Cloud Improvement: Great Already

[RyanbATC]

Everyone is saying that the clouds don't look different, but is there really a lot of room MS has to deal with? I don't think so. The FS2004 clouds look fantastic. There may be some improvements possible with how they are made, ex: flying through a cloud might actually be like flying through a cloud - not with little sprites that are flipped around you as you fly, but then there is the FPS issue - and how to defeat it with pure volumetric clouds...who knows Of all the games I've played I like FS2004's clouds the best so far.

[Z28Camaro6D9]

I do agree the clouds in FS2004 are much improved, and add-ons like ActiveSky make everything even better. I would like to see improvement in default full overcast when viewed from above and below, with whiteout conditions while in the layer. From above, the full overcast should give the illusion of 'landability'. Many times a thick cloud layer when viewed from above can give the illusion of solid ground.

At this time I believe MS and/or Chris Willis probably have amazing high resolution cloud sets at the ready, but the limitation is with our hardware. Many including myself are using any variation Chris' lighter cloud sets in activeSky or otherwise, as the default will bring most systems to a crawl. Luckily these lighter sets do look almost as good.

[RyanbATC]

Yes I absolutely agree with you about a nice 8/8 overcast layer...even with ultra high cloud settings, sometimes you still can see through...yikes! I'd skimp on some graphics to render more opaque clouds versus pretty graphics anyday ;)

[bjpilot]

Perhaps MS could make it lke lomac- the clouds are "spritey" like the FS2004 clouds on the, but when you go in them, it's a complet whiteout in every direction. It's like the game visibility changes when you go into a cloud, but it is very smooth and realistic.