FSX AFCAD and AI Traffic

[Guest tcable]

I assume that we can expdect to find an AFCAD like tool for FSX at or near release- along with a traffic toolkit :)Pleae let the AI logic be more spohisticated this time- at least with runway usage! Maybe even better traffic distribution at busy airports...I'll admit to missing AFCAD and my add-on traffic on the initial release for FS9, but the current ai traffic system is quite good IMHO.Tim

[Guest jrobert]

I don't think Lee Swordy is developing tTools or AFCAD any further. There hasn't been any new versions of these utilities for quite some time. In fact, AFCAD gives me a message every time I start it saying that it's over 20 months old and to check for a newer version.If we are to have a CAD-style GUI for the ability to edit airport facilities in FSX, it'll most likely have to be developed from the groud up by someone else who's up for the challange. Any takers?Regards,Joshua Robertson (Creator of FS Real Time)3D Softworks Design Studioshttp://www.3dsoftworks.net

[Guest tcable]

I'm not expecting "AFCAD" but a simlar tool. Certainly a GUI one. From what I see, there has been no reason to develop updated afcad software for fs9, but I'm hoping that FSX has some extensions to the existing functionality that will require development for us to use. Maybe MS even has an inhouse tool that they'd release to us. The default parking is sorely lacking if one ads any measure of AI traffic, not to mention third party sceneries.MS is already on record that the airport info will not be the most current- probably needing to add runways at MSP, CVG and STL (all recently opened runways) so the Community will be needed day one to fix these omissions.

[tgibson 11]

Hi,SceneGenX can edit all of the current AFCAD items (with a GUI, but not as good as AFCAD's) along with much more, and author Tom Hiscox is still busy producing updates. Hopefully for FSX too.http://www.flightsimnetwork.com/airportsupport/Hope this helps,--Tom GibsonCal Classic Propliner Page: http://www.calclassic.comFreeflight Design Shop: http://www.freeflightdesign.comDrop by! ___x_x_(")_x_x___

[Forkboy2 27]

Isn't XML supposed to be more extensively used in FSX? I would think that would help speed up the development of 3rd party tools. Otherwise, without Lee Swordy around to reverse engineer FSX, could be many many months before tool such as AFCAD becomes available. Hopefully the FS team is taking this into consideration now that AI traffic has become a neceesary part of FS.But Lee may still continue development for FSX. He's never been what I would call a public figure. Wouldn't suprise me if he turned up, made an AFCAD-like tool for FSX, then disappeared again :)Matt

[FlyingsCool 3]

Tom Hiscox isn't just busy, he VERY busily works on updates. Definately check it out. If there's something else you would like to see, ask away. Tom is very open to suggestions.Thomas[a href=http://www.flyingscool.com/FC_StartJava.html] http://www.flyingscool.com/images/Signature.jpg [/a]I like using VC's :-)

[FlyingsCool 3]

AFCAD2 is already an XML tool.Thomas[a href=http://www.flyingscool.com/FC_StartJava.html] http://www.flyingscool.com/images/Signature.jpg [/a]I like using VC's :-)

[Forkboy2 27]

Ok, I didn't realize the BGL files that contain facilities data were XML. Shows what I know.Matt

[tasmanet 0]

I suppose it would be too much to expect MS to buy Lees great AFCAD program and update AFCAD to include.ExcludeFlattenAn improved photo scenery maker.TCalc on TopBezier curves on normal/apron taxi linksA "vehicle" taxi link with Bezier curves.Simple stop node with a time variable including random.Seperate Elevation so one could have water craft/vehicles/monorails in the one AFCAD .No need for a fake runway.

[tgibson 11]

Hi,I don't believe this is true. Lee created AFCAD before the SDK's were released (the first we heard of XML). Therefore, he created a direct BGL to memory and back to BGL system that uses no intermediate file such as XML. The BGL file is binary, not XML.Hope this helps,--Tom GibsonCal Classic Propliner Page: http://www.calclassic.comFreeflight Design Shop: http://www.freeflightdesign.comDrop by! ___x_x_(")_x_x___

[Guest jrobert]

Tom Gibson is right - Lee Swordy released AFCAD2 before the SDKs were out. However, I DO recall that there was information about the airport facilities BGL files in FS9 being constructed using XML before the SDKs were released.Regards,Joshua Robertson (creator of FS Real Time)3D Softworks Design Studioshttp://www.3dsoftworks.net

[Forkboy2 27]

Either way, I just hope there is an easy way to modify the facilities data, AI flightplans, etc. in FSX. Otherwise, we could be stuck waiting 6 months or a year before we get something as user friendly as AFCAD and Traffic Tools for FSX.Don't know about everyone else, but having to go back to a world filled with half a dozen fake airlines is going to be a major downer. Although I'm definately one of those that will run out and get FSX on the first day it comes out, not sure how much I'll actually use it untill we're able to get some decent AI traffic.Matt

[Guest jrobert]

>Either way, I just hope there is an easy way to modify the>facilities data, AI flightplans, etc. in FSX. Otherwise, we>could be stuck waiting 6 months or a year before we get>something as user friendly as AFCAD and Traffic Tools for>FSX.>>Don't know about everyone else, but having to go back to a>world filled with half a dozen fake airlines is going to be a>major downer. Although I'm definately one of those that will>run out and get FSX on the first day it comes out, not sure>how much I'll actually use it untill we're able to get some>decent AI traffic.>>MattWho knows, maybe FSX will come with more decent real-world AI and better parking at all airports.Regards,Joshua Robertson (creator of FS Real Time)3D Softworks Design Studioshttp://www.3dsoftworks.net

[Guest sssummer]

I'm with Matt. The thought of no way to create a realistic AI world destroys the whole simulation. It's as important as any single aspect of the simulation for me. Lets hope Lee is well and is still interested.

[Forkboy2 27]

>Who knows, maybe FSX will come with more decent real-world AI>and better parking at all airports.>>Regards,>Joshua Robertson (creator of FS Real Time)For some reason I think the chance of FSX including real world airline schedules, realistic parking at airports, frame-rate friendly AI models and real world airline textures is about 0.0001%. :)Matt