Final word on scenery for beginner ...

[WilliamRich]

How do I get the very best scenery for my Southern California area? Can I get the latest 4 inch resolution mosaic of San Diego county from PhotoBank Inc. and somehow load it into FS2002? Is the elevation data and overlay images sold seperate? How much better can I improve on the scenery that came with FS?

[madmatt7]

LAST EDITED ON Jun-06-03 AT 04:02PM (EDT)[p]If you have a little patience, (because they keep postponing the release date), check out http://www.megascenery.com/title-lax.htm . Their premier title covers a good sized area from L.A. down to San Diego. Got mine preordered, I just wish they'd HURRY. Arg. - Matt

[WilliamRich]

Thank you Matt.

[WilliamRich]

The MegaScenery site looks cool, but I would be rather hesitant to send them my money for now as their last update news is over 60 days old. They are claiming 5 meter resolution. Seems other scenery vendors are claiming 1 meter. At any rate, sure hope they deliver as advertised.

[madmatt7]

1 Meter resolution? Where at? I've yet to see any large add-on scenery package that even comes close to looking as good as the mega-scenery. - Matt

[WilliamRich]

Matt, your right of course. Large area 5 meter resolution is the best I can find for FS2. In the world of aerial photography there are stock mosaics of entire metropolitan areas and counties with resolutions of 4 inches or less (the 4 inch San Diego County database is 40 gig). I'm a complete beginner at this, but the MegaScenery screen shots have really built a fire under me. Seems the first big consideration is what FS2 will allow in terms of maximum resolution (both elevation and overlay image density). Then there is what is reasonable given the available processing power and storage capacity (I personally would spend a few bucks for huge disc and memory). Finally, what elevation and image data is available. Seems like the large scale mosaic that are currently available at 4 inches would be more than enough. What about the elevation data? Is that determined via satellite radar? Don't they use some aerial photography method to get elevations when they do cut-and-fill calculations? Seems once the elevation data is loaded you would only have to update the image overlay periodically to have real world. Maybe some of the national stock image houses would consider offering a periodic CD/DVD update to sim flyer in such a way that they protect there current comercial trade. In any event, getting the scenery tight and current would make FS mind blowing.