official new screenshots on fsinsider.com

[neilrobb]

I think its slightly ironic that the new FSX official screenshots on fsinsider.com are next to some FS2004 shots.

I know its only in Alpha but can you really tell the difference at this stage?

Have a look: http://fsinsider.com/screenshots/default.htm

Apart from the new aircraft, water textures, scenery and birds I don't think they're all that different.

Just watched the video from MSDN Channel 9 on the MS FlightSim team. Very interesting to watch those talented guys.

Does MSGS work in conjunction with ACES Studio in the same office?

Neil

P.s. I'm a newbie to the forum after about 6 years of FSimming and watching flightsim.com

[khaliah]

All I see is an enhanced auto-gen.

[jcmissionary]

n/t

[neilrobb]

Don't get me wrong, I think its great that there is a new version on the way and we've probably not seen anything yet but what I would say though is that I've not been as shocked as last time when they announced version 9.

Nevertheless I'm very excited about this news and am looking forward to some more details about FSX over the coming weeks and months.

I've sadly worked out that I need to save £4 per day to accumulate approx £1300 for a new system by the time it (probably) launches at the beginning of Dec this year.

I find Steve Laceys blog (http://www.steve-lacey.com/blogarchives/projects/flightsim/) very interesting. I think its great that Microsoft are telling their employees to open up and share thought. It makes them seem more human! He has some great, interesting, links to other MS blogs and a link to a Boeing blog about pre-flight tests for the new 777.

N

[jcmissionary]

The funny thing is that people said the same thing when FS2004 was announced. I remember the first things that people jumped on were the cartoony clouds. And yet, a year after FS2004's release, FS2002 had all but died and FS2004 was the sim of choice. I imagine that the same thing will happen here, too.

Over at Avsim, Chris Willis found some of the locations used in the FSX screenshots and posted some direct comparisons of FSX and FS9.

http://forums.avsim.net/dcboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=248&topic_id=594&mesg_id=594&page=

Quite an improvement, I'd say, when comparing default to default.

[link:www.dreamfleet2000.com|http://www.dreamfleet2000.com/gfx/images/Forum_Banners/DF_BANNER_FORUM_HOWELL.jpg]
PPL-ASEL
Instrument Rated
http://172pilot.blogspot.com

[neilrobb]

Wow. That is an improvement. Wonder how long it took Chris to match them up?

Yep there is an obvious improvement there in direct comparison. I've minced my words somewhat in my first post!

I wonder how road traffic will work and if they obey signals, junctions and roundabouts. If they'll all move at differing speeds or if it'll look fake. Will we see trains then and maybe buses?

All exciting news to discuss.

[Fredla]

Am I the only one to notice a much improved lighting effect of the sun behind the clouds? Also note that on the mountains you can see protruding rocks which I beleive is from use of bump mapping. As per 2004, a lot of the improvements by themselves are not huge, but as a whole they will make a brand new experience. I want back to try 2002 and couldn't stand it. So please don't be in a hurry to slam it.

[neilrobb]

Fredla,

I didn't notice that. Thanks for pointing it out.

N

[n4gix]

>I know its only in Alpha but can you really tell the
>difference at this stage?

YES!

>Apart from the new aircraft, water textures, scenery and birds
>I don't think they're all that different.

So far, less than 1% of the new content has been previewed. It's still way to early to make any informed judgment.

>Does MSGS work in conjunction with ACES Studio in the same
>office?

ACES offices are next to a rock quarry. MS doesn't have just "one campus," but is spread out among many, many locations throughout the area. A shuttle bus service runs continuously between the various campuses. From my conversations, BG himself rides the shuttle bus! ;)

[khaliah]

>The funny thing is that people said the same thing when
>FS2004 was announced. I remember the first things that people
>jumped on were the cartoony clouds. And yet, a year after
>FS2004's release, FS2002 had all but died and FS2004 was the
>sim of choice. I imagine that the same thing will happen here,
>too.
>
>Over at Avsim, Chris Willis found some of the locations used
>in the FSX screenshots and posted some direct comparisons of
>FSX and FS9.
>
>http://forums.avsim.net/dcboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=248&topic_id=594&mesg_id=594&page=
>
>
>Quite an improvement, I'd say, when comparing default to
>default.
>
>[link:www.dreamfleet2000.com|http://www.dreamfleet2000.com/gfx/images/Forum_Banners/DF_BANNER_FORUM_HOWELL.jpg]
>PPL-ASEL
>Instrument Rated
>http://172pilot.blogspot.com


You are attacking peoples opinions all over this forum. Anyone who don't see the world through your sensitive eyes must be wrong. Microsoft didn't give us the extra several months of improvement in fs2004 it's giving us for fsx.

[neilrobb]

Hi,

I'm not slamming it. Just wanted to make a point about not seeing much improvement myself in my opinion and its interesting to hear 3 differing views already from my post.

I'm already changing my mind from the replies I've received. Bump mapping, direct comparisions and Bill calculating that we've only seen 1% so far.....

[jcmissionary]

Call it attacking if you want, I don't care really. I'm just pointing out where I disagree with others, which apparently you like to do as well, considering the number of times you've jumped in at different threads. You say you can't see a difference, I say that I can. We'll just have to agree to disagree.

[khaliah]

>Hi,
>
>I'm not slamming it. Just wanted to make a point about not
>seeing much improvement myself in my opinion and its
>interesting to hear 3 differing views already from my post.
>
>I'm already changing my mind from the replies I've received.
>Bump mapping, direct comparisions and Bill calculating that
>we've only seen 1% so far.....
>
>

Voice your opinion. You are not the only one who see through the new auto-gen. My opinion is Microsoft is testing the auto-gen on the old fs2004 base until the new ground base scenery is ready. I find it hard to believe microsoft would try to push this old FS2000 stuff on us for another version.

[jcmissionary]

To be honest, I don't think that the actual graphics engine will change very much for this release. We're gonna get better landclass, better mesh, better environmental effects (check out the sunset and rain reflection shots) and some more diverse terrain textures, but the engine core will probably be the same on that they've use in FS2002 and FS9. Not that I have a problem with that. With some higher-resolution mesh and more accurate landclass, I can have a good approximation of the area surrounding my home airport.

That being said, if the graphics have merely been tweaked, instead of a complete engine rewrite, that's more time for the devs to work on the meat of the sim. I think we'd all appreciate that. :-)

[link:www.dreamfleet2000.com|http://www.dreamfleet2000.com/gfx/images/Forum_Banners/DF_BANNER_FORUM_HOWELL.jpg]
PPL-ASEL
Instrument Rated
http://172pilot.blogspot.com

[RyanbATC]

Well what the guys said @ the CES Trade Show with Bill Gates was that there really isn't a massive improvement possible with graphics and stuff. I mean honestly, FS2004 is pretty impressive and if we get that much more powerful, it will practically be real life lol!

And yes, this is still early stages, though with nearly 1 full yr of design and implementation left, I'm guessing they have plenty of graphical work to do yet :)