, some a LOT more expensive than AS.

As Ray pointed out above, it's not beta team work they're asking - they're just stating that when you buy the product you're aware that it is still under very active development, so you should expect changes over time, at times even unstable releases, etc... But you're willing to pay because sooner than later you'll get your hands on a product that even in development can make a difference in your use / experience of the flight simulator.

Have you never purchased such a product / license?

Edited July 19, 20232 yr by jcomm

59 minutes ago, Ray Proudfoot said:

I would suggest there’s a difference between actively testing a program trying to break it and just using it with no intention of testing all features.

You’re a beta tester only if the first statement is true. If you’re happy to use what history tells us is a pretty stable product you’re getting a decent discount those who prefer to wait won’t.

I agree with your comments Ray

 

Perhaps there's some semantics /interpretation involved that a beta version (as Hifi label it) means there's some implied testing involved because its not final, but the HiFi site indicates this is an early access beta version. As far as I can see, there is no obligation to test.

Of course you are welcome to report issues as well as enhancements in their forum but I have to assume Hifi's internal team will continue to test it .So the real benefit for users is access to the product early with all its bells and whistles and perhaps some bugs too. Software is never perfect but Hi Fi have a good reputation for ironing out valid bugs quite quickly.

 

Each user has to decide for themselves whether to take the risk and pay the money vs the reward of using a product earlier than when the final product ultimately becomes available.