jpreou wrote:So, then, what do you think of it?
If my flying lesson gets cancelled tomorrow morning (which would be the third consecutive weekend) then I'm going to treat myself to ORBX England (my home country or many years back).
Fantastic! Am hopping from one airport to the next, starting in the far North but using NZNE as my home base, which ORBX have done a very nice job of. It's the only scenery I've seen (so far) that does Thames in the right place with pretty much the correct placement of buildings. Land too hot on the southerly runway and you'll end up in the sewerage pond,.. *ahem* as a few real pilots have done

.
Every little airstrip has been put in and the moving people (and blades of grass) are a nice touch. Also seems to visually improve the weather/clouds. Five of their own weather themes are included.
With so much in the way of sight-seeing objects, places and buildings - even hydrothermal effects around Taupo & Rotorua, the Wind Farm near Tokoroa, am surprised they missed out such an "interesting" landmark of the Satellite Station (aka "Spy base") in Warkworth

- it would just look sooo cool like the real thing - plopped in the middle of all those nice rolling farms.
Had a good laugh at the 3-D static aircraft but they are nicely modelled - an abundance of Cessna Cardinals and Bonanza A36's at almost every airport (Cessna Skyhawks might have been a
wee bit more realistic, considering the number of Cardinals in this country numbers only about 20 or so... and the A36 Bonanza's you can count on one hand!!! LOL

Other 3-D vehicles, boats, balloons and things by the ton, with little cars and trucks zooming along on almost every road. All the major and most of the minor roads are there. A dream for low and slow VFR flying.
Change the seasons around... beautiful. They've done a really good job - and I haven't even toured the South Island yet!
Best part: hardly any hit on frame rates. Worst bit: Downloading it! Gaghhhhh!

Cost for both NZ Nth & Sth Islands is about NZ$100.
Unfortunately I don't have room (or $$) for Australia, USA, Canada & England/Europe but they're on the wish list.
I see they're launching ORBX global but have yet to see some finished product screens.