I downloaded and installed the Orbx Iceland Demo and I have to say it is an outstanding piece of scenery.

 

This morning I cruised around the Reykjavik-Keflavik region and was impressed with  all the detail.  I have never been there so I can't comment on the accuracy, but it is a beautiful piece of work.

 

One anomaly.  The Keflavik Airport (BIKF) is on a small plateau that rises above the terrain.  I don't know if it's because I already have all the Pilot's FS Global Ultimate mesh packages installed and there was a conflict the same mesh included with Orbx Iceland or it comes that way.  However, using Pilot's Aerodrome Flattening Mesh utility I got rid of the plateau and lowered the airport to the same elevation as the surrounding terrain. 

 

That utility comes with each mesh package and I have used it to flatten other airports that were either in holes or up on plateaus.  It's ridiculously easy to use.  Just enter the IACO code of the airport and click.  That's it.

 

I'm looking forward to the release of the rest of Orbx Open Land Class and Vector packages.

 

Noel

 

 

Hello Noel,

 

The mesh included in the demo is the same mesh as you have installed.

The real Keflavik is on a small plateau, depending on from which angle

it is viewed.

 

Regards,

Nick

Thanks for that information Nick.  I'll remove the 'fix' this morning and get it back where it's supposed to be.

 

Noel

Just would like to add my 2cent worth and say that I was very pleased with the scenery and would like to thank Orbx for offering it as a free demo. It's running extremely well on my well aged AMD 3.2 Ghz Dual core PC. I guess the real saving grace is the Gefore 660. 

I installed the demo and spent some time flying over Iceland. I liked it. But I expected something perhaps more spectacular because this demo uses three add-ons. Anyway.. Thanks a lot to ORBX!

I installed the demo and spent some time flying over Iceland. I liked it. But I expected something perhaps more spectacular because this demo uses three add-ons. Anyway.. Thanks a lot to ORBX!

Just my opinion amongst millions....but it is WHERE they decided to drop the demo on.  No intended slight to those that live and breathe in Iceland, but I do not feel that that part of FSX was the nugget that would truly show you what OpenLC, Vector/Mesh, alongside FSXG could achieve. I flew the demo with FSX flat out on 'GO'...and found miles upon miles under the wing of the same texture (lava, scrag, minimum ground cover) ad naseum.  I think that they might have also picked this land mass for the fact that it would offer the least impact on FPS performance. Just my thoughts on the matter. Also, the mountains....were blunted, boring, and were more like the low blunted and flowing granite of the Canadian Sheild, rather than the majestic peaks of the Rockies, or that of NZ.  It totally underwelmed me, practically to tears. They needed to do this for the entire Hawaiian Islands (yes...yes..they wanted to harvest the most money from such a low population site...so therefore would entice those of Hawaii to purchase, rather than keep the free demo...yes..yes...obviously one of the reasons for picking Iceland, in my opinion) that had the varied terrain points along the mountain ranges, the true-to-life LUSH texture sets that would have been called by Open LC into play, and the fact that many more persons, have had some contact with the actual point-of-reality, than Iceland.  Let me ask the forum...how many of you have EVER visited Iceland, over let's say also have visited the Hawaiian Island chain. Huh?   I think that they did a HUGE marketing GAFF, by picking a low world population, and out of the way land mass, that did not give full advantage to the technology points that they want people to climb on board for.  Again, my opinion amongst many that will perhaps,  will readily disagree with me. That is fine.  For myself, I was absolutely deflated and felt disincentive to add on all the layers. I was BORED TO TEARS, after half an hour covering the demo.  I will (if the price is right by me...) pick up OpenLC for Europe, North America, and South America to highlight and strengthen their fabulous FSXG, and was going to anyways, but I certainly would not have picked a low international travel landmass, as my TOUR DE FORCE, to highlight the entire ORBX 'big three' vision.  A marketing gaff, supreme.....  My view. Others will certainly vary.

Just out of interest, how does it compare to Aerosoft's Iceland. A bit old now, I know. Anyone made a comparison or even have it....

Just out of interest, how does it compare to Aerosoft's Iceland. A bit old now, I know. Anyone made a comparison or even have it....

 

 

http://forum.avsim.net/topic/424727-ftx-global-iceland-freeware-demo-released/

 

 

 For myself, I was absolutely deflated and felt disincentive to add on all the layers. I was BORED TO TEARS, after half an hour covering the demo.

 

+10

IMHO nothing, absolutely nothing compares to the PNW, PFJ,NRM, CRM, SAK suite of sceneries.

 

In those areas there are tons of flying options, gorgeous scenery, tough flying conditions with weather.  100s and 100s of airports of all sorts of sizes.

 

While I would like to go to Iceland for a holiday in real life as I love the idea of touring the geologically amazing area.  For flying there are little strips few and far between with not much exciting about them.

 

Perhaps it will grow on me.

