Another product update

[Goran_M]

Been a while since I posted anything in here but I have an update on Hawker 4000 progress.  The modelling is complete, texturing is very close to being complete.  Just a few small errors to iron out.  Animations are complete.  Only the programming is left.  I could dumb down the programming to get the aircraft out sooner but i really want it to have realism that is comparable to the real thing.

I have the reference material for the FMC and the displays.  Now comes the wait for programming.  I have a couple of options.  The xlua language that X-Aviation is developing is one of those options and is looking quite viable.  The bad news is the Hawker 4000 won't be ready in time for an early December release because xlua development is taking longer than anticipated.  So for that, I apologize.  I did initially assume I could have the Hawker 4000 out before December.

There are another few options but we'll wait and see how that all pans out before I say anything definite about it.

So, the Hawker 4000 is still moving along.   

I do plan on making at least 1 more Hawker aircraft and that is the Premier 1A.  I already have made the flight model for that aircraft.  I actually made it before the 4000.  After all, it's a Hawker fleet project.  The Hawker 800 is still an unknown quantity at this point.  Jason and I have discussed it and he doesn't know whether he'll finish it but he's leaning towards the "yes, I'll finish it" side. 

So, while all this is going on, I'm dedicating a lot of hours to the Saab 340 series as they are the easiest aircraft for me to finish and get out the door. I can safely say the Saab 340A will be the first aircraft that I will sell through X-Aviation and will MOST LIKELY be finished before Christmas.  I say that because the AOM is about 3000 pages long for the A/B series and a slash over 3000 pages for the WT so reading is kinda high on my list of priorities to make a completely accurate flight model.

Goran

[samen]

Take your time. We may as well wait until next year just for a very well made aircraft. By the way what about the freeware models of the Hawker 800 XP and the 4000. What is the forecast realease dates on those two?

[Goran_M]

I was thinking heavily about the freeware releases of those 2.  I'm not sure I'm going to release a freeware version of the 4000.  I did originally have plans to do so, as I made posts about it.  But to do so would mean releasing a substandard add on using planemaker when compared to a high quality version being made in Blender.  Not meaning to be big headed, but it's the same as seeing someone like Miranda Kerr, Cindy Crawford or Elle McPherson just getting up out of bed with no makeup on and wearing pyjamas and someone saying "here are photos of these women for free when they get out of bed, but if you pay me something,  I'll give you photos of them taken in a glamor studio with full make up from Estee Lauder and hot 2 piece bikinis and see through tops."

What would you prefer to see??

Planemaker just doesn't have the tools to make (visually) very high quality aircraft when compared to something a 3rd party 3D application can do like Blender, Modo or 3DS Max.

I would like people to see a fully made up Hawker 4000.  Something that cannot be differentiated from the real thing when seen in the sim.

Theo has already ripped into me because he spent a great deal of time making liveries for the planemaker version.

The Hawker 800, that is entirely Jason's project.  He has INDICATED he is willing to finish it someday, but it will be up to him if he wants to release a planemaker version.

I hope you can understand my reasoning behind these decisions.  Had I known I would be doing this so seriously, I never would have made assurances.  Lesson learned I guess.

Goran