Alphasim releases Supermarine Scimitar

[Trev Clark]

I think a look at the screenshots will help a lot, I did not buy the Blenhiem because I saw the screenshots. Just compare them to some of the stuff like the Pavelow helo and even the Scimitar (which I assume is Dan's work) and you know what you are getting. it also shows in the pricing structure too sometimes!

There seems to be a small (ish) issue with the animation of the nosewheel in FS9 of the Scimitar (a model compiling issue?), that is the silly error I think we are more concerned about Michael. If it is a small patch, fare enough, but those of us on slow connections will not want to download another 100 megs to fix small oversights.

Mrs Thatcher once said 'No form of publicity, is bad publicity' so, take a look at the amount of time spent on Alpha products here and we are the equivelent of Satchi and Satchi in the FS world........bags I be the Satchi that married Nigella Lawson

[DaveB]

Hi Michael. Funny but I never consider you to be Alpha even though I know your toe is in the water so to speak I've noted that anything you have produced (or have been ultimately responsible for) has been dealt with by you and definately no running for the parapet.. more often quite the opposite. Putting ones hand into a tank of hungry piranha springs to mind! You'll never get me questioning a helicopter model.. no sir!

ATB

DaveB :tab:

[Michael davies]

Yes I seem to be one of the few who have escaped the Borg LOL, and yes your summation is apt and I often regret getting embroiled on occasion .

Best

Michael

Hi Michael. Funny but I never consider you to be Alpha even though I know your toe is in the water so to speak I've noted that anything you have produced (or have been ultimately responsible for) has been dealt with by you and definately no running for the parapet.. more often quite the opposite. Putting ones hand into a tank of hungry piranha springs to mind! You'll never get me questioning a helicopter model.. no sir!

ATB

DaveB :tab:

[Michael davies]

Trev,

Yes that is odd, Dano says it works in Max but not in sim, means its either a misname in the source, easy done and l'm guilty of that, a capital I instead of a lower case l, or its a cfg issue, maybe the compression ratios or something, generally speaking even if there way out ( which l doubt ) you would still see something, l'm sure they will fix it, and if they play smart, which they often do, they dont upload the full pack for the download fix, quite often its just the fixed bits in the zip, of course the shop copy will have the full update, and many opt for that rather than the bits and pieces that need dropping into place.

Best

Michael

I think a look at the screenshots will help a lot, I did not buy the Blenhiem because I saw the screenshots. Just compare them to some of the stuff like the Pavelow helo and even the Scimitar (which I assume is Dan's work) and you know what you are getting. it also shows in the pricing structure too sometimes!

There seems to be a small (ish) issue with the animation of the nosewheel in FS9 of the Scimitar (a model compiling issue?), that is the silly error I think we are more concerned about Michael. If it is a small patch, fare enough, but those of us on slow connections will not want to download another 100 megs to fix small oversights.

Mrs Thatcher once said 'No form of publicity, is bad publicity' so, take a look at the amount of time spent on Alpha products here and we are the equivelent of Satchi and Satchi in the FS world........bags I be the Satchi that married Nigella Lawson

[Brian Franklin]

Yes you're correct, it IS getting old. I don't have any Alphasim products but not because as in your opinion they're sub-standard.

I think it's the responsibility of every consumer of products be they FS or even kitchenware to make their OWN mind up about what they have purchased. It really doesn't help to trash the guys who have worked hard to produce it for you. (I have to add here that this is not the exclusive problem of the payware developer either). Obviously if a developer has a problem make sure they are aware of it and if it's payware and not corrected then stop buying it -- simple. Another thing to bear in mind here is that Alphasim do NOT charge the earth for the products so come on guys - some more constructive comments please.

I think all can learn from this.