Just my opinion amongst millions....but it is WHERE they decided to drop the demo on.  No intended slight to those that live and breathe in Iceland, but I do not feel that that part of FSX was the nugget that would truly show you what OpenLC, Vector/Mesh, alongside FSXG could achieve. I flew the demo with FSX flat out on 'GO'...and found miles upon miles under the wing of the same texture (lava, scrag, minimum ground cover) ad naseum.  I think that they might have also picked this land mass for the fact that it would offer the least impact on FPS performance. Just my thoughts on the matter. Also, the mountains....were blunted, boring, and were more like the low blunted and flowing granite of the Canadian Sheild, rather than the majestic peaks of the Rockies, or that of NZ.  It totally underwelmed me, practically to tears. They needed to do this for the entire Hawaiian Islands (yes...yes..they wanted to harvest the most money from such a low population site...so therefore would entice those of Hawaii to purchase, rather than keep the free demo...yes..yes...obviously one of the reasons for picking Iceland, in my opinion) that had the varied terrain points along the mountain ranges, the true-to-life LUSH texture sets that would have been called by Open LC into play, and the fact that many more persons, have had some contact with the actual point-of-reality, than Iceland.  Let me ask the forum...how many of you have EVER visited Iceland, over let's say also have visited the Hawaiian Island chain. Huh?   I think that they did a HUGE marketing GAFF, by picking a low world population, and out of the way land mass, that did not give full advantage to the technology points that they want people to climb on board for.  Again, my opinion amongst many that will perhaps,  will readily disagree with me. That is fine.  For myself, I was absolutely deflated and felt disincentive to add on all the layers. I was BORED TO TEARS, after half an hour covering the demo.  I will (if the price is right by me...) pick up OpenLC for Europe, North America, and South America to highlight and strengthen their fabulous FSXG, and was going to anyways, but I certainly would not have picked a low international travel landmass, as my TOUR DE FORCE, to highlight the entire ORBX 'big three' vision.  A marketing gaff, supreme.....  My view. Others will certainly vary.

 

Nah come on Mitch;

 

I read:     another instance where a developer has dared to focus on an areas other than the US, to which someone from the US comes along to tell us that it "wasn't really what people wanted" and that featuring part of the US would have been far better.   :rolleyes:

 

Please bear in mind that 99.975% of the population of Earth are not American, so interest for other areas of the FSX world does exist.

 

I'm delighted that a geographically significant, beautiful landscape; that forms a geological border between the European and American plates of the Earth was chosen.

 

Just 2c.

 

 

nothing compares to the PNW, PFJ,NRM, CRM, SAK suite of sceneries.

 

Where are these places? I am not familiar with these abbreviations....Sorry..

IMHO nothing, absolutely nothing compares to the PNW, PFJ,NRM, CRM, SAK suite of sceneries.

 

In those areas there are tons of flying options, gorgeous scenery, tough flying conditions with weather.  100s and 100s of airports of all sorts of sizes.

 

While I would like to go to Iceland for a holiday in real life as I love the idea of touring the geologically amazing area.  For flying there are little strips few and far between with not much exciting about them.

 

Perhaps it will grow on me.

Well, if it does...gawd bless ya....

 

Am now going to find the 'delete it' button...and move on....  I certainly hope that Open LC (and their now suspect quality mesh layer in my opinion and view) will bring out the best (I pray....) of the continents. With seeing how only one texture was splashed and played across the whole of Iceland for the most part, makes me nervous of exactly how much 'spice and difference' OpenLC will actually make over default Land Class directives?!?!?!?  As a result of the Iceland Demo.....I  am only going to buy the one for North America at first.... and see what it does. It had BETTER call up a mixture (and premium placement) of textures, more than what the 'standard' FSXG does...or it will be the only OpenLC I'll buy...and consider it a write-off learning experience.  Iceland's OpenLC layer was for myself, a total hype let down.... The Vector layer, was no better (or worse) than UTX, and being that I already have UTX for North America and Europe, I'm not waiting with baited breath for this layer segment. The  elevation MESH layer?  Most unimpressive to say the least.   Twinkie Mountains, with no texture or stark elevation contrast, doesn't do it for this user.....

 

 

Please bear in mind that 0.0025% of the population of Earth are not American, so interest for other areas of the FSx world does exist.

 

:lol:  Too subtle for most I reckon.

Nah come Mitch;

 

I read:     another instance where a developer has dared to focus on an areas other than the US, to which someone from the US comes along to tell us that it "wasn't really what people wanted" and that featuring part of the US would have been far better.   :rolleyes:

 

Please bear in mind that 0.025% of the population of Earth are American and the rest aren't, so interest for other areas of the FSx world does exist.

 

Just 2c.

Hi Dave,

 

Dave, I don't believe that I suggested that it be in the U.S as a focal point....but yes, did use the Hawaiian Islands (being part of the U.S. was no focal point) for in my opinion, they would have much more offered OpenLC a more varied topographical and vegetation 'pallet' than what island nation they did pick, ie, : Iceland, as I saw within their demo.  Their three layer version of Iceland, was uni-texture (unless you call snow and ice, the second, lol)  void of interest, void of immersion, and did not show me, or give me further confidence that OpenLC was going to be the next best thing (land class wise) than 'sliced bread'.  I was very disappointed.......  The mesh layer did nothing for the mountains, unless in Iceland, in real life, they are all merely over-grown lava flows that are blunted, have no true peaks and dells, no craigs, no defining forms of any kind...just miles, and miles, and miles of the same rolling and lobbing blunted blahness.  Even the 'mountains' around the bays, were like stone 'twinkies'.....just perched there.  Most non-impressive. BORING!   Ok...moving on....and hoping for better performance from OpenLC across the North American and European continents.  It had better be.....

 

Orbx's Iceland Three-Layer Cake?    Meh.....please pass the apple pie...now THAT looks good....  (wink!)  BTW Dave,..I DO RESPECT your '2 cents (smile) along with everyone else.  This is one man's opinion, and everybody that downloaded the Iceland Three Layer Cake, of course, has theirs.....