bug hunters unite

[chikega]

I agree ... it would be nice to get a little feedback like "Confirmed, Gary. That's a wierd one - we're looking into it." or "It's on our list." or something. Sometimes I feel like my bug reports are going into a deep dark hole. :shrug:

[ThomasHelzle]

I'm also disappointed by the latest silence.
It started to really feel nice again around here when the communication was up some months back, but my confidence in a general change to the better is gone once more.
And most possible once too often.
I don't care much for this stop and go style.
Sure everyone is very busy, but if you don't communicate, you're dead.

Rest in Peace I would say...

Cheers,

[Gene Williams]

Must say I agree...praying hasn't worded out so well!
This is a wonderful app but the lack of support is truly
appaling and hardly seems worth the effort anymore. Oh,
well.

[Labuzz]

Maybe a PMG bot is needed...We'll let you know...Its on the list...
No No I just want to pay for a really good update.

[PaulNewman]

Sure everyone is very busy, but if you don't communicate, you're dead.Many of us on this forum are also very busy but look at the healthy communication going on here. Not just communication but also tests. In relation to pmG's silence one may be fooled to think that the lot of us here are on perpetual holiday with wireless notebooks on various beaches sipping cool drinks with nothing better to do than run up the post and view counters on our fav forum.

I'm sorry this thread has turned negative. It wasn't my intention. But now that it has, I also need to rant... These past weeks with my project I've been scaring myself with my own optimism - and that's good - but time for a brief reality check.

[NEGATIVE RANT]
Unless a pmG person categorically denies this, I seriously doubt that messiah is under full-time development. This is how I feel, my perception. My impression is that key pmG people are distracted by other projects and products they are involved in on the side. In my experience as software developer, if your app is all you focus on, then interaction with users, especially people helping you improve your product, are a pleasure to communicate with and there's usually time for at least a quick post. In fact, if I was serious about my product, I would make sure bugs are reported in a central place and responded to. This would make the developer an active and motivational part of the community - something we tasted not too long ago when Taron was around.

Many people here are very positive about messiah despite many shortcomings. Very often visitors are welcomed, messiah is vigorously promoted and help is generously given. We are of sorts the only PR pmG has but they do little to encourage us. Perhaps they don't need PR since they have other plans with messiah...?

Being a messiah user is a very bitter/sweet experience for me. The forum folks are sweet. The app is bitter/sweet. pmG is bitter.
[/NEGATIVE RANT]

OK, back to my optimistic mode now.

[ThomasHelzle]

Exactly my impression too.

From my own experience here I can say that the users and the interaction with them is the only thing that keeps me involved with messiah at all.
pmG definitely is not, although there sure were good times too.

I personally think, that interaction with such cool folks like the messiah users could be a major motivation thing for pmG. Look how the Silo 2 Forums burst from positive responses, even though the first beta has quite some rough edges left, but that new displacement painting is fantastic and people can see through some problems if you take them serious. Imagine sitting there and watch the cool sculptures drop in one by one and you DID that tool. Wow.
http://silo3d.com/forum/showthread.php?t=6806 This is all from just 4 days!

But Fori and Dan are never seen on any forum, Ron neither (is he still there at all?), Lyle seems to be gone and Taron pops in and out randomly - he's cool if he's there, but with him gone it is back to dead silence.

The overall impression is that "communication stinks" or something. :shrug:

If you really want to write an app for the users out there, your biggest asset are exactly those folks.
If they are happy, the app will spread.
They have great ideas and will know more about the app in many ways than you yourself.
So communication is just as important as the app itself in the end.

I am asked frequently what I think about messiah and if I would recommend it.
I am not able to honestly say yes anymore.

I am very sad about this situation.

Cheers,

[chikega]

I wholeheartedly agree with both Thomas and Paul. I've been using Silo since their inception, three years now, and it's also a very small company. I believe it was only three people too - but they have without fail given a weekly update about what aspects of the program they're working on, problems that they've run into, etc. People just want feedback, preferably good ... but bad is better than silence.

