[mouse]

...today is 26...no news?
P.S. Sorry Nicole

[JTB]

Hello!

I'm going to put a newsletter out by the end of February, so I'm afraid you'll have to be patient just a little longer. Sorry!
I'll try to include as much interesting stuff as possible - but as usual it depends 100% on the developers: they decide what info can be released and when. So, I'll do my best !!!!!!!!

Cheers!

Nicole

Three important parts to the above text.
1. End of February is 28th 23:59
2. "II'll try to include as much interesting stuff as possible..." means that there will be interesting stuff that won't be included?
3. "...it depends 100% on the developers..." means that it doesn't depend at all on what the customers want?

[Maxer]

2. "II'll try to include as much interesting stuff as possible..." means that there will be interesting stuff that won't be included?

That's code for we can't really give you and useful information so we'll try and think of some nice PR stuff to stick in it. Also Nicole you work directly for the developers so there should be no surprises as to what they are going to allow you to include.

[aitraaz]

well it should be here soon

[Mihai]

The idea of a surprise doesn't appeal to anyone anymore You would be happy only if every feature is spelled out? I think maybe some are putting too much into this newsletter. It's not ment to give you notice of every feature ahead of the actual release of the software.

[rickyinmotion]

It's not ment to give you notice of every feature ahead of the actual release of the software... but thanks to buy it

[JTB]

The idea of a surprise doesn't appeal to anyone anymore You would be happy only if every feature is spelled out? I think maybe some are putting too much into this newsletter. It's not ment to give you notice of every feature ahead of the actual release of the software.

All I care about is an improved Maxwell... No newsletters, no features list but since we named from the beginning this version as 1.2 and not 1.5 or 2.0 then there won't be so many things changed and improved... Unless the BIG surprise is that the product we are waiting for is at least Maxwell 1.5 (much improved) with RS1.5 (much faster) Usually the +0.1 version includes minor modifications and bug fixes so if this is what we take, then the time was tooooo long!

[Boris Ulzibat]

The idea of a surprise doesn't appeal to anyone anymore You would be happy only if every feature is spelled out? I think maybe some are putting too much into this newsletter. It's not ment to give you notice of every feature ahead of the actual release of the software.

All I care about is an improved Maxwell... No newsletters, no features list but since we named from the beginning this version as 1.2 and not 1.5 or 2.0 then there won't be so many things changed and improved... Unless the BIG surprise is that the product we are waiting for is at least Maxwell 1.5 (much improved) with RS1.5 (much faster) Usually the +0.1 version includes minor modifications and bug fixes so if this is what we take, then the time was tooooo long!

Exactly!
+0.1 versions are usually SMALL updates, but they are fast to come, 8 months is either WAY too long, or we are going to see "not usual" +0.1 release.

[Maxer]

That's what we all want to know, if it truly is only small bug fixes then there are going to be a lot of angry people. That's why it's better to let people know what you’re planning so the build up of anticipation will work for you instead of against you.

[nicole]

Hi everyone,

I'm pretty sure the newsletter will be out tomorrow, but if not it will be out the day after. I'm just waiting for the designers to do that lay-out.

Maxer said:

That's code for we can't really give you and useful information so we'll try and think of some nice PR stuff to stick in it. Also Nicole you work directly for the developers so there should be no surprises as to what they are going to allow you to include.

JTB said:

2. "II'll try to include as much interesting stuff as possible..." means that there will be interesting stuff that won't be included?
3. "...it depends 100% on the developers..." means that it doesn't depend at all on what the customers want?

I have tried to explain many times before why we cannot communicate certain information. Yes, there is a lot of interesting stuff that won't be included in the newsletter, simply because it is not the moment to communicate that information, because we do not want to communicate it yet, because it might concern features etc that are not ready yet, etc. Software development is hard to predict, and so it is difficult to know what can and will be included in the newsletter too. The development section of the newsletter depends on how the development goes. That does not mean I work directly for the developers, because the newsletter includes other sections too and I do other things here besides making newsletters.

