Another news update for April 2010

[toprob]

Just a few things this month, some covered in NZFF already, but I'm summarise here.

VLC
You may have noticed my support of, and a degree of enthusiasm for:), Vector Land Class. Although I won't get into it too much, I will be supporting VLC fully through the Real NZ label. What this means has yet to be announced, but it will probably include 'VLC-inspired' airports -- seamless integration with VLC, plus working with default FSX. This will be alongside a continuing development of FSX's depiction of NZ, with freeware and payware enhancements.

Godzone Store product reviews
This was a quite valuable feature of the very old Godzone Store (not the old store, though:) and I've brought it back for the new Godzone Store. However it isn't much use with zero reviews, so if you have any opinion on any Real NZ scenery, then by all means post a review. However you must have an account with the Store. You don't need to have purchased the reviewed product from the new store, but you do need to have purchased it somewhere!

There is also a minimum of 50 characters. This is to discourage throwaway comments, such as 'way cool' or 'piece of ****'. Reviews are also approved before displaying, which is purely to prevent spamming, unacceptable language, etc. Yes, negative reviews will be published, but they will be subject to the same rules of conduct as NZFF.

NZFF deals
This was mentioned in the forum as an incentive for all forum members to have a chance to own Real NZ scenery. Although I support this in principal, technically it is a big undertaking to organise. Plus the prices are currently at about the most competitive that they can get. Real NZ Wellington for $33? A night out at the movies can be dearer:)

The FS2004 Collection is now a lot more useful with the upgrade restrictions removed, so this is by far the best value product in the store.

One 'deal' which I have made now and again is for the FSX Collection plus Supercity -- the Store offers a 20% discount off the FSX Collection when you buy both together ($154 discounted to $134.20) but you need to order them at the same time to get the discount. So on request I've been supplying a gift voucher for the amount of the discount to forum members who own either the FSX Collection or Supercity, and want to purchase the other. Just ask. However you do need to apply the voucher to the qualifying purchase.

Just visit the Windowlight site to access the Store. It is worthwhile going to the main Windowlight page now and then, as I try to update the slideshow often. At the moment it's got some new shots of Wellington Intl which I took experimenting with World of AI...

[MurrayH]

Hi Robin

Thanks for the update, but I was wondering, what is the status of your Christchurch Airport scenery.

You teased us last year with some screen shots, but I have not heard or seen anything for a while now.

This is a MUST HAVE for my collection. I am still using your old Godzone Christchurch with Ian's airport.

Regards,

Murray

[toprob]

Good question, Murray...
NZCH has been simmering for a long time now, but is still held up by two issues. First, there is just no way to follow the usual Real NZ pattern of a photoreal airport within a photoreal city, because I have not been able to source any quality aerial image within my -- or anyone's -- budget. Airport scenery development has changed a lot since I completed NZWN, for instance, and these days I wouldn't think of releasing an international airport without a 15cm aerial image of the airport and a high resolution (at least 1 metre, preferably 50cm) buffer image.

VLC will change things a bit, in that the buffer image may not be required, but personally I'd love to see a photoreal Christchurch. I've had a few suggestions that I redo the old image, but whereas the old colourised image was actually too high a resolution for FS2004, and needed to be resampled down from 2.5 metres to 4.8 metres, the feedback I'm getting is that people want more resolution than the LINZ images offer.

Incidentally, when I began serious work on NZCH I was very ill, but undiagnosed, and I have quite bad recollections of huffing and puffing around the airport feeling like a hundred years old.

So because I've been out of action for some time, and the airport redevelopment is a year further along, it may make more sense to build the new rather than the old airport.

[Ian Warren]

I was spose to catch this before Rob's reply , being Christchurch , any resource is important and thanks to 'THATCH' this is what i have



I would love to have the complete area , heading up the coast , to edit well .. let me see

Whoops ... can't always get it right ,

Murray you must only be trying and flying the old FS9 NZCH with FSX , ...... pre SP1/SP2 .. the original ! WICKED

[Grumble]

Will try and get a couple of reviews up - will take a wee while though...