FTX NZSI Texture preview

[AndrewJamez]

If any off you are signed up with the orbx forums then head over for a look at the development/preview section where they have posted 2 sets of sample textures that they may use with there upcoming ( after we've finished doing half of bludy america, we might start the NZ project ) South Island scenery.

[Ian Warren]

Had a little chat about this few days days back , be interesting to see panned AGN,d results

[Nzeddy]

http://www.orbxsystems.com/forum/topic/330...f-new-textures/

http://www.orbxsystems.com/forum/topic/330...f-new-textures/

[deeknow]

So someone said something in the orbx forum along the lines of "if you told me it was photoreal I'd beleive you", and the post from the developers mentions textures, so how does the Orbx stuff work, is what you see there NOT photoreal stuff? Is it photo-realiish textures that are kinda layed out in a wall-paper grid or something???

[toprob]

QUOTE (deeknow @ May 30 2011,9:34 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

So someone said something in the orbx forum along the lines of "if you told me it was photoreal I'd beleive you", and the post from the developers mentions textures, so how does the Orbx stuff work, is what you see there NOT photoreal stuff? Is it photo-realiish textures that are kinda layed out in a wall-paper grid or something???

This is partly how you interpret the terms -- there are two ways to show a scenery area in FSX. The 'default' way is where you tell FSX what the classification is for a particular area (the landclass) and then it selects a texture from a texture set depending on the season etc. However these textures are normally made from photographs, so they are 'photo-real'. Even the default textures started as photos. Texture sets normally just have a handful of variations (7 is common; 16 is the maximum, I think) and each texture normally covers a 1.2x1.2 km area.

The other way is what we call photoreal, but this is just a term really -- what it really does is to map an actual aerial photo to the exact location in FSX. So both types are photoreal in the broad sense. What Orbx do (and a lot of other addons) is to build new texture sets based on something more localised, and then constrain it to local areas.

[deeknow]

QUOTE (toprob @ May 30 2011,10:12 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

What Orbx do (and a lot of other addons) is to build new texture sets based on something more localised, and then constrain it to local areas.

Gotcha, thanks for the explanation. So if there's a limited number of these textures for a given area does that mean if you looked hard enough you'd see the same photoreal texture repeated periodically over a certain distance?

[Timmo]

That's correct and is another draw back of using a this type of rendering (although, on balance it still provides a lot of positives including being able to fit data for the whole world on a couple of DVDs!)- A skilled texture artist will arrange the textures in a way so that this repetition isn't obvious but over large areas of homogenous land classification (calling the same texture set), the eye will start to notice the patterns in the tiling.

The good use of textures results in high plausibility (i.e. that looks real!), the effective use of land classification results in high realism (I recognise this place!).

[Charl]

In FS9 it finally came together for me, with GE Pro textures sitting on a decent landclass.
I was pretty happy with my last NZ install in FS9.

I'm sure FSX will benefit from a good texture set.
While VLC is impressive in its accuracy (ie landclass), I don't find too much realism (textures) in the screens I've seen for NZ.
Presumably Orbx won't skimp, with a grunty computer it may all finally come together in FSX, too.

[gojozoom]

After reading through all the topics around the FTX NZSI, I'm a bit confused about its integration with VLC. According to the ORBX forum, it seems like they're also working on a landclass and high-res mesh for the South Island, which overlaps with the existing VLC project. If this is the case, I'd question the moral of the ORBX guys business-wise. They should just co-operatively provide a texture set, instead of re-inventing the wheel and hijacking the idea (and a lot of customers) from the VLC project. Does anyone have a better insight?

[Ian Warren]

Dan , Orbx - I,m a big customer off the work but your right , this is the South Island only yet , They cannot get it as accurate as VLC with every tree belt 'wind break' or to define Canterbury the way I no it , It would be great if both Orbx and VLC held hands meshed the two together , one for accurate forest placement and the other for textures ... the roads and city,s are done , get that blended with photoreal , new airports that complement both .

[Rotordude]

That is a real interesting post. I don't think morels have anything to do with it. Pure business that's all. Another product choice for the public. Same as all those DC3's and 737's out there to choose from.
What you are saying is Mr Smith can not sell burgers at his takeaway store because Mr Jones sells burgers down the road?

They hijacked nothing.
I myself have high hopes for the product after what Orbx have done for the North Western USA.

QUOTE (Ian Warren @ Jun 1 2011,1:35 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

They cannot get it as accurate as VLC with every tree belt 'wind break'

Considering all that data is freely downloadable from koordinates and many other places so that is untrue.

[Ian Warren]

QUOTE (Rotordude @ Jun 1 2011,2:45 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Considering all that data is freely downloadable from koordinates and many other places so that is untrue.

Pete , Most data is , end off the day who knows NZ better than NZ,ders , get a joint effort from both side, s , whats it cost to send a orbx member across here rather to have a dedicated NZ member to use there noggin to build .

[toprob]

QUOTE (gojozoom @ Jun 1 2011,1:09 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

After reading through all the topics around the FTX NZSI, I'm a bit confused about its integration with VLC. According to the ORBX forum, it seems like they're also working on a landclass and high-res mesh for the South Island, which overlaps with the existing VLC project. If this is the case, I'd question the moral of the ORBX guys business-wise. They should just co-operatively provide a texture set, instead of re-inventing the wheel and hijacking the idea (and a lot of customers) from the VLC project. Does anyone have a better insight?

My understanding is that Orbx did a poll to ask what area their customers wanted prioritised, and NZ was one popular choice. This was actually before VLC was released. From a business point of view, it was a decision like any other, and it will be a popular product, I'm sure. Of course it will dilute the 'market' a lot, but that's inevitable for any competing products. I've always looked at my market as locals mainly, with some great support from European countries, but since Orbx has a much wider range of product areas, they can sell to a much wider audience -- since they actually produce US scenery now, they are much more likely to have access to US customers to sell other areas such as NZ.

Orbx is seen by a lot of users as the de facto standard now, whether or not their particular home is in development yet -- they assume that it is just a matter of time before Orbx covers the whole world, and they are happy to wait patiently for the moment.

It is what happens once we have two competing (and incompatible) choices for NZ which will determine what simming in NZ will look like in a year or two. I think that a lot of people are expecting the kind of commitment which Orbx give to Australia, but I'm yet to be convinced. Still, I do know that it's hard to see a down-side from having two much choice.

[Charl]

QUOTE (gojozoom @ Jun 1 2011,1:09 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

...They should just co-operatively provide a texture set, instead of re-inventing the wheel ...

Absolutely - this could make it cheaper too since there's no mesh and landclass element.
Perhaps there's a business case for them to do what Christian did previously: separate releases of mesh/landclass, and textures.
That way the consumer can choose which to mix and match, and Orbx may actually get a bigger user base, too.

I am soo over buying 3 Upgrade Your Sim packages and then ending up using only bits and pieces of each.

[Timmo]

QUOTE (Rotordude @ Jun 1 2011,1:45 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I don't think morels have anything to do with it. Pure business that's all. Another product.

Yep that is my view as well. No one developer has dibs on any particular region on earth.