What will determine whether or not I will purchase X-Plane 10 is the environment. As a casual flight simulator pilot, I have no gripes with the planes or flight models. However, I am very unhappy with the world in which these planes fly. It feels much like I am in the Batman universe of dark cities and washed out colors and skys. This is not the world we live in. When the sun is out, colors become brighter and more saturated. And, there is more contrast between the clouds and deep blue sky.The question then, is why is this so with x-plane and not other games and flight sims? Is it a problem with OpenGL? If so, perhaps Austin should move to DirextX. I know, not gonna happen.

I run X-Plane on a Vista 64 bit machine with a GTX285 v-card on an Iiyama 26" flatscreen. Its all very bright and shiny.I run FSX on the same system with the same settings.No problems.Leen de Jager

Check your Gamma settings. You will also find that FSX is far more color saturated than the real world. I have compared google maps to satellite views of FSX and the difference is fairly obvious. X Plane actually does resemble the real world a lot better. Perhaps try adjusting your monitors settings for contrast and saturation.

Sorry I really think you should have read my post more carefully.There is NO NEED for me to change my colorsettings.I am perfectly happy with my settings.X-Plane shows perfectly and FSX shows perfectly on the same settings TOO.There is no need to advertise how great X-Plane is.I already know.I am afraid you are so used to people reacting hostile to X-Plane on the AVSIM forum , you are not able to see the difference between a positive and a negative reaction.I AM POSITIVE , dispite of reactions like yours.Stating "FSX is far more color saturated than the real world" is a kind of negative way of advertising wich will hit you like a bomerang in the end.The only way to sell a product is teling about its qualities, not telling about the disadvantages of the other products.Thats for old women on the fishmarket.You should be happy with the fact I am happy with X-Plane.Leen de JagerPSIt`s all about settings, give it a try yourself.

...?Leen, I was replying to the OP. His gamma might be too high or too low and his color settings for his monitor might be off.I'm not trying to point out the negatives or positives in any sim. I'm only posting obvious observations. FSX colors are very vibrant. I think everyone agrees with that. Even the OP. From what I have seen on google maps, the colors are not as vibrant in the real world.Of course it could vary with certain times of day.

Hi Goran,Sorry , I assumed your post was adressed to me.You did not use the "quote" wich gave the impression you were reacting on my post.About the colors.I have been using MSFS and X-Plane for quiet a long time and when I started with X-Plane after a long period of MSFS it occured to me(as well) the whole scene in X-Plane was very dark and dull.Then I started fiddling around with my settings and discovered X-Plane can be as nice and vibrant as MSFS.These days I even use the same settings for both sims wich run on the same computer with the same monitor.You wrote From what I have seen on google maps, the colors are not as vibrant in the real world.When you say that I agree only partiallly , colors on Google-Maps are less vibrant than in the real world.The only thing is the colors in Google Maps are not alsways representative for the real world.Many pictures Google Masp is made of are made through thin clouds or on hazy days.Photos taken straight down only show the earth correctly ( in terms of light and color ) when the sun shines straight down on that spot on earth too.That means we only can rely on Google Maps when the photos are made over the equator on midday.The country I live looks far more dull in Google Maps than when I am flying over it myself in summer.Nevertheless one could say MSFS handles an optimistic approach and X-Plane is somewhat more like Google Maps.Its very simple I like both.As my settings are these days I am more than happy with both.Being developed on a Mac platform X-Plane`s colors show a bit different than PC colors.As long as we have knobs and sliders , the future is ours.We even can preselect settings dedicated to various applications.This color thing is really nothing to be moaning about.Thats something we undoubtfully agree on.Best regardsLeenPSSetting the gamma value in the rendering-settings to 2.4 will do miracles. ( or any value wich meets your needs)X-Plane being dark and dull......... absolute nonsenseshowing repainted Sentinel ( with added normal mapping)http://www.dutchfs.com/crew/leen/X-Plane/duo2.png

http://www.dutchfs.c...-Plane/duo2.png Hi Leen,I really like the scenery!Could you tell me how to get it? best regardsarti

http://forums.x-plane.org/index.php?app=downloads&showfile=275Princess Juliana Airport (Caribbean) TNCM by Kai Uwe Pel Here you are.RegardsLeen

Great! Thanks so much it looks superb...regardsarti

Forgot to mention.I use Juliana Airport in combination with:Sint Maarten Island (TNCM, TFFG) by skytk http://forums.x-plane.org/index.php?app=downloads&showfile=10197