Gregg_Seipp, on 03 May 2013 - 08:07 AM, said:

Seems like megascenery needs a tool... :Praying:

try using_the_autogen_annotator_264833.zip by Luis Feliz-Tirado in the library. It really doesn't have to be one way or the other, you can have photoreal and autogen.

DC6_Flyer, on 30 Apr 2013 - 11:02 AM, said:

I use the Horizon VFR UK Photoscenery, along with the Earth Simulations Treescapes product, and that is a fantastic hybrid between photoscenery and some 3d objects to add to the feeling of depth, at lower alts.

I think this combo is VERY good ... it gives some nice depth ... great balance between performance and visuals.

 

I have almost all of the MSE scenery from X to V1 to V2. I actually prefer X and V1 over the V2. The only complaint I have about MSE V2 is that it seems to vary in quality (not talking blurries but actual texture quality) ... for example some parts of New York look great, some parts not so good (obvious changes in color and clarity). But I also just got the FSDT JFK V2 update with 4096 and it makes the surroundings MSE V2 scenery look less attractive in comparison ... but that's what happens when one gets spoiled with some amazing work FSDT folks did with JFK V2.

 

But at anything above 6000 ft and I really enjoy the MSE V2 scenery ... far far better than looking at random (almost random) buildings that have a clear repeated pattern. MSE V2 has come out with 4 more states that I need to buy, but haven't yet ... too many other things going on, but I gotta get them before end of May to enjoy a 30% discount offer I received. May also need to get yet another SSD (#6 now) to hold it all.

 

Unfortunately FSX doesn't handle the display of Autogen very well, even with FSX.CFG tweaks the "magical" appearance of Autogen as one moves thru the area is very very unrealistic.

 

Obviously the best would be to have "static" building in all the same places as photo real ... but with 32bit memory limits of FSX, that's just going to be impossible. XP10 64bit stands the better chance at making the "ultimate world" ... it can do photo real scenery and it can do vast numbers of building placements. I think the biggest problem is the time it would take to put buildings in all the appropriate positions.

 

A pretty cool idea (and maybe someone is already working on it) would be code some software (lets call it building recognition software) that can scan images (say from Google), determine a building type (say out of a list of 10,000 pre-defined buildings) and produce a geo map for each building type ... then blend the photo image scenery with 3D buildings positioned by the geo data. Obviously some repeat buildings but at least they'll be in correct positions. Probably not viable for FSX given it's memory limits or one would have to limit building population, but could be very viable for 64bit products like XP10 where visual distance would govern building limits.

There is a little software gem out there called ScenProc (it's free) that will automatically generate autogen for all your photosceneries. It uses OpenStreetMap as its database. So you will not get some random placed buildings and trees, but objects that really match the placement of their RW counterparts on the photo scenery.This looks absolutley incredible!

It needs some time to get used to the tool, but once you get a hang of the workflow it is really easy to generate autogen objects for whole states and countries.

Here is the link to the projects homepage:

http://www.scenerydesign.org/category/scenproc/

Ok not realistic I know....as a flyer from over the Pond I create Flt Plans of indeterminate length. One, two weeks in length. Thank goodness for never ending fuel supply!!

 

So I can live with a not so picturesque Takeoff & Landing and get to explore the States of N. America at around 3000ft AGL...love it. Have also added the "object libraries" from OpenVFR for the States that are available along with Aerosoft's Cities.

 

If I want to fly at under 1500ft I use Orbx, Eugene up to Anchorage and beyond.

 

Horses for courses as they say. Great fun either way.

There is a little software gem out there called ScenProc (it's free) that will automatically generate autogen for all your photosceneries. It uses OpenStreetMap as its database. So you will not get some random placed buildings and trees, but objects that really match the placement of their RW counterparts on the photo scenery.This looks absolutley incredible!

 

It needs some time to get used to the tool, but once you get a hang of the workflow it is really easy to generate autogen objects for whole states and countries.

