Helios License Model Change

[Gadroc]

We are reevaluating how we approach this hobby. Which is triggering some changes around SCSimulations. Personally I have switched roles at my company and I'm enjoying my day job again, which means my hours are naturally increasing. In addition we have some other community projects which are recreating the work we have already done here. This in all honesty does not make sense for our community, which is small already and I don't want to see fragment.

 

In light of these current conditions I am changing Helios license model. Helios will move to donation ware where Helios is free to use for all. This means I'll be setting up a way for people to donate money for the work I do, which is used solely for development tools for Helios and to further my cockpit.

 

I will be exposing the API to write Helios plugins where the community can write new control types, simulation interfaces and gauges. My hope is that the community will take up and extend Helios to things like TeamSpeak plugins, new and better looking gauges and new control types and enhanced interfaces in the simulation. I will focus my time on enhancing the core engine with better more efficient rendering, full network support, better templating / theme support and better easier binding.

 

I will post an unlocked development build sometime today. I will finish my Black Shark gauges over the next week and then begin the work to remove some of the licensing code, separate and release the source code for the gauge packs and simulation interfaces. This will take a few weeks to accomplish.

 

For those who already purchased Helios, I will support you in exactly the same way I do today. Your existing donations are why everyone else has the tools they have and I hope you will feel good about your donations and what you have contributed to the community. I would never have launched on the several hundreds of hours to make a WYSIWYG editor just to build my pit, it would have stuck like TouchPal and Hawg touch with hand edited XML files. For those who think it was pricey and I was racking in the dough, think again. I've made less than $5 per hour of time spent on this project after buying some of the hardware (I needed a clean development workstation outside my pit for clean testing) and software tools I use to make Helios (I use NO pirated software). All of my net profits went into either my cockpit (extra external visuals, electronics, etc…) or toward running SCSimulations (materials for prototypes for Sheldon and I, web site, credit card processing fees, etc…).

[Duckling]

Gadroc. For the descission to make Helois donour-ware is a gesture that truly shows devotion to the pit building community. I understand the gigantic effort spent into both building this great proffesional application and also all the administrative overhead to comes with it. A BIG thanks

Cheers

Gus

[Feed]

I'll admit some hard feelings over paying for it, but I'll still join in with hearty applause for your benevolence. It's a great tool, and that more folks can benefit from it is sure to bring some great additional features from and for the community. Well done.

 

*I should point out that I thought the price was high for what it was ... but paid in support of what it is supposed to become (hardware integration, etc.).

Edited April 12, 2011 by Feed

[Gadroc]

Believe me Feed that has weighed heavily on my mind the last few weeks. I will continue to develop Helios, but I feel the best way to drive value to existing customers is to drive forward a larger community. The only way to do that is to remove barrier to entry, which is price.

 

Hardware integration is coming and will be easy for third parties add as well now.

[Flim]

Feed , as Gadroc and I progress on our pits, there will be many updates on the hardware side.

[Quirkitized]

WOW. Talk about remembering where you came from. +11111!!

[HitchHikingFlatlander]

Seriously +1 more like +99! Great product, I was amazed at what Cat101 could do with just the beta.

[pitbldr]

Nice move gents! :thumbup:

[metalnwood]

Yes, nice move. I don't regret paying for it, it's now a donation and I would feel bad if I picked it up now and did not donate.

[PoleCat]

Thank you Gadroc. This is indeed a very nice gesture and Helios is excellent software. I am going to make a donation at the time of download to show my appreciation.

 

Out

[airdog]

Not one regret here for paying for it. I had Helios on day 1 of beta and paid for it on day 1 of the release of RC1. I cannot fly without it these days. Once everyone gets a taste of having all the gauges and switches available right in front of you it becomes a whole different simming experience.

 

To all of my multi monitor flight simmers....please take the time to try this out you will not regret it one bit. If you are like me and can not sim without it please don't forget to donate to the cause. Trust me when I say Gadroc deserves more than what he got with what he developed here. The time and support was second to none.

[jeffyd123]

You are the man Gadroc... Thanks for your contributions and foresight.

[Feed]

Don't get me wrong, guys - I'm sincere in saying this is a great move for the community ... I don't regret contributing at all. That's a large part of why I purchased in the first place. :)

[hassata]

No regrets at all. It's been worth every cent and more. In all honesty, I wouldn't feel right about using this thing and not donating. Just lucky I got there before the old credit card died!

[Cali]

What a nice thing to do. Although I don't use helios, maybe in the future I will.

[icemaker]

Nice Move Gadroc, i dont regret my expense, and can't wait for future SDK/API.

I hope Helios will drive the maximum comunity people to create addons for it, i ha ve already some ideas in mind...

[SinCityJet]

Gadroc, THANK YOU.

[Bvoiash]

Will give this a try in the future to see what it's like. And I'll be sure to donate if I like it and decide to continue using it.