Now that Godzone is closed....

[toprob]

This is really the 'final' post on my website, but I'll put it here as well as my site isn't high-traffic lately:)

I've recently closed the Godzone Facebook page, which means that I'm now no longer able to offer support. The Godzone sub-forum here at NZFF.org is still available, and I will check in from time to time, but my involvement will be restricted to pointing anyone in the right direction.

What's happening with the old Payware etc?
Since closing the store, I have made Godzone NZTI Taieri for MSFS available as freeware on flightsim.to, and Togaprojects.com have kindly arranged to host the airport-only version of Godzone NZCH for Prepar3d. Check their Library. This is a trial run, and I will look at adding the FSX version, and maybe the full P3D version if it works out for both them and me.

The prolific X-plane developer DazaXIII, who specializes in New Zealand scenery, has done a great job of converting the FSX version of Godzone NZCH for X-plane 12. This is available at X-plane.org.

There's a number of older Real New Zealand/Godzone projects available in the Avsim library -- just search my name, Robin Corn.

Future releases
I am pottering around with a few projects at the moment but can't say whether/when they'll be released. These include a conversion of Taieri for X-plane -- no, I haven't become an X-plane convert(er), this is a one-off for the Otago rescue helicopter operators, who have moved their Taieri-based H145 heli simulator to an X-plane-based simulator.

I have been working on NZPP Kapiti Airport for MSFS for a while, and it may eventually be finished. I also hope to release Godzone NZCH as freeware for MSFS, but don't hold your breath.

Any future releases will be announced on NZFF.org. Note that I don't intend to update any previously released scenery.

[Adamski]

Always sad when you detect an "end of an era" - or hear yet another door closing

Many of us here have enjoyed your scenery over the [many] years - for all the major sim platforms. Let's hope we still see some more!

[Splitpin]

100% agree.. Godzone is Legacy stuff.

[JMBIII]

Sad to hear, Rob. However I understand. Your work has always been the "Top" to me.

[toprob]

Well, today my site went off-line. Cheers!

[Adamski]

Cheers indeed - and many thanks for all your efforts over the years!

[Charl]

Well that's history, and something to be quite proud of.
Everyone here knows the extent of your involvement in the hobby, and indeed we might not be writing here at all, were it not so!

Be nice to see NZPP for MSFS if the mood takes you, before the Greedy Developers eat it.

[Naki]

An era is over!...I've done many take off and landings from your airports and will miss your huge contribution to NZ flightsim
... still have Tairei installed of course and this will live hopefully through MS2024...but as Charl says I would welcome any other airports if you feel the itch

[cowpatz]

Indeed, the end of a wonderful era in NZ flight simulation.....or is it a pause?
As much as the evolving quality of the sceneries was, the obvious passion for creating it was very evident as well.

A top effort Toprob.

[Aharon]

Thank you for your wonderful contributions to the wonderful world of FSX. I have all your airport sceneries for FSX.

When I buy MS2024 in 3 or 4 years later, will I be able to buy your MS2020/ms2024 airport sceneries?

Regards,

Aharon

[toprob]

Be nice to see NZPP for MSFS if the mood takes you, before the Greedy Developers eat it.

Cheers, Charl. I wouldn't mind a few greedy developers, with a corresponding uptick in freeware. New Zealand releases are still pretty rare, and a lot have been the same 'important' airports redone over the years. I like the idea of pottering away on the more boring airfields, like NZPP:) Speaking of which, if I do any development for MSFS2024 then NZPP will probably be the first.

In the past, smaller/less exciting airports have been the realm of the freeware folk, but we don't have the hard-core developers than we used to have in FS2002/2004 and FSX.
If I do continue working on airports, it will probably be mostly MSFS2024, as I've always aimed for the latest and greatest MS-based sim. However porting to P3D/X-plane is always an option. I have no clue how many will stick with MSFS2020, though, and there's no forward-compatibility, so 2020 support isn't guaranteed.

However I need to remind myself now and then that the issues I was having in the last 5 years are still there -- mostly the lack of access to airports, covid really did a number on airport management, and I don't think it'll ever get back to the good old days when I could just roll up, put on a hiviz and walk around. Also when I quit the business I quit the expensive software subscriptions, which means that I don't have access to the original files for 95% of my models. This includes Taieri, so although I'm itching to use the 2024 features, this will be tricky.

I have also been re-evaluating my goals as far as what makes a modern scenery. One thing I've liked to portray is the run-down, under-funded look of most NZ small airports, but the most popular local developers recently -- mostly NZA, but not only -- tend to build quite vibrant, pretty airports. The new Hokitika is also along these lines, when I look at my MSFS version (never released) these are two very different 'looks'. So maybe I need to be a bit more flexible in this area.

When I buy MS2024 in 3 or 4 years later, will I be able to buy your MS2020/ms2024 airport sceneries?

Regards,

Aharon

I no longer sell anything for any sim, but if I do release future projects then they will hopefully still be available as freeware for a long time.

[Dash8captain]

Thank you for your wonderful contributions to the wonderful world of FSX. I have all your airport sceneries for FSX.

When I buy MS2024 in 3 or 4 years later, will I be able to buy your MS2020/ms2024 airport sceneries?

Regards,

Aharon

3 or 4 years

[Aharon]

3 or 4 years

Well that is the time that MS2020/2024 will have ALL planes that FSX has. For eg, Tridents, BAC1-111s, DC-10s, 707s, 747s, L1011s, 727s, DC-8s, and so on. FSX has all planes that MS2020/2024 do not even have hence me waiting 3 or 4 more years.

Regards,

Aharon

[cowpatz]

3 or 4 years

Well that is the time that MS2020/2024 will have ALL planes that FSX has. For eg, Tridents, BAC1-111s, DC-10s, 707s, 747s, L1011s, 727s, DC-8s, and so on. FSX has all planes that MS2020/2024 do not even have hence me waiting 3 or 4 more years.

Regards,

Aharon

I'm not quite so sure about that Aharon. There has been quite a bit of discussion about the next PMDG project being a 747-100 series. Many of the various forum comments suggest that it is too old school, and along with being a study level "steam driven" machine, too difficult (ie effort needed) to interest the modern simmer. Also, the lack of ground based navaids to use to navigate is now very limited and I'm sure the current "Children of the Magenta" wouldn't know how to use them anyway, or an INS system like Carousel, Litton or the flightsim CIVA offering. This would limit sales opportunities and therefore revenue. Maybe Just flight could update their old code 747-200 for it. I hope that these "Legacy" aircraft do find their way into the new sim somehow.