NZFF

Having been underwhelmed by the default FSX scenery for NZ, and after visiting New Zealand and being mightily impressed by it's natural wonders, I've been trying a few experiments with available freeware and payware offerings, as you do in this virtual world.
Bearing in mind that beauty is in the eye of the beholder and my opinion is thus subjective, let me describe how my NZ simming has been turned from a 'groan' to a rather enjoyable experience.

My default scenery has been modified with "fsc4X", which appeared some months ago, and while it is colourful and more interesting than straight default it was repetitive to the point of being boring (in my eyes), but by using it as a base it accidentally became reasonably improved by the addition of some freeware and payware add ons.

When VLC was introduced as a stand alone scenery I was disappointed with the blending as it appeared on my equipment, the forest patches having an unacceptable bluey tinge (not using HRD) which stood out and spoiled the visual effect - some areas of these trees also having an unacceptable frame rate hit, despite my 4.2 OC and config file reduction of tree numbers. (I tried loading VLC on both standard default and fscX4 modified default, but the standout trees still got me down.)

However, I found that by only using the mesh from VLC (at least that's what I think I was doing by deselecting one scenery library VLC entry which got rid of the Landclass), reselecting some freeware landclass on top of the fsc4X modified default. the result pleased me greatly in that the view I get on the sim is seamless, as realistic as the best 'other country' sim scenery I have, the frame rate sits at a solid preset 33 no matter what, and Milford Sound airstip is at sea level - a pleasure from which to operate.

None of this experimentation has been done by anything other than amending scenery library entries or changing modified default files back to the original backups, so it is all simple, straightforward and repeatable.

So what? we've been doing that for years, I heard someone say! - True, but I just discovered it and had to tell someone.

Lapun wrote:

QUOTE (Lapun @ Sep 7 2010, 06:03 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

When VLC was introduced as a stand alone scenery I was disappointed with the blending as it appeared on my equipment, the forest patches having an unacceptable bluey tinge (not using HRD) which stood out and spoiled the visual effect - some areas of these trees also having an unacceptable frame rate hit, despite my 4.2 OC and config file reduction of tree numbers.

That's an interesting point, and one which I was expecting. One of the things I wanted to solve when I started on the pine textures was the lack of visual depth cues -- you could fly over a forest at 100 metres and they would look the same as the forest on the distance hills, where in reality there is a very distinctive blue shift. So this blue shift is simulated by a gradual toning of mipmaps. However there are some settings which can affect this. If you have your display adjusted to display lower mipmaps, then the blue will be stronger. If your system can't keep up with your flying, then larger mips will kick in late, and the smaller mipmaps are bluer.

Some testers did some wild slewing about, and the textures were never allowed to catch up and 'clear', so it was important to point out to them that this feature is intended to be viewed in flight, rather than slewing all the way up and looking straight down clinically.

This technique is used with the native bush textures as well, as NZ native bush has very saturated colouring up close, but this looks far too bright green when viewed from a distance.

But I was aware that some people would prefer to keep whatever settings they use to lower mipmap settings, so I do have a set of textures which don't have toned mipmaps. If anyone finds this an issue, after checking on the solutions I've suggested, just let me know and I'll point you at these. They won't be released otherwise, as I think it was a good choice to go with the toned mips for NZ pine and native bush.

Another thing to check regarding the performance, is that VLC displays default tree textures as pine, so that if you have any enhanced tree textures for these, the extra texture size would affect performance.

Lapun wrote:

QUOTE (Lapun @ Sep 7 2010, 07:03 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

tree numbers. VLC , but the standout trees still got me down.

I found trees were little thin , this will be addressed - my understand , this is the base pack ..., I looked and studied the type off growth , plantations that are so evident as you approach Christchurch from here i studied other less know scenery features course from airline flights through in out the country , this Land Class is only now born and from here it really is going to grow .

I love my Photo real , all this combined there is no match .. we don,t have a unlimited resource (photo material) , only what people can find within the legal side , but with the many add this and blended with VLC is little short of amazing .