To-date we have seen mostly visual elements. The reason is possibly that Microsoft knows that visual elements are the prime attraction for the general customer base (the public, Joe SixPack, etc.). Microsoft also probably realizes that once this large segment of the audience has spent some time with the new sim that they will begin to pay more attention to the functional elements - flight planning, weather dynamics, aircraft flight dynamics, ATC, overall situational reality, etc. What we see in the picture/visual releases may follow this marketing practice.I would expect that the visual stuff will dominate the "sneak previews". Later, the functional (more technical) areas will be released. However, some elements will be held back so that the final release can be effectively promoted with somethings that can starkly contrast FS9 to FSX. This brings in those who are on the upgrade fence. So, the people who are thirsting for more knowledge of the functional elements may have wait awhile while the public is enthralled with being able to finally fly worldwide over synthetic scenery that is mush closer to reality. Maybe the final promotional cycle will show 1.2m/pixel photo-real texturing. Even those who are focused on the functional will be interested in this one. You can do 1.2m/pixel stuff in FS9 (SBuilder) but it has limitations like big BMP files. However, the visual result is VERY attractive. If I were Microsoft, and I had this in the kit, I would keep it for last.Dick near 5G8

Maybe the>final promotional cycle will show 1.2m/pixel photo-real>texturing. Even those who are focused on the functional will>be interested in this one. You can do 1.2m/pixel stuff in FS9>(SBuilder) but it has limitations like big BMP files. However,>the visual result is VERY attractive. If I were Microsoft, and>I had this in the kit, I would keep it for last.>>Dick near 5G8>Dick,Maybe. Our focus is on getting the base world to one meter befoe we are able to focus on aerial imagery. We will not have the same density or variety of aerial imagery that we've had in the past.This time around.Cheers,Jason

hmm? what do you mean you don't have the same densit of aerial imagery as in the past? somehow that doesn't sound like an improvement. What am I missing?

you're missing megascenery :) lol... 3rd party developers are now really running with the photoscenery stuff... Plus photoscenery takes a lot of time to develop in terms of using the autogen annotator etc etc etc... Cutting out water masks, blah blah blah...

>hmm? what do you mean you don't have the same densit of>aerial imagery as in the past? somehow that doesn't sound>like an improvement. What am I missing?Over the last two versions we made a signifigan effort to create (and update) a number of aerial imagery areas (most went with high detail airports). Since these areas were created at 5 meters per pixel they don't look very good in a 1 or 2 meter per pixel world. Redoing that work for FSX was not an option. Cheers,Jason

Hi,Think of it as two steps forward (higher resolution for default and new addon sceneries) and one step back (aerial image scenery only in addon scenery). Then FSXI will add the default aerial imagery back. :)Take care,--Tom GibsonCal Classic Propliner Page: http://www.calclassic.comFreeflight Design Shop: http://www.freeflightdesign.comDrop by! ___x_x_(")_x_x___