Just Wondering!

***falcon409*** · May 29th, 2009, 18:43

Does anyone understand the continued use of the "Addon Manager" that Cloud9 uses? A constant pain in the "you know what" every time someone wants to install an aircraft (F4, MB339, F-104 specifically).

"Virtuali" explains (he's the originator of the program) that it's required to update the aircraft with the latest gauge and file information. What is it updating. . .the aircraft have been out for years, development is no longer being done on those airplanes. . .what in the world could it be updating? Is there some little gremlin over at Cloud9 that periodically changes a bitmap in the gau file? Does he move coding around just to maintain his job security? Somebody please explain to me why aircraft that are 3 or four years old need to be updated everytime you reinstall them?

Why haven't the gau files, the bglman.dll and related module files and whatever else this antiquated mgr updates been made part of the installer and be done with the Addon Manager?

You might have surmised by now that I recently reinstalled the F4 Phantom, spurred on by the discussion about the Alphasim Phantoms. Here's the real kicker. . .I also had the MB339 installed and flying perfectly. After installing the Phantom, all the livery updates and the service pack update I had to run the addon Manager (it's required to download all those updates, don't ya know). . . .well now, not only does the F4 cause a CTD but so does the MB339. Yep gotta love the engenuity of the concept.

Drake · May 29th, 2009, 19:14

It's a pain. Had the same thing happen with the F-104 and the Aviano scenery back when I bought them.

***falcon409*** · May 29th, 2009, 22:22

Of course, there's always the alternative which is to uninstall the aircraft, uninstall the Addon Manager, then reinstall the aircraft without the addon manager and everything works fine, lol. Of course since I didn't run the addon manager this time, I missed the chance to update those pesky gauges. . .oh what will I do?

So far I haven't found any gauges that don't work and since they're all contained in one gauge (F4.gau) I would have to assume that updating them wouldn't have much effect except to make the aircraft CTD. . .why would I do that? lol.

One more reason I see the addon manager as a dinosour whose days have past.

**dominique** · May 29th, 2009, 23:55

C9 seems not much more than an automatic vending machine nowadays

selling their stuff as it was when they were still in the business of developping. Pity that they didn't upgrade the f104 as they had the intention to and didn't release the Caravelle.

I agree that the dreadful installer is a real pain and deter me to buy each time I try a demo...

***FengZ*** · May 30th, 2009, 00:03

yup, for the exact same reason, i've removed all the Cloud9 products from my new FS9 setup and won't buy anymore products from them. Their stuff is just too much of a pain to install/reinstall. The modules they install also seem to cause random CTDs. Why can't they just use the Flight1 wrapper....still the best method imo...

-feng

***falcon409*** · May 30th, 2009, 13:08

Seems to be a consensus here that the AOM is the problem. Were it not for the fact that their F-4 Phantom is the best out there along with the MB339 and the F-104 (even without the updates promised), I wouldn't bother, but they are superb. Also their Aviano AB and Rivolto AB Sceneries are excellent as well. Too bad they followed Lago into the tank.