Official Support for keyboard mapping

[xCav8r]

I downloaded the beta software and don't see anywhere in it where I might do keymapping or directx translation. I see some cosmetic changes, but no additions to the functionality we were talking about.

[Birch]

We are still polishing the core features in the 5.x software, when we get those completed we can begin evaluating additional features.

[xCav8r]

In May Jim wrote "I agree, we should support [keyboard emulation] officially. I have it on the list for the next major revision." Later in August he wrote that Natural Point is "adding a lot of features for the next major release of the TrackIR software." In light of the software release and your recent response, however, neither of these statements was true.

[Seth Steiling]

[quote=xCav8r]In May Jim wrote "I agree, we should support [keyboard emulation] officially. I have it on the list for the next major revision." Later in August he wrote that Natural Point is "adding a lot of features for the next major release of the TrackIR software." In light of the software release and your recent response, however, neither of these statements was true.

[/quote]
This is the first release of the new revised software. In order to expedite distribution to TrackIR users, we've tried to release an overhaul of the core functionality without adding major new features. I believe that there is a tremendous improvement in usability with this build of 5.0, but there is obviously more coming. If we were to wait to release the software until it had all of the emulation, mapping, and other features that we want to integrate, TIR users would not have anything new at all right now. So, we thought it would be better to release the core version for you guys to enjoy while we went back to work on polishing off the remaining features we'd like to offer. They are still on the list. They just aren't ready to be released yet.

[xCav8r]

Birch writes that after the core features are "polished" that you'll "begin evaluating additional features". The implication is that features like keyboard emulation haven't been added at this stage and still must be "evaluated". Now you're saying that they're "on the list" but "not ready to be released yet". The implication there is that they have already been evaluated and at least partially developed. Jim, on the other hand, said that these new features would be included in the "next major release", which was 5.0. I'm reading three mutually exclusive statements, and I'm not sure what to take away from this conversation.

[Seth Steiling]

[quote=xCav8r]Birch writes that after the core features are "polished" that you'll "begin evaluating additional features". The implication is that features like keyboard emulation haven't been added at this stage and still must be "evaluated". Now you're saying that they're "on the list" but "not ready to be released yet". The implication there is that they have already been evaluated and at least partially developed. Jim, on the other hand, said that these new features would be included in the "next major release", which was 5.0. I'm reading three mutually exclusive statements, and I'm not sure what to take away from this conversation. [/quote]
I would take away the following:

Software 5.0 is the first version of a tiered release. More features are coming. Some have been considered, some decided upon, and likely some not even thought of yet. By the "next major release," Jim was referring to 5.x. In other words, we definitely want to incorporate things in our software package that aren't there yet, or weren't present in 4.x. They're not all finished. Thus is the nature of software development. But, we do want everyone to be able to enjoy what we can currently release, which is 5.0. I do not believe that the alternative--withholding absolutely all of our new software until every single feature and detail that we have on our roadmap is complete--is desirable.

I believe that joystick and mouse emulation are toward the top of the list of features we'd like to integrate in this new software. Keyboard mapping is a possibility as well.

We will continue to evaluate feasibility and timing for how to augment 5.x with new features. Evaluation doesn't necessarily mean we don't know whether we're staying with the current 5.0 feature set or adding to it. We're adding to what's there. That's decided. We're currently planning on evaluating the best rollout for future plans--after we've addressed all necessary revisions from the 5.0 launch.

[F2a]

I actually started using TrackMapper with my Trackir 4 pro to scroll the map in real time strategy games. I map the directions to the arrow keys. I was surprised Trackir does not have a built in key mapping utility. So now you see another example of how this can be used, you're welcome

[xCav8r]

I can do keymapping with Free Track, which is a freeware version of TrackIR, which I paid $175 for. If those Free Track guys did it for free, why haven't you guys done it yet?

