NZFF

I have mentioned this recently, but only as part of a problem looking for a solution. But really, this low-key release could make a huge difference to NZ scenery, if someone wanted to run with it.

One problem with custom autogen is the way in which Orbx just dumps any custom autogen descriptions, and replaces the description files with their own. So it didn't really make sense for a local developer to produce custom autogen. Now, though, with the Autogen Configuration Merger tool, this is no longer a problem.

So, what sort of autogen can we customise? Quite a lot, really, I've added a couple of vegetation classes for Real NZ Dunedin -- a NZ bush, which finally separates it from the default rainforest autogen, which was always being reset by Orbx or others, some wind-swept coastal macrocarpa-like trees, some evergreens which make an ok windbreak (still needs work) plus some willows for the riverbanks. Almost forgot the Eucalyptus, which are more like our lush gums, rather than the dry spindly default ones. Someone with a bit of an interest in trees could easily model a few dozen trees, and package them up as autogen, by adding the objects to the VLC Libraries, plus the autogen descriptions ready to be merged.

Normal autogen objects can also be added, such as some proper NZ rural buildings, farm objects etc, I've added some water tanks to Dunedin, but I did have a whole list of things I wanted to include, if I'd had the time. One thing I was hoping to have ready for Dunedin were street lights -- the idea has always been to have the city lit up like a Christmas tree when you leave NZDN at night, but I haven't yet figured out a way to have nice bright long-distance lights which don't need a super computer to perform well.

Really, though, anything which is currently part of the autogen system can be added to and improved upon without just replacing textures, which is the way things have been done in the past. I did mention that I was working on some proper building roofs for NZ warehousing etc, but again this was more work than was possible in a normal development cycle. This is the sort of thing which someone might be able to get stuck into, I can help with technical advice, but they'd need to do the hard work.

Looking ahead to where this could lead, I mainly focus on autogen for photoscenery, but there is still the gaping hole left for someone to improve the NZ landclass textures using the latest high quality LINZ images. Dropping these into VLC could mean a whole new realistic landscape for the whole country, without the EULA restrictions of Orbx NZ.

Anyway, I don't really expect any interest in this, I suspect that NZ simming is broken completely, which was bound to happen eventually. I keep looking at the interest from Europe, and thinking that maybe a nice little European airport might be a good idea for my next project... any ideas?

toprob wrote:Anyway, I don't really expect any interest in this, I suspect that NZ simming is broken completely, which was bound to happen eventually. I keep looking at the interest from Europe, and thinking that maybe a nice little European airport might be a good idea for my next project... any ideas?

WELL ! you have a son and daughter in law in South America ... why not Target that area ! you would be able to explain exactly what you want with photo material I'm sure Josh? would be more than happy to shoot the little strips and small airports ... Ideal DC-3 country .

I certainly hope to visit Colombia before I retire, it's a beautiful place, and my son is keen to show me around. But really I suggested Europe because that's where the money is, in reality Colombia is not a rich country, so I suspect that although there are more people( the capital, Bogata, has twice the population of NZ) their flightsim market is smaller than NZ...
The cost of living there is lower, so a local could probably make it work. However I don't see a foreign government being happy to have an old guy with bad heart coming to stay...

The biggest thing is getting the photo resource ... you never know you could be sitting on a 'Gold Mine' its not just Colombia, its the get in first .. Europe has many peoples working, in the area and unless you get photo material , put on hold again .. the Big 'O' aren't in there yet and people do like the Nav fly by the seat of pants bush flying ... 'O' did Alaska ... why not ... since you have someone on the ground to start there .... be the first!

I have alot of work sitting on the side ,farm objects cars trucks dozers helipads etc i was working on before i left ,the plan is to finish everything i have off this maybe the way to get them in the sim if its simple enough ,i know i had some resizing of models but my grand plan was decking out the farm strips and adding etc all over scenery ,been sick last couple of days and work tomorrow but it would be good to catch up and chat more towards this idea of yours ...


ps NZ scenery was just having a break i hope

That looks great, Mike, there's definitely been a big Mike-shaped hole in NZ development lately...
This is exactly the sort of thing we envisioned with the VLC libraries, anyone can choose a subject which interests them (or in your case, a lot of subjects) and help add to the library.

Having a centralised or standard object library is a great idea. I'm close to getting a set of topdressing loader trucks and fertilizer bins finished. They were nearly done, but the two biggest companies Super Air and Wanganui Aero Work re-branded so had a delay to get the new schemes!
Perhaps we need a list of categories the library should contain and objects which are required for each category?
I'm happy to help where ever I can.

Cheers, Deane, sounds like the sort of thing which is required for a NZ scenery shakeup. (Sorry, too soon?)
Although I was specifically talking about autogen, object libraries in general are always going to be useful, and these can include anything which anyone thinks could be reused in any context. Autogen, on the other hand, is always going to be a subset of the libraries, this is the sort of thing which is useful over photoscenery, or in any custom landclass project. Since it is unlikely that we'll see a custom landclass project any time soon, unless someone just runs with it right now, then I guess that autogen really applies to the handful -- if that -- of developers creating photoscenery. Which is mainly me, so the best idea would be to look at what people can add to the scenery libraries, and I'll see what would work as autogen, and create the description files.

This would mean that anyone who makes any kind of NZ scenery would use the library objects, and those who make photoscenery could have access to the custom autogen. All under the control of the one thing, the Vector Land Class Libraries. A nice solution, provided there are still people who will make the scenery, and those who want more NZ scenery.