Captains-
I have a couple of informational items for you today to bring you up to speed on where various moving parts in the PMDG catalog are as of today. More so than at any time in PMDG history- we have a TON of stuff going on, so grab your flight kit and lets get going!
PMDG 737 for MSFS (all versions):
During the last two weeks, we have been refactoring some of the click-controls and animation logic in the 737 in order to more tightly conform to updated MSFS SDK standards that have evolved since development work on the 737 started in 2020. This has been a tricky process but overall yielded the results we wanted in that we were able to preserve all functionality on PC and extend identical functionality to Xbox. (There were some collisions in the first few rounds of Xbox testing that have now been resolved.)
We have been further refining AFDS roll control logic, improving magenta line computations and continuing to prepare the airplane for the impending change in navdata sourcing from our existing format to the more modern and compete Navigraph database format that will get rolled into the airplane here in the near future.
PMDG 737 for MSFS (PC):
A new round of 737 updates is anticipated late next week with continued improvements as discussed above. These updates will come via the PMDG Operations Center for pmdg.com customers, and will eventually roll out for MS Marketplace customers probably the following week. (Note: MS Marketplace rollout timelines are hard to predict as w do not control them.)
PMDG 737 for MSFS (Xbox):
We are very happy with the 737 on Xbox and looking forward to it's release on the Xbox platform. We are currently holding off on clicking the "go!" button because we have not yet succeeded in gaining clarity on the release timeline for having the associated livery packages available in Marketplace for use by Xbox customers. We are using the DC-6 as a timeline gauge, and it seems that the livery package for the DC-6 is taking far longer to move through the release process than the airplane itself. We are trying to ascertain if this is because "we are doing it wrong" or because of other reasons- but either way we feel it is important to understand the process and timeline so that we can adequately inform and support our Xbox customers with accurate information before we drop the 737s into live status.
We have an open query on the topic with the Marketplace team but we suspect they are insanely busy and will get back to us once they can.
I also want to state again that our original concept had been to make the liveries available at no cost, but we had overlooked a long-published detail in the Marketplace agreement stating that the minimum pricing for an item in Marketplace is $4.99, and thus the livery packages for each product will come with that price tag. (Sorry for being wrong on this topic- the fault is mine. This was not the result of anything MS Marketplace changed or did... this was purely a mistake on my part!)
PMDG Universal Flight Tablet (737):
The tablet has made great strides over the past month with the dev team proving that our connectivity model works, is robust and ready for wide-scale testing. The major challenge that we have faced here is that C++/WASM projects have severe limitations on their ability to send/receive data between the C++/WASM project and the outside world- whereas Typescript projects are provided with a base of capabilities by the MSFS platform natively. This necessitated an entire development cycle to design/implement/adapt communications capability between the outside world->tablet->airplane that wasn't originally anticipated. The team working on this have now broken through the last series of blockers and are back to working on core content- which pleases them greatly. Morale has definitely improved with the latest round of internal testing.
During our meeting this week I asked (As I do every week) "What is the progress looking like as far as a release timeline?" and I got an answer that did not involve instructions to contort myself in a manner that generally not considered practical for most adult humans. In fact, it is the first time since they began work on this piece of the puzzle that I received an answer that sounded truly positive- and that is great news!
Initial release of the tablet will bring you a number of features, with a few more coming over time. Navigraph and simbrief users will be pleased by the care that has gone into ensuring a nice, tight weave between our technology and theirs. I am still not going to project a release timeline for this item, but once I get a green light to share a bit of this with you I will.
PMDG DC-6 Cloudmaster for MSFS (all versions):
We have been investing development time in the DC-6 with a specific focus to enabling some small changes in order to make the airplane more Xbox-user-friendly. Specifically this has meant adapting the shape/function of certain clickable surfaces in order to facilitate their use on the Xbox platform (the gust lock, for example) while also creating capability so that Xbox users can access the tablet functions using the easily identifiable methodologies.
These changes are in testing and will be pushed to users via an update cycle that we hope will be finished late next week. Of course, since the Xbox update must come through Marketplace, that means we will likely see it land on your runway the following week? We are still learning how to manage the Marketplace testing cycle so please stay flexible and we'll keep you posted as things progress.
PC users will see an update roll out late next week (we think) that will also incorporate these changes but most of them will be transparent to you since they are really targeted to Xbox users.
PMDG 777 for MSFS (all versions):
Work is progressing on this project, and we are really really happy with how things are going. There has been some dev-time bleed off as we continue to support the work needed for continued improvements on the 737, tablet development, Xbox testing and workout- but overall things are moving along and the pieces are finally coming together in a polished form. I do not anticipate showing you in-development shots until later. The reason for this is that we are leveraging much of what we learned during 737 development between 2020 and the present, and it is yielding some absolutely spectacular results and features that we know you will love. Rather than dribble them out in partial form, we want to show them to you as they are ready so as to preserve the "moment of ah!" that comes from seeing something new and exciting that incorporates ideas and changes that come from our work and your suggestions.
We know you have lots of questions about this new product line- but we promise the wait and our silence will be paid off with great joy.
Okay- I think that covers the update topics for the week. I need to get back to working on the 777 before anyone else notices that I am goofing off!
I hope you are all enjoying your weekend,
I have a couple of informational items for you today to bring you up to speed on where various moving parts in the PMDG catalog are as of today. More so than at any time in PMDG history- we have a TON of stuff going on, so grab your flight kit and lets get going!
