AVSIM Commercial Scenery Review
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| Rating Guide |
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Clouds and vapor trails
Puffy clouds over the Great Plains
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| Publisher: Flight One Software |
Description:
A thorough overhaul of the default clouds, haze, and fog
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Install Size:
42 mb
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Format:
CD-ROM or Download
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Coverage Area:
Everywhere!
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| Reviewed by: Craig A. Wyzik, AVSIM Scenery Reviewer
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Possible Commercial Rating Score: 1 to 5 stars with
5 stars being exceptional
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Once the initial novelty of FS2000 wore off, it became obvious there were many things about it that needed improvement. Being the cash-strapped fledgling company that they are, Microsoft wisely left some things to those with more skill and resources. Flight One Software has stepped forward to provide a wonderful upgrade to the existing clouds, haze, and fog. You might not think that those three items make that big of a difference in your simming experience, but think back to FS98 with its flat Kleenex clouds. FS2000 is better, but FS Clouds 2000 is even better. How much better? Keep reading...
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Reader Survey
This survey is intended for those that have used this product or add-on. If you have used it, please let your fellow simulation enthusiasts know how you rate it by taking this survey. Please, if you have not used this product, do not take this poll (you can view the poll from the "Results" link below).
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Overview
Once installed (and installation was easy), FSClouds 2000 is a front-end for FS2000 that lets you customize what kinds of clouds and atmospheric conditions you will encounter during your flight. There are several preset flights to try out, each with different types of clouds and different levels of visibility. You can create your own flights, based around cloud and visibility settings that you choose. One of my favorite options is the Quick Flight setup, where you can set your position relative to an airport, your altitude, heading and speed. It's perfect for practicing difficult approaches. Another nice feature is the ability to quickly replace the default clouds with different sets of clouds, so that even if you don't use FSClouds 2000 as the front-end for your FS2000 session, you still get the benefit of its clouds when you're flying. This program is really much more than just replacement clouds.
I was initially impressed with the clouds and weather in FS2000, but I quickly got annoyed by the purply-pink pixilated clouds. Not only that, but the cloud layers don't seem to blend with the terrain very well—they look too cartoon-like. One of the most impressive features about FSClouds 2000 is how the clouds have a softer, more natural look to them. Especially when you're flying over mountains and valleys, clouds seem to nestle in the low spots. Also, when you're flying though a lot of broken clouds, they don't seem to be as repetitive as the default clouds.
I'm not usually one to fly the provided scenarios or adventures in any product, but I did give these a try, and they really show off what FS Clouds can do. High clouds, low clouds, thunderstorms, fog, hazy sunsets--it's all there. My test flying included flights from KORD-KDAL, KSTL-KSEA, EGKK-EDDT, and a lot of local puttering around. The long flight from Lambert St. Louis International to Sea-Tac provided a chance to see many different types of clouds along with many different terrain types. From cumulus clouds over the plains, to stratus clouds in the mountains, it all looked great. Without FS Clouds, FS2000 used to exhibit a weird characteristic, where the junctions of clouds and mountains were jagged, but FS Clouds seemed to have taken care of that. Sunsets and sunrises look much better now, too, due to the improved haze that FS Clouds offers.
| Test System
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P-III 450 MHz
Windows98
256 Megs PC-100 SDRAM
Hercules Prophet DDR-DVI GeForce
nVidia Drivers 5.16
Toshiba DVD-ROM
SB Live Value
Logitech Wingman Attack Joystick
CH Pedals
Sony 17" Monitor
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Main Screen
Settings Screen
Flying into dark clouds and haze
Coming down out of the mountains
Crossing the Cascades
Stampede Pass, I think
Mt. Rainier in the evening haze
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FS2000 is a great product for third-party developers, because it allows (requires!) so many add-ons that improve the default characteristics. It must be nice to be in Microsoft's position regarding FS2000: they don't really have to "finish" the product, because other people will do that for them. Ah, enough ranting about Microsoft, this is supposed to be about Flight One, and they really have done an excellent job with this product. I can hardly believe it, but I get slightly higher frame rates with FS Clouds 2000 than with the default clouds and weather. I did have one flight where I thought frame rates were going in the dumper, but it turned out to be another scenery add-on that was the culprit.
Conclusion:
This product offers you much more than the name implies. It improves several visual characteristics of FS2000, and it also provides a handy front-end for configuring your flights and conditions before you get started. If you want an add-on that greatly enhances the visual appeal of FS2000, this is it. If you are interested in purchasing this product, visit Flight1 Software.
FSClouds 2000 – First Impressions
By Pardave Lehry
[Editor's Note:] We asked veteran AVSIM Aircraft Reviewer Pardave Lehry to write his impressions of FSClouds 2000 because he brings another perspective to the experience, as he hadn't used FSClouds in the past.
I think that everyone will agree that the clouds in FS98 sucked. When Microsoft gave us FS2000, I was thrilled with what I saw. The clouds were quite something. I didn't think it could get any better. That’s until I used FSClouds 2000.
What the default clouds in FS2000 still lack is a smooth transition between layers, and a smooth transition when entering and leaving a cloud. The clouds also don’t "hug" the terrain. It's as though they're a big block of ice, just sitting in the middle of the sky. After flying FSClouds' sample flights, I felt like I had experienced real flight.
Recently I've been reading about the problems San Francisco is having in terms of reducing congestion at SFO, which leads to delays because of bad weather and the dense San Francisco fog. Well, after flying the foggy approach into Oakland in the SFO fog, I realized what real world pilots experience when they have to do it. After flying the approach, my hands were literally sweating. Right as I passed through 100 feet, the cloud level ended (smoothly I might add) and the fog could be seen. The runway lights were glaring at full intensity. There's not much room left when you’re descending through 100 feet at 150 knots and you’re not perfectly lined up with the runway!
The Midland VOR sample flight showed even more, providing an overcast descent for a 08R approach into London Gatwick. Having sat in on an approach on a recent trip to London Heathrow in overcast and rainy weather, what I saw out the window in the real world was very similar to what I saw when I loaded up FSClouds. Again, a nice, smooth transition from the top to the base of the clouds can be seen.
FSClouds 2000 is great for adding a change in cloud scenery. But some users will be perfectly content with the clouds Microsoft provided. And that’s fine. But you will certainly miss out on a great series of clouds that look much better than the default ones.
It would have been nice had Flight1 added some other weather related features. The program doesn't provide wind, rain and snow replacements, which would have made the product that much better.
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