rec.autos.simulators

Well, as of two weeks ago (last time I ran...phone bill needed a break!) it was
still in beta.  Near the end, I understand, but no set release date.  
Unfortunately, it was also around the time that Sierra started throwing their
weight around, so I don't have a current status.

I don't think you have a clue as to the complexity involved in getting a
service running that will allow hundreds of people to just dial up and go
racing, else you wouldn't complain about a year delay.  Every week, we test at
our own long-distance expense (do YOU fancy $300 long distance bills for a
game??) and they had an improvement in place for us.  Unless Sierra does
something, it's coming...it's not Battlecruiser 3000.  

--
Dean Robb (WB: Raz1) (Hawaii: Robb)
PC-Easy
On-site computer services and consulting

--
Ed Martin
Papyrus Design Group

--
Ed Martin
Papyrus Design Group

writes

Just as obviously you don't have a clue about good project management
which should preclude delays of years.

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Mike

And just as obviously you didn't understand what I was saying ;)

The supposed length of time doesn't matter, nor does the nature of the
delay. Good project management will ensure that the length of time and
possible problems are accurately defined at the outset, and suitable
time allotted to accomodate it.

I'm not knocking Papyrus, I'm just stating a fundamental of good project
management. If the project was supposed to be 10 years and you overrun
by a year - that's not TOO bad. If it's two years and you miss by a year
that's a 50% error - pretty bad planning by anyone's standards.

Cheers!
John

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These differences and others are why traditional project management
*DOES NOT WORK* with software development. In fact, in my experience
one of the biggest causes of delays is idiot managers trying to treat
software development as if it was like building a bridge, as if the
same old project management techniques can work. The result is a
beuracratic process that is contrary to the nature of the work; this
not only causes delays, it can kill a project entirely.

Joe

Sean

It's not a problem, really. It is just that it is easier for a
production company to sell an idea when the time frame is
strictly defined. It's much easier in fact to explain a delay
than to explain what seems to be a far too unambitious deadline.

I'll bet SH-MPS would never have taken on GP2 if Crammond said it
would take about three years to complete. Two years are more acceptable.
But when delays are abound SH-MPS just can't throw it in the bin.
Not after two years.
Well, that is good planning by Crammond! :)

--
--- Terje Wold Johansen

--- http://www.ifi.uio.no/~terjjo/
--- "I am your inferior superior." O.W.

As part of our company's expansion project, we needed a MAJOR (and I
mean MAJOR) software development. This is an incredibly complex
modelling which will take in all aspects of our company and automate and
control them. We handed the project to a professional software house
and...lo! It was done - ON TIME and exactly as required. Project
management DOES work with software development.

I'd agree and disagree. The "idiot managers" bit I agree with, but
they'll***up any project. What I do take issue with is the idea that
software development is some kind of "black magic" - it's not. If the
people doing the job understand their capabilities and capacities well
enough, and the job is accurately defined at the outset, there is no
excuse for missing the committed deadline provided the demands upon you
do not change UNEXPECTEDLY. If you EXPECT that the demands will change,
you estimate that and take account of it in your schedule.

If our project was delayed, we were potentially losing hundreds of
thousands per day, and that was simply not acceptable obviously. If it
wasn't done on time the software company got paid less - much less. No
surprise it was finished on time....

Cheers!
John

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writes

And you know I'm "Undergrad 101"? Believe me, I have been there, seen
it, done it and it CAN be done.

If it absolutely CANNOT be estimated (which is unlikely) then you don't
commit to a delivery date outwith the confines of your company. If you
do, you're duty bound to stick by it (to do otherwise is rather
insulting to your customers really).

As I said, I'm not knocking Papyrus, Hawaii sounds incredible (as soon
as it reaches the UK I'll check it out!) but just generally software is
seen to be some kind of magic whose development cannot be controlled. It
can.

Cheers!
John
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