Next Orbiter version .. my thoughts

[Rosey]

I think that making the new upgraded Orbiter, in a way that does not allow us to use previous add-ons will destroy the Orbiter community.

Here are my reasons

If you do not let AMSO and other great add-ons work with the new enviroment, I believe that all the guys who have worked so hard so far will just quit. AMSO and many other great work took alot of time and efford to do. They are a work in progress since additional upgrades are always being made to enhance older add-ons. I believe that if all this work is not allowed to continue, these programers will not want to put all that efford again into these projects any more. SO I HOPE THAT THE FUTURE ORBITER VERSION WILL ALLOW OLDER PROGRAMS TO WORK!!

Also, not everybody has new computers with power and video capable to handle a more detailed program ... as you can see right now with some add-ons, hi-res addons wil not work with everyones machines. This is not fair to those who do not have the money or the desire to upgrade exsisting computers. It would be very bad if Windows XP will not work with the new orbiter program since many people prefere this enviroment

Martin, unless you are planning to make the new orbiter as user friendly as the one we have now, just remember an old saying

IF IT AIN'T BROKE.....DON'T FIX IT!!!!:speakcool:

 

[willy88]

Some add-ons will work, some won't. What's stopping add-on developers from upgrading their add-ons to be compatible with the latest version? Windows XP will definitely be compatible with Orbiter 2008, it's not like Martins has some kind of contract with Microsoft or something. Hell, the current version is compatible with Windows 95!

 

[ryan]

I was wondering there having been alot of cancellation programs on the ISS, will they be taken out and all.

 

[adamb193]

IF IT AIN'T BROKE.....DON'T FIX IT!!!!:speakcool:

Yea, who needs progress.

 

[TSPenguin]

Just two quick cents:

What is stopping anyone from continuing to work with an older orbiter version?
Most people usaly have one complete install for each big addon they have, like AMSO.
What is keeping anybody from just keep using that? Sure, you might miss out on some core improvements, but what besides graphics may improve for such an addon? After all, every addon is tweaked to work as it should with the version of orbiter it is written for.

Happy Orbiting!

 

[penlu]

My only hope is that the new Orbiter is backwards-compatible!

 

[Rosey]

I fully understand that there will be great benefits with Orbiter 2008, but I still think that like previous Orbiter programs, once 2008 is available, all new add ons will be done for that program only.

I have used Orbiter for some time now and it seems that once a new version is made, many abandon the older ones. Some add ons are upgraded, but most are not

I will keep the old Orbiter 2006 on my computer because I love it and I will try the new one as well, but I was thinking of the guys with older computers with limited video abilities. I, myself, have a brand new computer, but some add ons are too video intense for me to use them. I can not use the addons with KSC hi res very well. The older KSC environment runs smooth .. like landing the shuttle, but when I try to use the addons that have runway markers, my program runs choppy and landing is very hard. I do not have a 3d video card, just the card that came with the computer. I enjoy landing that shuttle, but I have to use the older versions to do it well.

Now I am not saying that progress is bad, but I fear that progress will leave many behind until they are forced to catch up and many will not buy a new computer just to play one little game

Orbiter 2008 must be made to take this into account

By the way, what is a NOOBS?

 

[reverend]

You have a legitimate concern, but don't worry. The new orbiter versions will be mostly compatible with existing addons. Some addon developers may need to recompile their addons with the new Orbiter, but that only takes a few minutes.

You shouldn't notice any major addons stop working, and you don't need to worry about upgrading your pc to support it.

<be nice2noobs>

 

[tgep]

As a developer-in-training, there are many add ons I would like to see upgraded to have .dlls of their own with expanded functions. Whether they will work with the 2008 version of Orbiter remains unseen but regardless they WILL function for the 2006P1 build. We will still have two stable versions of the program to work from and that's a good thing in my book.

 

[Rosey]

Thanks rev!!!

 

[Woo482]

I have checked a few addons on 2008 and they all work

 

[Tex]

Moderator Note:

The off-topic posts have been removed from this thread and the thread has been re-opened for the creator. I'd like to remind all members that picking on new users of the forum or Orbiter is not tolerated and will lead to warnings/infractions and or an account suspension.

 

[V8Li]

I've checked the 2008 too and it's OK, it gets about the same FPS on the same machine at the same graphics settings and it has some cool features like the option for the average user to build his own autopilot without C++ or dlls. Just don't worry, I'd say enjoy it ! The programmers will take care of the rest and I'm sure Dr. MartinS knows a thing or two about programming -see Orbitersim- without us telling him what he should do, come on !

 

[ar81]

It is good that I do not need to recompile my tools.

I tried to recompile a VB5 app I made some time ago, using VB2005 and it could not import and handle array of controls. In VB5 the number of controls you can create is limited, so the only way to have many frames with their controls is to create arrays. It is easier to handle arrays too.

I hope it does not happen with old addons in VC++.

Anyway, if anything happens with compatibility, blame Microsoft...

 

[Rosey]

Hey Tex,

I don't take offence if someone feels that since I am new, I may be a little dumb .. I really am new to this forum and sometimes I might just ask a foolish question because I really do not know. I do not understand anything about programming .. and I have to yield to those who do .. and guys, if I sounds like I just don't understand what you guys are talking about, remember that people of my age .. who accually saw John Glenn go up in that capsule .. live on TV are normally not as computrer savey as those who saw it on the history channel. I need you smart guys to tell me what to do and I rely on you to figure out what is wrong with these programs. All I know how to do is play tht simulator .. and the easier it is, the better I can play it

I have a thick skin, so I will just hope that when 2008 is out, it as incredible as 2006 was.

 

[SlyCoopersButt]

In with the new out with the old is the way of the universe. No pain No gain applies for Orbiter. As improved as the latest beta shows Orbiter is the pro's of it far far exceeds the con of older addons not working. Besides, Most of the greatest addons that are essential will surely be updated for the next version. If it's even needed. I was surprised how Cargo Deck, Energia and URMS worked without any hitch. And the performance is better, Not worse. I get better fps due to the clever planet texture system. What a new version is going to do is spark new life and growth in the Orbiter and simulation community, Not destroy it. It can only get better.

 

[Woo482]

and the new orbiter beta has Radiation pressure that allows you to simulate solar sails

 

[Arrowstar]

Perhaps this is a simple question, but... is there a 'new feature' list of Orbiter 2008 as it stands now?

 

[Rosey]

One new feature I would like to see is the ability to use a celluar phone with the program .. incase ET needs a ride home

Also when Apollo 11 lands on the moon .. I hope the moon is really made of cheese, then Buzz ans Neil could bring a good wine and some bread and have a picnic!!

Just Kidding

 

[SlyCoopersButt]

You might want to try making a Wallace and Grommit addon. It was cheese when they arrived there with a home made rocket! I've got a wish that despite the fact Green Red and Yellow do provide variety, I'd love to see blue as an option for HUD colour. (Which you change with Alt + H) And it that it effect the upper left fuel guage too which always stays green regardless of hud colour setting currently.