Update Schedule?

[rcallicotte]

Is there a solid schedule so we can know when the next updates are coming?

[moodflow]

I'd like to see this as well. 

I just had to 'can' a render attempt after 31 hours, due to the "red render" bug (GI was at 2, surface details unchecked, 800x600, detail 0.5).  The bad part was, it took 31 hours just to see that the image would have that flaw. 

I am also for the smaller, more frequent updates method, as it will gradually open up more doors for the users. 

This application has some potential though... I'd love to tap into it ASAP.

[rcallicotte]

Any thoughts about this would be nice.  It's not irreverent to assume that the end-users in this forum could have a schedule of new updates, which represents a goal by Planetside and gives the end-users assurance about what to expect.

This and a general conformity to the graphics world with terminology would go an especially long distance toward increasing TG2's popularity.  Redefining certain standard terms is unquestionably a quick way to sink a project.

This is from a professional point of view of a programmer and I do my own projects on a large scale.  I believe it's relevant or I would keep my opinion to myself.  It's also said in good faith that Planetside has some of the most competent people on its staff. 

Hope it's understood.  I want the best product. 

Thanks for listening.

[nikita]

The planetside team has learn't from past announcements, which means they won't announce release dates unless they are absolutley sure that they'll be able to finish the release to that date.
But they said, the final version will be released this year.

[rcallicotte]

That's a good point, nikita.  This year is okay, of course.   

I was thinking about how I've done projects and breaking them down to explanatory phases helps the end-user more, while I work with a different sort of end-user than the general public.  I work within a business user group.  Maybe then this is just a philosophical difference, after all, since Planetside did say they would release TG2 by the end of this year.  Bigger chunks and no time schedule leaves room for experimentation and clearer code.  Those two things are critical. 

Maybe I just want it more organized and want insider knowledge so I know how close the next release is.  Surely, someone has a pretty good idea.  But, then there's the problem of people who won't understand when the release date for an update is postponed, due to last minute glitches, etc. 

Perhaps I'm wrong about how to release to the general public and right to want what I want at the same time.

[mr-miley]

I must admit that I would be a lot happier with regular "small" updates, rater than irregular and sparse "large" updates. I beta test for a piece of geotechnical software and we get monthly, sometimes weekly, updates. As soon as they have fixed (or writen) and tested internally a section of the software, it is posted for all the testers to download and try to break.

Not having a dig at Planetside here, its their software and they are free to write it as they see fit, its just that small regular updates tend to keep the public happy, and has the added advantage of finding any further bugs in the updated sections as they go rather than being swamped, 6 months down the line by loads of error reports all in one go (ish).

[rcallicotte]

@mr-miley - that last part there about getting swamped after a massive update is a good point, unless Planetside is doing what you are doing with smaller updates internally.  In that case, where the smaller updates are tested by an internal group of testers within Planetside, it would be the same system you are talking about. 

Part of my desire is to know what what Planetside is doing.  Whether they tell us or not is up to them, like you said.

[Matt]

We are releasing alpha versions internally fairly frequently - anything between 2 and 4 weeks between alpha versions. The last few versions have all turned up new bugs which we felt were important to fix before releasing to the public, so there has been an unexpectedly long delay since the last Technology Preview update.

Today a new build which we have high confidence in is being handed to the alpha testers. If there are no significant new bugs in this build we expect to release Technology Preview updates to pre-purchasers within the next few weeks. Users of the Free edition will receive an update shortly after that, but pre-purchases will have priority.

Matt

[mr-miley]

ta very muchly for that snippet of info. I presumed you must be testing "as you go" internally. Can't wait 

[rcallicotte]

Thanks for the info, Matt.  We really do appreciate your hard work.