Luxology has taken the same philosophy. Even Allen Hastings is involved with the user base - wow! There needs to be interaction.

Remember the old adage:
If you ignore something long enough, it will go away --- this includes pets, girlfriends, wifes, husbands and yes even ... a user base.

[catizone]

In case you missed it, Fred has posted a fix (on downloads page)for the LW/messiah problem. Hopefully that means the new update will follow in the not too distant future.

Best,
Rick

[Doug Macary]

Looking back about a year ago, we were all posting similar comments. :(
Where are the promised tutorials, and updated docs PMG?

Frustrated laughter

[tomtm]

Yes, I am totally agree.....
Maybe PMG received their aim.... "to walk over the water "


Hope there will be an update soon, I need to spend money..... :bounce:
the best software company I know is Eyeon, makers of Fusion, they have
really the best comminication and support...

Greets Tom

[Nichod]

My general opinion is that when things get quiet they are busy alternating between their work life (other then pmg) and programming messiah. And focusing on programming. We then see a few updates in a row, like recently. Now its quiet again.

[stooch]

hahah i sense a disturbance in the matrix.

[PaulNewman]

hahah i sense a disturbance in the matrix.stooch, you have said it best of all :scream:

[DMack]

I have recently been in touch with Taron. Development is continuing with enthusiasm. He'll be popping onto the forum fairly shortly.


As a general principle though, I agree that PMG needs to stay more in touch with it's users. There are times when there is silence for months and that is very bad for people's confidence.

[Wegg]

I'm right there with you DMack. I'd love for them to have some kind of "official user". Someone clued in with what is going on like Fred Tepper and Ron used to be. And rotate that person out whenever they get too busy so that someone is always there, showing people the value of using Messiah over other solutions, thinking of new/cool ways of using it. . . exploring how Messiah can be used in more than just the "Stooch" way of thinking. That would ensure that the programmers can be left alone, users are kept happy knowing that someone from the "inside" has their back etc.

But. . . like you. . . I don't know much about what goes on behind the scenes. I can only suggest. :-)

[DMack]

Wegg - I'd have thought you'd make the perfect candidate!

So, you speak with PMG on a fortnightly basis and just give a quick rundown of what's happennig on the forum, so we know that things ARE moving. It would be very good for general confidence. It's worked to great effect for other companies - Luxology do a weekly update and so does Silo, I believe. It keeps the place buzzing and keeps people calm in the fact that their concerns and bugs ARE being addressed.

Nothing like suggesting that someone else does the work! :scream:

[Wegg]

I'd love that job. But I doubt they are rolling in excess cash right now. Even if it would only be for the few days a week a job like that would require. You never know though. I'd be the first to sign up if it were offered. Not many more poeple as zealos about m:studio's "Its production ready already!" message than lil ole me. LOL

[DMack]

You Wegg......Pro Messiah? Naahh!

:scream:

[stooch]

more than just the "Stooch" way of thinking. That would ensure that the programmers can be left alone, users are kept happy knowing that someone from the "inside" has their back etc.

umm whats that supposed to mean?

[PaulNewman]

umm whats that supposed to mean?Sounds like a thickly veiled compliment...I think :shrug:

[ThomasHelzle]

You need to grow older to get that.
Just wait about 15 years and it will be crystal clear :thumbsup: >LOL<

hahahahaha

[stooch]

You need to grow older to get that.
Just wait about 15 years and it will be crystal clear :thumbsup: >LOL<

hahahahaha

hah, i hope messiah gets to a point by then where i dont have to think of it in the "stooch way"

[ThomasHelzle]

Well, if I read your pretty weird conclusions about XSI after you using it for some hours, I don't think it is very much specific to messiah.
My impression is more about "how rash the youth is"...
But at least you are always worth a good laugh >LOL<

The other good thing is, that time will ease that up - getting older is really cool :-)

Cheers,

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