Of course we take into account what the customers want too, otherwise why would we even make a newsletter at all? That is why, apart from the information regarding development, I have created sections, giving you tips to use Maxwell, interviews, interesting images, etc, that I hope you like and find interesting. I do not think these sections can be defined as "PR stuff". If anyone has suggestions for new sections (not focused on dev), I would love to hear about them too.

Maxer said:

That's what we all want to know, if it truly is only small bug fixes then there are going to be a lot of angry people. That's why it's better to let people know what you’re planning so the build up of anticipation will work for you instead of against you.

The next version of Maxwell Render will not be just minor bug fixes or tiny improvements.. it will be more than that. It can indeed be good to let people know what you are planning to create anticipation, but it is not good to be too hasty, tell people what you plan to implement, and then it turns out that after all that feature won't be implemented, or a problem has come up in the development which causes a delay in the release. I don't think any of you want to hear false promises or be disappointed. We will release information when we can, when we are ready.

Like I mentioned above, it will be one or two days at the most and you will all have a newsletter in your inbox. Thanks for your patience.

Cheers!

Nicole

[Maxer]

First let me say thanks for taking the time to respond to this thread Nicole I know you don't have to do it.

One thing that bothers those of us that have been around for a long time is that the lack of information on features usually means that there aren't any. At this point you are about a month away from a 1.2 release and after 8+ months of development there should be a fairly clear understanding of what will and won't be in that release. It just doesn’t make since that you would not know what the "main" features would be at this point. I understand that there might be questions as to whether or not there is enough time to implement some small improvements that you just haven't had time to get to yet but all of the big things should be ironed out by now. If that is the case then what harm can come from letting the community know what they can expect. Sometimes I think NL thinks that the Fry or Vray guy's are just sitting around waiting for them to release upcoming features so they can steel them. Let me assure you that if there going to do this it's going to happen whether or not you tell us a few weeks in advance of the release.

[Maximus3D]

For once i do agree with you Maxer, after so many months (close to a full year) of developement and with only a month left until 1.2 should be released a majority of the features and functions should be set in stone by now.

/ Max

[lsega77]

Not to play 'devil's advocate' here but let's keep in mind that Nicole is probably subject to a way stricter NDA arrangement as an employee and representative of NL. She can only tell us what she's authorized to tell us. I honestly don't envy her position because she has to blur the line in her speech between 'they don't want me to tell you' and 'we're not ready to tell you.' Say it the wrong way and many users get pissed. Seems to me like she's trying to unspin the nasty web of broken promises in the past. So cut her just a little more slack.

On the other hand.... When you have a user like Maxer whose invested a significant amount in maxwell render ( I mean dude don't you have like a 10000000000000000000 licenses ) his frustration and need for developmental information is more than understandable.

Maybe there is a middle ground. Perhaps NL can release a 'tentative feature' list. NO promises of them being implemented in the next release or such. just a smattering of information to whet the appetites a bit.

Didn't mean to butt in. Just offering some friendly advise and a suggestion.

Luis

[rusteberg]

when nicole announced she only had 38 feb. newsletters, the crowd charged.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bhp1ElO4MiA

[nicole]

My god, don't scare me please!

Thanks for all your replies, and Luis, thanks for your understanding. I am a bit in between everything and as I said before I would love to reveal all the cool new features and updates we have planned and are implementing, but I don't get to decide on what info is released or not. I understand that a lot of users are waiting for updates and are keen to know what is in the planning, especially users like Maxer who have invested a lot in Maxwell Render.
It is not that we don't know what the main features and improvements of Maxwell's next version are going to be... of course we know! Just imagine we release a "provisional" features list... As we have seen in the past, such a thing will certainly raise people's expectations, people will become excited and push for the release of certain features, asking why some features are not on the provisional list, ultimately ask when this or that will be out and become angry when it turns out that some features will never be implemented because they bought the software with that in mind or they were counting on it. I think you are familiar with the scenerio. There is a thin line between a tentative features list and a real features list... and people can get confused especially when they get excited.
So if we release some development information, it is because we can release that info, because it is ready to be known. Otherwise, there is not much i can do. We have made release-related mistakes in the past, and we have taken some pretty strong kicks in the *ss because of it. So we have learned: better be safe than sorry.

I appreciate your consideration guys.

Cheers,

Nicole