[Imperator]

We seem to have got very good at apologising for troubling the developer for a crap product. A paid-for problem. Perhaps it's that we should be correcting? Never apologise for finding fault with goods you've paid for. The market can decide when that criticism goes too far, not the developer.
The Scimitar (or you could equally insert most of Alphasims recent releases in its place) is sub-standard on many levels, and what interests me is what possible excuse could be invented for releasing such products into the marketplace half-baked, half complete and half-arsed?
I DONT buy Alphasim products for all the reasons listed here. What I pay for is a troublefree release, tested to hell and back by a trained team of professionals who actually know what they are doing, not apparently some bunch of amateur monkeys who like peanuts. That is what a commercial transaction implies. Or do `Fit for the Purpose` contractual obligations do not apply to flight simulation softwares all of a sudden?
No one expects perfection, but this `slap it out and fix it later` rubbish really has got to stop. Beta properly - or stop charging, as freeware can operate to these standards.
It's a long time since last I bought a Alphasim product. Every single release seems to share some shoddy overlooked detail, a major flaw or inadequate research. I no longer visit the Alphasim website or the forums. The latest release gets announced, then the inevitable cock-up rears its ugly head.

Guys, its getting real old.

You will not have to worry about this anymore at least regarding British classic planes....

Jeezzz what a rant....

[NickB]

Dano said that the Scimitar was likely to be the last British model release from Alphasim to which Phil continued....
"Sadly that's true - poor sales of Brit models added to continuous morale-sapping AlphaSim-bashing on a certain forum (you know who you are) means it's very unlikely now that any more models of that kind will be made by us, post Tornado. It seems our US customer base are much more forthcoming and appreciative of our best efforts and not so keen to pounce on little things with such gusto as do many British FS users. Many, many thanks to the long-time good customers from the UK who have enjoyed our RAF/RN products over the years (without whingeing), and 'thanks a bunch' to all those whose shared pastime it's been to crucify us over minutae, maybe you got what you were after, I don't know ? Anyway, as a business we can't make too many losses without going under, so that's the bottom line. Sorry chaps."

I've been a happy customer of Alphasims since 2000. They nearly always get it right and their customer service is better than most. Now it seems they are no longer going to produce anymore Brit models. I hope you boys are proud.
I f**** hate rivet counters.

Nick Bradin

[Garry Russell]

Nick

I edited your post.

Don't use language like that!!!

Next time you do I will delete the whole post

Garry

[TSR2]

To add my tumpence worth....

Alpha do make some visually nice stuff, of which I have quite a few. Firstly its great to have a Scimitar, and credit to them for making something a bit different. I think what gals folk is that the ever increasing pricing and the lack of perfection they get for their cash.

one of my recent purchases is the UK2000 Edinburgh Extreme. Its not perfect, but its bloody good with no obvious omissions.

Reheat (turbine glow) on a non reheated avon... you'd really struggle.

Its almost as if they wanted to say they were the first to self shadow a cockpit in a comercial release and to hell with the rest of it. Some touches are very nice indeed... the floor pan in the VC is superb, but lift your head and it all goes horibly wrong.

How many times do we have to ask for things to be properly tested.

Please Please Please Alpha..... take a bit of time on the next one and do it right.... at £20 its the least we deserve.

just noticed the other post while I was typing this.....

We're paying for this, it isn't charity. All we have asked (repeatedly) is that they test things properly. This is not Alpha bashing, this is excercising our rights as consumers that what we get is properly tested.

I think Phil will find the American consumer MUCH less forgiving than most of the folk on here, but still his call.

On a positive note (re the building of British Classics) the UKMIL guys are getting better, and it won't be long before the standard is up there, and I happen to know of two new payware British Military models which are at BETA stage, and quite frankly, superb!

So all is not lost, and if Alpha choose to give up on us, thats their loss as there are plenty of new guys who will be willing to give it a go.... and take constructive critisism.

[Techy111]

To any Alphasim modellers reading these posts.....? Why oh why can you not use some of these people who frequent these forums as your Beta testers? Without sounding a tad harsh....Are you afraid of such good constructive criticism that the people here give to people? I have been here such a short time and have recieved such outstanding advice and guidance......not sounding harsh again....that seeing posts like this confuses me.....I am one of many people who would spend good money that i earned buying products from Alphasim if only the beta testing was done to a high quality...?

I see many people on this website alone who offer so much quality (free at that) that it really does bemuse me as to why this talent is not utilised....????

Shut me up by all means but i will re-register at Alphasim as many times as it takes for "those folks" to listen to my posts....... :o

Begrudgingly yours....

Tony