Recap of discussion to date:

• On 29 May 2008 Jim said that keymapping would be in the next major revision.
• On 17 Aug 2008 Jim reconfirmed this.
• On 5 May 2009 Birch contradicted this, saying the feature would still have to be evaluated. Seth was a little more conciliatory, but he essentially echoed what Birch said.

I downloaded the non-beta of 5.0 today, but it doesn't contain keymapping or any other ability to emulate. I don't know how you guys are organized. Do Seth and Birch trump Jim? If this still must be evaluated, when are you going to evaluate it? If it has been evaluated, when is it slated for release? 5.1? 5.2?

[Seth Steiling]

My previous post addresses this subject as fully as we can right now. We are aware of the request, and would like to include this functionality in the TrackIR software. We are only now releasing 5.0 final after a lot of work on recreating and optimizing the fundamental elements of the TrackIR experience. We aren't going to dedicate dev resources to creating new features before we're satisfied with the core.

I fully expect that future tiers of the 5.0 software will be introduced in time (5.1, 5.2, etc.), but there is no established time-line on those releases. And, per Jim's past statements, you should consider 5.0, 5.1, and all following 5.x releases to be part of the "next major revision."

When we do begin development on 5.x again, I'm sure that we will take all suggestions and requests into consideration--including various mapping and emulation options.

This isn't a matter of who trumps who, but rather a necessary balancing of development resources and priorities, across three different product lines. Given endless resources and time, I'm sure that keymapping would already be included in the software. But, like everyone, we work with practical constraints that require us to pick and choose where to apply our resources.

[xCav8r]

I'm not trying to be argumentative for the sake of being argumentative. I asked who trumps whom to know how to interpret the contradictory information coming from different NaturalPoint employees. You see, after carefully reading this entire discussion again, I'm still confused about what to take away. Let me try one more time to cite what was said and explain why I'm confused (and how your previous posts did not resolve but exacerbated my confusion).

After saying on 6 May 2008 he would "look into it" (which I interpret to mean "evaluate"), on 29 May 2008 Jim said, "we should support this officially. I have it on the list for the next major revision." He reiterated the same thing to me on 17 Aug 2008.

Nearly a year later on 4 May 2009 Birch said that after "we get those [core features] completed we can begin evaluating additional features." Since it was in response to my asking about keymapping, I interpreted his response to say that keymapping must be evaluated still before it will be included, which seems to contradict Jim's saying that "we should support this officially. I have it on the list for the next major revision."

On that same day, you said, "I believe that joystick and mouse emulation are toward the top of the list of features we'd like to integrate in this new software. Keyboard mapping is a possibility as well." No matter how you try to obfuscate the contradiction, "it's a possibility" is not saying the same thing as "we should support this officially. I have it on the list for the next major revision." You're only calling it a "possibility" now, not even a "probability".

Furthermore, I thought today was the appropriate day to ask for status on this feature request when Birch implied that it would be time to talk about it after the core features get polished. Are the core features not polished? They must be if the beta period has come to and end, right? Besides, if the core features weren't polished at this stage, would you imply that NaturalPoint has stopped development on 5.x for now? In just this last post you said, "[w]hen we do begin development on 5.x again, I'm sure that we will take all suggestions and requests into consideration--including various mapping and emulation options."

This is disappointing on several levels. First, I was led to believe that this would happen. I think any reasonable person would have interpreted what Jim said in the same way that I did. Second, I was expecting new features in 5.x, but we just have a pretty GUI for it without significant enhancements in functionality. Third, I paid for TrackIR and have recommended it to lots of my flight sim buddies (which was at least 20 sales for you guys over the years, not including what those buddies might have recommended to their friends). Yet, on the software end, TrackIR has remained static, and the titles of supporting games has been very slow to grow. To make matters more frustrating, a freeware alternative to TrackIR supports basic keymapping built right into the software. Who cares about your more aesthetically pleasing interface when a freeware alternative has better core functionality?