Hi Rob,

 

Thank you for doing such a fantastic job for us. Your enthusiasm and ongoing effort are deserving of kudos of the highest kind. I do hope that somehow you are managing to achieve some protected time for yourself, but I suspect the passion for this simulator will see you through regardless.

 

One more question, if I may:

Have you heard anything from LM regarding their installers this time around? I have to say that currently I am viewing the forthcoming 2.3 update with very mixed emotions. If, as in the past, I will find myself being forced again down the full reinstall route with the depressing implications in terms of significant time spent reinstating all the various scenery Addons like ORBX and PILOT's excellent Scenery and Mesh products then I, for one, will be very reluctant to proceed. I suspect others who bear similar scars from previous updating attempts will feel likewise. Surely in this day and age we should not be exposed to such an unnecessary recurring rigmarole? Installers should be sufficiently 'intelligent' to be able to anticipate and auto correct any common issues that might arise and threaten to prevent a successful update. Failing that, we should receive meaningful messages pointing us to any corruption of an existing installation which is blocking progress.

 

However, reading that SLI support is likely to be included this time around is likely to persuade me, in the end, to make the effort notwithstanding. For me, SLI provision could be a big deal and until today I have been feeling very pessimistic about NVIDIA putting in the effort to help us out.

 

Perhaps I'm viewing this too simplistically, but why is that complex software updates through, e.g. STEAM are managed with such apparent ease yet not insignificant numbers continue to encounter problems each time an update of P3D is attempted?

 

Thanks.

 

Kind regards,

Mike

 

 

If you want to "try" to get nVidia to think more about P3D, contribute to this thread ... there is an nVidia rep that monitors:
 
http://forums.guru3d...722#post4889722
 
Cheers, Rob.

 

seed planted...

 

http://forums.guru3d.com/showthread.php?p=4890406#post4890406

 

 

One question, will there be sloped runways in v2.3 or is it going to be a future update?

 

bump

If, as in the past, I will find myself being forced again down the full reinstall route with the depressing implications in terms of significant time spent reinstating all the various scenery Addons like ORBX and PILOT's excellent Scenery and Mesh products then I, for one, will be very reluctant to proceed.

 

 

If I want a clean install, I always backup the folders:

 

C:\ProgramData\Lockheed Martin\Prepar3D v2   (has the scenery information)

 

and

 

C:\Users\<username>\AppData\Roaming\Lockheed Martin\Prepar3D v2 (has the Prepar3d.CFG file, dll.xml, exe.xml, etc.)

 

Uninstall P3d, then install the new version. Rename:

 

C:\ProgramData\Lockheed Martin\Prepar3D v2 

 

and copy the backup of this folder that you previously made to that same location. That works fine and there is no need to reinstall all the scenery.

 

I usually just install the P3d patch and it works fine.

RC2 now ... this is reported at being final so should not be too long before public release.

 

 

bump

 

You can get sloped runways in FSX and P3D?  This is in P3D V2.2, but it's an FSX add-on.

 

 

 

Cheers, Rob.

 

 

However, reading that SLI support is likely to be included this time around is likely to persuade me, in the end, to make the effort notwithstanding. For me, SLI provision could be a big deal and until today I have been feeling very pessimistic about NVIDIA putting in the effort to help us out.

 

Not in 2.3 ... but I'm sure it will eventually make it into P3D once nVidia get us a profile.

Rob - you're the man. I know you don't know me, so just take it. Thanks dude.

 

 

cloud layers for those using ATI cards?

 

I haven't read anything about ATI issues with clouds, sounds like ATI AA issue ... SGSS AA is very hard on the GPU, especially with clouds and Fog and heavy particle effects.  Clouds have been improved and cloud shadow performance also.  AA implementations are ATI/nVidia support issues.

 

Specific list of items addressed are in the P3D Learning Center doc under "what's new" ... there are about 150-200 items so not going to list them all, sorry.

 

Cheers, Rob.

I run some airports that Orbx hasn't officially ported to P3d V2 yet will installing the update break those? I managed to get them working using the updated FSX objectflow.DLL in 2.2 thanks

 

 

I run some airports that Orbx hasn't officially ported to P3d V2 yet will installing the update break those?

 

Orbx will be on top of the 2.3 release with new ObjectFlows (probably same day as 2.3 goes public).  I've done a few videos from Orbx airports in 2.3

 

On a side note, RC2 is looking good, I'll post a video tomorrow, off to bed, 1am here.

 

Cheers, Rob.

Not in 2.3 ... but I'm sure it will eventually make it into P3D once nVidia get us a profile.

Hah! Why am I not surprised?!

 

With that, NVIDIA's position with respect to Prepar3D couldn't be more clear: they just aren't interested or motivated to go that extra mile. It's also clear in my mind that, for a time at least, LM were optimistic that NVIDIA would provide support for SLI in version 2.1, but we're let down as it didn't happen. Since then, when questioned, LM's rare responses on the subject have been very guarded. Now we have the early 340.xx series of drivers speaking volumes for their lack of testing in Prepar3D. What more really needs to be said? It seems to me that NVIDIA have now grown far too powerful and can now pick and choose what software they are prepared to support simply because the 'bean counters' dictate that it should be so. Nothing new there, I suppose.

 

As ever, the gaming heavy hitters will always command NVIDIA's attention to the exclusion of relative minority interests like flight simulation.

 

Very depressing and does not bode well for the future unless, and this is just wishful thinking, NVIDIA could be persuaded to subcontract the task of Profile creation and ongoing development to some third party. Ain't gonna happen, you say, and you are likely to be correct unless, miraculously, the thunderbolt of enlightenment and forward thinking were to find a way of penetrating their corridors of power.

