Good news: Development of Reflex Sim will be continued

[Ralf W.]

Hi!

In the german forum http://www.rc-sim.de/wbb2/thread.php?threadid=7400 you find the anouncement of Reflex 5.05 with better rotor sound, an optimized physics engine - especially for small helis, multiplayer with up to 7 models, some new models an sceneries, and some other goodies, that are still a secret.

When it will be released is still open. But it is the first official(!) announcement that Refelx is still alife.

Upgrade 5.03 to 5.05 will be EUR 99,- (including new hardware) and EUR 20,- from 5.04 to 5.05. That sounds fair to me.

Have fun!

[Rexist]

See here for more information and some pictures (Google translated from german to english)

Have fun!

[Rªzª]

Originally Posted by Ralf W.

and EUR 20,- from 5.04 to 5.05. That sounds fair to me.

WHAT? You mean reflex charges for minor updates??? I've never heard of any software that does that. I was actually considering getting this, but not if you have to pay even for minor releases. pffff

[Ralf W.]

Hi Raza,

you might think about a minor update because of the version numbers 5.03, 5.04, 5.05. However these are upgrades with completely new features and functions (r.g. a multi-player mode). There is no reason why the programmer should distribute a new version for free. This would be different if it would only concern bug-fixes.

[Rªzª]

Originally Posted by Ralf W.

Hi Raza,

you might think about a minor update because of the version numbers 5.03, 5.04, 5.05. However these are upgrades with completely new features and functions (r.g. a multi-player mode). There is no reason why the programmer should distribute a new version for free. This would be different if it would only concern bug-fixes.

The version numbers reflex are using are the industry standard for minor and major releases, so reflex shouldn't expect people to think of every release as some kind of major release or an upgrade. When people dish out $200 to $300 of their money for a product, I don't think its reasonable to expect them to pay for updates. If there are enough new features or updates to justify a new major release (6.0) then fine charge people to upgrade, but 5.04 to 5.05? Sorry, that's just how I see it.

[Larren]

Hi,

I think it is also not fair as Reflex do not have even any new models (helis - nitro/electric) available to download for FREE.

Larr.

[kencol]

mmmmmmmmmmm. Can of worms here. However I have to agree with the dissapointment of having to pay such a high price for things which are mostly fixes anyway, [ex. slow aircraft reaction to gravity--poor Heli sounds--poor reactions to different types of air turblence, and the Helis own turblence].
I know many people here will not be upgrading of any sort because of the price involved. Most have now thrown their weight behind Pheonix [far better info & support ].
A shame really, as Reflex with its RMK & RSK could stay well ahead as a leading Sim if they kept up development of more new practial things for a much smaller fee.[about half what they are requesting now].

[JMoore12]

I want multiplayer so bad I cant see straight. Any news on the release date? i messaged MRC but no response.

[Ralf W.]

If you want, you can already buy version 5.05 (called Reflex Ultimate). E.g. at http://www.parazoom.de/shops/ Marketing did not start yet. Tests with multiplayer mode are discussed at http://www.rclineforum.de/forum/thre...hreadid=214939
and http://www.rc-sim.de/wbb2/thread.php?threadid=7503

[lesath82]

Hello to everyone! I'd like to share with you my experience about this issue. In the middle of November I discovered that there was something going on with Reflex, I had to google a bit to find some answers to my questions. I found them here (thus I thank you) and on RunRyder (http://www.runryder.com/helicopter/t463866p1/ where the hardware upgrade conditions are described). I decided to write immediately to Reflex describing the whole situation and my discontent; I'm copying here the exact e-mail I sent to them, it should explain itself enough:

Hello,
I'm not even trying to hide that I'm really upset with Reflex
behaviour. I've waited some time to upgrade from my 5.03 to
the 5.04 version, since I was pretty satisfied with what I had
in my hands. But reading that the new SlimStick would have been
necessary for ANY FURTHER UPGRADE (I have been waiting for the
sound improvement for months, probably years) a handful of
weeks ago I decided and switched to the new dongle. Did I see
then any upgrade? I don't think so. Today I downloaded a glider
model, I tried to install it and I obtained the message "v5.05
needed, abort". Wow, the upgrade has arrived! I come to your
official site and... nothing. No, it's not true, I can see that
you (for obvious reasons) had to lower the price to about a
half of the previous, so that I find myself having paid a
ridiculous upgrade (no significant improvements, don't try to
fool me) more than half of the complete new product price!
Annoying.
Then I had to Google a while to understand the situation.
So, 5.05 is really out, and I really cannot understand what
you have in mind not to mention this on your official site.
But I have to discover that I need a new dongle! And just to
add insult to injury, I discover that this is because I have
a dongle with a higher number than 7999. So, not only have
I JUST made a hardware upgrade (which was expected to serve
for further ones and this is not true), but at the same time
this is the reason why I should do another one!! This is
driving me crazy!
I know that you sell your product "as is", but this time you
have really made fun of your custumers, even of your most
devoted ones. You convinced us to upgrade with a lie. Obviously
the version I have is working fine, "as is", and I'll certainly
keep enjoying it, but unless you find a way to make me change
my mind I think that I'm not going to maintain my fidelty to
your products. Let me tell you that I had been among the few
ones in Italy, and in particular on BaroneRosso forum (the
biggest one in Italy about hobby modeling) to advertise Reflex
XTR as the best sim around. I supported it against Phoenix and
RF even if they were walking faster lately. I used to tell
everyone that you answer to the mails, you are not fast but
you usually answer. Can you imagine what I'll have to tell
everyone, particularly to the new people coming to ask for a
suggestion, about Reflex's new policy? I won't invent anything
due to my bad mood, I'll just have to report the facts to help
people doing their choices.
So, now I expect an answer, a fast answer this time, to
understand your point of view about the issue. Give me a reason
to cool my anger against you. Tell me that I'm right and that
you're going to do anything you can to make your custumers
happy. That you're planning to make it extremly easy and cheap
for your >7999 dongle owners to upgrade to the new one. Explain
me why I have to come to know that I'm not going to receive the
upgrade I think to deserve (remember about the reason of the
SlimStick upgrade...) from an external forum and not on your
site. Otherwise, you can explain me that I have mistaken
everything, that I am an idiot to take as true everything I
read, that you are going to release an official 5.05 upgrade
which will be adapted for all the SlimSticks as promised and
that this is the reason for the communication delay. Else, I
won't change my mind.
I'm really upset (as one can be for such a reason, obviously),
but probably most of all I'm very sad: I believed in Reflex,
and I feel betrayed.
Best regards,
lesath82


I didn't receive any answer.
Some weeks later someone made me notice that there is a new website, where the new version is "officially" sold. The site is almost entirely in German, and the "switch to English" button just seems not to be working. I think that, if they have the best simulator, they also have the worst marketing policy. I really cannot understand their behaviour. I'm really worried about their future if they're not changing the way they communicate with their (old and potential) custumers. Can anyone help me to understand what is going on?

[M52 POWER!]

Pretty crappy, they need to get their sh!t together.

[lesath82]

Sure, I really hope they do. And ASAP! I love Reflex, I don't want to have to switch to Phoenix in a future.