 

Here is the link to the projects homepage:

 

http://www.scenerydesign.org/category/scenproc/

 

Downloaded it but it crashes on startup.  I posted a message on the forum.  I'll try it out on an area and post back once I get some results.

 

 

I usually end up having to pause it to take care of bodily functions or get coffee anyway so it doesn't bother me at all.

 

+1  And there's always those three words to which we react as surely as Pavlovs dogs "honey, can you...?".

Personally I think the latest MegaScenery photographic stuff is fantastic.  They've really moved things along and the imagery is crisp and extremely convincing.   I bought a small trial area, and was very impressed, (even without autogen), and the only reason I haven't spent a stack load on more MSE areas is because I'm just not interested in flying in the US.

 

I feel that you only really miss the autogen on the initial climbout, and using something like Flight 1 "Instant Scenery" to place some objects close to your airports, would be a good solution.       I use the Horizon VFR UK Photoscenery, along with the Earth Simulations Treescapes product, and that is a fantastic hybrid between photoscenery and some 3d objects to add to the feeling of depth, at lower alts.

 

I just so wish someone would make some photoscenery for Norway!!!

 

 

For me, the action of pausing the sim after take-off, then accessing the scenery library, then ticking/unticking the selection, then waiting for the subsequent terrain re-load, would ruin the immersion of flight simulation.

 

But each to their own. If some like the above idea, good on them.

 

 

Seems like megascenery needs a tool... :Praying:

Autogen on photo-real really is a highly subjective and emotive topic. However, it seems to me for taxi, take-off, approach, landing, and low-level flying (GA, VFR, Training) it doesn't spoil the photo-scenery to have ptopoerly placed (accurate) autogen. That's why I created Treeline North America. Someone mentioned they use Horizon VFR and Treescapes for the UK. This is the same except it's for the whole USA (and more).

Just started collecting your Treeline series for the USA......nice.  Keep rolling them out.

Autogen on photo-real really is a highly subjective and emotive topic. However, it seems to me for taxi, take-off, approach, landing, and low-level flying (GA, VFR, Training) it doesn't spoil the photo-scenery to have ptopoerly placed (accurate) autogen. That's why I created Treeline North America. Someone mentioned they use Horizon VFR and Treescapes for the UK. This is the same except it's for the whole USA (and more).

 

 

Just saw these the other day,. looks like a very useful product and a great concept. As someone that has placed thousands of autogen squares and polygons with the annotator, I welcome getting a predone full autogen package. Will check them out soon!

Yeah, interesting concept, but pretty steep price after having paid for the photoscenery as well.

Yeah, interesting concept, but pretty steep price after having paid for the photoscenery as well.

 

 

If it covers the whole state, then is is worth it to me based on how tedious and time consuming it is to place autogen accurately.

Agreed if you are actually doing that yourself, but as a consumer it's a bit pricey buying state by state like that at $28 a pop.

Yeah, interesting concept, but pretty steep price after having paid for the photoscenery as well.

Hear you loud and clear and looking at various ways of making this economical for the Sim community. We're not a major software "shop" and we need to cover costs and a big investment in the data we had to get to make Treeline possible. Having said that, we're simmers too.

Bundles, discounts, and lower prices are in the works particarly as we've learned more about the market since we started in April.

Hope that helps.

Agreed if you are actually doing that yourself, but as a consumer it's a bit pricey buying state by state like that at $28 a pop.

Check out what I mentioned above. Also please note states have come down in price, smaller ones are cheaper anyway, bundles will make them even cheaper, we've arranged with a number of stores for discounts, and there's a free version of RI out there. It's not in our interest to over-price our product but, honestly, I didn't know what price point to use. I just went off the price of existing similar products (they exist in Europe but nothing like this is available in the USA), what add-ons sell for, and how much it cost us to make.

Hope that seems reasonable in the circumstances.

Hope that seems reasonable in the circumstances.

 

Indeed it does, and I appreciate the pragmatic response to my concerns. It warms my opinion of a product when the developer/creator approaches their customer service in such a way, and is certainly prompting me to take a closer look.

 

Thanks for that, and I wish you success on your future developments.