 

Many if you are lucky enough to have GeForce 6 and 7xx Series GPUs and, by most accounts, are fairing very well with Prepar3D and that's fine. 2-3 years ago others, like me, invested in a dual GPU setup which still performs amazingly well with most recent gaming software but now, it seems is unlikely in the short term to receive direct support for the Prepar3D training simulator. I achieve good mostly stutter-free performance with a now modest single GTX 580M, but I know I could raise the bar quite significantly were my 2nd GTX 580M allowed to enter the equation. NVIDIA are now thwarting this objective and, yes, I am unhappy and feeling very let down simply because my crime is to share a minority interest in a Flight Simulation and not the latest Shooter, Racing or RPG. I recently completed a survey on STEAM and owners of the latest and greatest GPUs are still in the minority while the less powerful graphic engines continue to hold a commanding position and are receiving SLI support under gaming software.

 

Doubtless any venting is pointless, but it sure makes me feel a little better...lol

 

Mike.

It seems to me, with the inherent horsepower that Lockheed Martin has, that somebody over there can't get nVidia's attention and get this done.

 

 

As ever, the gaming heavy hitters will always command NVIDIA's attention to the exclusion of relative minority interests like flight simulation.

 

Beau/LM have been working with nVidia, code has been adjusted to support SLI and work continues with nVidia.  I think it's just a difficult technical challenge myself.  Goat Simulator gets priority not because it's an AAA title (as far as I know it's not), but because it was relatively easy to implement a profile for the game.

 

As far as the size of Flight Simulation market ... as of Today I've counted 78 3rd party content providers (and I'm sure there are more if I dig more), out of that 78, I count 35 that have been doing this full time for many years (and I'm sure I've missed many in my count).  If the market were so niche/small, the number of 3rd party content providers wouldn't be as high as it is, we wouldn't see new providers come on the scene, we wouldn't see highly detail aircraft and scenery if this market is "niche".  There is NO other product on Steam or anywhere else that has as much 3rd party content providers as Flight Simulation.

 

I'm not saying the Flight Simulation market is massive, but it's certainly not niche.  More importantly it's a recurring revenue market and the products produced are hardware demanding ... this should peak nVidia's interest (AMD's also, but I'm struggling to understand their position on no Crossfire in Windowed mode).

 

Cheers, Rob. 

 

 

 More importantly it's a recurring revenue market and the products produced are hardware demanding

 

Couldn't agree more Rob - consider how much is spent on hardware and software directly related to flight simming.. I would venture a guess that since FSX was released, I've spent over $10,000 in hardware and software uprades and add-ons. Although the individual title sales may be greater in the gaming venue I'd venture a guess that they have little by way of add-on market.

 

Vic

Beau/LM have been working with nVidia, code has been adjusted to support SLI and work continues with nVidia.  I think it's just a difficult technical challenge myself.  Goat Simulator gets priority not because it's an AAA title (as far as I know it's not), but because it was relatively easy to implement a profile for the game.

 

As far as the size of Flight Simulation market ... as of Today I've counted 78 3rd party content providers (and I'm sure there are more if I dig more), out of that 78, I count 35 that have been doing this full time for many years (and I'm sure I've missed many in my count).  If the market were so niche/small, the number of 3rd party content providers wouldn't be as high as it is, we wouldn't see new providers come on the scene, we wouldn't see highly detail aircraft and scenery if this market is "niche".  There is NO other product on Steam or anywhere else that has as much 3rd party content providers as Flight Simulation.

 

I'm not saying the Flight Simulation market is massive, but it's certainly not niche.  More importantly it's a recurring revenue market and the products produced are hardware demanding ... this should peak nVidia's interest (AMD's also, but I'm struggling to understand their position on no Crossfire in Windowed mode).

 

Cheers, Rob. 

 

It may be smaller than the "first person shooter/gamer" market, but it has big money/gov contracts potentially attached, leading to a denser revenue stream.

 

Rob- Thanks for all the vids and work. It is fun watching and experiencing such a fluidly developing flight sim.

 

As for 3rd parties, I am really looking forward to PMDG and TacPack releases and (hopefully) their work with LM. I like my long haul tubeliners, but the notion of having a battlefield similar to Falcon with the entire real-world experience of P3D just seems unreal.

Beau/LM have been working with nVidia, code has been adjusted to support SLI and work continues with nVidia. I think it's just a difficult technical challenge myself. Goat Simulator gets priority not because it's an AAA title (as far as I know it's not), but because it was relatively easy to implement a profile for the game.

 

As far as the size of Flight Simulation market ... as of Today I've counted 78 3rd party content providers (and I'm sure there are more if I dig more), out of that 78, I count 35 that have been doing this full time for many years (and I'm sure I've missed many in my count). If the market were so niche/small, the number of 3rd party content providers wouldn't be as high as it is, we wouldn't see new providers come on the scene, we wouldn't see highly detail aircraft and scenery if this market is "niche". There is NO other product on Steam or anywhere else that has as much 3rd party content providers as Flight Simulation.

 

I'm not saying the Flight Simulation market is massive, but it's certainly not niche. More importantly it's a recurring revenue market and the products produced are hardware demanding ... this should peak nVidia's interest (AMD's also, but I'm struggling to understand their position on no Crossfire in Windowed mode).

 

Cheers, Rob.

 

Hi Rob,

 

Okay, so I am wrong and your proposed explanation seems perfectly plausible. However, it does beg the question as to why LM choose to keep us, their clients, out of the loop on this important matter? Why on earth could they not be upfront and explain why there has been such a delay? We may feel unhappy and frustrated, but at least it would stop all the idle ill-informed speculation such as appears in my last post. Yes, I put my hands up, but feel I should make no apology. I felt provoked. Arguably Prepar3D has no real competition currently, so why all the secrecy and apparent reluctance to keep us informed?

 

Regards,

Mike