PMDG 737 for MSFS (all versions):
During the last two weeks, we have been refactoring some of the click-controls and animation logic in the 737 in order to more tightly conform to updated MSFS SDK standards that have evolved since development work on the 737 started in 2020. This has been a tricky process but overall yielded the results we wanted in that we were able to preserve all functionality on PC and extend identical functionality to Xbox. (There were some collisions in the first few rounds of Xbox testing that have now been resolved.)
We have been further refining AFDS roll control logic, improving magenta line computations and continuing to prepare the airplane for the impending change in navdata sourcing from our existing format to the more modern and compete Navigraph database format that will get rolled into the airplane here in the near future.
PMDG 737 for MSFS (PC):
A new round of 737 updates is anticipated late next week with continued improvements as discussed above. These updates will come via the PMDG Operations Center for pmdg.com customers, and will eventually roll out for MS Marketplace customers probably the following week. (Note: MS Marketplace rollout timelines are hard to predict as w do not control them.)
PMDG 737 for MSFS (Xbox):
We are very happy with the 737 on Xbox and looking forward to it's release on the Xbox platform. We are currently holding off on clicking the "go!" button because we have not yet succeeded in gaining clarity on the release timeline for having the associated livery packages available in Marketplace for use by Xbox customers. We are using the DC-6 as a timeline gauge, and it seems that the livery package for the DC-6 is taking far longer to move through the release process than the airplane itself. We are trying to ascertain if this is because "we are doing it wrong" or because of other reasons- but either way we feel it is important to understand the process and timeline so that we can adequately inform and support our Xbox customers with accurate information before we drop the 737s into live status.
We have an open query on the topic with the Marketplace team but we suspect they are insanely busy and will get back to us once they can.
I also want to state again that our original concept had been to make the liveries available at no cost, but we had overlooked a long-published detail in the Marketplace agreement stating that the minimum pricing for an item in Marketplace is $4.99, and thus the livery packages for each product will come with that price tag. (Sorry for being wrong on this topic- the fault is mine. This was not the result of anything MS Marketplace changed or did... this was purely a mistake on my part!)
PMDG Universal Flight Tablet (737):
The tablet has made great strides over the past month with the dev team proving that our connectivity model works, is robust and ready for wide-scale testing. The major challenge that we have faced here is that C++/WASM projects have severe limitations on their ability to send/receive data between the C++/WASM project and the outside world- whereas Typescript projects are provided with a base of capabilities by the MSFS platform natively. This necessitated an entire development cycle to design/implement/adapt communications capability between the outside world->tablet->airplane that wasn't originally anticipated. The team working on this have now broken through the last series of blockers and are back to working on core content- which pleases them greatly. Morale has definitely improved with the latest round of internal testing.
During our meeting this week I asked (As I do every week) "What is the progress looking like as far as a release timeline?" and I got an answer that did not involve instructions to contort myself in a manner that generally not considered practical for most adult humans. In fact, it is the first time since they began work on this piece of the puzzle that I received an answer that sounded truly positive- and that is great news!
Initial release of the tablet will bring you a number of features, with a few more coming over time. Navigraph and simbrief users will be pleased by the care that has gone into ensuring a nice, tight weave between our technology and theirs. I am still not going to project a release timeline for this item, but once I get a green light to share a bit of this with you I will.
PMDG DC-6 Cloudmaster for MSFS (all versions):
We have been investing development time in the DC-6 with a specific focus to enabling some small changes in order to make the airplane more Xbox-user-friendly. Specifically this has meant adapting the shape/function of certain clickable surfaces in order to facilitate their use on the Xbox platform (the gust lock, for example) while also creating capability so that Xbox users can access the tablet functions using the easily identifiable methodologies.
These changes are in testing and will be pushed to users via an update cycle that we hope will be finished late next week. Of course, since the Xbox update must come through Marketplace, that means we will likely see it land on your runway the following week? We are still learning how to manage the Marketplace testing cycle so please stay flexible and we'll keep you posted as things progress.
PC users will see an update roll out late next week (we think) that will also incorporate these changes but most of them will be transparent to you since they are really targeted to Xbox users.
PMDG 777 for MSFS (all versions):
Work is progressing on this project, and we are really really happy with how things are going. There has been some dev-time bleed off as we continue to support the work needed for continued improvements on the 737, tablet development, Xbox testing and workout- but overall things are moving along and the pieces are finally coming together in a polished form. I do not anticipate showing you in-development shots until later. The reason for this is that we are leveraging much of what we learned during 737 development between 2020 and the present, and it is yielding some absolutely spectacular results and features that we know you will love. Rather than dribble them out in partial form, we want to show them to you as they are ready so as to preserve the "moment of ah!" that comes from seeing something new and exciting that incorporates ideas and changes that come from our work and your suggestions.
We know you have lots of questions about this new product line- but we promise the wait and our silence will be paid off with great joy.
Okay- I think that covers the update topics for the week. I need to get back to working on the 777 before anyone else notices that I am goofing off!
I hope you are all enjoying your weekend,
![](https://forum.pmdg.com/<img data-cke-saved-src="https://flyvirtual.net/lib/signatures/DAL1526.png" src="https://flyvirtual.net/lib/signatures/DAL1526.png" />)
Bob Cardone
Danny Z.Cebis
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