I'm quite impressed by what I'm seeing in all the FS2020 videos. Of course, there are limitations, like we see in the Niagra falls video and elsewhere. Still, generally speaking, what we are seeing is better than what is offered for default in essentially every other sim. In terms of my expectations, that's everything I'd hope for.

However, there do seem to be some odd aspects to Washington DC in the beta build, as you can see around the 37 minute mark in this video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kavLImNPL_8

They represented the Pentagon and Lincoln Memorial with custom designed structures, yet the Washington Monument is represented by a generic building, as is the US Capitol Building.

Gathering photogrammetry data for DC is understandably limited, as such photo aircraft are probably not going to be allowed to fly around the DC restricted airspace. However, the lack of custom structures for such major landmarks is puzzling, unless what we are seeing in the beta build is simply weeks or months behind what it already developed in the final build.

 

Edited August 4, 20205 yr by RioPilot

Well, I saw a gameplay around the biggest city in my country and we didn't get one single custom landmark. Are we really going to complain about that?

I dont think it is so puzzling since the world is so big, and this is not a US simulator ;) 

Those are good points! Though in saying that, I would be far more likely to fly out of DCA or IAD and over DC instead of flying over my home city or other comparatively rural areas of the globe. It's not a US simulator, true, but the vast majority of users will be flying there!

I find it hard to believe they aren't gonna add landmarks there. Either at release or the first world update would be my guess.

Do note that DC in particular is not possible to scan due to airspace restrictions, so everything there will have to be handmade. So I can understand why it isn't something that's been a focus, art assets are expensive and require a lot of time to make for the value they deliver.

8 minutes ago, TOGA-saurus said:

Those are good points! Though in saying that, I would be far more likely to fly out of DCA or IAD and over DC instead of flying over my home city or other comparatively rural areas of the globe. It's not a US simulator, true, but the vast majority of users will be flying there!

Yes DCA is my home airport so it would be nice to see the major landmarks fixed but not the end of the world for me.  I'm sure they will either fix them later or a custom scenery will be out.  Other than those landmarks, its pretty much spot on.  

1 hour ago, Andreas Stangenes said:

I dont think it is so puzzling since the world is so big, and this is not a US simulator 😉

And as a "world" simulator, you would expect a few of the most recognizable landmarks in the world such as the Washington Monument and the US Capitol to be modeled accurately. Just like you would expect the same of the Eiffel Tower and the Pyramids of Giza.

The rest of the city looks like it was well modeled from the bing data though. Not quite on the level of DD's add-on, but very good for default. 

I think in a way, MSFS is the first truly global flight simulator.

Previous versions were mostly checking the boxes. Chicago, check. New York, check, Washington, check. Seattle, check, San Francisco, check. London, check. Paris, check. Berlin, check. And that was mostly it.

I was making this point earlier, in a different thread. The way MSFS 2020 creates its scenery is truly global, in as it mostly depends on the quality of Bing imagery, and the algorithm doesn't really care if it creates scenery in some busy first world city or in Sub-Saharan Africa.

I find this quite refreshing, to be honest. 🙂

Domed structures (such as the Capitol Building) and obelisks (such as the Washington Monument) are a tiny point of weakness in the AI software that constructs Microsoft's otherwise spectacular scenery for the new simulator. I'm sure this momentary shortcoming will be remedied shortly, either by altering their interpretive software or by hand-placement of DC scenery. If your own state capitol building is domed, it probably doesn't look perfect at the moment either, but it soon will. 

DC is spot on except for the DC Monument.  It is not a building but everything else is spot on so far.  I know this area very very well.

MSFS can you fix before release.  You do not want the capital city's major iconic monument to be a building.  Simple Fix.  Do it before release.

Thanks

 

PS - Get me closed beta access pretty please

3 hours ago, Skywolf said:

DC is spot on except for the DC Monument.  It is not a building but everything else is spot on so far.  I know this area very very well.

MSFS can you fix before release.  You do not want the capital city's major iconic monument to be a building.  Simple Fix.  Do it before release.

Thanks

 

PS - Get me closed beta access pretty please

Did you check the Capitol building?  

1 hour ago, frankla said:

Did you check the Capitol building?  

I just saw OMG...they need to fix it.  Squished images omg

Apparently one of my fav buildings from NYC is the Washington Monument.  432 Park Avenue building moved to DC lol.

 

1 hour ago, frankla said:

Did you check the Capitol building?  

It's actually pretty freaking impressive that the AI managed to get the shape, height, and roof color mostly right.

 

On 8/4/2020 at 6:07 PM, Skywolf said:

I just saw OMG...they need to fix it.  Squished images omg

Apparently one of my fav buildings from NYC is the Washington Monument.  432 Park Avenue building moved to DC lol.

 

I think White House is missing.